1 Thessalonians 2:16 "Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved..." 1 Thessalonians 2:18 "Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us."
In these passages of Scripture, it seems Paul is expressing a need that was
within himself. "I Paul" wanted to come to you. It was as if he
was saying, 'I need to see you again, but everytime I start to come that way,
something gets in my way.' He was specific in his feelings concerning the
"roadblocks" that prevented him from going to see the Thessalonians:
"Satan hindered us."
In looking at this verse of Scripture, I am wondering what was going through
Paul's mind as he penned these words. We might be prone to think of the
prophets and Apostles as being some sort of super beings; yet the truth of the
matter is that they were human just as you and I. They were humans used by the
Lord to establish His Word concerning our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
If we can understand that Paul was human as we all are, then we can understand
he was also subject to passions. James tells us that the Prophet Elijah
"was a man subject to like passions as we are.." (James 5:17)
Being human, they were subject to loneliness, anger, disappointment, and
discouragement. When you look at the life of Paul, he was constantly
being met with rejection which often led to physical pain as well as emotional
pain for him.
Paul said, "we would have come unto you." It seems there was a
desire within him to see these people again. What was it about these
people that caused such a deep need for him to see them again? If you
will, follow me through to the end of this one. The Jews were an obstacle
to him going to the Gentiles to preach the Gospel: "Forbidding us to speak
to the Gentiles that they might be saved." Paul's chief concern in
life was to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His Christ ordained life's work
was to preach that precious Gospel to the Gentiles. His desire was that
they might be saved. What were they to be saved from and Who were they to
be saved to? "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but
also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what
manner of men we were among you for your sake. (6) And ye became
followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction,
with joy of the Holy Ghost." (1 Thessalonians 1:5-6) Then Paul
writes at the end of that first chapter, "how ye turned to God from idols
to serve the living and true God." (1 Thessalonians 1:9)
Now go back with me to the sentence in the above paragraph. "His desire
was that they might be saved." What was Paul wanting the Gentiles
to be saved from? and What was he wanting them to be saved unto? If you
are a student of Paul's writing, then you know his fervor in preaching and
teaching eternal salvation is purely and simply by the grace of God through the
shed blood of Jesus Christ. He believed the final words of Christ on the cross,
"It is finished." Paul understood he could not get anyone into
heaven. The work of Jesus accomplished that. So what was he wanting them to be
saved unto? It is my understanding that Paul was wanting them to be saved
to the truth of freedom that is only found in Christ Jesus. Their idols
could not free them from guilt. Their idols could not grant them peace. Their
idols could not give them joy of life. Paul preached the Gospel to save
them from the entrapment of idolatry to the marvelous freedom of our Lord and
Saviour, Jesus Christ. There is a glorious deliverance when the truth of
the Lord Jesus Christ is brought to light through the preaching of the Gospel
of Jesus Christ.
The Thessalonians had experienced this freedom (deliverance, salvation) and had
spoken boldly concerning their newfound faith in Christ. It seems Paul needed
the encouragement of being in the presence of these people once again that he
might rejoice with them in worship and praise. How is it with us? Have we
lost some of the brilliance of true worship? May the Lord God Almighty
give us a refreshing in worship. May He grant that His people would be saved
into the joy that comes through fellowship with Him.