1 Thessalonians – Week 3 – Day 4

READ 

1 Thessalonians 2:15-16 

15 For some of the Jews killed the prophets, and some even killed the Lord Jesus. Now they have persecuted us, too. They fail to please God and work against all humanity 16 as they try to keep us from preaching the Good News of salvation to the Gentiles. By doing this, they continue to pile up their sins. But the anger of God has caught up with them at last. 

Paul wrote about the persecution of the prophets and of the Lord Jesus by the religionists. Religion is man’s endeavor to reach God; Christianity is God’s endeavor to reach man. The persecutors tried to keep Paul and others from preaching the gospel of the grace of God to the Gentiles. They seemed to get away with it for the time, but Paul said now “the anger of God has caught up with them at last.” 

REFLECT 

As you read the gospel accounts, notice it is the Jewish leaders who opposed Jesus even though many Jews believed in Jesus as the Messiah. Religious leaders who reject the revelation of God sometimes form the greatest opposition to the gospel message. 

RESPOND 

You and your friend need to talk about the truth that not everyone who stands behind the pulpit believes what the Scriptures teach. Check what is believed about the Bible being the inspired word of God; Jesus being God; His virgin birth; His substitutionary atonement, and; His eventual return.