Living The Gospel Series

1 Thess 1:1-5 Living the Gospel

We are starting on a new book today – 1 Thessalonians. We will be looking through this book from now until May this year.

• This is a letter Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica, a young church he founded a few months ago.

• Paul has now come to Corinth but he was very concerned about the church and had been praying for them.

• Timothy came back from Thessalonica and updated Paul about the situation. 1 Thessalonians was the letter Paul wrote back.

To understand the context, let us read how this church was founded in Acts 17:1-10.

• 17:1 When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.

• 17:2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said.

• 17:4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.

• 17:5 BUT other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.

• 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, 7and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.”

• 17:8 When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. 9Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.

• 17:10 As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea.

It was a tense situation. Paul and Silas were forced to flee the place.

• They went to Berea (W), and then Paul went alone to Athens (S) and Corinth.

• He was at Corinth when he received news about the church.

Now we know why Paul was concerned. There was opposition against the Gospel when he left them. The young church was under pressure and facing persecution.

• Can they stay strong? Or will they give in? Can they withstand the trials without Paul and Silas?

• These are real concerns but Paul and his companions had been praying. They had been “constantly mentioning them in their prayers…” (v.2).

To Paul’s great relief, and by God’s grace, the Thessalonians stood firm in their faith despite the difficulties. They did not waver even under pressure.

• Not only did they remain faithful, but their newfound faith in Jesus became well-known in the region. What can we learn from them?

Paul highlighted 3 things he saw in them:

• 1:3 “…remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

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Paul sees three evidences of their transformed life – their work of faith, their labour of love and their steadfastness of hope.

• He wasn’t talking just about faith, love and hope but their actions of faith, love and hope. Their faith, love and hope can be seen in their lives.

• NIV: “… your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

They showed EVIDENCE of life change, SEEN in their actions and behaviours.

• They bear the FRUIT of a new life. It shows that their faith in Christ was genuine.

• They are brothers and sisters “loved by God” and “chosen by God” (cf. 1:4).

• Their lives are transformed and evidenced by their acts of faith, love and hope.

1. THE WORK OF FAITH

Faith isn’t passive. They trust God and it shows, despite the persecution.

• Their faith in Christ shapes the way they live.

• Paul says, “…our Gospel came to you not only in word but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.” (1:5a)

• 1:9b they “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God”. That conviction comes from the Holy Spirit.

True faith works. It can be seen, in their obedience to Christ, their faith and hope in God, and their love for one another.

• Their faith is anchored in the Word of God, which Paul had explained and proven to them from the Scriptures (cf. Acts 17:3).