1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 9For they themselves report back to us the kind of welcome we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10and to await his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who rescues us from the wrath which is coming.
Word about the growth of the Thessalonians had gotten back to Paul and his companions as they traveled and ministered in various places throughout Macedonia and Achaia. Although Paul, Silas, and Timothy had only been in Thessalonica a short time, the seeds they planted grew and bore fruit. The Thessalonians had received them with open arms, in spite of the persecution from the Jews and evil people (Acts 17:5), especially towards Paul and Silas.
Specifically, the Thessalonians had turned form worthless idolatry to faith in the one true God. Greco-Roman cities like Thessalonica were fully of idols. Idolatry and page worship were a way of life for many people. This was a dramatic change of belief for these new believers. To “turn” required replacement. They had a new allegiance and new focus. They turned away from idols and turned to God. They did not wrestle with their faith, with one foot in the world and one foot in Christ. They were all in. They accepted the message of the one true and living God. This was not a generic faith in a generic distant God but a living faith in the message of God’s Son from heaven. They accepted the gospel of resurrection hope. They came to understand that sin has the penalty of God’s wrath. Idolatry in all of its forms will ultimately bring God’s judgment.
The only answer to this supremely serious problem is Jesus who rescues and delivers us from God’s wrath. Paul had obviously shared the full gospel during his brief time there. This gospel included the full story of Jesus: his life, death, resurrection, and coming again. This full gospel will save and sanctify those who put their trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord. This is an amazing story of people who were “all in” with Jesus. They still had questions and needed to grow more, but they had a good start and were heading in the right direction.
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