There are so many Christian denominations… You may wonder what is the true christian church and how do you become a member? The saving faith and your church membership begins when you receive the word of God not as the word of men, but as it is in truth: the word of God. When its testimony is received, this word is effectually working in you. It makes you whole. This is the pivotal verse of the chapter we are studying:
“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:” v. 13-14
Paul is thanking God without ceasing for this effectual work in the Thessalonians. They received the Word of God by believing the gospel and became followers of other churches of God, which in Judea are in Christ Jesus. Why in Judea? The Apostle knew there would be many false prophets to come and many denominations created – all of them claiming to hold the true faith and salvation. Paul does not want us to be left in any doubt. Churches that truly belong to Jesus Christ are following churches in Christ Jesus in Judea. They do not look at Rome. They look at Judea.
It is Jerusalem that was made the capital of our salvation. The church starts on the cross of Calvary. Only Jesus Christ made it possible for us to come to God today. It is His work on this cross, His voluntary sacrifice and His suffering that laid the only foundation for us to be found righteous before God. It is in Judea where the resurrection happened. It is in Jerusalem where the disciples were praying on the Pentecost day and received the Holy Spirit, and were called to the new life in Jesus Christ. True church will look upon Judea, as this is the epicentre of all the gospel events. Indeed, the gospel has to be the centre of any living church.
Lord Jesus also did not want His disciples to be confused with regards to the true origin of the church. “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8. Look at the order: Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria, and finally all other parts of the earth. The salvation came to the Jews first. The gospel of Christ “is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Rom. 1:16
We should also follow churches in Judea. There are no right denominations. There is only truth and it is in the Word of God. Either you believe it or not. If you do believe, you look upon the cross and it is your salvation. You praise and worship Jesus Christ, for you understand who He is and what He had done for you.
Your life and your actions will confirm your saving faith and you will gather around you people of the same heart who believe your testimony. You are the living stone of the church of God, build it with your witness! “They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.” Ps. 84:7
Paul writes: “For ye also have suffered like things of your own”. Suffering and persecution in this world for the name of Christ is the most clear sign that our faith is genuine. It is like a true mark of your salvation. The suffering of the church in Thessalonica of their own countrymen is same as the suffering of churches in Judea of the Jews.
The Bible gives us a very clear account of the churches in Judea. It all started with the 12 Apostles being called by the Lord. They were the first church. They established the first churches after Lord Jesus died and was resurrected and gave them the great commission. We remember when they were gathered together in prayers before the Lord appeared to them: “the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews” J. 20:19
The first churches in Judea were persecuted by Jews, who demanded to put Lord Jesus to death. It is not different today. The living church of Jesus Christ is also persecuted by religious leaders. They claim to have the solemn authority to knowledge and wisdom to such a degree even to forbid us to speak. All this because they love the darkness and do not want to see the truth and beauty of Christ.
Lord Jesus did not approve any facades of religiosity. We have gospel accounts of so many situations where He rebuked Pharisees. This is because no religion provides a way to God. The only way is through Jesus Christ, by His blood, in a repentant heart.
But why people do not believe? What is stopping them from believing the testimony of the gospel? What is preventing them from accepting that which we share? It is Satan hindering the entrance. He prevents the sinful and prideful heart from receiving the Word of God. You may ask how is he doing it? We find the answer in the following verses:
“Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:
Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.” v. 15-16
Who both killed the Lord Jesus
The non-believing Jews in Judea, the non-believing Greeks and the whole world is united in one thing: neglecting the truth. Both the Jews and Gentiles killed the Lord Jesus. This is showing us the reality of the gospel. It divides them who who are truly in Christ from the world. They who are outside of Him are killing the Lord. Their fruit is lies, strifes, envies. They are blind and live in fear of everything but God. The born again Christians, on the contrary, are dying with the Lord on the cross daily. To be in Him is to be found in His body, in His true church.
But there is more to it: “Who both killed the Lord Jesus”. Being an enemy to the truth is the same as killing the Lord Jesus. Most people do not realise they are enemies of God. Many of them even call themselves Christians. How can this be? The Bible warns us of false brethren, who are deceived and believe lies. They neglect the true and clean testimony about the Son of God. They strip Him of His Lordship and of His deity.
The most important thing on Satan’s agenda is to mud the waters of Bible’s testimony. He will do all in his power to prevent you from knowing who Lord Jesus really is. The devil will do this by diluting the truths of the Word of God. He will cast upon you more and more translations, so that in the end you are confused and do not have a steadfast reference point for all matters of faith and life.
Our salvation is dependent on the revelation of who Lord Jesus is. This revelation is the rock of the church, and not Peter! “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Mt. 16:17-18
Satan knows this very well and will try to prevent you from recognising the true God and Lord in Jesus Christ.
Who both killed their own prophets
Those who persecute the church rejected the testimony about God from their own countrymen. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” Mt. 23:37
The role of the prophet is to be the ambassador for Christ. He is to declare God’s Word and to call people to repentance. A prophet is the one coming in the name of the Lord. Those who receive such, receive Christ himself. “He that receiveth you receiveth me.” Mt. 10:40
Similarly, to reject those who come in Lord’s name to bring the gospel message is to reject Christ. It is caused by hate. Hate is nothing else but murder committed in heart. As you can see, killing prophets does not necessary mean taking up someone’s life. It is also rejecting their testimony about the Lord.
Both the Jews and the Gentiles had persecuted and killed their prophets – the people who bring the Word of God and follow the Lord willing to gather His children in truth.
Who have persecuted us
Persecution can have many forms. It can be physical as well as verbal. There are people out there, who serve Satan. Most of them are not conscious of this fact. They oppose us and even call us evil. “If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?” Mt. 10:25.
If you face opposition for your faith in this world, you are blessed. It indicates you belong to Christ. Those who persecute you will try to undermine the authority of Him who saved you and sent you into the world. They may persecute you by saying your words are unloving or divisive, because they do not understand and do not know God’s love.
They please not God
The Scriptures are crystal clear: These evildoers do not please God. God is pleased when Christ is glorified, when we believe that Lord Jesus was sent by the Father, when we worship Him and when we seek Him through faith and obedience. But we need to have the correct understanding of the person of Christ.
They who oppose the truth “are contrary to all men.” These people do not build the church of Jesus Christ but rather sow doubts. They scatter God’s flock by mudding the waters. After all, unbelief is no different to believing a lie. Therefore Satan casts doubts on God’s Word.
“Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved.
To fill up their sins alway. For the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost” v. 16
Here is another characteristic of them: they forbid to preach the gospel. Satan tries to be clever and will use all its power to stop us preaching the truth. Does it sound familiar? They who do not believe in the Jesus of the Holy Bible, live in sin. Their destiny is the cup of God’s anger to the uttermost. They will spend eternity in hell unless they repent from their evil works.
“But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.” v. 17-18
The born-again Christians may be scattered, but it is only physical presence missing. We are taken for a short time in presence, but not in heart! It should be our great desire to see the church of Christ united in its glory. We have to endeavour the more abundantly to see all them who are born of the Spirit of God, walking in obedience to the Word of God. This can only be done by us holding tight to the clean and true testimony of the Scriptures.
The true church, the body of Bible-believing Christians, may be among many denominations and all over the world. But we know one day will come, when the tares will be no more. Until then let us not stop working building the believers and fighting the good fight of faith.
The victory belongs to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. It is in His name we overcome all difficulties and all tribulations. In the name of Jesus is everything! We will praise Him forever!
