The Evidence of Salvation - December 1

Read 1 Thessalonians 1:3

…remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and

steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflect

We know that we can’t earn our salvation (Romans 3:20) and that are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Given that, what is the relationship between true saving faith and works?

Imagine that someone close to you repeatedly hurt, offended, and opposed you. Understandably, your relationship with that individual would be broken and you wouldn’t trust them anymore. You would need to set healthy boundaries to ensure that he or she could no longer abuse you.

Now, imagine that this person comes to you claiming that they have changed. They say that they are sorry for what they did to you and ask for forgiveness. They say they want to be a part of your life again. How would you respond?

Well, I would offer them my forgiveness but I can’t say that I would immediately let down my guard and let them back into my life. Why? Because in order for me to trust them again, I’d need to see evidence of the change they claim to have experienced. I’d need to see the proof in the pudding.

In today’s verse, Paul recognized that the believers in Thessalonica weren’t just saying that they’d converted to Christianity. On the contrary, there was proof in the pudding. Paul was thankful for the evidence of salvation that was so apparent in that church. He cited the following as evidence of their salvation: their work of faith, their labor of love, and the steadfastness of their hope in Christ.

Now, many people confuse good works as evidence of salvation with works for salvation. The Bible clearly and consistently teaches that we are only saved by faith in God’s grace. We cannot do enough good works to earn our salvation. However, the Bible also clearly and consistently teaches that genuine salvation by grace through faith always results in an inner change of the heart that is evident by outward good works (James 2:18-22, 26). John MacArthur put it this way in his commentary on 1 Thessalonians: “This does not mean people can earn their salvation because of their faith in good works, but rather that those works verify the reality of their faith.

Paul could also be sure that the Thessalonian church was full of genuine believers because of their labor of love. In Galatians 5:22, Paul listed love as the very first fruit of the Spirit. As believers in Christ, we should first of all love God but we should also love each other! The apostle John agreed that loving each other is evidence of true salvation: “Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother, is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother is in the light and in him there is no cause for stumbling” (1 John 2:9-10). Peter also affirmed this truth when he wrote: “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again…” (1 Peter 1:22-23). This isn’t a fickle love either. It is a love that labors or toils for the wellbeing of one another and bears each other's burdens (Galatians 6:2).

Finally, Paul said that he was confident that their faith was genuine because of the steadfastness of their hope in Christ. This wasn’t a “cross your fingers” or “wish upon a star” kind of hope. This was the kind of hope that the author of Hebrews called “an anchor for the soul” (Hebrews 6:19). It is the kind of hope that could withstand the tossing waves of trouble in this world. It is the kind of hope that endures to the very end. No matter what they had to endure on this side of heaven, the Thessalonians clung to the hope that their salvation was secure and that Jesus would one day return.

What about you? Have you ever considered whether or not your faith is apparent to other people? Is there evidence of your salvation in the way you behave? Is your faith evident in the way you love God and other people? Is your steadfast hope apparent to everyone around you? In other words, does your life match your words?

Respond

Lord, I want my life to match my words. I have confessed my faith in You. Now, I need Your Holy Spirit to continue to work in my life to transform me and make me more like You. Help me to lead a life that makes my faith in you evident to all. Amen.

Reveal

The way you choose to live your life reveals much about the genuineness of your faith. Don’t merely witness with your words today, witness with your works as well.