Daily Writing

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.

Friday, 28 July 2017

Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; 1 Thessalonians 4:1

Chapter 4 begins the instructional part of the letter to those at Thessalonica. Until this point, no true note of instruction has been given. Rather his words have been greetings and calling to remembrance things which have occurred. His words, “Finally then,” Give the sense of “For the rest, then…” In other words, there are other matters which require his instruction, and they are now to be submitted for this purpose. This is to be a new subject and a new direction.

Of course the word “brethren” is given to indicate that his words are intended for believers. And this will certainly become evident as he continues on through the chapter. It is a chapter which provides immense hope, and which is probably cited as much as any other passage from Paul’s pen over the church age, especially when dealing with the issue of believers who have died. In this, it is obvious that the words are intended as pertaining only to those who have died in Christ. Thus, they are “brethren” that he will speak about there as well.

After this, he says, “…we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus.” To urge is to request, but it is a request which bears a note of strong desire or impulse to ensure that what is presented is followed through with. In this case, the Greek word indicates, “to ask on special footing,” and thus there is a sense of intimacy coming from one in a preferred position. To exhort is to prompt to action. This Greek word indicates making a call from a close and personal relationship. Both of these words are used in connection with “in the Lord Jesus.”

In other words, “This urging and exhortation is given because of and by our close and personal union in the Lord. We are brothers, we are family, and the Lord is our Head. Therefore, take heed to what I now state.” He then defines his exhortation by saying, “that you should abound more and more.” What this implies is that those in Thessalonica have been given guidance to abound in their Christian walk. They have, thus far, been living by that guidance as is evidenced by Paul’s words of rejoicing of Chapter 3 when he heard this was so. Now he petitions them to continue in this life, but growing in it from day to day and even moment to moment.

All of this is evident from his closing words of this verse which say, “just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God.” Paul and his companions had visited Thessalonica, they had established the church and given instruction, the Thessalonians had accepted the teaching and had continued on in it. All of this was a walk pleasing to God. Paul’s great hope for them is that this walk would continue.

Life application: We are either moving forward in our Christian walk, or we are moving backward in it. Paul’s exhortation to all is that we always move forward, abounding more and more. Let us endeavor to do so.

Lord God – all powerful and all marvelous! Thank You for having granted us salvation, and a hope of a marvelous new life in Your presence. What was lost in the Garden shall be restored, plus. We shall have the knowledge of what You were willing to do in order to reconcile us to Yourself by the giving of Your Son. With this knowledge, we will certainly rejoice forever, even as we do now! Praise You, O God, for what You have done. Amen.

Thursday, 27 July 2017

…so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. 1 Thessalonians 3:13

The previous two verses, tied together with this one, will give the full sense of Paul’s thought –

“Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. ¹² And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, ¹³ so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.”

Paul has petitioned for direction for those in Thessalonica which will make them increase and abound in love. Requesting the fulfillment of this was “so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father.” It is through the abounding in love that this will come about. The New Testament repeatedly says that love is the fulfillment of the law (Matthew 22:40, Romans 13:8 & 13:10, Galatians 5:14, and James 2:8).

In loving, meaning towards God and towards fellow believers, we will be found “blameless in holiness.” There can be no charge against someone who is fulfilling the divine law, because they are dealing with hearts that are pure. And this is deeper than an outward display, but it is with sincerity. One sets themselves apart (holiness), just as they have been set apart by God, in acting in love. On that day which is set for Christ’s return, the intent is that this is how we should be found. As He says, we should be this way “before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The day isn’t known, and the church has waited 2000 years so far, but the day will come. Christ will return to bring the church to Himself. At that time, we will stand before Him to make an account of our lives. This is known as the bema seat judgment. It is a judgment for rewards and losses, but not one for salvation or condemnation.

Paul then adds in that Christ is coming “with all His saints.” Two main views are possible with this. The Greek says, “the holy ones.” Therefore, some believe this is angels that are being referred to. Those who hold to this would choose a verse such as Matthew 25:31 to support their view. This is not what Paul is thinking of. Matthew 25 was spoken to Israel, still under the law. Paul is more likely preparing the way for his words of Chapter 4. In verse 14, he notes that “God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.”

In other words, they are already dead and awaiting the resurrection at the rapture. Jesus will bring them, and together we shall meet him. The “blameless and holiness before our God” is referring to those who are still alive. Once someone has died, they simply await the resurrection. But while living, this is how saints should conduct their lives, and this is the intent of Paul’s words concerning Christ returning with His saints.

Life application: There is a lot of infighting and backbiting in the church. A lot. We have enough of this in the secular world. Let us strive, as much as is possible, to live at peace with our brothers and sisters in Christ. It isn’t always possible, but this is what we are asked to do.

Lord God, there is enough division in this world where there is little agreement on anything. In the church, we have Your word. It is given to set parameters in doctrine and to provide guidelines for conduct. As long as Your people are conforming to that, we should try, our very best, to live at harmony with one another. Help us in this Lord. We humans can be an irritating lot, and so let the abrasiveness stop with us in hopes that peace will spread to others. Amen.