Pleasing God through Obedient Behavior

Introduction

It is easy for us to take for granted the association between obedience and pleasing God.

It would not have been so easy for ancient people to understand.

We need to try to reconnect with these associations so we can fully appreciate the radical nature of the message of the Bible.

Thus far in the letter, Paul has dealt with the past and present nature of his relationship with the Thessalonians.

He has worried over their views about him.

He has worried over their continued identification with Christ.

Now we learn that Paul has written the first three chapters to lead up to addressing a few important concerns he has about the Thessalonians.

They also have some misconceptions especially about the coming of the Lord and the resurrection.

An Emphatic Appeal

Paul now makes a transition in the letter, but it is not disconnected from the previous line of thought (at least where it ended up).

Most likely, this final movement of the letter expands upon the goal of being blameless in holiness in the “parousia of our Lord Jesus.”

“Loipon” does not indicate “finally” as much as “now then.”

He now uses a linguistic convention to signal that he has an emphatic or important request to make of them.

This appeal takes the ultimate form of the authoritative passing down of information.

In connection with the above mentioned goal of “blameless in holiness,” Paul has already given some indications.

1 Thess. 1:10, in connection with it, we might think of this as an active form of “awaiting his Son from heaven.”

Paul has already described himself as “one encouraging you all and warning and witnessing that you all might walk worthily of the God who called you all into his own kingdom and glory (1 Thess 2:12).

Existing Standards of Behavior

Paul did more than preach so they might be saved.

He obviously taught them of behavioral standards.

Ancient people hardly associated religion and lifestyle.

Religion was ritual.

A people pleased their gods through rituals and festivals often involving sacrifices and revelry.

Knowledge of the true God, though, redirects the whole being toward living a life pleasing to God.

We are oriented toward doing what makes God happy instead of ourselves.

This is at odds with the idea that we serve God so He can make us happy.

Being a believer does not mean we enter into a “blank slate” relationship with God where now we may do as we please.

Abound More

The Thessalonians were already living as they should.

Paul wanted them to do that with even greater consistency or steadfastness.

They were already aware of the instructions Paul had given them.

Holiness is clearly his concern in this section.

See 1 Thess. 3:13; 4:3.