Simple Faith

Bill Henry: Do you hate anyone? Come on now, let's be honest. Here's Pastor Bill Henry.

We as Christians, we're not allowed to hate anyone. There's not one person you can say that you're able to hate. You can't hate Stalin or Hitler. You can't hate Trump or Barack Obama. You can't hate anybody. We can't hate the Jews. We can't hate those who persecute us. That is not the spirit that has been given to us, beloved in Christ, if we are of Christ.

Bill Henry: Christians who claim to be without problems are either not telling the truth, or not growing in their witness for Jesus Christ. Today on Simple Faith, we're going to see a root cause for the trials Christians face. It's persecution from those who are in opposition to the Gospel. Pastor Bill Henry is currently teaching verse by verse through First Thessalonians. And we're going to head back to chapter two today. The unbelieving Jews are doing to Paul and the other Christians what Paul once did as an unbelieving Jew, all in the name of pleasing God. To tell us more about it, here's Pastor Bill Henry.

Bill Henry: Now he goes on to talk about the Jews in Judea. Check it out in verse 15, "Who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets and have persecuted us. And they do not please God and are contrary to all men." I love how Paul is letting the church here know first of all that they're not alone in their suffering.

I don't know about you, but whenever you're not feeling good and suffering, sometimes you don't wish it on anybody, but there still is a comfort that comes, is there not, when knowing that somebody else is dealing with the same thing?

I remember a few months ago we got the barfs come into our home. We haven't had that for a few years. And for some reason it was oddly comforting that all five of us in the home were throwing up. It wasn't just me on the floor by the by the toilet. You know, there's a when we're suffering and when we're being persecuted, when we're suffering for Jesus Christ, when we're being made fun of at school, or made fun of at work, or we have family members that won't speak to us because of our faith in Jesus Christ.

And this is happening more and more today than ever before, than I've ever seen here in the United States and even the world. People don't even want to talk to you anymore. They don't want to dialogue with you. You're now a fascist. You're a what is it, a Christian nationalist. And however they can label you to set you off on the shelf and put you to the side. Even though you aren't a fascist, you're not a quote unquote Christian nationalist, even though you're a Christian and you love our nation perhaps.

But it's happening more than ever. And and beloved in Christ, take it as it is, as as persecution, as suffering for Jesus Christ. And you're not alone in your suffering. As a matter of fact, we are those who are barely tasting what's happening every day in China or even you know, worse, believe it or not, in North Korea or other countries. Uh you go to a most Islamic states and you'll be killed if you're a Christian. And if not, then you're paid to have you have to pay a heavy tax every month. Et cetera, et cetera.

And so and it's interesting though how Paul again is letting the church know, look, you're not alone in your suffering. They they also killed the Lord Jesus. They killed their own prophets. They persecuted us. And they do not please God and are contrary to all men.

Now, again, Paul is speaking some biblical truths about those there in Israel, those there in Judea. The Jews there who persecuted other Jews that had become Christians. And Paul gives specific examples. Notice he says, "They they basically they persecuted and killed Jesus. They persecuted their own prophets. They persecuted Paul and other Jewish Christians."

Now, even though they thought they were pleasing God, they were not pleasing God. You know, because it even goes on to say here within our text, "They do not please God." Even Paul when he first went out, if you remember, he was all zealous to go round up the Christians. And he thought he was because he was pleasing God.

And so they have this sense of zealousness, but not according to Godliness, if you will. Now it was the Jews, by the way, that did kill Jesus. They put Jesus, you know, they brought him to Pilate to be put to death. The Bible clearly tells us this.

And so we have to acknowledge that that the Jews actually did bring Jesus and they, you know, when Pilate brought him out, you know, "What do you want me to do?" "Crucify him, crucify him." We we know this. But did you know the Bible also tells us that the Romans put Jesus to death as well? First Corinthians chapter two, verse eight. "Which none of the rulers of this age knew for had they known," rulers of this age would have been the rulers of Rome, would have been Pilate, those, "they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."

So we see here that our text says it was the Jews that killed Jesus, which they, you know, definitely had a hand in. We also see that it the Romans had a hand in crucifying Jesus. It was the actual Romans who put Jesus on the cross. Now, the Bible also tells us that we put Jesus to death. Hebrews chapter two, verse nine, "But we are able to see Jesus who was ranked lower than the angels for a little while, crowned with glory and honor because of his his having suffered death in order that by the grace, unmerited favor of God to us sinners, he might experience death for every individual person."

So, here we have three people being blamed. How about a fourth? Are you ready for a fourth? Remember, none of this happened without Jesus truly freely choosing to do it. John 10:17 and 18, "Therefore my father loves me because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it again. This command I have received from my father."

Now, why am I saying this? Because today, and sadly, and even most wickedly, there are more and more people within the church that are blaming the Jewish people for the death of Jesus. It's a wicked thing. Maybe some are here today. You believe, "Well, you know, I don't like the Jewish people because they killed Jesus." And they use this excuse even around the world today. Many falsely in the name of Jesus, but they'll, you know, it's it's an excuse for them to hate the Jews all over the world. And we see anti-Semitism raising and rising like it's never been before, at least in our lifetimes.

Then they falsely go on to accuse the Jewish people of crazy and evil things. "Oh, they're ruling the world, don't you know, Dr. Evil" kind of stuff. And they they believe so many lies about them from the Father of Lies, the devil. Because they have seemingly come to hate the Jewish people so much. And remember, all in the name of Jesus, "Well, they killed my Jesus after all."

Now, it's true, but not totally true. Let's say you do hate the the Jews for that. Do you also hate every Roman that you come into contact with? Do you also hate every other person in the world, including yourself? Do we also hate God Himself for coming and laying down his own life? Most certainly not. Right there in that those few simple words shows that everything else is Satan simple and blatant anti-Semitism and hatred of God's chosen people. Period.

By the way, let me just say this as well. And you've heard me say this before. We as Christians, we're not allowed to hate anyone. There's not one person you can say that you're able to hate. You can't hate Stalin or Hitler. You can't hate Trump or Barack Obama. You can't hate anybody. We can't hate the Jews. We can't hate those who persecute us. That is not the spirit that has been given to us, beloved in Christ, if we are of Christ.

And in these days we need to be more founded in this, I believe, than ever, because I'm telling you what, especially those if you're on TikTok, if you're on Instagram, if you're on Facebook or X, or even watch any of the news, there are so many lies about the Jewish people that are being that are out there. And sadly, so many of the young people especially, but a lot of older people, they're falling into these lies. "Oh, well, they, you know, you know, all this they, uh they're doing this, they're exterminating all the people there in Palestine."

What? Really? And and I I know people that that say they love Jesus and believe lies like that. Be careful, beloved in Christ. Be careful because that's all of the father, the devil.

Paul gives these examples. Notice again, here in our text, first they they persecuted and killed Jesus. They also persecuted their own prophets. They also persecuted Paul and other Jewish people. You'll remember Stephen in the book of Acts when he's addressing the Sanhedrin. He said, "Hey, which of the prophets are did our fathers not kill? Which and you guys killed the Messiah, by the way."

And they ground their teeth and they got so mad. So they they persecuted and they also persecuted Paul and and and other Jewish Christians. Notice in verse 16, this is even the part of the persecution went on, "Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved." So as always fill up the measure of their sins, "but wrath is come upon them to the uttermost." So hard have the hearts of the Jewish people become, most of them, that they didn't even want the Jewish people to be saved. Or excuse me, the Gentiles to be saved.

Yet their own vitriol against Jesus and Christians, it says here in our text, um where it says there, "So they always fill up the measure of their sins." The new living says that they continue to pile up their sins. So not only had they most of the nation of Israel rejected Jesus, crucified Jesus. Now they're adding up onto those sins as they persecute the the Jews who had come to faith in Christ, and also now don't even want the Gentiles to to be saved.

So the Jews hated even more so that Paul and other Jewish Christians were going and bringing the gospel to Gentiles. Now, have you ever thought about this? Think check this out. If they truly did not believe in Jesus, his death and resurrection, that Jesus was the Messiah, that he brought the true gospel, then why would they care if Paul and other Jews brought a false gospel to the Gentiles?

You ever think about it that way? That's pretty crazy. Why would they even care? It's like, go ahead. Get out of here. Go bring it to No, they they Satan knew that that what that what Jesus claimed to be was true. Satan knew that Jesus had risen from the dead. Satan knew that what Peter and Paul and the others the the gospel that they gave was true. And and so remember, that at this time because the the nation of Israel had rejected God, rejected His Messiah. The they basically their hearts have been hardened.

And so Satan did everything he could to stop them, even using the people, most of the people of Israel, um again, those who say that they're believers, right? Say they were loved God. And yet they act totally contrary to God. Be careful, beloved in Christ, that we don't do the same thing. Can become so easy to get caught up in the things of the world, the ways of the world, and and and and kind of start acting contrary to how we're to be acting as we're told biblically. Be careful of that.

Now, so again, the Jews thought even you know, sharing the gospel with the Gentiles, uh was blasphemy, which again is weird if they didn't believe it was really true. And so even though they have to realize that they didn't want the Gentiles to be saved. They didn't think the Gentiles could be saved, but again, that goes against scripture after scripture, after scripture. Let's look at a few.

Genesis 12:1-3, "Now the Lord had said to Abraham, 'Get out of your country, from your family, and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless those you. I will curse him who curses you, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'" By the way, Abraham was a Gentile at this time. What? He was. Notice, "all the families of the earth shall in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." So again, that includes all the families, includes what? All the families, including the Gentiles. But the Jewish people were forgetting this. This is the leaders.

Genesis 18:17-18, "Then the Lord said, 'Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?'" Genesis 22:18, "In your seed," singular Paul points out in Galatians, I believe it is, uh that um, you know, coming that Jesus was going to come, "and in in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice." Notice again, he doesn't say only your descendants. "All the nations of the earth."

Genesis 26:4-5, "And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven. I will give your descendants all these lands, and in your seed and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because Abraham obeyed my voice, kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, my laws."

Genesis 28:14-15, "Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west, to the east, to the north, and to the south. And in you all your in all your seed, all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go." Check this out, ready? This is happening today. Ready? Here, we're seeing this happen. Um, "and I will and will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you." Notice again, it's not about the Jewish people being faithful. It is about God doing what He has said to them.

Psalm 72:17, "And his name shall endure forever. His name shall continue as long as the sun. And men shall be blessed in him. All nations shall call him blessed." Galatians 3:8-9, "And the scripture foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith," because Paul is explaining what we a lot of what we just read, "preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, 'In you all the nations shall be blessed.' So then all of then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. We're blessed right along with him."

Now remember what back if you just glance back in 14. Verse 14 here in our text, second first Thessalonians chapter two. Look back at verse 14. Remember how at the end of that it said, you know, "For you brethren became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea, in Christ Jesus."

You see, beloved in Christ, that's who we are now positionally. We are now in Jesus Christ. Once we are born again of the Spirit of God, yes, He comes to live within us, but we now enter into Him. We are part of His body. We are now in, positionally, in Jesus Christ along with the Jewish people, along with the Gentiles. And it it all ties together here in Galatians chapter three, verses 26-29. "For you are all sons of God through faith." Guess what? "In Christ Jesus. For as many of you were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free. There is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ, then you are of Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Can I have an Amen? Woo! This is great stuff.

So, back in verse 16. Notice it says this. So they are forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles, notice, "but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost." The wrath of God came upon the Jewish people who had rejected Jesus, rejected the Christ that God had sent. AD 70 we saw the General Titus go in and just decimate Jerusalem, decimate the temple, destroyed. The Jewish people went into dispersion and even now today, most Jewish people around the world reject Jesus as the Christ, as their Messiah.

And those Jews still remain as we see here what Paul says, "but but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost." They still remain under the wrath of God. It's interesting to note that the the seven-year tribulation where the wrath of God is being poured out upon the earth for seven years, represents the 70th week of Daniel. That is towards the Jewish people first and foremost. The wrath of God remains upon them. Now, it's God's wrath will also be poured out upon a Christ-rejecting world. We read that as well.

But but we need to remember something that even though today the Jews remain under the wrath of God, those that have rejected Christ as their Messiah, not have not been born again. They are not going to heaven, even though they are still God's chosen people. We need to understand that unless they repent of their sins, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and are born again of the Spirit of God. But God is still working in them according to His perfect will.

Look, he brought he's bringing them back to the country that God promised to Abraham. I mean, thousands of years ago, and almost 2,000 years ago they were dispersed from it. And after almost 2,000 years, people are returning to their land, May 14th, 1948. And still even to this day, hundreds and thousands a week of Jews are coming back from all over the world back to Israel. That is what God, we just read that He said that's what He was going to do.

They are still God's chosen people. But again, that doesn't mean that they're saved, only that God isn't finished with them yet, and there's going to be a whole bunch of them getting saved. Now, God isn't finished with them yet. How do we know that? Revelation chapter one, um verses one through eight. I'm just going to read this. I was going to have you turn there, but Revelation 1:7 or Revelation 7:1-8. "After these things, I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth nor on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, 'Do not harm the sea, the earth, the sea or the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.' And I heard the number of those who were sealed. 144,000 of all the tribes of who?" The children of Israel. "See, God is not finished. Remember, this is in the last of the last days. This is in the tribulation, the seven-year tribulation right before the second coming of Christ. It goes on in verse five, 'Of the tribe of Judah,'" what who was it? Judah. "12,000 were sealed. Of the tribe of who?" Reuben. "12,000 were sealed. Of the tribe of Gad, of the tribe of Asher, of the tribe of Natali, of the tribe of Manasseh, of the tribe of Simeon, of Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and of the tribe of Benjamin, 12,000 were sealed. God is not"