Selected for Salvation and Service
The Protestant Reformation taught us that works-based salvation was false teaching needing correction. Christ plus the merit of good works left adherents without blessed assurance of God’s salvation. No one knew how many good works or of what kind would suffice to gain God’s favor. Works-based righteousness also denied the sufficiency of Christ, alone, for right standing (holy and blameless) before God the Father.
Despite their own trials and tribulations, the saved members of the church of the Thessalonians became a model (Gk. typos) church. No congregation of believers on earth has achieved sinless perfection because the believer maintains a sin nature in his sinful flesh (Eph 2:3). The introduction of grace unto salvation means that the Spirit-filled soul is willing to obey God. Hence, both good days and bad days occur in the life of the those born again of God.
As the Holy Spirit called the believers into fellowship in Christ’s body, He indwelt them. Thus, their election became evident as the work of the Spirit began to manifest for others to see. The Apostle Paul, in writing to the church, gave thanks to God for conforming the believers into the image of Christ Jesus (1 Thess 1:1–10).
Paul presented to them the familiar triad that marks every true believer: faith; hope; and love (1 Thess 1:3; cf. 1 Cor 13:13; 1 Thess 5:8). Each of these Christian virtues is afforded by the grace of God.
The Christian knows she is loved when God pours out His love in her heart (Rom 5:5). Faith, hope, and love enter when the Holy Spirit takes up permanent residence in the one who was chosen by God the Father and redeemed by God the Son (1:4). The Spirit is sent to regenerate each elect soul at the appointed time and through the ministry of God’s Word (1:5).
God cannot fail in exercising His irresistible grace to win a soul. The one who was spiritually blind can now see. He who was dead in sin is now made alive. The Word of God is powerful to accomplish all of God’s will. The reason is that the Spirit brings the Word to its powerful effect.
The Thessalonian believers in God the Father and in Christ Jesus had heard the Gospel preached by Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy (1:1; Acts 17:1–9). The Word of Christ appropriated by the Spirit of Christ gave the elect hearers ears to hear (Rom 10:17). Faith came to each believer when the Holy Spirit brought the heard Word from their ears — into their hearts and into their minds.
Salvation is still in process after one is born again. The faith that was granted to the new believer by God (Phil 1:29), is now a catalyst in the production of good works (Jas 2:14–26). It is the indwelling Spirit who is living and working the works of God from within the Christian (Gal 2:20; Phil 1:6; 2:43; Rom 8:28; 1 Pet 1:2). These good works of faith were prepared beforehand by God that each saint would walk in them according to God’s purpose and plan (Eph 2:10).
The sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit is producing godliness in the one set apart unto holiness; and the Spirit’s ministry through that child of God is a labor of love for both God and the exuberant Christian. What is better than serving the Lord?
Serving God in the power and wisdom of the Spirit is a joy for the slave of Christ, who is granted everything needed for every good work (2 Cor 9:8). It is spiritual bliss to be a vessel used by God to accomplish His purpose. The Christian becomes a witness to the works of the Spirit (Acts 1:8). Faith increases as testimony after testimony accumulates. The recipient of God’s goodness cannot keep quiet of all she has seen.
Love for God and for one’s neighbor becomes the motive for every labor. Paul called it a labor of love and labor done as unto the Lord. For the Thessalonian believers, it was to the point of exhaustion. The good report of this congregation had traveled throughout Greece…and beyond.
Finally, there is a steadfast hope that pulled these Christians toward the future. This complemented the faith that pushed them from one good work to the next good work. Hope in Christ does not disappoint the one who receives it. The promise of great reward in the new creation is bolstered by mounting evidence of promises presently fulfilled. God’s Word is true and does not return to Him void (Is 55:11). He who began a good work in the brethren beloved by God will finish that good work (Phil 1:6).
There is much for us to give thanks; and we do so to God for every believer manifesting faith, love, and hope. Here is essential evidence of God’s good work in the lives of those He selected before the foundation of the world (Rom 11:5; Eph 1:4–5). As these virtues appear, we can conclude that God has saved these people He gathers together in local fellowships and for service.
The true believer will serve without accolade or acclaim because his or her boast is always in Christ Jesus (1 Cor 1:31). The attempt of others to heap praise on one of Christ’s sheep will result in yet another good work of deflecting credit to the One who loved us and gave Himself for us. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift, who has saved us and put us to work.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
June 21, 2023
