Bible Reading: Leviticus 7; Psalms 7-8; Proverbs 22; 1 Thessalonians 1
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
The Thessalonian believers had been converted! When the apostles preached the gospel there, it was with power and it changed the lives of these that heard and believed. That is what the gospel does! The Bible here tells of their conversion. They used to worship idols and now they worship the living and true God.
Here we can see an accurate picture of repentance. Biblical repentance is to change the mind about who God is and how to be right with him. These Thessalonians were idol worshippers until they heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. This gospel they believed and realized that the traditions they had received from their ancestors were wrong. Those images and ideas about gods and goddesses were not the truth. So they abandoned their old beliefs and embraced the truth of the living God.
This change in thinking and belief led to their desire to serve God and to wait for the return of Jesus Christ from heaven. They went from a wrong belief to an expectant hope! They realized that Jesus' death on the cross was not the end. They knew he was alive and seated at the right hand of God the Father in heaven. They knew that he was raised from the dead!
They also realized what Jesus did for us on the cross and through the resurrection. He delivered us from the wrath to come. These people used to be under God's wrath, but their repentance and belief in Jesus delivered them from this wrath.
Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Romans 1:22-23 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
They were worshipping idols. They were worshipping the creation rather than the Creator. The wrath that is coming is God's wrath revealed against all ungodliness. Jesus delivered them from this wrath. Do you have a story like the Thessalonians? Have you turned from whatever way of thinking you had to trust in Jesus Christ alone for righteousness? If so you have been delivered from the wrath to come! Hallelujah! What a Savior!
In Christ,
Rody
