My friends, if you are saved, then you know what it is for Christ to come to you personally—to give power to the gospel call, to take what I do generally and to make it effectual in your life, to summon you personally to believe in him and follow him for salvation. And so, Paul’s teaching here reminds us now that election is seen not merely in the going forth of the Word but in the power that attends the Word in the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Now, what does this mean for you—on the receiving end? What it means for all of us on the receiving end of the gospel is that we can know that the Spirit has worked in us with power when the evidence is there—when the transformed life is beginning in us, when the gospel is actually opening our hearts and changing us. When Paul talks about the Spirit coming with power to the Thessalonians, that is not something that just happens when you are born again—but it keeps happening in your life. It starts then—your heart is opened—but then your life begins to be changed. The Spirit begins to mold you into the image of Christ. You are growing in holiness and in spiritual fruit. And I would warn you: if that has not happened to you—if you cannot give evidence of God’s Spirit, with power, changing and transforming your life—then I would warn you that Paul said in 1 Corinthians 4:20:
Richard D. PhillipsThe kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.Only where the Word is confirmed in the power of the Spirit may we be assured of our election.1
5 notre Evangile ne vous a pas été prêché en paroles seulement, mais avec puissance, avec l'Esprit-Saint, et avec une pleine persuasion; car vous n'ignorez pas que nous nous sommes montrés ainsi parmi vous, à cause de vous.