“Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father” (vs3)
“Work of Faith” (1 Thess 1:3)
Faith works. Faith isn’t dead ideology and speech; faith is more than head-knowledge; it works for God’s glory and people’s good. It produces good in us that is visible, as we sacrifice, give, worship together, and do things that build the church and makes us visible as God’s elect, “knowing, brethren, beloved, your election of God” (vs4).
The gospel came PRODUCING holiness, which EVIDENCES its power - “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance; as you know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And you became followers of us, and of the Lord“ (vs5-6). The gospel is KNOWN by its fruit, meaning I know what you believe by what you do - “Yes, a man may say, You have faith, and I have works: show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works“ (James 2:18). Show me the gospel exalted and people living to make Christ beautiful, and I’ll see a place where I want to be, a place that has Jesus the Lord in truth. Show me your faith by your works, and these did; they LOVED God in words and ACTIONS. Faith works.
“Labor of Love” (1 Thess 1:3)
Love labors; it does more than talk; it actually does good. Love is expressed in actions, which are more than “nice sermon”, etc. The actions of love are painful to the lover and yet helpful to the loved - “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends“ (John 15:13); Love lays down its life with deeds, and receives more in the process, for in God, as you sow, you reap, and as you give, you get more abundantly - “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap“ (Gal 6:7). God’s math is to serve, so you will get; GIVE, so you will gain. God’s way is to humble yourself, so you’ll be exalted - “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted” (Matt 23:12).
Love is the fruit of pardon received and humbleness given to us by God, that the “least of all the saints” has been GRACED to preach the riches of Christ, that one who is depraved is ALSO blessed beyond imagination - “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this GRACE given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ“ (Eph 3:8). This paradox of men is clear to you and me; we LOVE Him because He loves us as vile and depraved, giving us LIFE at the cost of Christ, whom He slew in our place. This redemption is the motive for love; helping and serving is the fruit.
“Patience of Hope” (1 Thess 1:3)
Patience and hope are together. You are not godly in your hope, if you leave the gospel to get what you‘re waiting for.
I know a man who lost a wife, then, after sorrowing, expected to marry another child of God, who eventually revealed herself to be lost and hard, though religiously Calvinistic and amiable to some good preaching. He didn’t pursue the compromise - the cutting off of the offence - in order to have her, but he preached the gospel as he knew it was true, and parted from her as he must - “And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the offense of the cross ceased“ (Gal 5:11). Instead, he is WAITING on his salvation and inheritance; he is not, like Esau, taking matters into his own hands to ease the flesh - “Lest there be any fornicator or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright“ (Heb 12:16). My friend stands by the gospel, and waits on God to answer his prayers, and for Him to provide.
The believer waits on God and OBEYS God as he waits - “I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in his word do I hope“ (Ps 130:5). He waits for heaven OBEDIENTLY, he waits for the end of trials, obediently, and he waits for sinlessness obediently, while he fumbles and falls here. He is waiting on God his Beloved, so he won’t be with another - “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ“, and faithful to Him (2 Cor 11:2). He gives Christ His due by waiting on Him to provide by the means that He has promised, knowing that He gives us Himself, food, and raiment, which is plenty - “And having food and raiment, with these, we shall be satisfied” (1 Tim 6:8).
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