Footsteps #94

Paul is also thankful before God because he remembers the way in which the Thessalonians have responded to the gospel. He probably hopes, too, that their positive emotional response to the praise Paul offers them will incline them to be more open to the concerns that he will soon express to them. The work of faith, labour of love, and steadfastness of hope in v3 is echoed in v9&10 in turning to God from idols (The past), serving a living and true God (The present), and waiting for His Son from Heaven, whom He raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come (The future.) These are the three tenses of salvation, the past deals with the penalty of sin (Titus.3:5), The present deals with the power of sin (1Cor1:18), the future will deal with the presence of sin (Acts 15:11) – turn, serve, wait! Christianity in essence! 

V4 continues the same extended sentence that Paul began in v2, with “we give thanks.” One of the reasons Paul gives thanks to God is that he knows God has “chosen” the Thessalonians. Unfortunately, some take this “chosen” idea to an extreme. They want to move the believer away from any focus on lifestyle or behaviour. Instead, they teach that our salvation depends on God’s choice rather than on our own. Such teaching can also lead to the idea that God’s grace is only for a few and that, once saved, a person cannot choose to be lost. Check out these examples of salvation being your own choice: Josh.24:15, 1Tim. 2:4, Rev.3:20. 

Faith is impossible without God’s drawing power. Yet, in the end, God allows human beings to make their own decisions regarding Him and what He has done for us. What He has done for us is “chosen” us in Christ. We have all been “elected” to have salvation. That some won’t be saved – won’t claim that salvation for themselves – reflects their choice, not God’s. God’s choice is for all humanity to be saved”