Peter Barnes: 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
SERMON NOTES : TRUE CONVERSION
– Matt.18:3. Liberal theologians prefer the word ‘dialogue’. Professing evangelicals often preach: ‘God loves you, Christ died for everyone in the world, you need to believe that He died for you, and ask Him into your heart.’
- Turn from idols to the true and living God.
– 1:9b. Mount Olympus, the supposed home of the Greek gods, was only about 80 kilometres to the south of Thessalonica.
– about 724 or 725, the English missionary, Boniface, chopped down the oak sacred to the god Thor
– Col.3:5; Ps.115:4-8; Jer.10:10. We are to take His Word and obey it in every area of our lives.
- Look to the return of the risen King.
– 1:10; see Acts 17:30-31. Lord Shaftesbury: ‘I do not think that in the last forty years I have lived one conscious hour that was not influenced by the thought of our Lord’s return.’
- Know Christ as the Saviour from the wrath to come.
– 1:10; see John 3:36; Rom.5:9.
– Charles Spurgeon: ‘We rob the gospel of its power if we leave out its threatenings of punishment.’
That is conversion: turning from idols to God; living here as we wait for the risen King to return; and being grateful for being delivered from the wrath to come.