9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” (1 Thessalonians 1:9–10 (ESV)
The Scriptures are abundantly clear the God of the Bible is the One, True God. There are no other gods but He alone. All other so-called gods are idols and are not the living and true God. The Apostle Paul’s statement in today’s text was in harmony with the Old Testament.
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:4–9 (ESV)
6 Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. 7 Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen. 8 Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? there is no Rock; I know not any.” (Isaiah 44:6–8 (ESV)
5 “I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, 6 that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other. 7 I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things.” (Isaiah 45:5–7 (ESV)
“The intent of these words was to give a clear statement of the truth of monotheism, that there is only one God. Thus, it has also been translated “the Lord is our God, the Lord alone.” The word used for “one” in this passage does not mean “singleness,” but “unity.” The same word is used in Gen. 2:24, where the husband and wife were said to be “one flesh.” Thus, while this verse was intended as a clear and concise statement of monotheism, it does not exclude the concept of the Trinity,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.
The Thessalonians turned (ἐπεστρέψατε; epespsate) intensely, actively, and collectively. To turn means to turn about, or to turn from something and to turn towards something. The Thessalonians turned from idols to the living and true God of heaven and earth for worship, service and salvation.
The Bible also calls this turning repentance (Matt. 3:1-2; 4:17; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31; 20:21). Saving faith involves a turning from sin and a turning to faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. This is called conversion. All those who, by the Holy Spirit, turn from sin to Christ abandon the worship of false gods to honor and serve the living God.
Additionally, while serving the living and true God in the present, believers in Christ also wait for Jesus’ return from heaven. To wait (ἀναμένειν; anamemein) means to presently, actively and infinitely await with patient confidence the Lord’s return in power, might and glory. To wait the Lord’s return is a consistent theme of the Thessalonians letters (I Thess. 3:13; 4:15-17; 5:8, 23; 2 Thess. 3:6-13). See also Acts 1:11; 2 Tim. 4:1-8; Titus 2:11-13.
“As a result of the operation of God’s grace whereby the message was applied to the hearts, the eyes of the Thessalonians had been opened, so that they saw that their idols were vanities. They had turned from them to a God living and real. Here the true God is not so much pointed out as described. All the emphasis is on his character, which is the very opposite of the idols. They are dead, he is living. They are unreal, he is real, genuine. They are unable to help, he is almighty and eager to help. To this God the Thessalonians have turned to serve him continually, submitting themselves to him as completely as does a slave to his master, nay far more completely and far more willingly.
Now, turning to a God living and real implies turning to his only begotten Son and salvation through him,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.
Have you turned by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit from idols to serve the living and true God? May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.
Soli deo Gloria!
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