Paul states that he is not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16). In saying that, Paul roots salvation in God’s power. Not ours. Because of that, he wasn’t ashamed. Paul had seen how the gospel changes people. But sometimes we can look at the church and wonder whether God’s power is on display: where are the marks of the gospel? For God’s people don’t always behave like those who’ve undergone—and are undergoing—powerful gospel transformation. Sometimes the gospel doesn’t appear to influence how Christians live, in the slightest. But it should. It’s God’s power not only to save us but also to sanctify us, shaping our lives.
The gospel changes people.
In this article, I want to show you how the gospel transformed a first century church, the Thessalonians, under three headings. These are the same ways in which the gospel ought to shape our own lives.
1. Works Produced by Faith
Paul gives thanks to God for what had happened to this church. One of the things that he mentions is their “work of faith” (1 Thessalonians 1:3). Paul isn’t implying that one is saved by works. He made as much clear when he preached the word of God to this church; for he preached Jesus Christ who suffered, died and rose again (Acts 17:3). This was what the Thessalonians believed, resulting in salvation. Only that salvation by faith produces works. As G. K. Beale writes, these were “deeds done in overt service to God.” They weren’t attempting to earn favour with God or praise. They were the fruits and response to the gospel, which they received by faith.
The church in every age ought to be a witness because of its confidence in God.
Faith is associated with trust. The Thessalonians trusted in God. They trusted in his plan of salvation. And that is what they were confidently telling others about (1 Thessalonians 1:8a). The church in every age, therefore, ought to be a witness to the world because of its confidence in God. We know the futility of works to earn favour with God and put our faith in him to save. But this faith produces works, one of those being a witness to this God who saves. Whether it’s from the pulpit or over a pot of coffee, believers ought to preach the word to others. And we should do that with confidence, in the God who both saves and works through us.
2. Love That Labours
It is always intriguing that love for God is regularly tied to how we love others. That is what the gospel does. It doesn’t only shape our love towards God but it also shapes our love for our neighbour. The apostle John put this quite strongly: “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8). In other words, you can test someone’s love for God by their love for others.
It’s hard work to love others. Love is an action, much more than mere affection. It isn’t an idea.
From 1 Thessalonians, it’s evident that the gospel of Jesus Christ reorientated those people, away from loving themselves to loving their neighbours. Crucially, this was not the vague and largely insipid loves that are celebrated in the world. Love isn’t easy. It’s hard work to truly love others. It’s an action much more than mere affection. Love isn’t an idea. I can’t simply tell my wife I love her, this must be backed up daily by demonstrations of that love. The Thessalonian believers highlight this, for Paul likens their love to labour (1 Thessalonians 1:3). They worked hard because of love.
Can you imagine a church working hard at loving others? Understanding that we were first loved by God, at our worst (Romans 5:8), should move the church to love others. Whether we want to love them or not isn’t the question. As Naselli writes, “God’s love for us surpasses the most noble human love.” When the church grasps the love of God, it will work hard at loving others. This is a real mark of God’s gospel in the church.
3. Steadfast Hope
Finally, people who don’t have God don’t have hope. Hope has to do with the anticipation of something in the future. Those without God might desire something that they want to see, but this isn’t hope; it’s a wish. For example, I might say that I hope it rains. But you and I know that this is merely me expressing my desire that it would rain. Real hope is certain. Those who have it are made steadfast by it.
We are a people with a living, unshakable hope.
As another author at TGC Africa put it, genuine hope knows that something will happen. It does not deal in maybes. The people at Thessalonica turned from idols to a secure hope in Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10). This hope came with hearing the gospel, the good news about what God has accomplished through his Son. Thus, Christians are described as those who are waiting for the Son. Do you believe Jesus when he said he would prepare a place for us and come again to take us there, to be with him (John 14:3)? Our God is not a man that he would lie, nor will he change his mind (Numbers 23:19).
Like that ancient church, the gospel should have the same effect on us today. We are a people with a living, unshakable hope.
Does Your Church Have These Gospel Marks? Do You?
Let all that we do be shaped by our faith in God; let that gospel you’ve believed transform your love and hope. Once we worked in vain, our love was lame, and our hopes were pale. But now we have a faith that works, a gospel that empowers love, and a hope that will not put us to shame.
