Archive for the '1 Thessalonians' Category

1 Thessalonians 5:28

Published on September 6, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen“
 
First Thessalonians does not fade away insignificantly. Paul invokes the matchless, amazing grace of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the Thessalonians.
 
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
There is nothing the Thessalonians need more than the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. They needed sanctifying grace that strengthens the spiritual life.
Notice this grace comes with the authority of the full title of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have the full ineffable authority of Christ for this grace. This grace is grace that comes from the work of Christ.
be with you.
Grace is not for the elite but for anyone in the local church. Paul ends as he began with the grace of God (1:1). It is one thing to know about grace but it is something else to have it as a partner.
Amen
The word “amen” means so be it. It is a word of faith. Paul says in effect, “I agree with the idea that God’s grace abides with believers for their sustaining power to live out the Christian life.”
Principle:
Grace can be our partner as we walk through life.
Application:
If we go through our Christian life without the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, we go it on our own. If we appropriate His grace, it will abide with us and give us strength we would not otherwise have. Sanctifying grace strengthens our spiritual lives.
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen” (2 Corinthians 13:14 ).
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1 Thessalonians 5:27

Published on September 5, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.“
 
Paul’s final exhortation of the three in the conclusion is that the leaders of the Thessalonian church read First Thessalonians publicly to the congregation.
 
I charge you by the Lord
The word “charge” literally means to put under (or bind by) an oath, to adjure. Paul demands or commands that the leadership at Thessalonica take an oath that First Thessalonians be read in the public assembly. This is stronger than a suggestion or exhortation.
The phrase “by the Lord” indicates that Paul gets his authority to put them under an oath from the Lord.
that this epistle be read
Paul wants the leaders at Thessalonica to read First Thessalonians publicly thus acknowledging its place in the Bible. Most people in the early church did not read. They got their Bible from public reading. Most likely, this was more than just reading the text. It involved explanation and exposition of the text.
“And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up…. …helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place. So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading” (Nehemiah 8:5-8 ).
to all the holy brethren
Note the word “all.” It is imperative that everyone in the local church be exposed to the exposition of God’s Word, whether men, women or children.
Principle:
Exposition of Scripture is central to worship.
Application:
The strength in Paul’s command to read the Bible publicly indicates that the Word of God was central to local church worship. If Paul believed vehemently that the leadership should read the Bible publicly, should not our churches today put great emphasis on Bible exposition as well?
“But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 1:14-17).
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1 Thessalonians 5:26

Published on September 4, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss“
 
Greet all the brethren
 
Paul gives one final expression of his love for the Thessalonians. He wanted to extend a greeting with a “holy kiss.”
 
The word “all” indicates that Paul extended his love even to the “disorderly” brethren. He excludes no one in his love.
with a holy kiss
The “holy kiss” in the first century was a physical token of welcome or farewell kiss, a token of brotherhood in Christ (Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12).
The term “holy” guards against anything untoward in the kiss. In the Mid East, the kiss was a form of greeting and took place between members of the same sex. They kissed on the cheek, not the mouth.
Societies where the kiss is not a greeting can find trouble with the “holy kiss.” Practicing the “holy kiss” in a Western culture can create some problems. This verse is no justification for establishing a “Lonely Hearts Club” in the local church!
Principle:
Christians are to show public affection for one another.
Application:
The “holy kiss” in Western culture is more like a handshake or hug. Church members do not kiss the same way lovers kiss each other or family members kiss each other.
The biblical kiss signifies personal affection, not romantic passion. When we give a public sign of spiritual oneness, equality and mutual dependence in the household of faith, we demonstrate biblical love.
God does not want us to extend sticky, saccharin sentimentalism. Our physical love toward one another is to have a “holy” dimension to it. We love each brother in Christ with no strings attached.
Christians should show love to one another publicly.
“Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen” (1 Peter 5:14).
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1 Thessalonians 5:25

Published on September 3, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“Brethren, pray for us“
 
This verse brings us to the conclusion of First Thessalonians (5:25-28). Paul advises three concluding recommendations upon the congregation and then gives a final blessing.
 
Brethren,
The word “brethren” is emphatic in the Greek. Paul strongly pleads for the Thessalonians to pray for him. Paul clearly understood the pitfalls of ministry. He knew he could not go into ministry naked, without the help of God.
pray for us
The word “pray” is in the present tense indicating continued prayer. No one can do God’s work without prayer. Those who want prayer and who pray understand that they are not sufficient in themselves to do God’s work. They know they must depend on God to do it. Paul clearly understood his need for prayer (2 Thessalonians 3:1; Romans 15:30; Ephesians 6:18-19; Colossians 4:3.). Paul asked for prayer at the close of six of the thirteen letters he wrote.
The “us” here is the gospel team of Paul, Silas and Timothy that came to Thessalonica (1:1). Paul closes this letter as he began with an emphasis on prayer. He says in effect, “I prayed for you so you pray for me. We will pray for each other.” This is mutual Christianity.
“We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers…” (1 Thessalonians 1:2).
Principle:
If we understand our role in the brotherhood of Christ properly, we would pray for our brothers in Christ more regularly.
Application:
How strong is your supportive tie to those in your church? Can they depend on your prevailing prayer for them? We fulfill God’s purpose in our lives through the prayers of our fellow Christians.
Living the Christian life depends on teamwork. If we play on a team, we depend on our teammates to fulfill their role. Soldiers depend heavily on other soldiers in their company. Their lives are at stake if others fail to fulfil their function. Every area of life needs teamwork. This is no less true in the church. Part of our teamwork is praying for one another. This is something that everyone can do.
“Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you” (Romans 15:30-32).
“…praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:18-20).
“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak” (Colossians 4:2-4).
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1 Thessalonians 5:24b

Published on September 2, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it“
 
who also will do it
 
Grace means that God does the doing. Legalism means that we do the doing. If God does the work, He will sanctify the believer initially, progressively and ultimately. God will preserve us and present us blameless at the coming of Christ (5:23). He will not waver in this. He is credible because He is faithful to Himself and His promises.
 
Principle:
It is God’s responsibility to preserve our eternal life.
Application:
If our salvation or Christian life depended on us, we would be Christians one day and not the next. We would be spiritual Christians one day and failures the next. We cannot do what only God can do. These issues are all up to God. If He does not do it, we are in trouble.
We want a share in becoming Christians. We want a share in our spiritual lives. We cannot save our souls; neither can we sustain our souls. Everything is by God’s grace.
“And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!” (2 Timothy 4:18).
God consummates our salvation. We cannot do this. Our salvation or sanctification does not depend on our faithfulness. They depend on His faithfulness. I am not faithful, He is. Nothing nullifies His faithfulness.
“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
”And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him…” (Hebrews 5:9 ).
“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3-5).
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen” (Jude 24-25).
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1 Thessalonians 5:24

Published on September 1, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 2 Comments
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“He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it“
 
In verse 23, Paul prays for the Thessalonians that God would sanctify them. In this verse, he asserts that God will faithfully do this.
 
He who calls you
God brings certain people to Himself in salvation by His call. This is God’s first work in us but He does not leave us at the point of initial salvation.
is faithful,
God’s character ensures He will fulfill that to which He calls us. God will faithfully complete His work. God is faithful to His promises so He is faithful to those people whom He elects. The Greek puts emphasis on the word “faithful.” God’s faithfulness to His sanctifying work stands on His integrity. God is reliable and trustworthy when it comes to finishing what He starts.
“…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…” (Philippians 1:6 ).
God cannot be unfaithful to Himself. It is impossible for Him to call us and then not preserve us. Since God’s character is immutable, He must be true to His commitments. God cannot go back on His promises whether they are promises about time or eternity. He will faithfully forgive every Christian who confesses his sin (1 John 1:9). God will keep us saved (2 Timothy 2:13). He is faithful to sustain the believer through temptations (1 Corinthians 10:13). The Christian’s present and future depend entirely on God’s faithfulness.
“Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).
Principle:
Once God calls us, His faithfulness will see us to the end.
Application:
Just as we can trust God to save us eternally so we can trust Him to sanctify us completely. We can trust God for our personal growth. What God does will continue into eternity. This is a far cry from our feeble and frail attempts to sanctify ourselves. God both calls and sustains us. He calls us to His ends and He enables us to reach those ends.
No one will point an accusing finger at us because God is faithful in bringing us to a point of absolute sanctification in the eternal state. God preserves us through and through. God will fit us for Heaven as well as earth.
The reason Job could say, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him,” is that God is faithful to Himself. Job could stand up under unimaginable pressure because He understood something about the character of God. He knew God always keeps His Word.
Christians who have confidence in God’s faithfulness to Himself can trust Him with anything that may come their way.
“Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator” (1 Peter 4:19).
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1 Thessalonians 5:23b

Published on August 31, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ“
 
sanctify you completely;
 
God will sanctify you “completely,” sanctify you to every part of your being, all three essential parts of your being. God will sanctify us through and through, with no area escaping His sanctifying influence. He will sanctify us quantitatively, qualitatively and ultimately when He delivers us from our sin capacity. God sanctifies us from stem to stern, from time into eternity.
 
Jesus will save us “completely” (Hebrews 7:25). We believe in the finished and we believe in unfinished work of Christ. Jesus did a work for us on the cross and He is doing a work for us in Heaven. He is saving us daily. He is in the business of keeping saved people saved.
“For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10).
“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
We have a “great high priest” (Hebrews 4:14). We are not trying to get one. Jesus is taking care of our affairs over there.
“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2).
As a “high priest,” Jesus advocates for us as a lawyer. He represents us personally and pleads the case of His shed blood.
Jesus will work for us until He comes back again.
“…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…” (Philippians 1:6).
and may your whole spirit, soul, and body
The word “whole” means complete, sound in every part. This is a qualitative term implying having integrity, complete, undamaged, intact, blameless. The Lord can make us complete in all our parts, in the entity as a whole. God is not interested in getting just our “leftovers” or “unwanted items.”
Paul describes the believer in this passage as having three parts. The “spirit” is the capacity to relate to God. This spiritual dimension puts us in touch with God. The Bible never says that God saves the “spirit,” only the soul can be saved.
The “soul” is the person, the psychology of man. This is the mind, emotions and will of man, the seat of personality (Luke 1:46,47; Hebrews 4:12).
The “body” is the material part of man; it is what carries the immaterial part of man, the spirit and soul.
No part of our spiritual existence escapes the impact of God upon our lives. God must sanctify each of the three aspects of our being. Then, we avoid every category of evil.
be preserved blameless
The word “preserved” means to watch over, keep. The Lord will watch over our entire spirit, soul and body, the complete person. God will guard our blamelessness even up to and including the point of the coming of Christ. He is the one who keeps us saved.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3-5).
A “blameless” person is someone against whom no one can lay a charge. The Lord will preserve us in such a way that no one can lay a change against us. The Christian in this sense is without fault, innocent.
at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
No one can point an accusing finger at us, even at the coming of Christ.
It is not simply “until” the coming of Christ but “at” His coming. When Jesus comes, no one will point a finger at us. Not only will holiness stand the test of life’s trials and temptations but it will have a permanent, real existence that Christ will recognize when He comes.
Principle:
God sanctifies us at three levels.
Application:
Thank God, He saved us perfectly in the person and work of Christ.
There are three kinds or times of sanctification:
·        Positional – we hold the same status that Jesus holds before God when we believe in the death of Christ to forgive our sins whether we are carnal or spiritual. This is perfect sanctification in God’s eyes, not in our experience (4:3,4,7).
·        Progressive – we become more and more like the Lord Jesus as we yield to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives (John 17:17; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 5:26). This is a relative sanctification.
·        Permanent – ultimately we will be just like the Lord Jesus without a sin capacity in the eternal state (Romans 8:29,30). We will not have the capacity to sin ever again.
God saved us positionally when we believed on His Son’s death on the cross as the only way He will accept us into His Heaven.
When it comes to our progressive sanctification, God may have to discipline us to get our attention. The more we yield to the Spirit to enable us to apply more and more of the principles of God’s Word to our experience, the more we will become like the Lord Jesus in time.
One day, God will sanctify us totally, absolutely, completely. God will perfectly sanctify us in the eternity. As far as God is concerned, our eternal sanctification is as good as done.
Jesus saved us from the penalty of sin. He is saving us from the power of us. Eventually, He will save us from the presence of sin.
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1 Thessalonians 5:23

Published on August 30, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 2 Comments
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“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ“
 
Since the preceding 16 exhortations require God to make them possible, Paul invokes God’s help toward that end. Without God’s work on our behalf, it is tough to live up to these directions.
 
Paul concludes this section on sanctification with a prayer. Verse 23 is Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians.
Now
With the word “now” Paul shifts into his conclusion to the book. Paul prays that God will enable the Thessalonians to fulfill the imperatives of the previous section. By adding up the 16 exhortations like a string of numbers, he draws the sum of sanctification. God finishes what He starts. God never embarks upon a job He does not finish. God takes different courses of action, based on the response of the believer.
may the God of peace
God, characterized by peace, will sanctify and preserve the Thessalonians. Paul presents God as the God of peace because He puts everything in order. Nothing goes without His notice. Only God can impart peace to the soul. As long as He ensures that spiritual harmony and tranquility prevail, there will be no discord in the life of the believer. Thus, God works an overall progressive holiness in our lives that will find its ultimate completion at the coming of Christ where we will receive ultimate sanctification.
God made His peace with us initially by sending His Son to die on the cross (Romans 5:1). He is in the process of making peace with us daily as we depend on Him to overcome sin in our lives. He will ultimately make His peace with us by eradicating any sin in our lives in the eternal state.
“And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen” (Romans 16:20).
“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21).
Himself
The word “Himself” is emphatic in the Greek and indicates that God will have to do this, not us. No one else can do this for us either. This does not imply that we have no part in sanctification. God sets us apart when we come to Christ in terms of our position with Him. Then He enables us to become more and more like the Lord Jesus. Finally, He will completely sanctify us at the coming of Christ.
Principle:
Sanctification is not only the will of God but also His work.
Application:
Sanctification is the will of God (1 Thessalonians 4:3,4,7). Sanctification is also the work of God (Exodus 31:13; Leviticus 21:8; Ezekiel 37:28; John 17:19).
God’s commands are one thing but His enablement is something else. Understanding the principles of God is one thing but the power to live them out is another. We do not find that power in ourselves but in God Himself. God is the singular source for our sanctification because He does it “wholly.” God is the God of peace because God puts all things in order.
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1 Thessalonians 5:22

Published on August 29, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“Abstain from every form of evil“
 
Abstain from every form of evil
 
The word “form” is something that strikes the eye, or which is out in the open. It is the external appearance or shape of something. Our passage probably carries the idea of “sort, kind“. There are many kinds of evil out there — including doctrinal error.
 
The word “abstain” means to hold oneself from (4:3). Invariably, this word refers to evil practices whether doctrinal or moral (Acts 15:20,29; 1 Timothy 4:3; 1 Peter 2:11). Christians are to keep themselves from foul doctrine. We should not play with evil teaching. We should distance ourselves from it.
The phrase “form of evil” is a contrast to the phrase in verse twenty, “hold fast what is good.” Christians are to avoid anything that smacks of bogus doctrine. They cannot do this if they have not examined the Word of God thoroughly. “Hold yourselves aloof from any prophecy that is not based in truth from the Bible.”
“Every form of evil” does not restrict itself to those things that appear evil. Rather, we must recognize that evil, including false doctrine, may manifest itself in any visible outward form. However, when evil clearly manifests itself, believers must keep their distance lest they be implicated in it (Numbers 16:26).
Principle:
Christians should avoid anything that is a forerunner to false doctrine, seems like fake doctrine or is beyond the borders of truth.
Application:
God expects us to make a clean break with error when we become Christians. The worst form that evil takes is false prophecy or untrue religious teaching. Christians should not associate themselves with any religious organization that seems to endorse doctrine that has been proven unscriptural or dishonoring to Christ.
Christians should also avoid doctrine that may not be evil in itself, but does not appear right. Christians who flirt with false doctrine open themselves up to trouble. Once these Christians adopt bogus principles for living, they move into misery. We must live out our lives based on solid, godly principles evident in God’s revealed Word.
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1 Thessalonians 5:21b

Published on August 28, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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"Test all things; hold fast what is good“
 
hold fast what is good
 
Once we test a teaching against the Bible, then we hold on to that truth with the confidence that this is what God says. After we search the Scriptures, there comes a point where we need stability in what we believe. The phrase words “hold fast” means to have and hold. First we gain truth, then we retain it.
 
If we constantly open ourselves to new things without the appropriate testing, we introduce instability into our Christian experience. We come to settled convictions by extensive study, not by impulsively embracing some new idea.
The word “good” is the term for something profitable or useful. God’s Word is profitable for our lives (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Principle:
Learning the principles of God’s Word is profitable and aids our everyday living.
Application:
We are not to seek truth to denounce false ideas primarily, but to find what is true in God’s Word. We study the Word to preserve its true teaching and apply it to our experience. Once we establish genuine teaching from God’s Word then we hold onto it tenaciously.
“These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).
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