Their Election and its Fruits Another Ground of Thanksgiving
T. Croskery 1 Thessalonians 1:4-6 Knowing, brothers beloved, your election of God.… The apostle, Jew as he was, addresses these Gentiles as his brethren, and represents them as the objects of Divine love. "Knowing, brethren beloved of God, your election." I. THERE IS AN ELECTION ACCORDING: TO GRACE. 1. The election referred to here was not an election to external privilege or ecclesiastical relationship; for that might have had a very uncertain issue, and would not have been the subject of such abounding thankfulness as he expresses in this passage. 2. It was not even the call to obtain glory, which they had received through his gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:13, 14); for the election only realized itself in that call, Scripture always distinguishing the order of election and calling. "Whom he did predestinate, them he also called" (Romans 8:30). 3. Much less is the election to be identified with regeneration, conversion, or faith. These were its effects. 4. It was an election to eternal life, involving all the various processes of his grace. (Romans 11:5.) (1) It is an election in Christ (Ephesians 1:4). (2) It is irrespective of merit (Romans 9:11). (3) It is through faith and the sanctification of the Spirit (2 Thessalonians 2:13). (4) It is to eternal glory (Romans 9:23). II. THE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS ELECTION IS A POSSIBLE AND AN ACTUAL EXPERIENCE. The apostle's knowledge was not derived from special revelation, neither was it the mere credulity of a kindly charity, "hoping all things" in the absence of evidence. It had a double ground - one subjective and the other objective; one based upon the apostle's conscious experience in preaching the gospel, the other upon their practical and hearty reception of the truth. 1. The subjective evidence. "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance." (1) It did come in word, for it was conveyed to the Thessalonians in human speech, albeit not "in the enticing words of man's wisdom," but it passed beyond the word. It did not merely sound in the ear nor touch the understanding. (2) But it came in power - on the part of the preachers with an overwhelming force and persuasiveness, so that "the faith of the people should not stand in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God" (1 Corinthians 2:5). There was a conscious abounding energy which carried them beyond themselves, with an overmastering conviction that they would prevail. (3) It came also "in the Holy Ghost," or, as the apostle elsewhere phrases it, "in demonstration of the Spirit and of power" (1 Corinthians 2:4). The Word would otherwise have been a dead letter and a killing letter, but the Spirit gave it life. The power of the gospel, therefore, was due to the efficient operation of the Spirit. (4) It came also "in much assurance," not on the part of the Thessalonians, but on the part of the preachers of the gospel, who were fully convinced of its truth, and had thorough confidence in its power. (5) This subjective evidence was confirmed by their own recollection of the three preachers of the gospel - "As ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake." The Thessalonians would have a very vivid recollection both of the preaching and the preachers. The three brethren were conspicuous by their holiness, their zeal, and their interest in the welfare of the Thessalonians. This was no self-flattery, for it was confirmed by the knowledge of their converts. 2. The objective evidence of their election. "And ye became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the Word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost." Their ready imitation of the apostle and his colleagues - which was, in truth, an imitation of Christ, so far as they were connected with him in his life and truth - was a practical proof of the sincerity of their conversion. The imitation was manifest in the spirit and circumstances of their reception of the truth. (1) The truth was received "in much affliction." The history of their conversion confirms this statement (Acts 17:5, 9). But the persecution continued after the departure of the apostle. The gospel had its drawbacks, but the Thessalonians were steadfast in their allegiance to the truth. (2) Yet it was received "with joy of the Holy Ghost;" that is, the joy that springs from his presence in the soul. They were thus imitating that apostle who "took pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake" (2 Corinthians 12:9, 10). The joy in question is (a) a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22); (b) it is essentially connected with the kingdom of God as part of its blessedness (Romans 14:17); (c) it is capable of increase through the very presence of affliction (Acts 5:41); (d) it is the strength of the believer - "The joy of the Lord shall be your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10); (e) its advent marks a distinct change in the world's history; (f) it ought to be constant (Philippians 4:4); (g) it is maintained through abiding in Christ (John 15:10, 11). - T.C. Parallel Verses KJV: Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. WEB: We know, brothers loved by God, that you are chosen,