For we know, brothers loved by God, that He has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.
1 Thessalonians 1:2-10
“Am I one of God’s elect, one of those chosen by the Lord to inherit eternal life?” Many Christians have asked that question at one time or another. Some have even agonized for a time to answer the question. Some may even be asking this question right now. Many people experience a real struggle with this question. Discovering the answer is not as difficult as one might think. The Christian knows that he/she is among God’s elect if the Christian believes the gospel and sees that the Holy Spirit is at work in one’s life. As Paul continues his expression of thanks to God for the Thessalonian Christians, he says that he knows God has chosen them “because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.” Paul identifies the Thessalonians as elect because they showed conviction by believing the gospel. They placed their faith in Christ when the good news was preached to them. Paul’s observation regarding belief and election confirms Jesus’ own words when He said, in John 6:37, that all whom the Father has given to Him will certainly come to Him and will never be cast out. Our faith is the means by which we cling to Christ for salvation, but it also reveals our eternal election. Paul says he knows the Thessalonians have been chosen by God also because the gospel came to them “in power and in the Holy Spirit.” The work of power and the Holy Spirit of which Paul speaks is the power of the Holy Spirit to release men and women from bondage to sin and generate in them a new pattern of living in obedience to Jesus. This is how Paul expects the Holy Spirit to work in the lives of believers, not always in extraordinary signs, but in the putting to death of sin and the creation and cultivation of spiritual fruit such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If we believe in the biblical Christ and have a measure of fruit, no matter how meager it may seem, then we can be sure we are among God’s elect. A well-known 16th century theologian comments, “The election of God, which is in itself hid, is manifested by its marks—when he gathers to himself the lost sheep and joins them to his flock, and holds out his hand to those that were wandering and estranged from him.” All those who believe the gospel and show evidence of spiritual life can be assured that they have been chosen for salvation and will inherit eternal life.
Source: S C Ball March 4, 2024
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