A Mighty Church, Part 3 – 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5

The church in Thessalonica was a genuine church built on Jesus Christ. The members of the church came from various backgrounds, but they were united as brethren in Jesus.

Of the many churches that stand today, how many are truly biblical? As Jesus had warned His disciples, there are false leaders with false gospels who mislead many. How can we- like the Thessalonians- finish well as a true and genuine church? To answer this, we look closer into Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians to first learn of the origin of a genuine church. 

Knowing, brothers and sisters, beloved by God, His choice of you…(v. 4)

The true church begins in heaven. It begins with God’s choice and plan. In other words, it is by God’s election.

The doctrine of election says that God chose some people to be saved. This doctrine is biblical- from Genesis to Revelation, God chooses those who receive His grace. It is also confirmed by Jesus, that the elect will surely be saved by Him. (Jn 6:37, 39) Despite this, the doctrine of election is controversial and very often hated. Many say that it is unfair that God would choose some, and not others. Those who think this way do not know much about man’s sin and God’s holiness. What would be fair? Fairness would send everyone to hell. No one is righteous, not even one. As sinners who deserve God’s wrath, we don’t want fairness- we want mercy. Others say that the doctrine of election imposes on man’s free will. But is man’s will truly free, in the same sense as God’s free will? Our will is tied to our mind and the judgments we make. As fallen people, our mind is wrong in its judgment of what is good for us- this is why people reject the gospel that would save them. If we do only that which we want to do, then our will is not free- it is enslaved to our sinful understanding and desires. Without God’s election, no one would choose God and believe the gospel.

The doctrine of election is essential- without it, there would be no salvation because we can not save ourselves. As we believe in the gospel and trust Jesus as Lord and Savior, we know we are elect. This doctrine is precious because it gives believers the certainty of salvation since salvation does not depend on our own works, but by our standing in Jesus Christ which was predetermined by God. Election is the root of all blessings that we have in our Lord, salvation being the first and foremost. It is the starting point of the genuine church.