For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake” (1Th 1:5).1
Are you able to recall an event in your life that was life-changing? Was there a moment in time that completely changed the course of your life and, even more importantly, your eternal destiny? For the Thessalonian believers, many could look back to three Sabbath days in succession when they responded to the preaching and reasoning of the apostle Paul in the synagogue in Thessalonica. They heard the message of the gospel, the message concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah who suffered and rose again (Act 17). Some believed, and others became jealous and protested, but the preacher who came to that largest city of Macedonia proclaimed a message that altered the eternal destiny of many. The message was so impactful that those who preached it were said to have “turned the world upside down” (Act 17:6). Thessalonica was a free city – free of Roman occupation and soldiers, free of taxation to Rome, free of Roman government – yet, sadly, imprisoned in the imperial cult of Caesar worship. But the empowered preaching of Paul turned things upside down and offered true, real, profound freedom for the first time. It was a freedom from sin, freedom from guilt, a freedom that was found in the work, person and blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As Paul wrote to those believers in Thessalonica, he felt the need to encourage and remind them of four facets of the glorious gospel message that had delivered them and had changed them forever.
Aspect #1: In Speech – A Message that Was Spoken
The first and most obvious way in which the gospel was delivered to the believers was in word, the spoken word. Even today, just as in that day, it pleases “God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe” (1Co 1:21). While no written manuscript of the New Testament could be presented to them at the time, no doubt Paul would have reasoned with them from the Old Testament Scriptures and would have declared the message publicly, as was so often the case in the book of Acts, so that even the most illiterate of sinners could grasp something of the unsearchable riches of Christ. The message spoken was not empty words; it wasn’t through excellency of speech or through the persuasive words of man’s wisdom (1Co 2:1,4). Paul could rejoice that they had accepted the spoken message as what it was in truth, a word from God Himself (1Th 2:13).
Aspect #2: In Strength – A Message that Was Powerful
When the gospel was preached in Thessalonica, it wasn’t just a spoken message, for it did not come to them in “just” word but also in power. It was not in a limited nor a “low battery” kind of power, but the word signifies a dynamite kind of power, an earth-shaking, soul-rattling kind of power. It was an abundant, miraculous and mighty power. To many who listened to the spoken message, it was deemed foolishness. But to those who believed and received it, who were saved by it, it was the power of God unto salvation (1Co 1:18). Upon believing, they could rejoice in the fact that their faith did not rest in the power nor the wisdom of men, but in the power of God (1Co 2:5). The fact that this message came to them in such strength and power meant that there would be no shame in the message, but there would be rejoicing in the fact that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes (Rom 1:16).
Aspect #3: In Spirit – A Message that Was Life-Changing
The gospel’s effect didn’t stop there; it also packed a spiritual punch. God put His own seal, by the Holy Spirit, so as to display His great satisfaction upon each one who received the gospel. For all who put true faith in Christ, the book of Ephesians tells us, “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph 1:13). While each human being has an individual, personal responsibility to trust in Christ, salvation is a work of God. The Holy Spirit has a role as well and continues to this day to do what Christ Jesus promised He would do: “convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (Joh 16:8). What a great joy for each Christian to reflect on the revelation of the gospel in their own life and understand that now, because of faith in this message, “your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit” (1Co 6:19). It wasn’t a partial giving of the Spirit, for “according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior” (Titus 3:5-6).
Aspect #4: In Security – A Message that Provides Certainty
The remaining obvious question that many of the Thessalonians may have had was, Can I lose it? Can I lose the peace that I now have with God? Can I lose the Spirit who is now dwelling in me? Paul wants each believer, both then and now, to know that the true gospel promises complete and comprehensive security and confidence. There is eternal security and no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. This security is found in the words of our Saviour, who said, “neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand” (Joh 10:28). If the work of salvation depended on you or me, there could never be complete certainty; there would never be eternal security. But this message came to them in much assurance and much certainty. It now allows each one changed by its saving power to draw near to God with full assurance: “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” (Heb 10:22). What an amazing way for Paul to finish summarizing the fourfold revelation of this message, this spoken message of great power, this powerful message of Holy Spirit endowment, this Spirit-giving message of complete and undeniable assurance. What an unshakable hope we have, a “hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel” (Col 1:5).
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the NKJV.
