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"Our gospel did not come to you in word only..."

Text: 1 Thessalonians 1:5

THE GOSPEL

Once, Paul had rejected the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and had opposed it with all his might. Through his conversion experience, Paul had become deeply committed to the preaching of the gospel he had once repudiated.

“For our gospel did not come to you in word only,
but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit
and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men
we were among you for your sake.”

1 Thessalonians 1:5

1. “Our gospel”

a) There was a strong sense of association with the gospel.

b) Paul, of course, did not mean he owned the gospel.

c) The team of three was in mind (Paul, Silvanus and Timothy) in this context.

2. “Our gospel did not come to you in word only”

a) The gospel had to be presented using words.

b) But there was more to the gospel than mere words.

3. Three aspects featured

a) “But also in power”

i) Power was promised by the Lord Jesus (Acts 1:8).

ii) The apostles in Jerusalem ministered with the power of God.

iii) This power was also evidenced in Paul’s ministry.

b) “And in the Holy Spirit”

i) Power and the Holy Spirit are closely related (Acts 1:5, 8).

ii) The Spirit of God ministered through faithful ministers.

iii) His ministry is absolutely critical.

c) “And in much assurance”

i) Full sense of conviction is in mind here.

ii) This sense of assurance is the direct result of the Spirit of God working with power.

4. “As you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake”

a) They were just ordinary men.

b) But they ministered with great power from the Spirit of God.