1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 reads, “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father.”
Paul thanks God for three attributes of the “called out” in Thessalonica, namely, their work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope. Let’s first consider the two sister phrases, “work of faith” and “labor of love.” Another short but descriptive passage explains how faith, love, and works are connected. It is Galatians 5:6 and it reads, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.” Biblical faith is never stagnant but always works. However, the great motivator behind those works is love. Therefore, both faith and love, by their very nature, produce actions in proportion to their growth (cf. 2 Thess. 1:3). In the same opening of Galatians 5, Paul explains in verses 13-15, “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!” Love “serves” one another and thus fulfills the law (cf. Rom. 13:8-13). Loving your neighbor or your brother will produce faithful service and will not cause one to violate another person by stealing, bearing false witness, killing, or taking his or her spouse. Therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.
Work of Faith
Regarding the simple teaching of salvation, we know from Galatians 2:8-10 that salvation is by grace through faith. First, it should be pointed out that without that unconditional and universal act of love, no one could be saved. Therefore, salvation is a gift but the gift is through faith.
Second, the gift is not the faith. The gift is salvation through faith. What this means regarding works is that no one can be justified by the works of the law or by law-keeping. If it was possible, then Christ died in vain (Romans 4:1-4). We should be cautioned not to confuse the works of the law and the work of faith. Compare the following:
(1) Romans 9:32 “…Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.”
(2) Galatians 2:16 reads, “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law, no flesh shall be justified.”
(3) Titus 3:8 reads, “This is a faithful saying and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works.”
(4) James 2:22, 24 reads, “Do you see faith was working together with his works, and by works, faith was made perfect?….You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only”.
Third, as can already be seen in the previous passages, God’s people are designed for good works. We should seek to maintain good works (Tit. 3:10). But, the works are not meritorious works for justification, but works of faith that are always seen by their service and sacrifice.
(1) Ephesians 2:10 reads, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
(2) Gal. 3:2,5 “This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? … Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”
(3) Colossians 2:12 reads, “…buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead”.
(4) Hebrews 11:33 speaks of the faith of past individuals “who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, …. Rather than thinking that these two cannot coexist, the writer of Hebrews speaks of these as having faith, but also working righteousness. You cannot have one without the other and be approved of God.
Labor of Love
Another passage that uses the same phrase is Hebrews 6:10. It reads, “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” This describes the driving force behind the action. Loving service is not done out of a mere sense of duty, and pride, or any self-seeking reason. Love is others-oriented, rather than self-oriented. It expresses itself by being willing to sacrifice or as Paul expresses it, “to spend and be spent” for others (2 Cor. 12:15). The word translated, “labor” means labor to the point of exhaustion. It is a love of blood, sweat, and tears as it is willing to pay a price for the benefit and well-being of others. This love is constant and genuine, even when it is not reciprocated or when hate and envy are returned — all the more reason it is called “labor.” Comparing Matthew 5:44-48 teaches us that loving those who love us is human, but to love those who hate us, curse us, who spitefully use us and persecute us is divine – being like our father. This is when love labors without reservation or hesitation.
Patience of Hope
Hope includes the two elements of desire and expectation for some future fulfillment. Concerning the promises of God, it is accepting the promise as if it had already been fulfilled because His word is true and sure. As a result, persecution and trials are easier to endure or be patient toward. In Paul’s second letter, he writes, “…so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure” (2 Thess. 1:4). Hebrews 6:12 reads, “...that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
These attributes of the saints in Thessalonica described their spiritual condition and were the true measure of their faithfulness. Their presence or lack of presence in our lives is known by the Lord. Revelation 2:2-3 reads, “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.” Verse 19 reads, “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.”
Now, how would he describe you or me, today?
.