“For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full assurance.” – 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5a CSB
God loves you. God chose to save you because He loves you. God chooses you.
Intro – Read 1 Thessalonians chapter 1. “Thessalonian Church Origin Story” (from research notes) may also be helpful to read or introduce here. Context: Good News of Jesus brought by Paul, Silas, and Timothy facilitated the birth of their church. Something remarkable happened! This Gospel was also met with opposition (which continued). Out of concern Paul is writing to encourage them. This starts with recalling the amazing salvation they received.
“Some in Thessalonica, as in most places he went, found that something happened to them when they listened to his message. A strange power gripped them—the power that, Paul would tell them, was the Holy Spirit at work. They would suddenly understand what he was saying. It would grasp their hearts and minds. Paul and his companions, explaining the gospel to them, would become excited as they saw the message take hold, make sense, and begin its work of transforming hearts and lives. They had not come to faith by accident. God wanted them to be his beachhead into that part of northern Greece, a beacon of light to illuminate the world around. Though, as we shall see, Paul nursed anxieties about how they were getting on in their faith and life, his bedrock conviction was that God had taken the initiative in grasping them with the gospel.” – Wright, T. (2004). Paul for Everyone: Galatians and Thessalonians (p. 88). Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
“For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full assurance.” – 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5a CSB
Additional translations may help bring people into the encouragement of the verse.
“Brothers and sisters, God loves you, and we know he has chosen you, because the Good News we brought to you came not only with words, but with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with sure knowledge that it is true.” – 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5a NCV
“knowing, brothers beloved by God, your election, for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full assurance,” – 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5a LSB
“It is clear to us, friends, that God not only loves you very much but also has put his hand on you for something special. When the Message we preached came to you, it wasn’t just words. Something happened in you. The Holy Spirit put steel in your convictions.” – 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5a The Message
“For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 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
Chosen – that which has been selected
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises, of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” – 1 Peter 2:9-10 CSB
It is God’s grace that motivates Him to take the initiative (choosing us) in providing the opportunity for our salvation. God initiates and we respond. Here’s a brief further theology framework: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1v3dtdM3x6oZJ4zBlLX6731zv9U0YtQEsvgsQjEFEne4/edit?usp=sharing
God loves you. God chose to save you because He loves you. God chooses you.
What do we learn?
1. God has chosen to save us through Jesus Christ.
2. God gives this with the truth of Scripture, the power of the Holy Spirit, and with assurance.
What should we do?
1. Receive atonement, forgiveness, and salvation through Jesus Christ.
2. Receive this through the truth of Scripture, the power of the Holy Spirit, and with assurance.
3. Respond to God with heartfelt gratitude.
4. Read 1 Thessalonians 1, pray, and write one truth from it.
