I Thessalonians 1:4 – For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you…
In today’s installment of our study, we find that Paul (along with Silas and Timothy) continues to encourage and exhort the Thessalonian believers. 
For we know: Paul does not hesitate to say that he knows, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that God loves and has chosen the Christians at Thessalonica. How does he know?
The answer to this question is simple and straightforward. As we discussed in our last post, the gospel message caused an internal, invisible change within the lives of the Thessalonian believers. This change then manifested itself in their outward visible actions.
So, Paul ‘knows’ the gospel has taken root in their lives because of the evidence he can see – their works of faith, their labors of love and the hope which influenced their everyday individual lives.
Brothers loved by God: Paul goes on to make a statement that seems perfectly ordinary to us but was actually very contentious and even explosive at the time. In order to fully understand its significance, we need to review a bit of history.
As you are well aware, when God called Abram out to become the father of the Jewish nation, he made three great promises to him. He would make his offspring into a great nation, the nation’s population would be as vast as the stars of heaven (innumerable), and they would be a blessing to all the nations on earth:
Gensis 12:2-3 – And I [God] will make of you [Abram] a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
In accordance with his promise, God made Israel into a great nation. He called them his chosen people, established a covenant with them, and gave them the Law (aka, the Law of Moses).
Nevertheless, Gentiles were not 100% excluded from serving God. All throughout the history of Israel, Gentile men and women could choose to become proselytes to the Jewish religion. In other words, they would forsake all heathen religions and the worship of multiple gods/idols. They would live with the people of Israel and worship only the Lord. They agreed to be bound by all the laws of the covenant, including circumcision.
Once they did so, they were considered Israelites. They could enjoy all the benefits of being one of God’s people. This included the right to celebrate Passover, the event that foreshadowed the work of Jesus the Messiah:
Exodus 12:48 – If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it.
This was the dynamic between Jews and Gentiles for hundreds and hundreds of years – the Jews despised the Gentiles as heathens, however, if you were a Gentile, you could become one of God’s chosen people by converting to Judaism.
This dynamic was in full force when Jesus came to earth in the flesh. Even during his incarnation Jesus ministered primarily to the Jews, because he was still in the process of fulfilling the law.
For example, in Mark chapter 7:24-30, a Gentile woman asked Jesus to cast a demon out of her daughter. Jesus’ reply was that the children (the Jews) should be filled first; it was not right for their bread to be given to the dogs (Gentiles). Because of her great faith, Jesus did heal her daughter, but the point is that until the resurrection of Christ the Law was in full effect and Gentiles were expected to become Jews if they wanted to be considered a child of God.
However, once Jesus fulfilled the law by his death and resurrection, the new covenant of grace came into effect. It would be a epic understatement to say that grace was a real game changer!!
Jesus had broken down the wall of separation between the Jews and Gentiles; all people could now enter the kingdom of heaven through the sacrifice of Christ.
Ephesians 2:14-16 – For he himself [Jesus] is our peace, who has made us both [Jews and Gentiles] one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross…
That was good news for the Gentiles. They could leave their heathen ways behind and be reconciled to God through Christ Jesus, without having to become converts to Judaism!
But things were a bit more difficult for the Jews. They simply could not grasp the concept that the law had been fulfilled and subsequently replaced. At the time Paul penned his first epistle to the Thessalonians, it had been fifty years since Christ had risen and many, if not most, of the believing Jews STILL had the mindset that Gentiles had to become Jews (particularly through circumcision) before coming to Christ (Acts 15:5).
Acts 15:5 – But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”
This was an enormous controversy within the new body of Christ; it was a major stumbling block for many within the church. Eventually, the apostles and other church fathers had to get together and decide which rules (if any) the church was to follow.
This event was called the Jerusalem Council, and you can read about it in Acts 15:1-35.
Now let’s circle back to our text. When Paul addresses the Thessalonian church as ‘brothers loved by God’ he is affirming that they are true children of God. Regardless of the opposition without and/or within the church community, they were not second-class Christians or Gentile dogs.
In the age of grace, there was no difference between Jew and Gentile believers – all were equal, genuine members of the kingdom of heaven. They were spiritual brothers and sisters of the believing Jews as well as co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).
There is no doubt that this one single phrase (brothers beloved by God) was a great encouragement to the believers of that day, who were sometimes looked down upon by other Christians.
Consider this: Scripture tells us that our words have the power of life and death:
Proverbs 18:21 – Death and life are in the power of the tongue…
Can you remember a time in your life when someone gave you a word of encouragement that meant all the difference in your situation? Do you remember how that word caused hope or strength or resilience to rise up within you and instead of quitting you were victorious? 
Isn’t it amazing how powerful a sincere word of encouragement can be to someone?
Does that realization make you want to encourage someone else right now?
Since words of encouragement are both free and life changing, why aren’t we giving them to others on a regular basis?? Are you speaking words of encouragement into the lives of your children, your relatives, your friends and your church family? If not, why?
God has chosen you: Paul goes on to say that God had chosen (your translation may say ‘elected’) the believers of the Thessalonian church. What does he mean by that?
Well first off, we should make mention of what it does NOT mean. God did not choose the Gentiles to the exclusion of the Jews. It is God’s will that ALL people become his children through the atoning sacrifice of Christ:
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Every true believer can be described as ‘chosen by God’. After all, man did not choose God; it was God who chose us by an act of his will before the world began.
Ephesians 1:3-5 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will…
Our righteousness and justification spring from God’s sovereign will as manifested through Jesus Christ our Savior. Salvation flows to us not because of anything we have done, but by his immeasurable love and favor towards us.
Furthermore, the gospel would have been fruitless unless Holy Spirit quickened the message in the hearts of the lost. Once the message takes root in the heart of a believer, he or she will still need Holy Spirit to empower them in their spiritual walk, to seal them until the day of redemption, to give them spiritual gifts, to bring the word to their remembrance, and a host of other things. In short, when we consider the work of Holy Spirit, it is evident that God chose us, we did not choose him.
Now let’s consider the church for a minute.
* Every true church proves that they are chosen by God when they display a zeal for righteousness while practicing self-denial, when they freely give of their material possessions, and when they do everything in their power to further the kingdom of God.
* Every true church proves they are chosen by God when they exhibit faith, love and hope as discussed in our last post.
* Every true church proves they are chosen by God when the Spirit attends their services. While Holy Spirit remains invisible to our naked eyes, his presence can easily be felt; his gifts will also be in operation whenever believers gather together. It is the presence of Holy Spirit which distinguishes the true church from false churches or from other clubs/associations of people.
Let me offer you some encouragement:
You may be familiar with the old adage ‘No man is an island unto himself’. This is a true saying, especially in the kingdom of heaven. God never intended for believers to walk through this world alone. In fact, he commands us to assemble together with other like-minded believers (Hebrews 10:25).
We can strengthen and encourage other believers by simply speaking a word of truth and victory into their lives.
Is someone in your church facing a health issue? Proclaim that they will live and not die and declare the word of the Lord (Psalms 118:17). Remind them that Jesus bore all of our sicknesses and diseases (mental, spiritual, physical and emotional) to the cross; by his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).
Is someone in your church having a financial crisis? Remind them that it is God who gives them the power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). He is the one that blesses the work of their hands (Malachi 3:10).
We could give example after example, but I think you get the point – ENCOURAGE SOMEONE TODAY. In fact, why not make it a point or a goal to encourage someone every single day?
Let me offer you some relief:
Do you realize that YOU have been chosen by God? Do you realize that YOU are his child, and he adores you? Do you know that your heavenly Father has amazing plans for YOUR life? 
Perhaps you have experienced a fall or a setback recently and you feel anything but loved and chosen by God. If that is the case, let me give you some relief – feelings have a tendency to ignore the facts! Feelings are fickle and they frequently do not line up with what God says about us.
In fact, Satan will often use feelings to try and place an unnecessary load of guilt upon us, hoping to drive a wedge between us and the Father. Don’t fall for his tricks!
If you have failed in your Christian walk recently, that doesn’t mean that God has given up on you or expelled you from his kingdom. You are still chosen by him! Take a few minutes to repent. Then, pick yourself up and get back to kingdom work! Don’t believe your feelings; believe what the word of God says about you!
Let me offer you some strength:
Do you feel needed in your church body? If not, this may be an indication that you need to be more involved. Remember, God has not just chosen you out of the world, he has chosen you to be in his service.
What is your ministry? If you don’t have one, it’s time you picked one up. You can start by looking for opportunities to serve in your local fellowship. You can volunteer to assist in children’s ministry or worship. You can host a small group in your home or send encouraging cards to those who are sick. You could administer communion to someone in the hospital. The list of possibilities is endless.
You can also look for opportunities in para-church organizations such as the Gideons, a soup kitchen/pantry or a local crisis pregnancy center. It is God’s will for you to be a strength to others, so take a cue from the Thessalonian church and get involved!