1 Thessalonian SeriesPart5

1 Thessalonians Series

Part 5

“The Lord’s Coming: A Strengthening Truth”

Last time in chapter three we looked at a place (the city of Athens), a plan (that Timothy would strengthen the church in Paul’s absence, a plea (that the Thessalonians would remain strong under trial), and a plot (Satan’s attempt to overthrow their faith). Thank God, it didn’t succeed! The Thessalonians became rooted in God’s truth with their eye of faith turned toward the Lord’s return. For them, this became a stabilizing truth.

Now this time in chapter four we’re going to look at how the Lord’s return is also a strengthening truth. Paul is going to lay out some practical teaching in light of the reality of Christ’s return. He will deal with:

Our mighty potential (4:1-2)

Our moral purity (4:3-8)

Our measured progress (4:9-10)

Our manifest purpose (4:11-12), and

Our magnificent prospect (4:13-18)

First, our mighty potential as Christians.

4:1-2 “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; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.”

Notice how Paul taught them. “How you ought to walk and to please God.” The teachings the Holy Spirit gave to Paul to in turn teach the young Thessalonian church were aimed at showing them how to live in a way that was pleasing to the watchful eye of God.

He had taught them the essentials of Christianity. He taught them what they should believe as Christians, and he taught them how they should behave as Christians. He even taught them eschatology—the study of future, last days prophetic events. Why this? Because as we will see, the truth about the second coming of Christ spurs the Christian on to holy living.

Paul was a teacher—the most profound teacher of spiritual truth in the history of the world next to Christ Himself. In Romans he taught salvation truth—setting before us the principles, problems, and practice of the gospel.

In Corinthians he taught sanctifying truth—warning them about the divisions, disorders, difficulties, and even the disbelief that can plague a local church.

In Galatians he taught separation truth—warning us against legalism on the one hand and license on the other. In Ephesians he taught soaring truth—lofty and profound concepts concerning the church as a body, a building, and a bride.

In Philippians he taught stimulating truth about joy in suffering, sacrifice, service, and sickness. In Colossians he taught sobering truth—the truth about Christ, cults, and the Christian.

In Hebrews he taught sanctuary truth—how Judaism is now obsolete and has been replaced by better things because we have a better Savior, a better sacrifice, a better sanctuary, a better security, a better spokesman, and a better society.

This and much, much more poured from the mouth of Paul to his young and eager converts. He established them in the truth. And it was the truth that held them firm and steady in the face of relentless persecution. The truth is what made them mighty, invincible warriors for the cause of Christ!

Next, Paul delves into the whole topic of moral purity. It is likely that when Timothy returned with the overall good news of the Thessalonians’ faith, he also reported a downside—there was yet a degree of immorality among them.

The Greek culture was highly promiscuous. It gave wide approval to all forms of sexual misbehavior. The notion that extramarital sex was wrong was totally foreign to the Greek mind. Hence the need for Paul to “renew their minds” with the washing of water by the Word of God.

4:3 “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from fornication (sexual immorality ;)”

We all enjoy “positional sanctification” as children of God. We have been declared saints, which means “sanctified holy ones” through the finished work of Christ. But there is also a “practical sanctification,” which is God’s demand upon us that we, as His children, separate ourselves from evil things and ways.

This is something we are to diligently pursue. It is made possible for us by the mighty indwelling Spirit of God (2 Thes. 2:13). So Paul says, “Abstain from fornication.” Fornication comes from the Greek word porneia (por-nee-ah). It includes prostitution, adultery, and any and all kinds of premarital sex.

No sin is more destructive to the family, more dangerous to health, or more debilitating to spiritual life than is fornication. The Holy Spirit warns, “Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.”—Heb.13:4

Every believer must learn to control his body in sexual matters.

4:4-5 “…that each of you should learn to control your own body in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God;”

Don’t go to places that will weaken you. Don’t date people that do not have a 1 Thessalonians 4:4 conviction. In fact, don’t date anyone you can’t imagine marrying. Why bother? Don’t look at things that will light the fire of lust. Be smart and wise about this issue. Focus on the things of the Spirit, get into a strong church that feeds you the Word of God, and run only with people that love the Lord.

Instead of living for lust like the world does, live for the Lord. Instead of giving your bodies to sin, dedicate them to the Lord. “I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.”—Ro. 12:1

Paul goes even further to say that immorality is a sin against God the Son. And it will be avenged.

4:6-7 “and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.”

LISTEN CAREFULLY: God draws the line beyond which we are not to go. The line is simple: no sex outside of marriage. To go beyond this is to “defraud” somebody. Defraud comes from a Greek word which means literally “to step over.” It carries the idea of crossing over a forbidden frontier. God has written “No trespassing” over every man or woman who is not one’s own wife or husband.

And he has done more. He has also posted “Trespassers will be prosecuted.” The Bible says that the Lord becomes “The Avenger” in this case. The Lord Jesus Himself is the One who deals out judgment to those who transgress God’s moral laws. Both sternness and severity are involved as well as goodness and grace following repentance.

Punishment for sexual sin is formidable. Overwhelming guilt, loss of self-respect, or exposure to shame. It might take the form of STD’s like herpes, or AIDS. Whatever form it takes, the Lord gives the solemn warning that sexual sins will be punished. Don’t let the seemingly carefree world fool you. Behind closed doors in the heart and soul of every sexual sinner there is punishment of one kind or another.

And immorality, says Paul, is also a sin against the Holy Spirit.

4: 8 “Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.”

God sees all men as being either “in Adam” or “in Christ” (Ro.5:7). In Adam, we are controlled by the Fall; in Christ we are controlled by the Call. If controlled by the impact of the Fall, we obey the dictates of a ruined nature; if we’re controlled by the Call, we obey the dictates of a redeemed nature.

In our daily lives through our character, conduct, and conversation, we exhibit either the results of the Fall or the results of the Call. So Paul says to the Thessalonians and to us—You are children of the Call! So walk accordingly!

Our mighty potential, our moral purity, and now Paul turns his focus to our measured progress. He points out what we call “The Bottom Line.” Love, says Paul, is the most important thing of all. He sets love in stark contrast to lust by showing what love taught:

4:9 “But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;”

Interestingly, Paul does not use the familiar “agape” here. Instead, he uses philadelphia (brotherly love) to underline the kind of love that believers are to demonstrate toward each other. It means “loving friend.” This love manifests in deeds, not just words. It reaches out to the weak, the lonely, the unfortunate, and those in need.

And note how Paul says that God Himself taught them in their personal walk with Him to love one another in this way! The Holy Spirit naturally develops this kind of love in the Christian.

Not only are we shown what love taught, but also what love wrought:

4:10 “and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;”

Not only did they abide in love, they abounded in love. Love is never content with what it has given; it must always give more. Love does not set limits. It has no quotas. It is like Niagara Falls, it never ceases to pour itself out. It is indefatigable.

NEXT TIME: “OUR MANIFEST PURPOSE AND OUR MAGNIFICENT PROSPECT”