“But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation“
and as a helmet the hope of salvation
The protective armour for the head is the “helmet.” This helmet is the hope of salvation. The lost have no such covering. Our […]
Archive for August, 1999
“For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ…“
For
Paul gives both a negative and a positive reason as a basis for the hope of salvation (5:8).
God did not appoint us to wrath,
First, the negative reason. Paul here alludes to God’s sovereign placing of the church […]
“…who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him“
The foundation of our assurance before God is the person and work of Christ.
who died for us,
The phrase “who died for us” modifies “through our Lord Jesus Christ” of the previous verse. Paul points to the sweeping scope of […]
“Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing“
Therefore
Paul appeals to the Thessalonians to comfort and edify one another because of the truths in verses one through eleven.
comfort each other
Christians are to care for the pain of other Christians (1 Thessalonians 4:18). God comforts us so that we […]
“Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing“
and edify one another,
The word “edify” is literally to build a house, to erect a construction of some kind. Metaphorically, it means to edify the character of believers by teaching or example. This word implies progress in developing an edification multiplex […]
“And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labour among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you…“
We come now to the conclusion of 1 Thessalonians, which goes from verse 12 to 24. Paul changes the subject from prophesy to present issues in the church. This verse shows their accountability to […]
“And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labour among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you…“
who labor among you,
There are three qualities in leaders the congregation is to “recognize.”
The first feature is those “who labour among you.” The Greek word indicates that the church leaders at Thessalonica labored […]
“And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you…“
and are over you
The second quality of a leader that the congregation is to respect is the ability to lead. The words “are over” mean to preside, rule. Literally, they mean to stand […]
“And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you…“
and admonish you
The third type of leader we should respect is the one who has the ability to address problems in the local church. “Admonish” means to put in mind, warn, instruct. The idea […]
“…and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves“
and to esteem them
The word “esteem” primarily signifies to lead before the mind, guide the mind, then to account, consider, esteem. God wants us to hold a high view of church leadership. As church leaders are to rule […]