4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.” (1 Thessalonians 1:4–5a (ESV)
How did the Apostle Paul know God had chosen the Thessalonian believers unto salvation? How could he be so certain? How can believers in Christ today know God has chosen them? How can we be certain God has truly saved our souls?
The Apostle Paul knew God had chosen the Thessalonians because of four indisputable factors. (1) The word of the gospel had been preached; (2) The preaching came with power; (3) The power was from the Holy Spirit; and (4) The Holy Spirit brought full conviction. Let’s examine each of these factors individually.
First, the Apostle Paul, Silas and Timothy preached the word of the gospel to the Thessalonians. The word gospel (εὐαγγέλιον; euangelion) means good news or good tidings. In the New Testament (NT), the gospel specifically refers to four truths: (1) God exists; (2) Sin exists; (3) Salvation from sin’s penalty, power and eventual presence exists; and (4) One Savior exists and this is Jesus Christ (John 1:1-18).
The gospel is individually applied to the sinner by God’s sovereign grace alone, through God given faith alone, through the person and work of Jesus Christ alone (Rom. 3:21-26; Eph. 2:1-10). This is the good news that came to the Thessalonians.
“Paul identifies the Thessalonians as elect because they showed conviction by believing the gospel. They placed their faith in Christ when the good news was preached to them. Paul’s observation regarding belief and election confirms Jesus’ own words, when He said that all whom the Father has given to Him will certainly come to Him and will never be cast out (John 6:37). Our faith is the instrument or means by which we cling to Christ for salvation, but it also reveals our eternal election,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
Second, Paul wrote that the gospel came to the Thessalonians not just in word (λόγῳ; logos) or speech, but also in supernatural power (δυνάμει; dynamei). The supernatural power was from God; specifically, the Holy Spirit. The Thessalonians became changed people. The Holy Spirit changed them (John 3:1-8; Titus 3:1-5). Here is what the Apostle Paul says elsewhere about the power of the gospel and the Holy Spirit.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16–17 (ESV)
18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:18–21 (ESV)
“And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:1–5 (ESV)
“Paul says he knows the Thessalonians have been chosen by God also because the gospel came to them “in power and in the Holy Spirit” (1 Thess. 1:5). It is possible that Paul is speaking of miracles that accompanied his preaching, but the account of the Thessalonians’ conversion in Acts 17:1–9 does not talk about any supernatural signs or wonders when Paul preached in Thessalonica. More likely, then, the work of power and the Holy Spirit of which Paul speaks is the power of the Spirit to release men and women from bondage to sin and generate in them a new pattern of living in obedience to Jesus,” continues Dr. Sproul.
I am an individual the Holy spirit released from bondage to sin. He alone regenerated me through the preaching of the gospel enabling me to repent of sin and trust, commit, depend and worship Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Since that moment of conversion, the Holy Spirit continues to conform me to the image of the Savior (Romans 8:1-17; 29-30). What about you?
“Certainly, this is how Paul expects the Spirit to work in the lives of believers—not primarily in extraordinary signs but in the putting to death of sin and the creation and cultivation of spiritual fruit such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22–24). If we believe in the biblical Christ and have a measure of fruit, no matter how meager it may seem, then we can be sure we are among God’s elect,” concludes Dr. Sproul.
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
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