1 Thessalonians 1

The word church in 1 Thessalonians 1: means “a called-out people.” Whenever you read about a call in the Bible, it indicates divine election—God is calling out a people from this world (Acts 15:13–18). Seven times in John 17, our Lord referred to believers as those whom the Father gave to him out of the world (John 17:2, 6, 9, 11–12, 24). Paul stated that he knew the Thessalonians had been chosen by God (1 Thess. 1:4).

The doctrine of divine election confuses some people and frightens others, yet neither response is justified. A seminary professor once told me, “Try to explain election, and you may lose your mind. But explain it away—and you may lose your soul!”

We will never understand the total concept of election this side of heaven. But we should not ignore this important doctrine that is taught throughout the Bible. Let’s notice some obvious facts about divine election.

Salvation begins with God. “God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation” (2 Thess. 2:13). “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you” (John 15:16). “He [the Father] hath chosen us in him [Christ] before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4). The entire plan of salvation was born in the heart of God long before man was created or the universe formed.

Salvation involves God’s love. Paul called these saints “brethren beloved”—not only beloved by Paul (see 1 Thess. 2:17), but also beloved by God. God’s love made Calvary possible (Rom. 5:8), and there Jesus Christ died for our sins. But it is not God’s love that saves the sinner; it is God’s grace. God in His grace gives us what we do not deserve, and God in His mercy does not give us what we do deserve. This explains why Paul often opened his letters with “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 1:1).

Salvation involves faith. “For by grace are ye saved through faith” (Eph. 2:8). Paul, Silas (Silvanus is the Roman spelling), and Timothy brought the gospel to Thessalonica and preached in the power of God (1 Thess. 1:5). Some people who heard the message believed and turned from their vain idols to the true and living God (1 Thess. 1:9). The Spirit of God used the Word of God to generate faith (Rom. 10:17). Paul called this “sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth” (2 Thess. 2:13).

Salvation involves the Trinity. As you read this letter, you discover the doctrine of the Trinity. Christians believe in one God existing in three Persons: God the Father, and God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Keep in mind that all three Persons are involved in our salvation. This will help you escape dangerous extremes that either deny human responsibility or dilute divine sovereignty—for both are taught in the Bible.

As far as God the Father is concerned, I was saved when He chose me in Christ before the world began. As far as God the Son is concerned, I was saved when He died for me on the cross. As far as God the Holy Spirit is concerned, I was saved one Saturday night in May 1945, when I heard the Word and trusted Jesus Christ. At that moment, the entire plan fell together and I became a child of God. If you had asked me that night if I was one of the elect, I would have been speechless. At that time I knew nothing about election. But the Holy Spirit witnessed in my heart that I was a child of God.

Salvation changes the life. How did Paul know that these Thessalonians were elected of God? He saw a change in their lives. If you put 1 Thessalonians 1: next to 1 Thessalonians 1:9–10, You will get the picture: your work of faith you turned to God from idols your labor of love to serve the living and true God and patience of hope to wait for His Son from heaven

The person who claims to be one of God’s elect, but whose life has not changed, is only fooling himself. Those whom God chooses, He changes. This does not mean they are perfect, but they are possessors of a new life that cannot be hidden.

Faith, hope, and love are the three cardinal virtues of the Christian life, and the three greatest evidences of salvation. Faith must always lead to works (James 2:14–26). It has been said, “We are not saved by faith plus works, but by a faith that works.” If the Thessalonians had continued to worship their dead idols while professing faith in the living God, it would have proved that they were not among God’s elect.

Love is also an evidence of salvation: “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Rom. 5:5). We are “taught by God to love one another” (1 Thess. 4:9). We serve Christ because we love Him; this is the “labor of love” that Paul mentioned. “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

The third evidence of salvation is hope, waiting for Jesus Christ to return (1 Thess. 1:10). The return of Jesus Christ is the dominant theme of both of these Thessalonian letters. Unsaved people are not eagerly awaiting the Lord’s return. In fact, when our Lord catches His church up into the air, unsaved people will be totally surprised (1 Thess. 5:1–11).

Faith, hope, and love are evidences of election. These spiritual qualities are bound together and can come only from God. For further evidence, see these passages: 1 Corinthians 13:13; Romans 5:1–5; Galatians 5:5–6; Colossians 1:4–5; Hebrews 6:10–12; 10:22–24; 1 Peter 1:21–22.

A local church must be composed of elect people, those who have been saved by the grace of God. One problem today is the presence, in the church family, of unbelievers whose names may be on the church roll, but not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Every church member should examine his heart to determine whether he has truly been born again and belongs to God’s elect.

No doubt you have heard some preacher say, “If you ever find the perfect church, please don’t join it. If you do, it won’t be perfect anymore!”

Since local churches are made up of human beings, saved by God’s grace, no church is perfect. But some churches are closer to the New Testament ideal than others. The church at Thessalonica was in that category. At least three times in this letter, Paul gave thanks for the church and the way it responded to his ministry (1 Thess. 1:2; 2:13; 3:9). Not every pastor can be that thankful.

What characteristics of this church made it so ideal and such a joy to Paul’s heart?

From the very inception of this church, Paul looked to them with joy and gratitude as Christians worthy of the name. They were examples in several areas of their lives.

They received the Word (v. 5). The gospel came to them through the ministry of Paul and his associates. Many traveling preachers and philosophers in that day were only interested in making money from ignorant people. But the Holy Spirit used the Word in great power, and the Thessalonians responded by receiving both the message and the messengers. In spite of the persecution in Philippi, Paul and Silas had been “bold … to speak … the gospel” (1 Thess. 2:2), and the people believed and were saved. They never lost that eagerness for the Word of God (1 Thess. 2:13).

They followed their spiritual leaders (v. 6a). The word followers is actually “imitators.” These new believers not only accepted the message and the messengers, but they also imitated their lives. This led to severe persecution. It is important that young Christians respect spiritual leadership and learn from mature believers. Just as a newborn baby needs a family, so a newborn Christian needs the local church and the leaders there. “Obey them that have the [spiritual] rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls” (Heb. 13:17). It is not enough for us as mature believers to win souls; we must also watch for souls and encourage new Christians to obey God’s Word.

They suffered for Christ (v. 6b). In turning from idols to serve God, these believers angered their friends and relatives, and this led to persecution. No doubt some of them lost their jobs because of their new faith. Just as the Jewish unbelievers persecuted the believers in Judea, so the Gentile unbelievers persecuted the Thessalonian believers (1 Thess. 2:14–16). Faith is always tested, and persecution is one of the tests (Matt. 13:21; 2 Tim. 3:12).

They encouraged other churches (v. 7). Christians either encourage or discourage each other. This principle applies also to churches. Paul used the churches of Macedonia as a stimulus for the Corinthian church to give to the missionary offering (2 Cor. 8:1–8). Even though they were new believers, the Thessalonians set a good example that encouraged the surrounding assemblies. Churches must never compete with one another in a worldly manner, but they can “provoke unto love and to good works” (Heb. 10:24).

In every way, the church at Thessalonica was exemplary. The secret was found in their faith, hope, and love, for these are the spiritual motivators of the Christian life.

Their “work of faith and labor of love” expressed itself in their sharing of the gospel with others. They were both “receivers” (the Word came to them, 1 Thess. 1:5) and “transmitters” (the Word went out from them, 1 Thess. 1:8). Each believer and each local church must receive and transmit God’s Word.

The verb “sounded out” actually means “to sound as a trumpet.” But the Thessalonians were not “tooting their own horns” as did the Pharisees (Matt. 6:1–4). They were trumpeting forth the good news of salvation, and their message had a clear and certain sound to it (1 Cor. 14:8). Wherever Paul went, the people told him about the faith of the Thessalonian believers.

It is the responsibility and privilege of each local church to share the message of salvation with the lost world. At the end of each of the four gospels and at the beginning of the book of Acts, there are commissions for the churches to obey (Matt. 28:18–20; Mark 16:15–16; Luke 24:46–49; John 20:21; Acts 1:8). Many congregations are content to pay a staff to do the witnessing and soul-winning. But in New Testament churches, the entire congregation was involved in sharing the good news (Acts 2:44–47; 5:42).

A recent survey of church growth indicated that 70 to 80 percent of a church’s growth is the result of friends witnessing to friends and relatives to relatives. While visitation evangelism and other methods of outreach help, the personal contact brings the harvest.

But election and evangelism go together. The person who says, “God will save those He wants to save and He doesn’t need my help!” understands neither election nor evangelism. In the Bible, election always involves responsibility. God chose Israel and made them an elect nation so that they might witness to the Gentiles.

In the same way, God has chosen the church that we might be witnesses today. The fact that we are God’s elect people does not excuse us from the task of evangelism. On the contrary, the doctrine of election is one of the greatest encouragements to evangelism.

Paul’s experience at Corinth (Acts 18:1–11) is a perfect illustration of this truth. Corinth was a wicked city, and it was not easy to start a church there. The people were godless sinners (1 Cor. 6:9–11), but Paul preached the Word faithfully. When persecution arose from the Jewish unbelievers, Paul moved from the synagogue into the house of Justus. Then the Lord encouraged Paul: “Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city” (Acts 18:9–10). The fact that God had His elect in Corinth encouraged Paul to remain there for a year and a half.

If salvation were the work of man, we would have every right to be discouraged and quit. But salvation is the work of God, and He uses people to call out His elect “He called you by our gospel” (2 Thess. 2:14). The same God who ordains the end (the salvation of the lost) also ordains the means to the end (the preaching of the gospel). There is no conflict between divine sovereignty and human responsibility, even though we cannot reconcile the two.

We need more churches today where the people are enthusiastic to share the message of salvation with others. As I write this, 2. billion people in our world have no visible witness of the gospel in their midst, or no church body. In spite of the outreach of radio, television, and the printing press, we are losing ground in the work of reaching the lost. Are you an enthusiastic Christian? Is your church enthusiastic about witnessing?

Their work of faith made them an elect people, for they turned to God from their idols and trusted Jesus Christ. Their labor of love made them an exemplary and enthusiastic people as they lived the Word of God and shared the gospel. Their patience of hope made them an expectant people, looking for their Savior’s return.

In these verses, Paul related the second coming of Christ to their salvation. Because they had trusted Christ, they looked for His return with joyful expectancy and knew that they would be delivered “from the wrath to come” (1 Thess. 1:10). Paul repeated this truth in 1 Thessalonians 5:9–10, and he amplified it again in 2 Thessalonians 1:5–10.

When they worshipped idols, the Thessalonians had no hope. But when they trusted “the living God,” they had a living hope (see 1 Peter 1:2–3). Those of us who have been brought up in the Christian doctrine cannot understand the bondage of pagan idolatry. Before Paul came to them with the gospel, these people were without hope and “without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12). Read Psalm 115 for a vivid description of what it is like to worship an idol.

Christians are “children of the living God” (Rom. 9:26). Their bodies are the “temples of the living God” (2 Cor. 6:16), indwelt by the “Spirit of the living God” (2 Cor. 3:3). The church is “the church of the living God” (1 Tim. 3:15); and for His church, God is preparing “the city of the living God” (Heb. 12:22). The living God has given us a living hope by raising His Son Jesus Christ from the dead.

Two aspects of the Lord’s return must be distinguished. First, Jesus Christ will come in the air for His church (1 Thess. 4:13–18). This will usher in a period of tribulation on the earth (1 Thess. 5:1–3). At the close of this period, He will return to the earth with His church (2 Thess. 1:5–10; Rev. 19:11–21), defeat His enemies, and then set up His kingdom (Rev. 20:1–6).

The word translated “wait” in 1 Thessalonians 1: means “to await someone with patience and confidence, expectantly.” Waiting involves activity and endurance. Some of the Thessalonian believers quit their work and became idle busybodies, arguing that the Lord was coming soon. But if we really believe the Lord is coming, we will prove our faith by keeping busy and obeying His Word. Our Lord’s parable of the pounds (Luke 19:11–27) teaches that we must “occupy” (be busy; in this case, invest the money) till He returns.

Christians are waiting for Jesus Christ, and He may return at any time. We are not waiting for any “signs”; we are waiting for the Savior. We are waiting for the redemption of the body (Rom. 8:23–25) and the hope of righteousness (Gal. 5:5). When Jesus Christ returns we shall receive new bodies (Phil. 3:20–21), and we shall be like Him (1 John 3:1–2). He will take us to the home He has prepared (John 14:1–6), and He will reward us for the service we have given in His name (Rom. 14:10–12).

A local church that truly lives in the expectation of seeing Jesus Christ at any time will be a vibrant and victorious group of people. Expecting the Lord’s return is a great motivation for soul-winning (1 Thess. 2:19–20) and Christian stability (1 Thess. 3:11–13). It is a wonderful comfort in sorrow (1 Thess. 4:13–18) and a great encouragement for godly living (1 Thess. 5:23–24). It is tragic when churches forget this wonderful doctrine. It is even more tragic when churches believe it and preach it—but do not practice it.

Paul remembered how this church was born (1 Thess. 1:3), and he gave thanks for their spiritual characteristics: they were elect, exemplary, enthusiastic, and expectant. But churches are made up of individuals. When you and I speak of the church, we must never say “they.” We should say “we.” We are the church! This means that if you and I have these spiritual characteristics, our churches will become what God wants them to become. The result will be the winning of the lost and the glorifying of the Lord.

What every church should be is what every Christian should be: elect (born again), exemplary (imitating the right people), enthusiastic (sharing the gospel with others), and expectant (daily looking for Jesus Christ to return).

Perhaps it is time for an inventory.