Jesus and Assurance

This morning I was impressed by Paul's praying for the Thessalonian believer who had been born again through faith in Jesus Christ.  Their response to the Gospel was not an emotive response but reflected marked personal transformation as real as Jesus rising from the dead.  Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 1:2-5:  "We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, ³ remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, ⁴ knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. ⁵ For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake."

Paul addressed followers of Jesus he called brethren because their changed conduct provided evidence they were indeed elect of God.  This assurance came not through willpower or because of good works but because of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit who came upon them in power.  The preaching of the Gospel moved these Gentiles from the worship of idols to serve the Living God and to look expectantly to Jesus Christ (verses 9-10).  Their manner of life was described as a work of faith, labour of love, and patience of hope in the LORD Jesus.  The condition of their hearts was not like the soil in the Parable of the Sower that the seed sprang up quickly and withered under the blazing rays of the sun, nor was it choked by the cares of the world and rendered unfruitful.  The good Word heard by their ears and received into their hearts by faith in Christ was bearing fruit all could witness.

The testimony of a transformed life reveals the power of the Gospel no amount of church attendance, seminars, conferences, books, or checklists can produce.  We can make the mistake of justifying ourselves as acceptable before God because our efforts and what we have done rather than simply trusting in Christ and His promises in the scripture.  Genuine faith will be expressed in living according to God's will, but the works we do are never the basis of our acceptance before God nor proof we are saved:  the proof is in our risen Saviour Jesus Christ!  As a Lamb of God without blemish His life was laid down as a sacrifice to atone for the sins of the world, and all who have been called can now come to Him for forgiveness and eternal life.  Knowing we are loved, knowing we are undeserving yet chosen by God spurns us on to desire to humbly please Him.  The praise for a transformed life goes all to Jesus, for by His grace our life is now hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3).