Reality of Conversion

1 Thessalonians 1:2-9

Same text this week and next…peeling off one layer this week, diving a bit deeper next

Thought about calling this “The Proof is in the Pudding”

Goes back to 17th century: the proof of the pudding is in the eating

Brought up the thought of

Psalm 34:8 ESV

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

This text in 1 Thess. is about those who have truly tasted and seen that goodness

Indeed, taking their refuge in Him

The persecution started in Acts 17 never let up....

Context Issues

Paul’s visit was during his 2nd missionary journey

Likely had very brief time with them; so, new believers—growing in the grace and knowledge

…maybe as little as 3 or 4 weeks; til the rabble rose up

The teaching must have been intense…continual

They didn’t get everything right…but they were in the process of sanctification

Working on getting their salvation right

It appears that by this time…only a few months after the writing, that the Church consisted largely of people from non-Jewish origins …but it was a functioning church!

People had been truly converted

Reality Check

Many people relate a conversion experience

Prayed a prayer; walked an isle, raised a hand...

6 weeks later…6 months later... no change is seen

Romans 10:9–10 ESV

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

There has been confession with the mouth…no change of heart which proves the truth of what has been spoken

It has to start in the heart; justification is the proof

A package deal…relates to James’ faith without works is dead statement

Multiple experiences with folks like that…no fruit seen

Paul looks at the Thessalonians and sees results—one of his happier letters!

A NOTE OF NOTE: two mentions of the Holy Spirit in this passage

We have a true trinitarian statement in vv. 3-4

God and Father, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy the Holy Spirit

For Paul, there was no doubt about the triune nature of God

Remembrance

He (they) thank God ALWAYS

Something to learn from Paul’s life…continually prayed; apparently with the others

A component of prayer

If thinking of the model prayer, part of the adoration of God

Three items remembered specifically

Work of Faith

The were not stagnant Christians

Put feet to their faith…much of this we will look at in later messages

Quote from Rick Klueg:

If you’re saved and not serving, you’re sinning

Labor of Love

Whatever work they were doing was out of love; not guilt or any other wrong motive

Agape…that love as God loves…self-sacrificing love; directed to others

A rarely used word until the time of Christian writing

There’s philadelphia, brotherly love—a mutual love/shared love

There’s eros which indicates desire—a self-directed love; often in sexual terms…erotic

…not used

There’s storge a familial love, somewhat a mutual love…not used in Scripture

Agape is that God SO loved the world…kind of love

Steadfastness of Hope

Despite persecution, they didn’t lose hope in their salvation and the resurrection

An objective hope, not a nebulous “boy, I hope so” hope

Waiting for His son from Heaven

Whom He raised

Who delivers from the wrath to come

Understood that the wrath to come was far greater than whatever they faced in that day

The wrath of God to be visited upon all unbelievers at the end of time

The reality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

We are sinners

Condemned for our sin

John 3:36 ESV

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

A stark reality; God presents us with the freedom from that penalty

All we need to do is believe…but note that the other half of that is obedience

Recognition

Recognized the critical nature of their faith

Lived their faith…the change was noted

Others in the region are taking note of their faith

They became examples—others in the region recognized the difference

Shared the faith; verbally and visually

Response

In them

The visible effect of their conversion

The reception they’d given Paul & Co.

The signs of true repentance

Turning from idols

Waiting for the return of Jesus

(a better look at these next week)

Our response

Let’s check the reality of our own conversions

Is there proof in the pudding?

Can anyone see the reality of God in your life?

That’s a major point in the passage

Can people point and say: “he’s different” “there’s a change in her” “whatever they have, I want!”

If not, how do you fix it?

If you have confessed with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord

…and know that your really meant it…, not peer pressure, or getting that preacher off your back…fire insurance

An Intriguing Fact

…directly related to the change in the Thessalonians

Despite only a short-time of teaching, a church had formed

Paul offers very little in the way of correction on what/how they were doing/thinking

What can we infer from that?

The Holy Spirit was present, prompted their actions (v. 5)

The teaching must have been intense! Much information in a short time

How do we respond to these observations?

Can we sense the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives?

If you are saved, the Spirit does indwell you

If you don’t feel that, you either don’t have Him (and so are not saved—bought into a bad fire insurance company) or you have stifled Him—can’t even hear your own conscience speaking anymore

Are you hungry for the Word of God, devouring it ravenously?

That had to be the case in Thessalonica!

The Word of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit of God allowed an explosion…from zero to a functioning church in a matter of months

With the amount of the Word you take in daily, empowered by the Spirit you have…but may stifle…would you be a viable part of such a thing today?

Could Paul have written it about us?

Hunger for the Word

Start with devouring the it: opportunities abound; we can give you good suggestions

There are wonderful Bible teachers/preachers

Don’t have a Bible? we’ll give you one; you can download your favorite translation through many different apps

Don’t read well? Many of the apps will read it to you

Hunger for Service

Catch the importance of spreading the Gospel to a city, state, nation, culture and world that needs it so desperately