Signs Of A True Christian Believer

Today we find ourselves in 1 Thessalonians looking at the warnings of Paul who wrote as he was under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. First let's look back at what Jesus who is God and the light of the world said::


 13“No one has gone up to heaven except the one who came down from heaven, the Son of Man who is in heaven.l 14Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.m

16“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his unique Son so that everyone who believes in him might not be lost but have eternal life. 17Because God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s unique Son. 

19And this is the basis for judgment: The light has come into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light because their actions were evil.

20Everyone who practices wickedness hates the light and does not come to the light, so that his actions may not be exposed.n 21But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may become evident that his actions have God’s approval.”o

When we are given information in the scriptures about how we should live, they are actually warnings. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob loves and as a result he warns. We see an example of Christian living which gave Paul confidence that certain people had been born again as their fruit was so clearly evident of their new birth. 

It is wise to compare ourselves with the believers who Paul tells "Brothers whom God loves, we know that he has chosen you, 5for the gospel we broughti did not come to you in words only," . Are the following comments Paul made about these believers descriptive of our lives? There is no doubt they should be. We should go to the Father, repent from any idols, ask him to help us and to do what he can to move us in the correct direction. We definitely should ask him to fill us with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. 

1 Thessalonians 1 ISV

2We always thank God for all of you when we mention you in our prayers. 3In the presence of our God and Father, we constantly remember how 

• your faith is active,e 
• your love is hard at work,f 
• and your hope in our Lord Jesus the Messiahg is enduring.h 

4Brothers whom God loves, we know that he has chosen you, 5for the gospel we broughti did not come to you in words only, 

• but also with power, 
• with the Holy Spirit, 
• and with deep conviction. 

Indeed,j you know what kind of people we proved to be while we were with you, acting on your behalf.

• 6You became imitators of us and of the Lord. In spite of a great deal of suffering, you welcomed the word with the joy that the Holy Spirit produces.k 
• 7As a result, you became a model for all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 
• 8From you the word of the Lord has spread out not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place where your faith in God has become known. 
• As a result, we do not need to say anything about it.

9For peoplel keep telling us what kind of welcome you gave us and how 

• you turned away from idols to serve a living and true God 
• 10and to wait for his Son whom he raised from the dead to come backm from heaven. 
• This Jesus is the one who rescues us from the coming wrath.