“Paul’s Thankfulness” (Part Two)

1 Thessalonians 1:1-4

As Paul begins to address his friends at Thessalonica, we can start to see the warmth and affection he had for them—a reality that will lay the foundation for his thankfulness.

Paul’s Greeting (v.1)

Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

A. From: a team of co-workers committed to the advance of the Gospel…

• Paul- the leader and primary voice of the ministry
• Silas- the associate and support person for the team
• Timothy- the student/intern who is getting an apprenticeship in ministry by working with Paul and Silas. Notably, as part of his apprenticeship Timothy would be sent back to Thessalonica to disciple them and build them in Christ (3:1-2). This reveals not only Paul’s concern for their ongoing growth in Christ, but also his concern that Timothy be developed in ministry (2 Tim.2). Paul not only taught it, he did it!

B. To: “the church of the Thessalonians”. Church means “called out ones”, and, as we will see, they had been called out from their old life to new life in Christ. That is why Paul describes them in two ways…

• In God the Father
• In the Lord Jesus Christ

These statements form powerful reminders of what it means to be a child of God! Not only have we been “called out” of the world, we have also been “called in” to meaningful relationships that give us a whole new identity and a whole new security! Why are safe? Because we are “in Christ”! Notice how Paul described this to the church at Corinth:

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Cor. 5:17)

This is the essence of Jesus’ words in John 10:27-30, where we are seen as held in the hand of Christ which is held in the hands of the Father! There is no safer place than that!

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

This means that we can live in confidence and hope because of His abiding protection and care. His Presence in our lives is the great reality that can lift us above the struggles and challenges we face!

C. Greeting: “Grace to you and peace”- not from Paul, but (Phil.1:4) from God and His Son. “Grace”, the undeserved kindness of God, and “peace”, the confidence of being in right relationship with God, are why Paul had gone to Thessalonica to begin with!

As he reflects on his ministry there and what the Holy Spirit had done through that ministry, Paul is able to look back with no regrets. The wonderful sensation of a clear conscience is not something to be taken for granted. In reflection, his only response to what God had done there was thanksgiving!

We’ll see that tomorrow…