The Power Of Truth

By Charles Simeon

"The Power Of Truth is a Bible study book that offers a deep exploration of biblical truth and its transforming power. Through his captivating writing style and deep knowledge of Scripture, the author takes the reader on a journey of discovery that helps them find truth and freedom in God's word.

From creation stories to messages of love and justice, this book challenges the reader to seek truth in all areas of life. With practical applications and personal testimonies, The Power Of Truth is a practical manual to strengthen faith and help believers live in freedom and wholeness.

Through the exploration of biblical truth, the author helps the reader overcome the lies and deceptions that can affect their spiritual, emotional and physical lives. This Bible study book is a powerful tool to help believers understand God's purpose and plan for their lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: FELIPE CHAVARRO POLANÍA INC
• Release date: Apr 22, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223289210

Book preview

The Power Of Truth

BY

CHARLES SIMEON

Contents

THE SITUATION OF THE CHURCH IN THESSALONIKI

THE COMING OF CHRIST TO JUDGE THE WORLD

DESIRED SKY SUITABILITY

THE PROGRESS OF UNBELIEF

MEN'S SALVATION TRACED TO ITS VERY SOURCE

GOD OUR BENEFACTOR

SPREADING THE GOSPEL

NOT ALL MEN HAVE FAITH

PAUL'S BENEVOLENCE

THE DESIRABILITY OF PEACE

THE SPIRIT OF VITAL CHRISTIANITY

EFFECTIVE APPEAL

DEATH ABOLISHED, AND LIFE REVEALED

TRUST IN GOD, A SOURCE OF COMFORT

STRENGTH IN THE GRACE OF CHRIST

CONSIDERATION IMPOSED

PAUL'S LOVE FOR THE ELECT EXEMPLIFIED

THE FAIRNESS OF GOD'S PROCEDURE

THE STABILITY OF THE PACT

THE SAINTS, VESSELS OF HONOUR

THE GREAT AIMS OF MINISTRY

SELF-ESTEEM REPROACHED

THE FORM AND POWER OF PIETY

THE LACK OF PROFIT FROM THE GOSPEL, CENSURED

THE CHARACTER OF PAUL

THE TRUE GOSPEL HATED

THE PRIMITIVE KNOWLEDGE OF TIMOTHY

THE EXCELLENCE OF THE SCRIPTURES

MANDATE TO THE MINISTERS AND TO THE PEOPLE

REFLECTIONS OF A DYING CHRISTIAN

APOSTASY OF OTHERS

#2210

"The Power Of Truth is a Bible study book that offers a deep exploration of biblical truth and its transforming power. Through his captivating writing style and deep knowledge of Scripture, the author takes the reader on a journey of discovery that helps them find truth and freedom in God's word.

From creation stories to messages of love and justice, this book challenges the reader to seek truth in all areas of life. With practical applications and personal testimonies, The Power Of Truth is a practical manual to strengthen faith and help believers live in freedom and wholeness.

Through the exploration of biblical truth, the author helps the reader overcome the lies and deceptions that can affect their spiritual, emotional and physical lives. This Bible study book is a powerful tool to help believers understand God's purpose and plan for their lives.

"The Power Of Truth is a transformational book that will change the way believers view truth and its impact on their lives. A profound and challenging work that will strengthen faith and help believers to live in the freedom and fullness that God has for them.

THE SITUATION OF THE CHURCH IN THESSALONIKI

2Thessalonians 1:3 -7

We should always give thanks to God for you, brethren, and rightly so, because your faith grows more and more, and the love that each of you has for one another increases. Therefore, among the churches of God we glory in your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you endure. All this is proof that God's judgement is just, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. God is just: He will restore affliction to those who afflict you and will relieve you who are afflicted, and also us. This will happen when the Lord Jesus will appear from Heaven in flaming fire with his mighty angels.

ONE advantage we derive from Paul's epistles is, that they enable us to see in them an infinite diversity both of character and attainment. Every occurrence in the different cities where the apostolic churches were planted, has given occasion for appropriate observations, which, though adapted in the first instance to a particular place or circumstance, are applicable in some considerable degree to the Church of God in all ages. In some of the Epistles the Church is presented to us in a decaying state, and is given suitable admonitions; in others we see it flourishing, and hear the counsels of infinite wisdom proclaimed to it.

The church at Thessalonica was of the latter character, and seems to have been eminently favoured by her God. It was also highly esteemed by the apostle Paul, and deservedly so, for it was conspicuous among all the churches of that age for its high attainments. The words I have just read will lead me to consider,

I. The happy state of the Thessalonian Church.

In her infant state she was highly commended for her works of faith, and labours of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Thessalonians 1:3. But here we see her in her more adult state: we contemplate,

1. 1. Their growing faith.

The Apostle testifies concerning the believers there, that their faith had increased greatly, being every day:

more vivid in its apprehensions,

more vigorous in its actions,

more uniform in its effects.

It is of the very nature of faith to look into things that are invisible, and to make them, as it were, present to the soul. And in this their faith had shown its growth, in that it had enabled them to see, almost as with their bodily eyes, the Saviour whom they loved, enthroned above all powers and principalities, invested with a fulness of all spiritual gifts, ordering all things both in heaven and earth, and, by His intercession prevailing at the right hand of God, securing to His believing people all the blessings of grace and glory.

They saw, moreover, as from Mount Pisgah, the land of which they were soon to take possession: the thrones, the crowns, the golden harps, all prepared and laid out for them, against the time appointed for the full possession of their inheritance. Of these things they had at first a certain vision, such as a man has of heaven on a cloudy night; but now, as when through a pure and cloudless atmosphere, a man beholds the vast canopy of heaven studded in every part with stars brighter than the brightest gem, so now his vision of Christ, and of all the inconceivable glories of redeeming love, was clear and complete. A corresponding energy, too, was felt through all the powers of their souls, accompanied with a fixed determination of heart to live for Him who lived and died for them.

2. His abundant love.

This was no less remarkable. In almost every church, partly because of the diversity of views and interests, and partly because of the weakness of our common nature, there are some comparative distances of heart, if not some real disagreements. But here the love of all for all abounded. One spirit pervaded the whole body: and time, instead of giving occasion to the enemy to foment differences, had but cemented and confirmed their mutual affection. In this they showed how much they had grown in grace, seeing that they were so greatly assimilated to the image of their God, whose name and nature is love. Happy, happy people, where the unity of the Spirit was so perseveringly kept in the bond of peace.

3. The invincible steadfastness of his perseverance.

Great had been their trials from the beginning, 1 Thessalonians 1:6; and though we know very little of the details, we are generally assured that the persecutions they experienced from their own countrymen were of the most cruel and bitter kind, 1 Thessalonians 2:14-15. But were they intimidated? But were they intimidated? No, they held fast the profession of their faith without wavering; they were not in any wise terrified by their adversaries. They had respect unto the reward of the reward; and took joyfully the afflictions with which they were visited, knowing that they had in Heaven sufficient to compensate them for all. They even gloried in the cross of Christ, and rejoiced that they were counted worthy to bear it for His sake.

How enviable was this state! But, in order that we may form a correct estimate of this state, let us consider,

II. In what light the Apostle saw it.

He knew not how to give flattering words to any man: yet he could not but declare that he considered his state as a proper subject,

1. 1. Of thanksgiving to God.

God was the author of the first grace they received, and He was also the giver of all the improvements they had made from it. From Him, and from Him alone, was all their fruit found. To Him, therefore, the Apostle gave the glory, as it was fitting that he should do, and as he found himself bound to do.

His was the creation of the material world, but the new creation of their souls was no less the work of His hands. True, He made use of the will of men, but He first implanted that will in them, and then made use of it for the accomplishment of His own most gracious purposes. From first to last He gave them to will and to do of His own good pleasure, being both the author and finisher of all.

So, then, we should also do for all that is good, whether in ourselves or in others. We would recognise Him in it, and glorify Him for it, and confess, in connection with it all, that by the grace of God we are what we are!

2. On worship in the Church

He gloried in them in the different Churches where he ministered: for he not only found pleasure in speaking well of them, but thought it of great advantage to the Church of God to hear of the progress which others had made; inasmuch as it would stimulate them also to greater exertions, and encourage them to expect greater measures of divine grace, to the end of their own more exalted proficiency.

This was the case with regard to the Corinthian Church. Paul boasted of them to the Churches of Macedonia, that Achaia had shown extraordinary promptitude in providing for the poor saints of Judea; and, in speaking of this to the Corinthians, he says, Your zeal has provoked very many, 2 Corinthians 9:2.

And so it must be with us. When we look at the Prophets and Apostles, we are apt to think it would be presumptuous to expect such grace as they possessed: but when we see common individuals, or whole churches, far exalted above us in all that is good, we should be ashamed, and never cease to emulate and rival their attainments.

3. Of comfort to themselves.

These graces, exercised under such peculiar circumstances, were sufficient to show, that there must be a future state of retribution, where the present inequalities of the divine procedure would be rectified: they were an evidence also that in that day they should be counted worthy of that kingdom for which they suffered such things. It could not fail, but that in that day a suitable recompense would be given both to them and to their oppressors: to those who caused their tribulation, tribulation, proportioned to the tribulation they had caused; but to those who had endured tribulation, rest, even eternal rest in the bosom of their God, with all the Prophets and Apostles who had endured the same things before them.

Now, to know this, must be a great comfort to them under their multiplied afflictions: and therefore I could not but declare to them, that, if they had, on the one hand, so much reason to complain, they had, on the other hand, much more reason to rejoice, since they had, even in these very afflictions, an evidence of their fitness for glory, and a promise that in due time it would be conferred upon them.

This account of them will also be of benefit to us, if we give it due consideration,

III. What lessons we should learn from it.

Two things it can teach us:

1. That opposition, however formidable, is no excuse for us to turn away from God.

What are our persecutions in comparison to what they endured? Yet they were steadfast, unmovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord. Should we then be intimidated? Should we hesitate whom to obey, or which way to go? No; we would take up our cross cheerfully; and having counted the cost, we would be glad to pay it.

The stony ground hearer, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the Word, may well shrink back, for it has no root in him; but the true disciple will go with his life in his hand, and will be willing not only to make lesser sacrifices, but even to lay down his life for Christ's sake.

We must not imagine that such a course of conduct was necessary only for primitive Christians: it is equally necessary for Christians of all times: and he that loveth his life shall lose it; and only he that is willing to lose his life for Christ's sake shall find it unto eternal life.

2. 2. That whatever degree of perfection we may have attained in the divine life, we must continue to strive for higher attainments.

Certainly the dominion of the Thessalonians was very eminent, even in the first state of their progress; for even then they were examples to all believers, both in Macedonia and Achaia. But they had not rested in their attainments: they had endeavoured to reach the highest possible degrees of grace, and through mercy had attained a very uncommon eminence in the divine life.

So we, even if we had advanced as far as Paul himself, should, like him, forget all that was behind, and reach forward to that which was before, and press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. We should aim at a perfect likeness to the image of our Saviour; and seek, if possible, to be cast in the mould of the Gospel, that every line of our character may be conformed to it. We must not think that nothing has been accomplished, so long as anything remains to be accomplished. We should seek to grow up into Christ our Head in all things, and be changed into His image from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord.

Application

1. How different from the Thessalonian Church is the generality of those who call themselves Christians!

Many have heard the gospel with little profit; or rather, "our entrance into them was altogether in vain, 1 Thessalonians 2:1. If we look for their works of faith, and labours of love, and patience of hope, as evidences that the word has come to them with power, we find no more than others have who never heard the gospel at all.

As to any visible growth in these things, there is no sign of it: they have continued from the beginning to the present hour almost the same people, perfectly satisfied with themselves, and not less unconscious of the necessity of any change, than unconcerned about it.

Let such persons neither think themselves real Christians, nor imagine that they can be counted worthy of that kingdom for which they have never suffered, never laboured, never cared. To such persons, the conduct of the Thessalonians, if exhibited before their eyes, would be rather an object of ridicule than of admiration and love; and therefore they have in themselves a manifest sign that they have nothing to expect at the hands of God but eternal destruction.

I beseech you, brethren, consider that in the day of judgment the righteousness of God will be so visibly manifested as to compel the whole assembled universe to recognise