Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text for this evening is the Epistle Lesson just read, from 1 Thess. 3. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- Because we are much distracted with the many duties and responsibilities of life in this world, we often struggle to prioritize and properly see the great joys that are ours as Christians – and the joy that we should have in one another.
- In fact, much of our time together within the church is spent talking about earthly concerns rather than our common journey of faith through this world.
- The joy that we have in fellow members of the church often has more to do with the temporal interests that we have in common with others. And often we find no joy – and perhaps even experience discomfort – with those fellow believers with whom we seem to have little in common.
- But if our priorities are properly aligned and we are seeing things in proper perspective – from the vantage point of eternal life with God and His people in heaven, then we find joy in all of our fellow believers and that joy will be centered in the blessings and love of God.
- And if our joy is properly centered in our fellow believers, then our prayers and our interactions will be truly godly and mutually uplifting – even with those whose earthly life is quite different than our own. This is what the apostle reveals to us in our text. First, that:
I. We Should Have Great Joy And Give Thanks To God For Our Fellow Believers In Christ
Text: “What thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?”
Statement: The joy is centered in the common faith that we have. Such faith is centered in repentance and the deep comfort of knowing God’s gracious forgiveness, mercy, and love. This makes us alike in so many different ways! We are not self-righteous, arrogant, or demeaning of others. We are humble and grateful to God. We are being transformed, growing in our love and care for others – a genuine and heartfelt love. And we are among the few whom God has blessed with faith, so that we are in the “narrow way.” We share mutually the antipathy and disapproval of the unbelievers around us. And of course, we also share a common understanding of this earthly life and we have a common destination in heaven.
Application: If this is the case, we are building relationships within the church, the fellowship of believers, that are eternal. The relationships do not end if one moves away, or even if one succumbs to death. We mourn the loss of these relationships – but not as those who have no hope. We understand that we will be together for eternity – after we have come out of the great tribulation of this present earthly life and entered into the joys of heaven. This is the joy that Paul speaks of feeling – and the joy that should be ours in our fellow believers. And in that faith is the common bonding factor:
II. We Should Be Eager To Strengthen Faith In One Another
Text: “that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith.”
Statement: Now this is primarily an apostolic and pastoral concern. This is the heartfelt compulsion of every Christian pastor – that all members of the church would be growing in faith – correctness of faith, clarity of faith, and strength of faith. But this is also a concern that we have for one another – or should have! Note the desire to have “face to face” contact and interaction! Christian fellowship cannot be full in isolation. We have need for the weekly times when we “meet together” for worship and the study of God’s Word.
Application: Again, we need to conscientiously grow in this understanding and love for one another. We often think of church as principally something that may or may not benefit me. Instead, we should recognize that our presence in worship and Bible class benefits others – and that we are benefited by the presence of others just because they are present. This shows and strengthens solidarity – our bonds of fellowship and love within the church. It provides us with joy and strength here and now, and prepares us for what is coming in the new age! If we have great joy in one another there will be greater eagerness for this supportive fellowship! And so:
III. We Should Pray God To Make Mutual Love To Abound, So That We May Be Blameless In Holiness Before Him On Judgment Day
Text: “may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.”
Statement: You see the perspective – an eternal perspective – that Christians have about our life here in this world, and our fellowship together within the church. Love is to abound – and we love because He first loved us. So much of our activity here is centered in learning and meditating on the Word of God – which clearly and winsomely presents the greatness of God’s love for us, especially in the gift of redemption and salvation in Christ Jesus! Our love is an aspect of our sanctification – something that grows and abounds as our faith and knowledge of God’s love increases. So being here and attending worship and Bible class is the answer to prayer for increasing love!
Application: Because our sinful nature is not attuned to love, but rather is in opposition to love, we must have love imported into our hearts and minds. We should pray for such love to increase and abound – within ourselves, and also in our fellow believers. God is love – and the one who loves reflects the nature and character of God. This is obviously good, very good! So let us pray this also for one another. We are justified – accounted blameless in holiness before God – by faith, and by faith alone. But faith is never alone, but is always accompanied by growing love – for one another, and for all people. This is God’s will, and His blessing upon us in Christ Jesus!
Conclusion: We still have the lingering effects of our sinful nature, and these often bring difficulty and trials into the fellowship of the church. But these can be overcome as we grow in our faith and in our love. Joy in one another – simply because of what God has done for us in Christ Jesus, and in bringing us to faith and eternal life – such joy helps us to grow in faith and love by cultivating within us a loyalty to one another, a loyalty that brings us together for worship and the study of God’s Word.
May God grant such continuing fellowship within our congregation, and may He through His Word supply what is lacking in our faith, so that we do “increase and abound in love for one another and for all.” This will certainly create within us “JOY FOR OUR FELLOW BELIEVERS.” Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.