We continue in our series in 1 Thessalonians, and as we read this letter to the Thessalonian church, if we say we believe the same thing that Paul believes, why do our lives look so different?
(A) A life not lived in vain: boldness in God to evangelise (1 Thess 2:1-2)
When we read this chapter, the phrases “as you know”, “you yourselves know” keep appearing in this passage. Paul appeals to previous encounters and what they know of him. Not only did Paul appeal to their shared history, Paul also speaks with a certain intimacy by calling them “brothers”. What does that tell us about Paul? He is so bold to make these claims and appeal to his relationship and love for them. He is able to say these things with such certainty and a lot of transparency. His life is really an open book. What he says, does and believes are one and the same and constant. Paul lived radically differently from those around him.
Why was it necessary? It seems like Paul needed to clear his name and address some remarks directed at him (c.f. Acts 17:1-9). Paul sees the need to not only defend himself, but also the message that he brought with him. Paul sees the need to defend the gospel. He needs people to see that this gospel is good and true, and unlike what the people around him claim!
According to Paul, their ‘coming to the [Thessalonians] was not in vain’ (1 Thess 2:1b). In chapter 1, we’ve already read about the fruit that was visible in their lives and this knowledge came from reports from them. But as we read 1 Thess 2:2, we realise that the trip was not in vain simply because he was able to go and proclaim the gospel. Paul sees that this is not in vain because “we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God”.
Is this how we think about fruitful ministry? Do we see that fruitful ministry is basically gospel proclamation? Is bold evangelism of the good news what we think about when we aspire to live life to the fullest? For those of us in ministry, are we so busy doing things that we’ve not had time to evangelise and proclaim the good news of Jesus to those who are lost? Have we gotten our priorities wrong? If we do not have time to proclaim the gospel to the lost, we may have gone wrong somewhere. Is there someone in your life that God is calling you to preach the gospel to, to share your life with? Paul teaches us here that a life and trip not done is vain has one criteria: the gospel is proclaimed.
Thus, Paul’s point here is simple:
Boldness in God (1 Thess 2:2b) → Active proclamation of the gospel (1 Thess 2:2c) → Life not lived in vain (1 Thess 2:1b)
Paul’s life and actions were a testament to his convictions. His trip was not in vain because he was able to proclaim the gospel and he had full boldness in God. How are we to live a life that is not in vain? Maybe we need to do less? We often think that a life that is full means that we do a lot and fill our lives with activities, even “gospel activities”. Is there something in your life that you need to stop doing so that you can make more time for gospel proclamation? We’re not just talking about personal sin, but maybe even something such as your job. We often want to do everything and not want to miss out on anything, but what do we have to say “no” to in order to be like Paul and proclaim the gospel to the lost?
Maybe we need to live less comfortably? What does your Christian and church life look like? Is it bland? Does it consist of going to church and meeting people and having a community? But what if, you’ve never really let anyone into your life to see the sin you struggle with? What if you’ve never poured yourself into someone else’s life? What if you’ve never served others and truly put them ahead of yourselves? Do you serve in comfortable ways and ways that “suit our season in life”? Are we shopping for convenience in the Christian life?
Paul says something different. He calls us to die to self and live in Christ not just once, but to do so daily. This is a life not lived in vain. A comfortable and self-absorbed Christian life is a life lived in vain! It could also be a Christian life lived without the boldness of God. How are we to live with this boldness?
(B) The source of our boldness: fundamental identity change by Christ (1 Thess 2:3-4)
Let’s take a look at the logic in 1 Thess 2:3-4.
From these verses, we can see that the standing before God (“approved by God”) is the source of his boldness, and this standing is not his own doing. He has died with Christ and resurrected with Him (c.f. Col 3:3, Rom 6:3-4). And, what he has given, he also wants to give! This right standing with God also allows him to say that this momentary suffering is nothing compared to the certainty of his standing before God (c.f. Rom 8:18).
What is the motivation given in these verses? It is to please God who tests our hearts (as opposed to man). We may wonder why God needs to be pleased and wonder if He’s petty. But we know this naturally! We naturally want to please the people in our relationships.
What these verses mean is that when Christians speak, we don’t just speak random words. We speak about this God who has entrusted us with the gospel. Our change in identity comes with a charge. We are not just to guard this gospel, but also to proclaim it. My pastor, Ian Buntain, said that the gospel that is not proclaimed is not the gospel. Does this challenge some of us today? Are we comfortable just taking this gospel and putting it in our pockets? The challenge of this age is to live consistently as Christians. What this entails is that we proclaim the gospel.
We started this study by seeing how Paul could appeal to his life as basis to show the consistency of his message and life. Can we say this of ourselves? Or do we live differently for different spheres of our lives? The biggest obstacle to evangelism is ourselves and our inconsistencies and our idolatry of comfort and of approval. We do not share the gospel because of the scrutiny that it invites. Who came up with the idea that we can only share the gospel when we are ready? We need to be proclaiming the gospel and we need to get our life consistent with our message. Are we Christians living with the end in mind?
Paul presents us with a theological case for living boldly – we live boldly because God has changed our identity through Christ’s death on the cross. This change in identity must lead to radical action and living. And this is really a response out of love and pleasure, to want to please God and also with a heart for the lost. Paul presents to us the full Christian life that is for all Christians. Does your life look and smell different? Can people tell that you are a Christian? If it isn’t so, perhaps today is a good time to reflect and repent and run to God.
(C) Working out our boldness: living a giving life by dying to comfort and approval (1 Thess 2: 5-6)
Paul also identifies 2 main potholes in living boldly — approval (“please man”, “seek glory from people”) and comfort from material blessings (“nor with a pretext for greed”). Paul’s confidence in the approval of God, and contentment in God allows him to live radically! Paul lived a giving life (c.f. 1 Thess 2:8). Paul has modelled the kind of life we should be living. He has shown us what it means to give and pour ourselves out for the gospel at the risk of persecution, suffering, having no security and to just give and give.
What will it look like for us today? It may be to be tired at the end of a busy day at work and school and then having someone comes to you with a burden, but then we still give. It may be when someone irritates you, you give grace and love. The life that the gospel enables is radically different and is the life was are called to, and nothing less. As we seek God this way, we are also able to live as Paul did because God has really given us more than we imagined and enables us to live as He has called us to.