1 Thessalonians (written)

2 August 2017

…that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 1 Thessalonians 4:6

In verse 4:3, Paul wrote, “for this is the will of God, your sanctification.” After that, he noted sexual immorality as being opposed to sanctification. Now he goes on to a conclusion of this thought, and notes that which would hinder sanctification. It would be to “take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter.”

The word translated as “take advantage” is one which is found only here in the Bible. It means, “to go beyond.” In the previous verse, Paul had spoken of the “passion of lust.” As noted, that phrase is not limited to sexual desires, but includes all sorts of desires. They can be positive or negative, but in the context of the verse, they are negative. One of the main uses of the word is that of covetousness.

What he is now saying is that we are not to allow our hearts be filled with covetousness in this way. By allowing this, we would then be impelled to “take advantage and defraud” one another in this matter. As he says elsewhere –

“Now godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. ⁸ And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. ⁹ But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Rather than have hearts filled with covetousness, we are to be content with what we possess, and not look to those things which we have not rightly earned on our own. For those who would act in a manner contrary to this, he then provides a warning by saying, “ because the Lord is the avenger of all such.”

One must remember that Paul is writing to believers, but the principles which he writes also pertain to non-believers. Any such negative actions will be judged by the Lord. For those who are saved, they will be judged at the bema seat judgment of rewards and losses (Romans 14:1 & 2 Corinthians 5:10). For those who are not in Christ, they will be judged and then cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:11-15). No matter what, all transgressions will be judged.

To finish the thought, he then adds in, “as we also forewarned you and testified.” It is obvious that Paul preached the grace of Christ throughout his ministry, and it is confirmed throughout his epistles. However, he also preached that sin will be judged. He never teaches that grace grants a license to sin. Instead, he speaks clearly and carefully about the need for believers to be molded into the image of Christ, and to stay away from sin. His words here show that he taught it to young believers right along with their salvation message, and he continued to warn them as a part of their regular instruction.

Life application: The Bible asks God’s people to be holy because He is holy. Let us endeavor to live in this manner at all times, ever striving to be the best examples of righteousness and holiness that we can be – to the glory of God!

Almighty heavenly Father, we come to Your glorious throne to confess our shortcomings and to petition You, because of the marvelous gift of Your Son, for forgiveness and restoration. Help us to not have hearts filled with covetousness, but to be content with what we have. Help us to strive for holiness and righteousness. And may we be people of thanks for the many blessings You have given to us. Help us in these things, O God. Amen.

Tuesday, 1 August 2017

…not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 1 Thessalonians 4:5

Paul’s previous words showed that each person should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor. Now, in contrast to that, he says, “…not in passion of lust.” The word translated as passion, pathos, indicates strong feelings which are not guided by God. Rather, they are those sensual feelings which draw one away from Him. He then combines in a word translated as “lust” which is not limited to sexual desires, but includes all sorts of desires. They can be positive or negative, but in the context of the verse, they are negative. One of the main uses of the word is that of covetousness.

What Paul is describing is completely contrary to “sanctification and honor.” To sanctify oneself is to be separated from the surrounding, worldly things we face. If one is consumed with the passion of lust, they are going full steam ahead into those worldly things, not away from them. Likewise, there is nothing honoring of God in such lusts, but rather choosing the path of the devil is what is seen. To confirm this, he then says, “…like the Gentiles who do not know God.”

Here he is writing to Gentile believers, but he contrasts them to Gentiles who do not know what they, as believers, know. The difference has set them on a completely different path. They have come to Christ, and have been instructed in what is pleasing to Him. The path they have chosen is one which follows the sanctification and honor that he wrote about. The only way the other Gentiles are going to know how to conduct themselves before God is by their example. Otherwise, how could they ever come to know the truth?

Life application: Our conduct in the presence of others should be as Paul describes. Reading his epistles is the way to come to a right understanding of proper church-age doctrine. Let us read, meditate on, and apply these words to our daily lives – to the honor of God and for the sanctification of ourselves.

Heavenly Father, it sure is precious to be in Your marvelous presence. Because of Christ Jesus, we can speak to You without fear of our prayers being hindered by the mistakes we make. Instead, we have full and unfettered access to Your attentive ear at all times. It is an honor and a joy to know this. Thank You for such a wonderful freedom to interact with You in this way. Amen.

Monday, 31 July 2017

…that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 1 Thessalonians 4:4

This verse begins to explain the “will of God” Paul mentioned in the previous verse. That will of God for the believers in Thessalonica (and thus us!) is “sanctification.” After noting this, he began the idea of sanctification with abstaining “from sexual immorality.” In order to meet this goal, he now explains it with “that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel.”

Paul likens our body as a vessel. Elsewhere, he calls it “an earthen vessel” (2 Corinthians 4:7). We are a soul which is transported around by an earthly shell, thus it is a vessel. In 2 Corinthians 4:7, the vessel is explained as containing something, meaning the Holy Spirit. In this verse now, it is a vessel for doing something. We are to “possess” it. The wording doesn’t just mean “to grab hold of,” but “to gain hold of.” We can grab something and not have control of it, like a rider in a rodeo who gets bucked off the bronco. Or, we can gain hold of something through continued diligence, thus subduing the horse and making it a useful tool around the ranch. The same is true with our bodies.

When we come to Christ, our soul is reconnected to God; it is our spiritual rebirth. It is contrary to the notion of being reconnected to God to continue to live in a worldly manner. Instead, we are to use our members in a life ever leading towards holiness. Paul gives a description of how to do this in Colossians 3 –

“Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, ⁷ in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.” Colossians 3:5-7

In living righteously, and in the other ways that the Bible explains to us concerning a life of holiness, we will each possess our “own vessel in sanctification and honor.” The sanctification is for ourselves in accord with what the Holy Spirit has already done for us, sanctifying us before God. The honor is as an outward display to glorify God. The word translated as “honor” is one which carries the meaning of a price. Thus it is a perceived value. Of what value is the glory of God to us? This is the idea of what Paul is saying. Christ paid the ultimate price for our sins, and so we should deem His work in this manner as most precious, showing others what we believe the price means to us.

Life application: If we continue in sexual sins after accepting Christ, what type of value are we placing on the work of Christ, and what does the sanctification of the Spirit mean to us? We were called in our sin, but with the idea that we are to come out of our sin. By remaining in, or returning to, whatever sin we we saved from, it demonstrates that we hold this way of life in a greater esteem than the new life we have been called to? Is this earth our home? Or are we looking for a return to Paradise which we lost so long ago. Let us ever strive towards holiness, sanctification, and honor.

Lord God, what value do we place on the precious blood of Christ when we return to the sins which He saved us from? Help us to place our sanctification and Your honor above this earthly life we live. Our first father lost paradise. Since then, we’ve been in a fallen world full of woe. Is this the place we want to linger in? Or should we set our hopes and goals now on a return to that wonderful place You have prepared for us? Help us in this Lord. Amen.

Sunday, 30 July 2017

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 1 Thessalonians 4:3

This is the second “for” in a row from Paul’s hand. He just said, “…for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.” He then immediately explains why they were given and begins explaining the reason for those things, along with the first of a list of some of those commandments.

“For this is the will of God.” The commandments are God’s will for us, and they bear a specific purpose in being given, which is, “your sanctification.” The idea of sanctification is holiness. Believers in Christ are to be set apart and live lives of honor towards God. The Law of Moses contains five books. The first three follow in a particular order to show us what is being relayed here by Paul –

Genesis – creation; God the Father/Creator.
Exodus – redemption; God the Son/Redeemer, Savior, and Justifier.
Leviticus – sanctification; God the Holy Spirit/Sanctifier & Purifier.
The main theme of the entire book of Leviticus is found in Leviticus 11:44 –

“For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy.”

Notice what it says there, “You therefore shall consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy.” This is something the Jews missed, and continue to miss to this day. When they pray their feast blessings, Sabbath blessings, etc., they repeat the words “who has sanctified us with His commandments.” But one of His commandments is that they too are to be sanctified; they are to be holy. A partial, or selective observance of the Law is to make the law void and to nullify the sanctification needed on their part.

The same is true with those in the church now. What was only pictured in the dietary laws of Israel in Leviticus 11 is seen fulfilled in the precepts given to us by the apostles. Things considered unclean in the dietary laws pictured people and acts which are unclean and immoral. Staying away from immorality is then for our “sanctification.” The first thing Paul then notes as being immoral, and to stay away from, is explained next by him with the words, “…that you should abstain from sexual immorality.”

The Bible set the pattern at the very beginning. Man + woman, in marriage = proper sexual conduct. Anything else is immoral. This is explained and reexplained in the Bible. Anything not within these narrow confines is to be abstained from. The highly perverse sexual conduct of the world today is completely opposed to the sanctification process which is expected of us. There are no exceptions.

Life application: Attempting to justify sexual sin, meaning any sexual intimacy apart from a man and a woman in the bonds of marriage, is an affront to God, and it is opposed to the sanctification process which is outlined in Scripture.

Lord God, Your word ties in our sanctification with abstaining from sexual immorality. This is defined in your word as any sexual intimacy which is other than that of a man and a woman in the bonds of marriage. Your word is set, and it is not confused. Oh, but we are. We will do anything to justify the unjustifiable. May we live our lives in holiness, not engaging in that which You have forbidden. Help us in our weakness. Amen.

Saturday, 29 July 2017

…for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 4:2

As normal, the word “for” is given to either explain or confirm something just stated. The same is true here. He just said, “just as you received from us how you out to walk and to please God.” That is the basis for saying “for” now. It is those commandments which Paul and his associates gave to those in Thessalonica “through the Lord Jesus.”

Paul’s words must be true as he is stating in the letter that they had really been told these things. If no such commandments were given, then he couldn’t call them to memory now. Further, he was with them such a short time earlier that they would certainly be able to recollect those things he had said to them.

This is important because the longer someone is gone, the duller the memory gets. Eventually, ten people would have ten different ideas about what was said. Paul is asking them to consider those commandments and apply them to their walk. As they are “through the Lord Jesus,” meaning they carry the weight of His instruction to Paul, which he in turn passed on to the Thessalonians, then it is this very set of commandments which which will guide their walk and make them pleasing to God.

The inspiration of Paul’s teaching as an apostle is seen in these words, and it carries throughout this letter and all of his letters. It is confirmed by Peter as well. Peter says that Paul’s letters are on an equal footing with Scripture in 2 Peter 3:15, 16. It is an important precept to remember. What Paul says is doctrine for the church age.

Life application: There are many things in Scripture which are hard to remember. In fact, if we aren’t in the word daily, we will quickly dull in regards to them. Anyone who thinks they can pick up the Bible once, read through it, and assume that they are now fully prepared for living out a proper Christian walk is deluded. It must be read continuously, and it must be meditated on always.

Most gracious and merciful heavenly Father. Your love for us is apparent in ten thousand ways each day. The good food we have, the beautiful sunrises that inspire, the call of the birds to one another, and even the twinkling of the stars at night… each of these shows that you really care for us. How much more when we consider the cross. It is the most wonderful demonstration of the Father’s love. Thank You for bringing us home through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.