Three marks of a believer
Paul in 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10 gives us three marks of believer.
1. They share the gospel with others v. 8
“The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it” (NET Bible)
The Thessalonians (the Gospel) “resonated” (like a sound that resonates) or spread the word of the Lord, the gospel, with their witness as followers of Christ. Their lives were an example of the transformation of the gospel. It resonated throughout Macedonia and Achaia. Believers living in Thessalonica in their daily lives were in contact with many people since it was a commercial center. Many had heard how they had believed in Christ and had been persecuted for it. This made their “faith in God become known everywhere”.
When you have a good testimony or reputation of your faith in (before) God before others, it is easy to share the gospel because the way has already been prepared. They both go together. When you have bad testimony, it’s hard or impossible.
Their testimony impacted many in such a way that Paul and his team had no need to go and carry the message there. The disciples were already making disciples!
Sharing the gospel was not a formal act but a real act of daily life.
Their lives showed that they were true converts of Christ. But this would not be enough if it is not accompanied by the transformation of their lives.
2. They show with their lives how they have been converted to Christ v. 9
“for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (NET Bible)
Paul received reports about Thessalonians’ faith. Those reports included how they had received Paul and his team when they came to share with them. They received them in a very open manner and were willing to listen to the truth of God. He also heard about their conversion to Christ.
The word out was that they had left their idols and turned to the true living God v. 9a. This is in a society that was polytheists and shunned and persecuted those who were not. They had “turned to God” or had converted to God. Conversion is not personal reform to become acceptable to God. This is religion. Conversion comes from God (the order of words in Greek is like this: “You turned to God from idols”) first. Then comes the turning away from “idols”. This is repentance. It means I recognize that I am separated from God because of my sin, that I am serving other gods, and I make a change of direction toward God. The negative aspect of repentance is leaving the wrong path. It’s a definitive act and not a process. The positive aspect is turning to God.
Conversion “means serving the living and true God” v. 9b
Before they were converted, the Thessalonians served false, lifeless gods. Now they served the living and true God. Their positive change was to “serve the living and true God.” The Lord does not save us so that we continue to live our way and to continue with our idols (and our idols are more sophisticated). He takes us out of the world of idolatry to serve Him and to be His servants. Our God is the living God who has always existed. He’s the Author of all lives. In Him is eternal life. He is the only true God. All other gods are false.
3. They confidently await the Second Coming of Christ v. 10
“and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath”
Paul taught about the Second Coming of Christ to these new believers in the brief time he was with them. He told them that the risen Lord would come again, and when he came he would deliver them from the “coming wrath.” This “anger” is not uncontrollable, but is the execution of God’s punishment on sin and sinner that refuse to repent. God’s holy and righteous character demands that sin be punished. This anger is God’s judgment is only for non-believers (Rom. 2:5) because Jesus Christ received the punishment for sin for all of us who have believed.
We don’t talk much about the coming of Christ and what will happen when the Lord comes. It may be for a number of reasons. First, there is always controversy as to when he will come, whether before or after or during tribulation. But the truth is that God’s wrath will come in what the Bible calls “Great Tribulation.” What we have experienced with the pandemic does not come close what will come to this world in the future from the hand of God. Second, we don’t want to make people uncomfortable thinking they shouldn’t consider this world their home. This would alter many of their lives, what an irony!
Are these three marks evident in your life? This is a good time to pause and learn from the church in Thessalonica about what it means to be a Christian. If you haven’t turned to Christ and repented of your sins, do this now. Serve him with all of your life. Live in a way that shows your love for Him. Live expecting his return.
