01 Feb '19 08:05>1 edit
We are forewarned -
Some may reason this way:
A. If the message of 1 Thess. 1:7-10 is credible then it is true.
B. The message is not credible to me.
C. Therefore the message is not true.
Such a one is hoping that premise A is true.
If it is a false premise conclusion C will not be the result.
The penalty will still be paid.
And someone may reason like this:
A. If the message of 1 Thess. 1:7-10 is explained well by Christian Jack then the message is true.
B. Christian Jack is not very good at explaining the message.
C. Therefore the message is not true.
Such a one is hoping that premise A is true.
If it is a false premise conclusion C will not be the result.
The penalty will still be paid.
The Christian as a messenger or explainer is not the enforcer of the penalty only a messenger, albeit not the best.
It may be that if the Christian badly misrepresent things that will be taken into account by a Perfect Judge God. Probably anyone smart enough to that will give them some advantage is also smart enough to realize he would do well just to believe the warning so that the punitive penalty is not paid.
Then there are those who just want to gamble and take their chances. They should consider the character of the Person responsible for the whole matter - Jesus Christ.
Christian ______ (even the Apostle Paul) may in fact be a poor example and explainer. We give him an D or F in explaining the Gospel of Christ. I would not put confidence in that situation rendering Christ's words as frivolous.
As it stands I think Paul is as good a conveyor of Christ's teaching as there can be. God would see to it that the most prevailing conveyor of His gospel would also be the most faithful example of a consistent disciple.
" at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of His power, in flaming fire.
Rendering vengeance to those who do not know God and tot those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
They will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His strength when He comes to be glorified in His saints and to be marveled at in all those who have believed (because our testimony to you was believed) in that day." (1 Thess. 7b-9)
Some may reason this way:
A. If the message of 1 Thess. 1:7-10 is credible then it is true.
B. The message is not credible to me.
C. Therefore the message is not true.
Such a one is hoping that premise A is true.
If it is a false premise conclusion C will not be the result.
The penalty will still be paid.
And someone may reason like this:
A. If the message of 1 Thess. 1:7-10 is explained well by Christian Jack then the message is true.
B. Christian Jack is not very good at explaining the message.
C. Therefore the message is not true.
Such a one is hoping that premise A is true.
If it is a false premise conclusion C will not be the result.
The penalty will still be paid.
The Christian as a messenger or explainer is not the enforcer of the penalty only a messenger, albeit not the best.
It may be that if the Christian badly misrepresent things that will be taken into account by a Perfect Judge God. Probably anyone smart enough to that will give them some advantage is also smart enough to realize he would do well just to believe the warning so that the punitive penalty is not paid.
Then there are those who just want to gamble and take their chances. They should consider the character of the Person responsible for the whole matter - Jesus Christ.
Christian ______ (even the Apostle Paul) may in fact be a poor example and explainer. We give him an D or F in explaining the Gospel of Christ. I would not put confidence in that situation rendering Christ's words as frivolous.
As it stands I think Paul is as good a conveyor of Christ's teaching as there can be. God would see to it that the most prevailing conveyor of His gospel would also be the most faithful example of a consistent disciple.