+I. The love of God a preparation for the Redeemer's
coming.+--1. _The love of God is the love of goodness._ 2. _The love
of God is the love of man expanded and purified._ The love of man
expanded into the love of Him, of whom all that we have seen of
gentle and lovely, of true and tender, of honourable and bright in
human character, are but the shadows and the broken, imperfect lights.
+II. Patient waiting another preparation for the Redeemer's
coming.+--1. _The Christian attitude of soul is an attitude of
expectation._--Every gift of noble origin is breathed upon by hope's
perfect breath.
2. _It is patient waiting._--Every one who has ardently longed for
any spiritual blessing knows the temptation to impatience in
expecting it.--_F. W. Robertson._
_MAIN HOMILETICS ON THE PARAGRAPH.--Verses_ 6, 7.
_Christian Consistency._
The apostle commended with a warm-hearted eulogy whatever was good in
the Thessalonians, but he was not less faithful in administering
rebuke when it was needed. A number of the converts, not sufficiently
pondering the words of the writer, were carried away with the
delusion that the second advent of Christ would take place
immediately, and they abandoned all interest in the practical duties
of life--an error that has been often repeated since, with similar
results. Fearing the mischief would spread, and seeing that all
pervious warnings were disregarded, the apostle in these verses
treats the mistaken enthusiasts with unsparing condemnation. Disorder
must be crushed, and consistency preserved.
+I. Christian consistency is in harmony with the highest
teaching.+--"After the tradition which he [or they] received of us"
(ver. 6). The rules of Christian consistency were clearly laid down
in the traditions or doctrines taught by the apostles and were
enforced with all the weight and sanction of Divine authority. To
violate these rules is to "walk disorderly"--to break the ranks, to
fall out of line. The value of the individual soldier is the degree
in which he keeps in order and acts in perfect harmony and precision
with the rest of the regiment. A breach of military rule creates
disaster. Let the believer keep the Divine law, and the law will keep
him.
"The heavens themselves, the planets and this centre,
Observe degree, priority, and place,
Insisture, course, proportion, season, form,
Office and custom, in all line of order."--_Shakespeare._
+II. Christian consistency is enforced by apostolic example.+--"For
yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not
ourselves disorderly among you" (ver. 7). The apostles illustrated
what they taught, by a rigid observance of the rules they imposed on
others. Precept was enforced by practice. While the preachers
laboured among the Thessalonians, the influence of their upright
examples kept the Church in order. Much depends upon the conduct of a
leader in Church or State. It is said of a certain military commander
on taking charge of an army that had been somewhat lax in discipline:
"The presence of a master-mind was quickly visible in the changed
condition of the camp. Perfect order now reigned. He was a rigid
disciplinarian, and yet as gentle and kind as a woman. He was the
easiest man in our army to get along with pleasantly, so long as one
did his duty, but as inexorable as fate in exacting its performance.
He was as courteous to the humblest private who sought an interview
for any purpose as to the highest officer under his command."
+III. Christian consistency is to be maintained by separation from
the lawless.+--"Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that
walketh disorderly" (ver. 6). If all efforts to recover the
recalcitrant fail, then the Church has the highest authority for
separating completely from the society and fellowship of such.
Continued communion with them would not only seem to condone their
offence, but destroy discipline, and put an end to all moral
consistency. Such a separation from the unruly would be more marked
in the early Church, when there was only one Christian community, and
when the brethren were noted for their affectionate attachment to
each other.
+Lessons.+--_Christian consistency_--1. _Is defined by the highest
law._ 2. _Avoids association with evil._ 3. _Is a reproof and pattern
to the unbelieving._
_GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES._