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I Thessalonians 1
! Introduction
On the first Sunday of the new year, it seems appropriate to reflect on things that will set a direction for the new year.
As the old year closed, we gathered to think about all that God had done last year.
How wonderful to see the grace of God and to apprehend how He has guided and provided.
At this time of year, we also naturally think about the new year.
For many it becomes a time for new beginnings - a new diet, exercise program, or some other “new year’s resolution.”
As followers of Christ, this is also a good time to evaluate our direction and perhaps consider new beginnings.
One of the gifts I received for Christmas was this three foot level.
I like to do projects around the house and I like to know if I am doing it right.
A level is a standard against which other things are measured.
If I place it on this pulpit, for example, it will reveal if the pulpit is level.
This instrument is the standard of level and any imperfections measured against it will be revealed.
As we begin a new year, it is a good thing to evaluate our life.
Are the values, practices and lifestyle decisions which determine how we live our life the ones we really want?
Are they in line with Scripture?
This morning, I would like to begin a series of messages on the book of I Thessalonians.
Over the next few months, we will examine this book and we will learn about God, about ourselves and about how God wants us to live.
We will be encouraged in faith and in hope.
The first chapter of I Thessalonians is the opening of a typical letter of that day.
It always began, “me, to you, greetings,” and often included a word of thanksgiving.
So I Thessalonians begins “Paul, Silas and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians…grace and peace to you.”
Then the rest of the chapter is a word of thanks to God for them.
In this word of thanks we have a picture of how God came to them and how they responded to the good news of the gospel.
Paul praises God for His work and commends the Thessalonians for their response.
There are a number of things in this chapter that are a standard, a measuring tool to evaluate our life.
As we enter this new year, let us look at how God was at work in the Thessalonians and let us set our response to God alongside that of the Thessalonians.
Perhaps we can be encouraged and learn something that will help set a direction for the new year.
!
I. How The Gospel Is Received 4-6
In verses 4-6, the letter begins by describing how the message of the gospel came to them in the first place.
What is clearly evident is that it was a work of God.
!! A. God’s Choosing vs. 4
Verse 4 is a wonderful verse that tells us much about our salvation.
It says two important things, for which we ought to be tremendously grateful.
It tells us first of all that those who are God’s children are loved by God.
He addresses them in this way saying, “Brothers loved by God.”
This truth is powerfully presented in such verses as John 3:16 - “for God so loved the world” and Romans 5:8 - “But God demonstrates his love for us in this…”
Because of God’s love it says in verse 4, “we know that He has chosen you.”
The choice of the Thessalonians is demonstrated in the way the gospel came to them.
While in Asia, Paul kept trying to go further in this region, but was prevented.
Then a vision came of a man from Macedonia inviting them to go there.
The vision implied that God’s call was on the people of Macedonia and they were ready to hear the gospel.
Immediately they went there and came first of all to Philippi where they preached the gospel for some time.
When they left Philippi, they went to Thessalonica and preached the gospel there.
What was true for them, is also true for us.
Our salvation arises out of God’s choice.
This concept raises are a lot of theological debates.
Did God choose us or did we choose God?
Some emphasize God’s choice of us to the extent that they say there is no need for evangelism because those God has chosen will become believers.
Others emphasize our choice to the extent that there is a tremendous need to persuade and almost force people to come to Christ.
My understanding of this is that there is a tremendous mystery here.
The Bible tells us clearly here and in many other places that God chooses us.
Therefore, we need to recognize God’s choice of us and God’s initiative in bringing salvation.
On the other hand, the Bible also tells us very clearly that we must receive God’s gift of salvation and that the responsibility to respond is ours.
We cannot diminish the responsibility we have.
How to bring these two things together logically is difficult, but the truth presented by these mysterious ideas is not difficult at all.
In the statement, “He has chosen you,” we have a great encouragement that we need to hear.
Salvation begins with God.
He takes the initiative.
He wants a relationship with us.
He has provided a way to make this relationship possible.
He chooses us to be His children.
What encouragement, hope and assurance is found in this statement.
!! B. Spirit Empowered Proclamation vs. 5
The evidence of God’s choosing is seen in the Spirit empowered proclamation through which the Thessalonians had received the gospel.
Paul says that the gospel came to the Thessalonians not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.”
The story of their conversion is told in Acts 17. Paul went into the synagogue for three Sabbaths and reasoned from the Scriptures.
When preaching in Philippi, Paul and Silas were miraculously released from prison resulting in the conversion of the jailer.
There are no particular stories told of God’s power demonstrated in Thessalonica, but I Thessalonians 1:5 says that the gospel came with power.
It is important to recognise that when the gospel is proclaimed, there is more going on than just words spoken by human beings.
God’s power is at work in the midst of it.
One writer says, “eloquence is not a complete explanation of its effectiveness.”
“The gospel is not the presentation of an idea, but the operation of a power.”
!! C. Spirit Blessed Reception vs. 6
The evidence of God’s choosing is also seen in the way in which they received the gospel.
Paul speaks about severe suffering in verse 6.
The suffering he was likely talking about was persecution.
The Jews of that city were upset that Paul was changing people’s minds.
They stirred up the officials, a mob formed and they forced Paul and the others to leave the city.
When Paul and the others had left, it is very likely that the persecution continued.
Yet in spite of the persecution, they embraced the gospel.
In verse 6 it says, “…in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.”
God’s Holy Spirit came into them and by the power of the Holy Spirit they embraced the gospel message and became followers of Jesus and did so with joy.
Obviously God was at work.
Suffering for the sake of Christ while they were still such young believers, we would think would cause them to deny the faith, but they did not.
They accepted it and so it is clear that God did this in them.
I like the phrase, “you became imitators of us and of the Lord.”
They saw God in the apostles and followed Him.
As we think about this, it is time to get out the level.
How do we view our salvation?
Sometimes when we emphasize our response to the gospel, which we must make, we diminish what God has done.
Then, we may develop an attitude of “I can take it or leave it” and the strength of our relationship comes from our resolve.
If, on the other hand, we see our salvation as God’s work drawing us, changing us and making us his children, our perspective changes.
We become much more aware of God’s work in us.
We live with a greater sense of gratitude for God’s grace.
We develop a deep thankfulness that spills over into all of life.
What is it like in your life?
Do you recognize how much God has been at work in your life?
What difference does that make?
How does this perspective help form the values you live by?
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