With this introduction Paul shows the Church, Body and Family are all parts of GOD's Glory or the armor which we as believers, who place our confidence, hope, trust and belief in His Truth are now covered by His Light, Light being glory as it first covered Adam and woman in Genesis 2. And later covered the face of Moses which Moses covered with a vail to hide this glory. But with this also comes the message as given to the Corinithians in chapter 11 of his second letter, where we find this statement of rebuttle beginning at verse 1 through the end of verse 6, “Would to God you would bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that comes preachs another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him. For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.”
Here in Corinthians as in all of his epistles Paul is warning of the deception, twisting and perversion of his revelation gospel of God in Christ and Christ restored within our soul. Where Paul calls this the perfect day in Philippians 1:6 and Peter even eludes to it in 1Peter 1:2-3 and 2Peter 3:10. Both speak of the angel of light who perverts this gospel in a manor that is easly digested because of mans imaginations acceptance, these things also called vain, which wants and desires worldly things, material things to satify the hunger of the unredeemed soul, ruled by the flesh. Paul is here speaking of spiritual things as he does in the context of all of his epistles.
Back to Thessalonians:
“We [Paul counts those that are with him as one unit by the use of this word, “we.” And the fact that he writes under the direction of the Holy Spirit within him is also reflected by the use of this word. He thereby shifts the credit to the LORD the Spirit within] give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; Knowing, beloved, your election of God; For our gospel came not to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as you know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. You became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction [not in wealth and prosperity or physical healings but rather], with joy of the Holy Ghost: So that you were ensamples [an example to be imitiated] to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia [this could just as well read in New Jersey, Idaho, or even Wisconsin or more accurately any cities name as a larger unit or House of God's presence wherein He is the ever present One]. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord [they acted as messengers of the Lord's Gosple] not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God [I so wish that this was still so, but because of what Paul states later in 2Thessalonians and what Jesus Himself states it will not remain so for much longer]; And to wait for His Son from heaven, Whom He raised from the dead, Jesus, which delivered [this is a limiting term used in the pass tense form being that it may not remain so, if the wornings are not heard and properly acted upon] us from the wrath to come.”
Who
delievers us from the appointed wrath to come upon all the unGodly?
Jesus does! This is a play on words for the trained ear because it is
a line or even a circle drawn in the sands by God's own hand. Much
like the metaphor of a wheel within a wheel of Ezekiel, signifying
parts or stages for our sancification. If we fail to remain part of
the wheel we will fall away and become part of the worlds church of
unbelief, just as Israel as a nation has done. This wheel has like
all other wheels a hub or centeral post, an axel, which is Christ.
Because it is around Him that all things move, as He is both the Head
of a Family or His Church and Body, all being One unit. Each being a
metaphor for the other.
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