1 Thessalonians 1:2-5 - Hope's Steadfastness

2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.

Target Date: Sunday, 26 December 2021

Word Study/ Translation Notes:

2 - Thanks – eucharistomen – the Greek word where we get the term “Eucharist” for the Lord’s Supper – an expression of thanksgiving to God.

2 - Constantly – unceasingly, without stopping.

3 – remembering before – more the meaning that they were recalling the faithfulness of the Thessalonian church rather than they were remembering them in their prayers.

The word before means “in the presence of”.

3 – work of faith – ergou – common word for work, esp. in James 2. This phrase is in the genitive (possessive) case or ablative (source, proceeding from) case, as both are indicated in the suffix change of on to ou. In either case, the phrase could easily be translated “faith’s work” or “work produced by faith”, implying either the possessive or the ablative idea as both would be consistent with Scripture.

Both work and faith are SINGULAR, indicating a singular work of their common faith, since the “your” is plural.

The word “your” is likewise genitive or ablative, the faith possessed by them that produces work originating with their faith.

3 – labor of love – kopou – toil, trouble, bother – this is not just a result like ergou, but it is the effort put into love (agape).

3 – steadfastness – hupomonēs – endurance, patience – but specifically the root of the word is “staying-behind” or “staying-under”.

It is an indication of the word implanted into good soil: But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance. – Luke 8:15

It leads to hope and is born from tribulation: knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, - Romans 5:3-5

For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one. 35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. – Hebrews 10:34-36

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. – James 1:2-4

It is the reason the Scriptures were given to us: whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. – Romans 15:4

The hope of Christ – His justice and justice - is the source of steadfastness: If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints. – Revelation 13:10

Sometimes hypomonē (“endurance”) is translated as “patience,” but this word should be understood here as more of an active term (moving forward in spite of resistance), rather than a passive one (holding your ground).

let us run with endurance the race that is set before us - Hebrews 12:1

I think a military analogy is also fitting to portray this endurance. Imagine a soldier training and preparing for war. He goes out into the battle and, despite his extensive education, real war is simply a chaotic mess. It is frenetic and long and exhausting. Endurance and courage are his allies. The thought of giving up (in retreat or surrender) is natural, but that is no way to win a war! Not to mention what the commander, let alone the emperor, would say to a deserter!

3 – hope – elpidos – this hope is an earnest expectation in the object of hope, not a mere wish or even a goal. This would point to living with a single purpose, trusting in a single person, and expecting a single outcome.

Thoughts on the Passage:

Faith is based on the assurance that God has acted for his people’s salvation in Christ; love is the present (and continuing) relationship between God and his people through Christ; hope is bound up with the conviction that “he who has begun a good work” in them “will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:6).

That, says Lightfoot on the passage, is the natural order. “Faith rests on the past; love works in the present; hope looks to the future.”

YOUR is plural, while the work of faith is singular. There is an inherent unity in this state, even in the midst of withering persecution.

The point of these graces (work of faith, labor of love, steadfastness of hope) is not that they are pointing to a single, specific instance. They could, without a doubt, cite multiple instances to support these graces, but the graces here indicate a sum-total, a pattern of grace that provides irrefutable evidence to the salvation of those of the Thessalonian church.

The Christians of Thessalonica are not being commended for their behavior, obedience, or faithfulness; this list is not simply an acknowledgement of their good works, nor even the result of a pattern of good works.

These are cited because they provide uncounterfeitable evidence toward the salvation and faithfulness to God of this church. Faith’s works flow only from true faith; love’s labors only from agape love. The steadfastness of their hope is not in their eventual victory, nor even their safety and security in this world – their hope remains steadfastly in the Lord Jesus Christ regardless of the world around them.

Hope’s tenacity –

we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. – Romans 8:23-25

“the world around them” is NOT simply the persecution they have experienced, not the fears stemming from that. The hope in our Lord Jesus Christ also causes us to put away our love for the things of this world, our sinful desire for gain or reputation, and our acquisition of power in favor SOLELY of the hope of standing faithful before our Lord on His Day.

instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of bour great God and Savior, Christ Jesus - Titus 2:12-13

Nevertheless, they had remained faithful to the gospel (cf. 3:6) because their hope was fixed on the Lord Jesus Christ.

their hope was in Jesus, whom they believed would soon return from heaven to bring about their deliverance (cf. 1:10; 2 Thes. 1:3–10).

Paul had become greatly concerned for the stability of the Christian community in Thessalonica because of the persecutions they endured and the temptations of Satan to apostatize from the faith (3:1–5; 2:14; and cf. 2 Tim. 2:11–12). But the Thessalonians had shown tenacious endurance in the face of extreme opposition and hostility (3:8). The source of this perseverance was not some inner resolve or personal strength but their hope in the Lord Jesus Christ

The hope they held was not some vague expectation about a better future but rather solid confidence rooted in the expectation of Christ’s coming. This was the strong foundation that gave the Thessalonians the power to endure and persevere in the face of the tremendous hostility leveled against them.

“Endurance” (hypomonē) is the third visible fruit that evoked thanksgiving. This is an aggressive and courageous Christian quality, excluding self-pity even when times are hard.

Endurance accepts the seemingly dreary “blind alleys” of Christian experience with a spirit of persistent zeal. It rules out discouragement and goes forward no matter how hopeless the situation. Such endurance is possible only when one is “inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” “Hope” (elpis) is the only adequate incentive for this heroic conduct. Christian anticipation looks to future certainties surrounding the return of “our Lord Jesus Christ.” This confidence about the future braces the child of God to face all opposition while persevering and continuing in the spread of the gospel.

It is matter of notoriety that hope in this sense does not hold its ancient place in the heart of the Church. It holds a much lower place. Christian men hope for this or that; they hope that threatening symptoms in the Church or in society may pass away, and better things appear; they hope that when the worst comes to the worst, it will not be so bad as the pessimists anticipate. Such impotent and ineffective hope is of no kindred to the hope of the gospel. So far from being a power of God in the soul, a victorious grace, it is a sure token that God is absent. Instead of inspiring, it discourages; it leads to numberless self-deceptions; men hope their lives are right with God, when they ought to search them and see; they hope things will turn out well, when they ought to be taking security of them. All this, where our relations to God are concerned, is a degradation of the very word. The Christian hope is laid up in heaven. The object of it is the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not precarious, but certain; it is not ineffective, but a great and energetic power. Anything else is not hope at all.

But here the Apostle characterises it by its patience. The two virtues are so inseparable that Paul sometimes uses them as equivalent; twice in the Epistles to Timothy and Titus, he says faith, love, and patience, instead of faith, love, and hope.

Can we say we have steadfast hope in Jesus Christ when we are dismayed by trivial inconveniences? How shall we stand when great trials are sent upon us?

And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. – 1 John 3:3

Sermon Text:

This morning we continue to focus on the third verse of our passage today.

Some of you will remember that these three things – faith, love, and hope – represent the confidence Paul and his companions have for the authentic salvation of these believers in Thessalonica.

And it is not simply the fact that they profess to have these graces, but that they are evident in the way these believers live their lives.

Anyone can say “I have faith”, or “I love you”, or “I have hope”, and they can really believe they do.

But the great proof of these graces is not in claiming them as your own, but in doing the things that grow out of them.

Being changed as a result of having them.

But also, the object or source of these graces must be God through Jesus Christ.

It means nothing at all to have faith in anyone or anything else.

It is not faith that trusts in anything else – another person, your own wisdom, or your assets.

Only God is worthy of our faith, because He is the only single One to prove unchanging and reliable.

Love not borne out of the abundance of love God has placed within us is eternally worthless.

Perhaps it makes someone feel good in the here and now to love or be loved, but if it is not rooted in the everlasting love of God, it will inevitably fail and disappoint.

We looked a couple of weeks ago at the work that faith will produce in our lives and in our church.

Then last week, we considered the toil of love that marks believers in Jesus Christ.

And this week, we come to hope in Jesus Christ, and the steadfastness, the endurance, it gives us.

I do not think the order of this list is accidental – it certainly provides increasing evidence for the salvation of God in a person’s life.

And, as such, it was this mounting evidence Paul and the others used to support their prayers for this faithful church.

Now, if you are listening critically to what I just said, perhaps your mind went back to 1 Corinthians 13:13 –

But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

The order in this case in the Corinthian letter is different, and, further, Paul declares that the greatest of these is love.

So how can I possibly say that the hope he sees in the Thessalonians expresses the highest evidence of their authentic salvation?

I do not want to digress too much to analyze this, but there is really no problem here – no dilemma.

In the letter to the Corinthians, Paul was writing to their specific circumstance, where they, at several points, had evidence of a failure of love for one another.

Factions.

Public lawsuits.

Arguments and division.

And the beginnings of cliques and hierarchy among the members.

So when he declared that the greatest of these is love, he was entirely correct.

It is the greatest – the one that will last eternally.

Faith will not be a great struggle when we are caught up together with Christ and spend eternity in His presence.

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. – 1 John 3:2

And at that time, hope likewise will change, because it will be realized every single day.

As time is measured, however time is measured in heaven, each new day will bring to us a new fulfillment of hope.

But love will endure forever, strengthening every single day for eternity as we find new reasons to love God and praise Him.

So that is why Paul declared love to be the greatest in the 1st Corinthian letter.

But here, he has a different purpose in writing this list, and a different order to present it.

Here in this verse, he is dealing with the evidences for authentic salvation, and the order is different.

That is not to minimize any of the three – God forbid.

They are all vital to a believer’s life.

To explain, I would invite you to think about all the people who you have known in your life who have claimed to be Christians.

The simplest virtue, in fact, the basic virtue, is that of faith in Jesus Christ.

Without that single one, in fact, a person cannot even be called a believer.

Because in the Scriptures, the word for “faith” and the word for “belief” are the same word.

without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. – Hebrews 11:6

In Romans 10:9-10, “believing in your heart” is the starting point for salvation.

The next great threshold is love.

Not just loving those who love us, or are kind to us, but truly loving others.

In the second epistle of Peter, we see the direct line from faith to love:

in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. – 2 Peter 1:5-7

As we saw last week, there is greater work, even toil, in love as it grows in us.

And for many Christians we have known, we see some evidence of true, godly love for others.

But hope in Jesus Christ, and the steadfastness it produces in the life of a believer, this represents the greatest commitment and the highest cost of a believer, because to hope in Jesus Christ is to hope in Him ALONE.

For the martyrs who were led to their deaths, we can truly see their faith in Jesus Christ.

We can see their love for Him and for those who were treating them disgracefully.

But without the HOPE in Jesus Christ alone, most would have turned back.

Because it is the HOPE in Jesus Christ, called in another place the hope of glory, that gives us eyes to see the surpassing worth of following Christ even at the expense of everything here on earth.

Consider the parable of the soils in Luke 8.

Recall that the seeds failed for many reasons –

Consumption by the birds – that is when the devil comes and increases the temptation toward the things of this world.

Falling on the rocky soil – when the word seems to spring up quickly, but trials and temptations wither it because it has no root.

Falling among the thorns – when the seed is smothered by all the other loves and commitments and hopes so that it cannot grow.

Then recall what Jesus said about the good soil in Luke 8:15:

But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance [steadfastness].

It is that steadfastness, that perseverance of the saint, that is the final evidence of the faith, love, and hope found within the believer.

Whether the steadfastness is in the face of persecution,

Or temptation,

Or laziness,

Steadfastness is the final mark of the authentic saint.

It is hope in Jesus Christ alone that kept the Thessalonian church steadfast in their commitment to Him.

And that word “steadfastness” – translated other places as endurance or patience – has a very special meaning to the Thessalonian church.

Because the root of the word in the original language means “staying behind” or “remaining under”.

And, you will recall, when Paul and his companions were compelled to leave Thessalonica in the night after the Jews rioted, the church, possibly meeting in the home of Jason, continued – even under the threat of persecution from the Jews and the authorities. (Acts 17:1-9)

They “stayed behind” – and they “remained under” those threats.

These were people who had been believers for mere months – and they remained faithful.

They remained steadfast.

Over and over again in the New Testament, steadfastness and hope are treated almost synonymously – because one is rarely found without the other.

Because without hope in Jesus Christ, there is no reason to be steadfast.

And as we continue to study this epistle to the church at Thessalonica, we will find Paul teaching a great deal about the HOPE they have in the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But while it is fairly common to find someone who has faith,

And we see many who will profess their love and provide evidence of it,

The rarest of these graces is the steadfastness of hope.

There are many who will work in charities and service for the sake of love.

But far fewer who will suffer the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ - Philippians 3:8

Ah, some might say, but that was Paul, not me.

I can’t be held to his standard can I?

God can’t seriously expect me to lose everything I have worked for on this earth for the sake of His gospel, could He?

To which I would reply –

Why would He not?

Where is your hope – in the earth or in Him?

Abraham had his hope – he had a promise from God Himself that his descendants would be a great nation.

But when he and Sarah could not conceive, he placed his hope in a different plan – a surrogate wife and earthly son.

Even when God declared to him that he was to have a son of promise – with Sarah – and he would be named Isaac, Abraham continued to hope in his own plan:

And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before You!” – Genesis 17:18

Even on the verge of the great miracle God would perform for him in giving them a son, he stuck to his own plan, a hope he could control.

How many of us, when God promises us a great blessing through obedience to Him, will rather reply “Can you bless me and make it cost me a little less?”

Can I serve You AND keep my little sins too? Why do I have to give them up?

For some He is calling to preach His gospel, we cry “Can’t I just be comfortable and still preach? Can’t everything be easy and simple?”

The reason we say these things (or we just think them or pray them) is because our hope is not completely on Jesus Christ.

O that we could cry out with David:

Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. – Psalm 73:25-26

We may be believers, but too often our HOPE is built on something else than Jesus Christ and our expectation of His appearing.

Church, the time is past that we should live for the things the world is living for.

The time is long gone that we should covet the things of this world, no matter how pleasant, or shiny, or how good they make us feel.

I won’t ask this morning if you think you are ready to die, to give up your life for the sake of the gospel, because of your hope in Him.

I won’t ask because it is pointless to think that we would die for Jesus Christ if we find it troublesome to do the most basic and rudimentary things for His sake.

Why would we give our lives for Him if we will not give up our sin for Him?

Why do we think we can continue to look after ourselves and our lusts, but if we were ever faced with the opportunity to stand up in the face of persecution for our faith, we would step up then?

Certainly in tribulation, the Spirit will give His faithful ones utterance,

But if our hope is not found SOLELY in Him, are we faithful – steadfast?

Are we doing everything we can do NOW to prepare for the day when we are called to declare our hope in Jesus Christ?

The trials you are experiencing now are your opportunity to train for greater trials, which are sure to come.

we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint - Romans 5:3-5

Do you truly long for the day when our Lord Jesus Christ appears?

Does it consume your prayers?

For the persecuted church of the New Testament, it was their great hope.

To the point that they even changed their greeting for each other from “shalom” (peace) to “maranatha” (our Lord comes).

Every time they met one another, they reminded each other that this world is passing away, and our Lord is returning.

Our hope, our life, is not in this world, but in the next.

Our citizenship is not in this earthly country, but a heavenly one.

Our treasure is not in earthly things, but laid up, stored, in heavenly vaults awaiting our arrival with our Lord.

Perhaps the greatest picture of our hope, written to a severely persecuted church, is found in the book of Revelation 19:7-9:

Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ ” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.”

What bride does not anticipate her wedding day?

For what bride is that day not the culmination of hopes and expectations?

For the saints who will be fully joined to Christ forever on that day, that moment, that day, is worth the loss of anything else.

For those saints include those who have made themselves ready in the hope of that day –

Killing their sin and doing the work of the gospel.

It will also include those whose blood was shed for the sake of the gospel,

Those who cried out from under the altar when the fifth seal was broken by the Lamb:

How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also. – Revelation 6:10-11

The steadfastness of hope makes us courageous, not for the sake of being courageous as a virtue,

But because we live in the ever-present reality that there is no loss we can possibly suffer that will mar our hope in Jesus Christ.

There is nothing someone can take from us that will cost us anything we are unwilling to give.

If our hope is steadfast in Him, we can sing with Horatio Spafford, who endured tragedy after tragedy:

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,When sorrows like sea billows roll;

When sorrows like sea billows roll;Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know[b]It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain

It is well With my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,Let this blest assurance control,

Let this blest assurance control,That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!My sin, not in part but the whole,

My sin, not in part but the whole,Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:If Jordan above me shall roll,

If Jordan above me shall roll,No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,

No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,

But Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,The sky, not the grave, is our goal;

The sky, not the grave, is our goal;Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!

Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.

Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,A song in the night, oh my soul!

A song in the night, oh my soul!

It is well With my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, it is well, with my soul.