Paul can’t help himself – he returns again to thanksgiving (2:13). Have you grasped the depth of his love and heartfelt thanks for the Thessalonians yet?

The end of chapter 2 is rich and beautiful. First, our salvation is from beginning to end the work of God who loves us (2:13). Second, that salvation is worked out in us in a partnership between the Spirit and ourselves (2:13,15). Third, the call to this glorious life with Jesus comes through the gospel (2:14). Fourth, the Christian walk is not easy, so we need God’s grace and constant encouragement (2:16).

I wonder how many times we stop there. It is all too easy for churches to be rich in words but poor in deeds (and of course the opposite). But for Paul the two go together: we must be strong in ‘every good deed and word’ (2:17). When churches get that balance right, the gospel does indeed ‘spread rapidly’ and is ‘honoured’ (3:1). Why? Because people see our actions living up to what we say. 

What mission activities are you and your church involved in? How could you not only pray, but also help to ensure that those activities involve spreading and honouring the gospel?

‘We love because he first loved us.’¹

I’ve recently discovered the benefits of an electric bike. People ask me if it does all the work, like an electric scooter, but in fact you do have to pedal – your pedalling and the electrical assistance work in symbiosis to get you around.

There are similarities with Paul’s description of the work of salvation in verse 13. This involves some human pedalling: the Christian must decide to believe in the truth. Some gospel presentations seem to suggest that this decision is the only requirement, but look more closely: Paul says that the Thessalonians are saved not because they believed, but through their belief. The reason they are saved is because God chose them, the first in their region (the ‘firstfruits’ of a harvest were the first produce, dedicated to God).² God’s choice is not arbitrary, but is intrinsically connected with his love for them. 

Paul does not speculate on why they were chosen as opposed to others: rather, he gives thanks that they are loved and chosen to be saved. Can we follow his example? There is no more tangible display of God’s love for us than Christ hanging on the cross. We are not party to the mysteries of God’s working, but we can respond in belief and thanksgiving.

There is another aspect to salvation. The Thessalonians were saved not only through their belief, but through ‘the sanctifying work of the Spirit’ – in other words, by the Holy Spirit working in them to make them holy. This implies that Paul views salvation not as a one-off event, but as a continuing process. Again, this is a process which requires our pedalling – Paul urges the Thessalonians to ‘stand firm’ and ‘hold fast’ to his teaching (v 15) – but is empowered by God, who strengthens us ‘in every good deed and word’ (v 17).

Paul was also involved in the Thessalonians’ salvation in that they were ‘called … through our gospel’ (v 14). Who is God calling you to?

¹ 1 John 4:19  ² Green, Thessalonians, Apollos, 2002, p326