For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but
also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what
we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we
lived when we were with you. 1 Thessalonians 1:5
The Holy Spirit bore witness in their hearts that what we told them was the truth of God and not only that, but our lives, the way we lived amongst them also verified our claim to be God's servants.
It's not enough that we say the right thing; our lives must also line up with what we say of the Lord and verify it. This is part of the gospel that we preach. A presentation of the gospel without a verifiable lifestyle is vain and unacceptable to the sinner. Jesus, in the sermon on the mount, told us that we should let our light so shine that the world will see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. Yes, it is true that it is the Holy Spirit that gives the sinner full assurance that what we say is true, yet, part of what we bring to the sinner is a life that is not a contradiction of what we tell them about Jesus.
Toni
The Holy Spirit bore witness in their hearts that what we told them was the truth of God and not only that, but our lives, the way we lived amongst them also verified our claim to be God's servants.
It's not enough that we say the right thing; our lives must also line up with what we say of the Lord and verify it. This is part of the gospel that we preach. A presentation of the gospel without a verifiable lifestyle is vain and unacceptable to the sinner. Jesus, in the sermon on the mount, told us that we should let our light so shine that the world will see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. Yes, it is true that it is the Holy Spirit that gives the sinner full assurance that what we say is true, yet, part of what we bring to the sinner is a life that is not a contradiction of what we tell them about Jesus.
Toni
