1 Thessalonians 2:13-16

v13: "We should receive the word of God as the word of God." Unlike the words of human beings which "are frail and perishing, like human beings themselves, and are sometimes false, foolish, and fickle... God's word is holy, wise, just, and faithful and, like its author, lives and lasts forever." We should receive the word, and when we do by faith, it does us good, converting our souls, enlightening our minds, and bringing joy to our hearts.

v14-15: It should not surprise us if we must suffer for the sake of the gospel. If in the past, enemies of the gospel killed the Lord Jesus, and persecuted his followers, can we expect them to treat us differently?

v16: "When the limit of any person's sins has been reached, and they have sinned fully, then wrath comes fully." Nothing leads more to this "than opposing the Gospel, obstructing its progress, and hindering the salvation of precious souls."