1 Thessalonians (written)

Sunday, 27 August 2017

…and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves. 1 Thessalonians 5:13

The Greek of the words, “and to esteem them very highly” is difficult to be dogmatic about. Two main views are 1) that the words “in love” are to be taken with “to esteem,” and then to attach “very highly” to “in love” –

“…and to esteem them in love very highly.”

Or, it could be that “love” qualifies both “esteem” and “very highly” –

“…and to esteem them very highly in love.”

Either way, the idea is geared towards loving “those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord” They are to be given high honor for their efforts in Christ. The church isn’t just to “recognize” a leader as if one would pay honor to a president or a king, but they are to have a holy love for him as one would of a beloved leader. In such a bond, there is to be the letting go of pet peeves and minor disagreements about life, and a joining together in heart and fellowship because of Christ.

The reason for this is then stated as, “for their work’s sake.” It is not so much because of the person doing the work of ministering, but actually for the sake of the work itself. Though a person is filling the position, it is the position which is being focused on. This is actually rather important, because pastors and preachers come and go, but the position remains. The one who fills the position is to be esteemed “highly in love for their work’s sake.” In so doing this, any non-sinful failings of the person are overlooked because of the job he is carrying out for his flock.

Finally, Paul says, “Be at peace among yourselves.” There is no connecting article such as “and” here, and thus it is an entirely different thought intended for the members of the church in general, among one another. Not only are they to show loving esteem for their leaders, but they are to act in peace towards one another as well. This is a sentiment seen elsewhere. Jesus says substantially the same thing in Mark 9:50. Paul says it in Romans 12:18, and again with the same idea, but different words in Romans 14:19.

Life application: A church is only a home to those in it if they treat it as a home. When we are with our family, we will hopefully give respect to the parents, demonstrate love towards one another, and attempt to live at peace. If we carry this same attitude with us to the church, then it will function in the intended manner. The ultimate purpose of going to church is to bring glory to God, not have donuts and coffee. If we fail to follow through with Paul’s words, we will fail at glorifying God.

Gracious, merciful God – forgive us for treating our time at church as a social affair. We hurry to get coffee and see what good things are laid out to eat, we talk about our successes of the past week, we let the music become our enjoyment (or become upset when we don’t like it), and we forget that the entire purpose of church is to glorify You. We should hunger after Your word which reveals You. We should long for a close walk with Christ whom Your word points us to. And, we should revel in the day when we will be in Your presence forever. Help us to have this attitude as we come into Your presence at church. Amen.

Saturday, 26 August 2017

And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
1 Thessalonians 5:12

Paul has now completed the main thoughts of the epistle. The last main thought was the information about the coming of the Lord at the rapture and what will occur after that has come to pass. With that behind him, he now gives various exhortations which are intended to keep the church strong and properly aligned with what is expected of them. To begin that thought, he starts with honoring the leadership. Without respect for those who carry the load within the church, nothing else will run efficiently.

To begin then, he says, “And we urge you, brethren.” He is addressing the church which is comprised of believers. Though non-believers may have been present, and though many have read his words since then, his words are directed to those who are a part of the fellowship. In this, he prompts them strongly using a word translated here as “urge.” It is a word which indicates special consideration should be given because of the intimate relationship which is involved between them.

His urging is then defined with the words, “to recognize those who labor among you.” The word indicates having an appreciation for them and their labors based on their nature and position. The various churches at the time of Paul were not set, organized structures. Unlike Israel which had a set standard of worship, set priests, set times for various occurrences, and so on, this was not the case (nor is it the case today). Each church (and each denomination) today has its own structure and hierarchy.

Paul’s words are to each and any church. Those within this hierarchy, and who conduct the ministerial tasks of the church, are to be recognized for their efforts. The word translated as “labor” gives the sense of laboring until worn out. Thus it is “wearisome toil.” If the elder, pastor, preacher (or whatever other designation is given in any particular church) is sincere about his duties, he will expend himself tirelessly in them. This is what Paul actually anticipates in his choice of words.

To further define this, he continues with, “and are over you in the Lord and admonish you.” The words “over you” indicate one who provides the needed example to direct others. This is through positively impacting them by example. They are those who are set before the church, and to whom the church then looks to for their spiritual instruction and guidance. The words “admonish you” indicate the exerting of positive pressure on someone’s logic or reasoning. In other words, such a person is one who urges others to choose God’s best for themselves.

Paul acknowledges that such leaders are to be appreciated for their labors because they have chosen the weighty task of training and instructing others in the most important issues that any person could face. They are issues which deal with family, work, death, marriage, salvation, condemnation, holiness, morality, and on and on. Most of these issues are highly personal, and therefore they are sensitive and truly a source of wearing out the leader.

Live application: One person unloading on a minister might not seem like much, but when there is an entire church full of people, many of whom need to unload at any given time, it becomes a great burden on him. Time is precious, and so each person that the minister attends to should realize this and appreciate the effort that he makes.

Lord God, there aren’t enough hours in the day! And so help us to prioritize our labors according to those things which are most important to You, and those things which are right and proper for our daily lives. Help us not to get distracted by the vanity of this world, but instead to train ourselves to seek out and apply to our lives that which is noble, honorable, and pure. We have eternity set before us, and so help us to make what we do now count towards that time. Amen.

Friday, 25 August 2017

Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11

Once again, Paul introduces the thought of verse 4:18 where he said, “Therefore comfort one another with these words.” In that verse, he was telling them to comfort one another in the assurance that none in Christ will be lost, and that all will be joined to Him in glory. Now, he is basing his words on the fact that this being joined in glory means that we are not to be included in God’s wrath. Instead, we will obtain salvation through Christ Jesus. As he then noted in verse 5:10, “…whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.”

This is the basis for his exhortation. Because of this wonderful assurance, we are to “comfort each other and edify one another.” The idea of the word translated as “comfort” is that we are to personally make a call on one another in their times of sadness such as when a fellow believer has died in Christ. At such a time, we are to remind them of the promises of God which Paul has penned to us. The word “edify” means to build up. When another’s faith is wavering, we are to take them to the word and build them up once again, assuring them that all will be fine. The Lord has it all under control, and we are to convey this to them.

Paul then finishes the thought with, “just as you are doing.” Those at Thessalonica were following through with this. Paul knew that, but somehow it appears that a thought of doubt concerning those who had died had been introduced into their minds. Because of this, he was doing exactly what he was admonishing them to continue doing – comfort and edify. They would would now be able to do this with the tangible proofs of an apostolic letter available to them. Should someone come in and attempt to reintroduce doubt or make conflicting statements, they would only need to go to the word to prove the truth of the matter.

Life application: How can we know if Mormonism is right or wrong? What about the doctrine of the Jehovah’s Witnesses? What about any other false sect? The answer is, “Whatever conflicts with, or contradicts, what is already written in God’s word is to be rejected.” The word is written. It is fixed, firm, and forever. Let us not be tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine which is given through the trickery of men. Instead, let us stand fast and firm on the truth of the Word of God.

Heavenly Father, You have given us a choice in life. We can accept or reject Your word. Help each of us – from any and every background and culture – to be willing to search out the truths You have laid down, and to accept them as they have been given. Truth is what corresponds to reality, and surely Your word is truth. Help us to accept this, O Lord. Amen.

Thursday, 24 August 2017

…who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
1 Thessalonians 5:10

Paul now completes the thought of the previous verse, beginning with the words, “who died for us.” He is certainly tying this into the thought of both clauses of the previous verse –

1) For God did not appoint us to wrath – because Jesus took our wrath upon Himself in His death.

2) …but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ – He died for us, giving up His human, earthly life so that we could be saved.

It is Christ’s death which “delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10), and it is belief in His work, including His atoning death, which God credits to us for righteousness (Romans 4). And this is true “whether we wake or sleep.” Paul is ensuring that the believers in Thessalonica (and thus us!) understand that Christ’s return is for all believers, both those who have died (or, as Paul says, “sleep”), and those who are awake. At His coming all will be gathered together as one and will be transformed in the twinkling of an eye. There will be none lost, but all shall be saved and given new and eternal life at that time.

It is from this moment, that “we should live together with Him.” Christ was raised to eternal life, and so we too will be raised to eternal life. Christ ascended to heaven, and so we too shall ascend to heaven. We will participate in the events that He has laid out for us as is detailed in the final chapters of Revelation, and the saints of God shall rejoice in an existence which will never end. It will be one of marvelous wonder, endless delight, and eternal joy. Stay tuned; Christ is coming again to make all of this come about.

Having said that, the word “together” isn’t to be connected to the words “with Him.” Rather, it refers to those who are awake and those who are asleep. The event which occurs at the rapture will occur for the living and the dead at that time, as is detailed in verse 4:13-18.

Life application: Death has no hold on those in Christ. If you are facing the death of a loved one who believes, or if you are facing your own earthly end, you should not worry. God cherishes your faith at all times. How much more when that faith is demonstrated at the door of the great unknown encounter we call “death.” In Christ, death is defeated; and in Christ, death has no sting. Let us stand firm on this truth and receive additional rewards for continued faith at such a time.

Heavenly Father, as mortal beings, we are all sure to face death unless you come first for us at the rapture. Help us to maintain our faith, even in the face of this great unknown door which we have never passed through before. As it approaches, let us be confident in the promises which are found in Christ, and which tell us that death is a defeated enemy. Thank You, O God, for Jesus Christ who delivers us even from death itself. Amen.

Wednesday, 23 August 2017

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Thessalonians 5:9

The word “For” is given to explain further what Paul has just said concerning right living as we wait on the Lord. Because of this hope, “God did not appoint us to wrath.” The point of living in a right manner is because we have a true hope of not being caught up in God’s wrath. If such were the case, there would be little point in right living. Every good thing we did would be in vain, and all that we could expect is a reward of pain and misery for our efforts.

But such is not the case at all. Instead of being appointed to wrath, we have been appointed “to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The word translated as “obtain” is peripoíēsis. It is a word which means “to make one’s own,” or to “completely obtain.” Literally, it signifies “for abundant (all-around) gain.”

Believers have made a choice in Christ Jesus. They have put their trust in Him, and God has used that trust to guarantee our salvation. There is nothing the believer has done to merit this, but rather it is a choice of trusting solely in the merits of Christ for salvation. This is why Paul states, “through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Our faith is directed towards Him, and our salvation is obtained through who He is, what He has done, and the means which He has decided for it to come about. The same word is used in Hebrews 10:39 to show that it is faith which makes this possible –

“But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”

There the word “saving” is the same as “obtain” here. The faith (those who believe) in Christ is what secures this. Again, it is faith in what Christ has done, and it is sufficient to be saved from God’s wrath.

An argument concerning the timing of the rapture comes up from this verse by some. It says “For God did not appoint us to wrath.” Some will argue that this means believers will be completely exempt from the tribulation period, and these words justify a pre-tribulation rapture. Others state that it justifies a mid-tribulation rapture because Revelation speaks of the “wrath of the Lamb” which is only the second half of the tribulation period.

Paul’s use of the word elsewhere could rightly be used to justify the former, but he also uses the term in the present sense when speaking of of the Jews in 1 Thessalonians 2:16. However, the second option, that of the wrath of the Lamb pointing to a mid-tribulation rapture, is impossible to justify. Nowhere does Paul indicate any such connection as this. But even more, this rather ludicrous analysis makes “the wrath of God” different than “the wrath of the Lamb,” as if Jesus is not God. No such separation is ever noted in Scripture, and it is truly a mishandling of what is being said in order to justify an otherwise unjustifiable presupposition.

Revelation 3:10, speaking of the entire tribulation period says –

“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”

This is speaking of the entire tribulation period which comprises everything after the letters to the seven churches, all the way up until the Second Coming of Christ in Revelation 19. The next verse after that then says, “Behold, I am coming quickly.” Those words are tied into the thought of “the hour of trial.” In other words, He will come quickly, and then will come “the hour of trial.” It would make no sense to say that one is coming quickly (meaning unexpectedly) if the timing of His coming was already known, meaning one-half way through the tribulation period.

The only justifiable position from a right understanding of Scripture concerning the coming rapture is that it will occur, and only then will the world enter the seven years of tribulation.

Life application: Though we may suffer greatly in this life, as countless millions of Christians have in the past, this is not an indication that God has poured out His wrath upon His people. Rather, that is a part of the world building up iniquity which will be poured out in wrath upon them. The Lord will reward the world with great wrath and indignation, but His people will be saved through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Heavenly Father, at times it seems as if You are absent from us. We face trials, sicknesses, and death. But we can be sure that these things are not an indication of Your absence. You are carefully watching out for Your people while allowing the world to conduct its affairs. You have promised that those who live for You, as well as those who have died in You, will be saved from the wrath to come. We have obtained salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Help us to remember this, and to be confident that we are safely guarded by you. Amen.