Election, Faith and Fruit
Adult Sunday School - 10/18/09
Speaker: Shaan Sloan
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5
Series: 1st and 2nd Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 1:5 - 5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and
in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be
among you for your sake. NASU
A. for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and
with full conviction - Paul goes on here to give reasons for his knowledge of their election as he
stated in verse 4, “knowing, brethren, His choice of you.” How do I “know” you were
“chosen” by God says Paul, “our Gospel came in Word, and in power and in full conviction of
the Holy Spirit.” Their conversion was real and everyone knew it because it was plainly evident
by the powerful transformation it had wrought in their lives. When the Gospel came to
Thessalonica, these people were radically changed from their sinful pagan idolatry to a holy life
of worship unto the true God. Note here the convergence of Word and Spirit. The Gospel must
come by “word,” that is what the “Gospel” is, a “word” or message about what Christ has done.
James 1:18 - 18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might
be, as it were, the first fruits among His creatures. NASB
But the “Gospel” by itself, without the powerful work of regeneration by God, is nothing but
words. But when it is combined with the “full conviction” that comes from the “Holy Spirit,”
the result is new birth and transformed lives. This is God’s power in converting His elect.
Titus 3:5 - 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to
His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, NASB
1 Peter 1:3 - 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy
has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Ezekiel 36:26-27 - 26 "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will
remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 "And I will put My Spirit
within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.
NASB
This “conviction” is a powerful work of God’s Spirit whereby He causes sorrow over sin and a
longing for reconciliation to God, which result in repentance from that sin which caused the
sorrow, and faith in the life and death of Christ, the only thing that can reconcile us to God. This
repentance and faith is the divine power of God which He works by His Spirit in the conversion
of every true Christian. True repentance and faith are the marks of salvation, clearly evident in
the Thessalonians. When a person is born again by the power of the Spirit, they are changed, as
Paul describes in;
2 Corinthians 5:17 - 17 Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed
away; behold, new things have come. NASB
And so these Thessalonians were by God’s power changed from worshipping and valuing dead
and lifeless idols to serve and worship the living and true God.
B. just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake – Paul here
recognizes for them that he and Silas and Timothy were in fact examples of this transforming
power having demonstrated lives in which the power of God was plainly evident. There are
many professing Christians in the world, but fewer who actually demonstrate lives that have
been so powerfully transformed by the Gospel and the Spirit so that it is evident to all and so that
others “know what kind of men we proved to be among you.” The power and conviction of
these apostles’ Gospel was plainly evident in their life, and this was “proved among” the
Thessalonians by their very presence. Consider that Paul, Silas and Timothy had been so
changed by the God that they were now devoting their life to preaching the Gospel in places like
Thessalonica, literally hundreds of miles from their homes, and in what were many times, very
hostile circumstances. All of this they did at great personal cost, but for the “sake” of their
hearers, as he states “for your sake.” The apostles ministry was an amazing story as they would
move from city to city, and province to province, preaching the good news that God was now
forgiving sin based on repentance and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and that this ministry was
Questions? shaansloan@att.net www.heavenslight.org
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now “calling out” God’s church from every tribe and people. This was an amazing display of
selfless sacrifice on the part of the apostles who were so devoted in love to the church that they
would endure much opposition and at great peril, just to tell people about the great things God
has done in Christ.
2 Timothy 2:8-10 - 8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to
my gospel, 9 for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is
not imprisoned. 10 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they
also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. NASB
This was the command of our Lord being lived out in the lives of His Apostles. They had “lost
their life” for the sake of Christ and His Gospel.
Mark 8:34-35 - 34 And He summoned the multitude with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone
wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 "For whoever
wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's shall save it.
NASB
1 Thessalonians 1:6 - 6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the
word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, NASU
A. You also became imitators of us and of the Lord – Another reason why Paul knew they were
elect. They not only affirmed the truth of the Gospel by their profession, but it was accompanied
by changed lives. They “became imitators” of the apostles, who had become imitators of Christ.
And so this is the case for all true Christians, we not only turn our back on the dead idols of our
former life, but we now serve the living God. This is our constant pursuit and what it means to
“follow Jesus.” It is to live a life mimicking our Lord, and living lives of love as He did.
Ephesians 5:1-2 - 5 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as
Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
NASB
B. having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit - Consider here
the amazing example of these Thessalonians who not only turned their back on their idols, but
became powerful spreaders of the Word of God in their entire province and the surrounding
areas in just a few short months. They truly had become imitators of these blessed apostles. This
was clear by the powerful work the Word did in their hearts “having received the word in much
tribulation” as these Christians endured much persecution for their new found faith. The same
hostility which had run Paul out of town was now upon them daily, as they were being severely
persecuted which is indicated by Paul’s describing it as “much tribulation.” The picture here is
not only had they “received the word in much tribulation,” but now they were taking it to
“every place” around them because they had received it “with the joy of the Holy Spirit.” They
were glad to serve God in this way because the Gospel came to them with the supernatural power
of inner “joy” that accompanies all true conversions. “Joy” is the sweet fruit of the Spirit which
seasons our new life with satisfaction and delight in our blessed Lord to such a degree that we
are willing to follow Him no matter the cost, even if it is to a martyrs death! They had become
the children of God to their great delight and they were so happy and fulfilled that they couldn’t
keep quiet about it. But as is many times the case, Christian “joy” over the good news of the
Gospel is met with much persecution and suffering. Evangelical Christians have long been the
objects of suffering because people do not like being told that they are at enmity with Almighty
God and in danger of His coming judgment, and they don’t like being told that their false
religion is worthless in the sight of a holy God who has provided the only and exclusive way to
be saved through the death of a Jew, namely Jesus Christ. This bad news of the Gospel
engenders much opposition and vehement hatred at times which has spilled the blood of the
martyrs for centuries and made Christians the subjects of “much affliction,” and slander and
reviling.
