 |  |
"And we know that all things work together for good TO THEM that love God,
TO THEM who are called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8: 28).
It stands for ever true, "He that loveth not knoweth not God" (I John 4: 8). The
beloved of the Lord, however, are not left without evidence of their calling, and they lie
thick around our text in I Thess. 1:
How may the beloved of the Lord "know" their election? Well, how did the apostle
"know" that they had "faith"? They manifested it in "the work of faith". How was he
sure of their "love"? The exercised themselves in "the labour of love". How could he be
certain as to their "hope"? They showed it by their "patience". They did not merit the
title "Beloved" because of their "labour of love", but as God's beloved it was incumbent
that such a title should not remain empty.
The apostle, however, more fully explains himself in the verses that follow:--
"Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. FOR
(1)
Our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the
Holy Ghost, and in much assurance.
(2)
Ye became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in
much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.
(3)
For from you sounded out the word of the Lord.
For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and
(1)
How ye turned to God from idols.
(2)
To serve the living and true God, and
(3)
To wait for His Son from heaven" (I Thess. 1: 4-10).
Here we have a twofold witness:--
(1)
Knowing YOUR election, followed by three references to the Word.
(2)
Showing OUR entering in, followed by three references to the Lord.
The three references to the Word have one feature in common which is expressed in
the first clause--"not in word only."
In the first case the gospel was not received in word only, "but in power, and in the
Holy Ghost, and in much assurance".
In the second case the reception of the Word is shown to be living and real, by the fact
that they who received this Word "became followers of the apostles and of the Lord", and
"received the Word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost".
In the third case the sounding out of the Word of the Lord was something more than
mere "sound", for they who thus sounded out the Word were "ensamples to all that
believe", and in every place their faith to God-ward was spread abroad.
This faith "to God-ward" is next shown to have a threefold character. Faith to
God-ward is manifested in their:--