As we are called to build up the most holy faith, we are to share our faith with others. Today's passage teaches us what it means to have faith that expands.
2 Thessalonians 1:3
We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.
We are called to build and live by the Most Holy Faith (Jude v. 17)
Faith and Love
Ephesians 1:15
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
Galatians 5:6 …The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
1 Timothy 1:5
The goal of this command is love, which comes from…a sincere faith.
The true faith grows and expands to love others.
Expanding Faith is...
1) Faith that examines
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test? (2 Cor 13:5)
1 Cor 2:15 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,
2) Faith that exemplifies
John 13:15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
1 Timothy 4:12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
1 Corinthians 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
3) Faith that exclaims
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes
4) Faith that extends
2 Corinthians 10:15Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand, 16 so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in another man’s territory.