Seeing is believing or believing is seeing - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5,

"For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction."

Paul was thankful to God for the Thessalonian believers. He told them he always thanked God for them and prayed to God for them, verse 2. He expressed his assurance of their salvation due to what he saw in their lives.

In his observations, Paul did not mention their baptism. He did not mention they joined the membership roll of the local church and sealed it by signing on to its "covenant", by-laws or constitution. He did not make note of them speaking in tongues, being kissed by the Pope, christened in the church or completing confirmation classes. He doesn't point out they made their way up to the "mourner's bench" at the end of the service or frequency of communion, mass, Sunday School attendance or contributions to the building fund.

Here is what Paul observed in these wonderful believers: he noted their work produced by faith, their labor prompted by love, and their endurance inspired by their hope in Jesus Christ, verse 3. He also points out that when they heard the gospel, their response evidenced power, the presence of the Holy Spirit and it brought deep conviction, verse 5. These believers welcomed the gospel message, with the joy the Holy Spirit brings, even "in the midst of severe suffering", verse 6. Their faith had become well known among other fellowships, "everywhere" because of their actions, verses 8-9.

Paul observed these believers embraced the gospel, not simply as the words of men, "but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe." Verse 13.

Paul made further observations about these believers. What these observations make clear is that there were changes in the lives of these believers that were recognizable, even to those they may not have met, as verse 8 might indicate. Specific, recognizable changes that existing believers recognized. What comes to my mind is that we ought to search out these apostolic observations in the Scriptures and replace contemporary notions of evidence of salvation with the apostolic and biblical evidences provided us.

These changes in the lives of new believers brings to mind the thought of how impossible it would be for an unsaved natural man, without God, without the indwelling Holy Spirit, un-redeemed and un-sanctified, to not evidence change in their lives following an embrace of Jesus Christ, with a new and real hope, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (now in conflict with the sinful nature within), to not look different, to not act different, to not be different. How could it be there is not a recognizable, a visible change in someone following such a truly life-changing event?

James asks a very important question, "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?" James 2:14. The answer is no. The faith that must greet the gospel brings life changes. If not, whatever it is, it is not saving faith. James goes on to say, "Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds." Verse 18. Real faith is seen in the lives of believers.

"As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." Verse 26.

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com