1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 4knowing, brothers [and sisters] loved by God, his choice of you; 5because our gospel did not come to you in word only but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of people we were among you on your behalf.
The long sentence of the prayer and thanksgiving of Paul and his companions that began in verse 2 continues in these verses. Verse 4 gives the reason why they remembers and pray for the Thessalonians. It is “because we know” (causal participle eidotes) of God’s work in their lives that the mission team prays and thanks God for the Thessalonians.
These verses imply that God chose the Thessalonians for this point in time for a special mission. Verse 4 should not be taken narrowly in the sense of election to eternal life while others are rejected to eternal judgment. God’s sovereignty is on display here in the form of grace and not limited atonement. Paul is thankful for what God has been doing in the lives of the Thessalonians. The key to verse 4 is the combination of love and choice. God loved them and chose them for a special purpose. They were the first generation of Christians in their city. Their mission was huge, and they were in the privileged position of being the ones to get the gospel out. There is always human decision involved in salvation. Paul points out five ways the gospel came to the Thessalonians that helped them accept it.
One way was the preaching of the word. The Thessalonians quickly responded in faith to the call of the gospel. Acts 17:2 implies that Paul and the team were in Thessalonica only short time, perhaps at least three Sabbaths, but likely a little longer. The Thessalonians had grow quickly in their faith. Paul’s preaching in the synagogue and other locations was not fancy rhetoric but the simple gospel. There were many people who spoke for entertainment, termed “sophists.” Paul was not an entertainer or debater but a witness to the power of the cross. However, the preached message needed to be clearly communicated in ways that the people could understand and respond to it.
Second, Paul’s point in verse 5 is that they responded to the power of God in the message of Jesus Christ. The preaching of the gospel contains the very power of the Creator (1 Corinthians 1:21-24). When the message goes out and is heard by receptive hearts, it will bring change and eternal life. The word of God in the gospel has the power to bring new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Third, the power of the preaching of the gospel came through the presence of the Holy Spirit. The message had divine origins and could penetrate and speak to people’s deepest needs because the Spirit of God know the minds of people and can draw people to the light. The Holy Spirit worked in the speakers and in the hearers.
Fourth, the power of the message through the agent of the Spirit resulted in conviction of the need to receive Jesus as Savior. Jesus said that he would send the Holy Spirit who would convict of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8-11 ). Conviction (plērophoria) can mean assurance or certainty. This assurance comes from faith (Hebrews 10:22) leads to hope (Hebrews 6:11).
Lastly, the Thessalonians experienced the power of the gospel through the testimony of Paul and his missionary companions. They lived out what they believed. The Thessalonians saw what kind of people they were, how they lived, what they said, how they acted, especially under the stress of persecution. People are watching Christians. A lot depends on our reaction to the situations of life.
These five ways provide a good model for how to share the gospel message today. There are two key requirements in this. One is the willingness of the speakers to obey God’s leading (in this case, going to Macedonia and Thessalonica) and follow through with bravery, even if it means hardship or persecution. The second is the openness of the recipients. We can be assured that if God calls us to share with someone, that God is already at work in that person’s heart. It is up to that person to hear, receive, and believe the message.
For older posts, click here.
Subscribe to Daily Devotions by Email