Category: Thessalonians

Election Part 1

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1Thessalonians 1:4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 

‘Election of God’ – Another Gentile group called the elect of God (Luke 18:7). No unconditional, eternal or personal election is meant here. It simply refers to the rejection of Israel as the gospel representatives and to the election of the Gentiles to take their place (Matt. 21:43; 23:37-39; Rom. 11:11-29). In neither case was the election absolute. All was conditional, as far as final salvation was concerned. Nothing was by personal merit. All were called to blessings, which, if properly used, would lead them to personal and eternal salvation. That these blessings and even the calling and election of either class could be abused, finally becoming useless and forfeited by them, is clear from the state of the Jews who, after being elected for 2,300 years, were now rejected and reprobate (Rom. 11:1-36).

In Scripture, there is not the slightest reference to an election of God whereby one person is chosen to be saved and another is not. There is no teaching that a man is saved because of God’s choice alone; there must also be the choice of the individual to meet God’s terms of salvation. It is the plan of God that is elected, chosen, foreknown, and predestined – not the individual or national choice of man to conform to that plan. The plan is the same for all alike, and everyone without exception is invited, chosen, elected, foreknown, and predestined to salvation, on the sole basis of the individual’s choice and total conformity to the gospel to the end of one’s life. Otherwise, one will be lost, and there can there be no exception to this divine plan. God’s part in salvation for all men has been completed, and whoever meets His terms will be saved. The whole program of salvation is simply that of becoming born again – becoming a new creature in Christ (Matt. 18:3; John 3:1-8, 14-18; 2Cor. 5:17-18) – and of living soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world ever afterwards (Gal. 5:18-21, 24; Tit. 2:11-14; 1Jn. 1:7; 2:29; 3:5-10; 5:1-4, 18). If one sins after becoming born again he must repent and turn from sin again or he incurs the death penalty like all other rebels (1Jn. 1:9; 2:1-2). No man who lives or dies in sin will be saved (Matt. 7:19-21; Rom. 1:29-32; 8:1-13; 1Cor. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-21; Col. 3:5-10).

To be continued…

Give Thanks to God

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1Thessalonians 1:2-3 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father

‘We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers.’ Being thankful for all things is a priority and state of being for all Christian. Thankfulness works against ingratitude and complaining (5:18; Col. 3:15; 1Cor. 10:10).

‘Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope.’ Three good things to remember here about these congregations: Work of faith … you turned to God from idols (1:3 with 1:9). Labour of love … to serve the living and true God (1:3 with 1:9). Patience of hope … to wait for His Son from heaven (1:3 with 1:10).

‘Work of faith.’ These believers had faith – not dead, speculative, or professing faith – but real, living, active productive faith (1:3, 5-8; 2:13-14; 2Thess. 1:3, 11; 2:17; 3:1, 9).

‘Labour of love.’ Their work of faith was backed by their labour of love. This is normal and the perfect scriptural pattern. The gifts should be exercised in love (1Cor. 13:1-13).

‘Patience of hope.’ This was the third of the great characteristics of these believers. Their program was Christianity in action and the verse could read, “faithful work, loving labour, and hopeful patience.”

The Thessalonians

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1Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

1 Thessalonians was written from Corinth about 54 A.D. by the apostle Paul and this was the first of the author’s 14 epistles. The theme of this epistle was to confirm young disciples in fundamental truths already taught them; to exhort them to continue in holiness, and give comfort concerning those who had already died in the faith. All the doctrines were taught to them during one month (Acts 17:1-9). Converts were mainly Gentiles who became outstanding as examples of demonstrating God’s power taught by Paul to all who believe (1:8; 2:13-14; 3:6; 2Thess. 1:3, 11; 2:17). The coming of the Lord is a very prominent subject in all chapters (1:10; 2:12, 19; 3:13; 4:13-18; 5:1-11).

‘Paul’ – In all his epistles except 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians, Philippians and Philemon, Paul calls himself an apostle. It may be that he was held in such affection by these congregations that he did not need to assert his apostolic authority.

‘Silvanus’ – The same as Silas, Paul’s companion on his second missionary journey. He took part in the founding of the Macedonian congregations (Acts 15:40-18:18).

‘Timotheus’ – was called Timothy (2Cor. 1:1; 1Tim. 1:2, 18; 6:20; 2Tim. 1:2; Phm. 1; Heb. 13:23). Converted by Paul on his first trip (Acts 14:6-7 with 1Tim. 1:2). Part Jew and Greek, uncircumcised, but a true Christian (Acts 16:1-3). A miracle worker like Paul (1Cor. 16:10). Paul’s companion from here on (Acts 16:1-3; 17:14-15; 18:5; 19:22; 20:4; Rom. 16:21; 1Cor. 4:17; Php. 2:19). It is believed by some that he was Paul’s scribe in writing Hebrews and Galatians.

‘Unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father.’ This and the second epistle are the only ones so addressed. Compare this with the other salutations in other epistles.

‘The Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.’ Twice here it is made clear that the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are two separate and distinct persons. Believers are in both and the salutation is from both through Paul.