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The Scriptorium

Proof of Faith

Paul's theology of salvation in three verses. Amazing.

1 Thessalonians 1 (2)

Pray Psalm 51.10-13.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.

Read 1 Thessalonians 1.2-4.

Reflect.
1. How many evidences of true faith does Paul cite regarding the Thessalonians?

2. What did Paul pray for the Thessalonians? Why did he tell them he prayed for them?

Meditate.
These three verses are packed with Pauline theology. Let’s try to organize his thinking about the Thessalonians in a logical and perhaps chronological manner.

First, God chose them (v. 4.) The salvation of the Thessalonians began in all eternity past, when God set His love on them in Jesus Christ (cf. Eph. 1.4). The doctrine of election is not difficult to understand; we may struggle to accept it, but the Biblical teaching is quite clear. Unless God chooses to set His love on us, there is nothing we, who are dead in our trespasses and sins (Eph. 2.1) and enemies of the Lord (Rom. 5.10), can do to be saved.

Next comes the faith these Thessalonians expressed (v. 3), which itself is a work of the Holy Spirit, and, thus, of the grace of God (cf. Gal. 4.6). Faith immediately issued in work, love, and patience. Faith empowers work, enables love, and engenders hope, which focuses on seeing Jesus upon His return (v. 3). All this is done “in the sight of our God and Father” (v. 4), that is, with a view to pleasing Him. And all this – election, saving faith, works and love that sanctify and serve, and hoping toward the coming of Christ – is the work of God’s grace, for which continuous thanks and praise are due to our God (v. 2).

Paul says he knows that the Thessalonians belong to God the Father and to Jesus Christ because of the evidence of faith he has observed in them (v. 4). If we want people to know we are saved, it will take more than just saying so; we need to let faith, focused on Jesus and conscious of living before God, empower us for good works and enable us to love God and our neighbors.

Do you see such evidence at work in you? Apart from such evidence, how can you know that your faith is real and true (Heb. 11.1)? The more we contemplate the grace of God toward us,  and live the proof of our faith, the more we, too, will praise and thank Him without ceasing, and thus fulfill our calling to glorify God.

Prepare.
1. We’re not saved by works, but we’re not saved without them. Explain.

2. Concerning our salvation in Jesus Christ, we can say that we are saved, we are being saved, and we will be saved. How do you see each of these mentioned in these verses?

3. Do you think believers should pray more for one another? How can doing so increase praise and thanks to God, and give us reasons to boast about Him?

The participle knowing may apply to Paul as well as to the Thessalonians. Erasmus refers it to the Thessalonians. I prefer to follow Chrysostom, who understands it of Paul and his colleagues, for it is (as it appears to me) a more ample confirmation of the foregoing statement. For it tended in no small degree to recommend them―that God himself had testified by many tokens, that they were acceptable and dear to him. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 1.4

Lord, bring forth in me today abundant evidence of Your saving, sanctifying, and empowering grace, so that…

Pray Psalm 51.14-19.

Pray for the people you will encounter today, that the Lord might allow you to share Jesus’ love with someone in your Personal Mission Field.

Sing to the Lord.
Psalm 51.14-19 (He Leadeth Me)
Deliver us, from guilt, O Lord, 
You Who have saved us by Your Word; 
and let our tongues Your mercy bless, 
and sing of Your great righteousness!
Refrain vv. 15, 18
Lord, open now our lips to raise
to You sweet songs of joyous praise!
Thus let Your favor on us fall, 
and build and strengthen Zion’s wall!

No sacrifice, no offering
would You have us, Your people, bring; 
but broken spirits, cleansed of lies, 
and pure hearts You will not despise.
Refrain

Now build Your Church, raise high the wall
of those who on Your mercy call.
And take our lives and let them be
sweet sacrifices, Lord, to Thee!
Refrain

T. M. Moore

Where do 1 and 2 Thessalonians fit in the unfolding of God’s covenant? Order our workbook, God’s Covenant, and find out how all Scripture fits within this redemptive framework (click here).

Forward today’s study to some friends, and challenge them to study with you through this series on 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Each week’s lessons will be available as a free PDF download at the end of the week. Get a copy for yourself and send the link to the download to your friends. Plan to meet weekly to study Paul’s ministry and prepare for your own.


If you value Scriptorium as a free resource for your walk with the Lord, please consider supporting our work with your gifts and offerings. You can contribute to The Fellowship by clicking the Contribute button  at the website or by sending your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

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