1 Thessalonians 3:2

THE ESTABLISHED CHRISTIAN CHARACTER

‘To establish you … concerning your faith.’

1 Thessalonians 3:2

All the Epistles are addressed to Christian people. This fact should be borne in mind when we consider the contents of any of them.

I. The Christian is to be established.—Consider what this means:—

(a) Progress. The foundation is laid; now the superstructure must be built upon it.

(b) Fixity. The progress is not that of a flowing river, but that of a building in course of erection.

(c) Strength. The building is to be no mere bower of branches, no tent of the wilderness, no shed for temporary occupation, but a permanent, solid house in the eternal city of God. It will have to stand the stress of wind and weather.

(d) Order. That which is established is not heaped together in a rude, confused formation. The true building follows its designer’s plan. The Christian life must be built on the pattern of its great Architect. There should be thought and purpose in it.

(e) Elevation. The house is built up. We begin at the ground and raise the structure, tier above tier. In the noblest architecture the upward progress introduces the finest features. So in the Christian life we should rise as we grow.

(f) Room for contents. The house has its inhabitants and furniture. The established Christian should have room for Divine stores of truth and holy thought, and for thief- and fire-proof safes which can keep his treasures in security. The complete building is not to be a solid pyramid for the sole purpose of hiding the mummy of its owner, but a glorious temple in which God may dwell.

II. The Christian is to be established by God.—Men tried to raise the tower of Babel up to heaven, but they failed in their pride and self-will. We cannot build up our own characters. God is the great Builder, and He is raising the structure of Christian life by all the discipline of daily experience.

III. The establishment of the Christian is assured by the faithfulness of God.—It is not yet accomplished. It took forty years to build Herod’s temple. It takes well-nigh twice forty years to establish the characters of some of God’s children. Nay, who shall say that the process is completed with the ending of this brief earthly life?

Illustration

‘The whole sweep and tenor of the gospel imply that God will not abandon the good work He has commenced; He has invited us to Himself, He has offered us perfect redemption in Christ. Because He is true and constant He will never leave His people till He has given all that His gospel sets forth, i.e. till He has completed the building of His Church.’