A1 Scripture
B1 Because of this we also give thanks to God unceasingly, so that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you received not the word of men, but just as it truly is, the word of God, which also is at work in you that believe. For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus, because you suffered the same things from your fellow countrymen, just as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are hostile to all men, forbidding us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but the wrath of God has come upon them to the uttermost. (1 Thessalonians 2:13-16, EMTV)
B2 And there is another reason why we always give thanks to God. When we brought you God's message, you heard it and accepted it, not as a message from human beings but as God's message, which indeed it is. For God is at work in you who believe. Our friends, the same things happened to you that happened to the churches of God in Judea, to the people there who belong to Christ Jesus. You suffered the same persecutions from your own people that they suffered from the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and persecuted us. How displeasing they are to God! How hostile they are to everyone! They even tried to stop us from preaching to the Gentiles the message that would bring them salvation. In this way they have brought to completion all the sins they have always committed. And now God's anger has at last come down on them! (1 Thessalonians 2:13-16, GNB92)
A2 Outline--Their conversion
B1 Thanks to God
B2 The Word of God--Gospel
C1 Received
D1 From their preaching
D2 Treated as
E1 Not word of men
E2 Word of God
C2 Effects
D1 Believers
E1 Imitators
F1 Of Christian congregations in Judea
F2 Persecuted
E2 Believers
D2 Unbelievers
E1 Persecutors
F1 Killed the Lord Jesus
F2 Killed their prophets
F3 Persecute Christians
E2 Unpleasing
F1 To God
F2 To all people
E3 Forbid
F1 Preaching the Gospel to Gentiles
F2 Prevent salvation of people
E4 Results
F1 Sin
F2 Wrath of God
A3 Notes
B1 Verse 13
C1 Thankfulness is a mark of a true Christian
D1 Thankfulness is to recognize the kindness of help received.
D2 Jesus was thankful
E1 And He took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks, He broke them, and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the crowd. (Matthew 15:36, EMTV)
E2 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you, (Matthew 26:27, EMTV)
D3 The Apostles and early Christians were thankful
E1 And from there the brothers, when they heard about our circumstances, they came to meet with us as far as Appii Forum and Three Inns, whom when Paul saw, he gave thanks to God and took courage. (Acts 28:15, EMTV)
E2 In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18, EMTV)
D4 Non-Christians typically are not thankful
E1 Because, having known God, they did not glorify Him as God, or give thanks, but became vain in their reasonings, and their foolish heart was darkened. (Romans 1:21, EMTV)
C2 Word of God
D1 Can refer to
E1 Scriptures
E2 Jesus
E3 Gospel As it is used here, it refers to the Gospel, the Good News, itself.
D2 Faith is believing God
E1 The Thessalonians believed that yes, they are not good people, and yes, they deserve punishment.
E2 Jesus is the only savior from this situation and punishment.
E3 They believed it was not just some guys telling some tales or philosophy but truly believed it for what it is--God's message.
E4 God's gospel, His word, is the medicine that cures the world's ills, but people must not be noncompliant to this doctor's prescription.
E5 Cross references
F1 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. (John 15:3, EMTV)
F2 Sanctify them by Your truth; Your word is truth. (John 17:17, EMTV)
F3 But thanks be to God, that though you used to be slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from your heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been freed from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness. (Romans 6:17-18, EMTV)
B2 Verse 14
C1 The things that happened to the Christians in Judea are now happening to them.
C2 People still have the true God, the true message, their true condition, and their true future punishment.
C3 To shut this truth up, the rejecters persecute, even kill us.
B3 Verse 15
C2 Those, who hate and reject God, killed Jesus Christ, the true prophets, the believers, and any who wants to follow and obey God.
C3 They are described as "not pleasing God," and "hostile to all people."
B4 Verse 16
C1 Some of these not-pleasing-God and hostile-to-all-people actives are
D1 Forbidding the preaching of the Gospel
D2 Sin
C2 Some of the punishment from God for this is God's wrath.
D1 Temporal punishments (not all are from God but may be. Use caution).
D2 Spiritual punishments
D3 Eternal punishments
