1 Thess: A Life Pleasing to God

Introduction

Open your Bibles to 1 Thessalonians 4. That’s 1 Thessalonians 4 and we will look at verse 1-12

Before we dive into the text I want to start with a quote from John Calvin.

“This chapter contains various injunctions, by which he trains up the Thessalonians to a holy life, or confirms them in the exercise of it. They had previously learned what was the rule and method of a pious life: he calls this to their remembrance.” [1]

The call on God people to walk a separated life is Biblical universe.

It is not over stating it to say its a primary theme of scripture.

Genesis

Cain, Able, the Seth and Cain line.

Noah

Job

Abraham is sent out to seeks a city who build is God.

The Law of God given at signal is about a people whole set part and holy unto God.

The Theme appears in the psalms, proverbs, the prophets,

Jesus comes and he instructs us be holy as your heavenly Father is Holy.

every New Testament author addresses this holiness often more then once in their letters, it is the primary theme for what they write to the churches.

God has given us this instruction to live a Holy life over and over and over and over and over in the scriptures.

Peter said “For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” “2 Pe 1:8.

We read from 1 Thess today I want notice the words More and More.

Let’s read

1 Thessalonians 4:1–12 ESV

Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

May God Bless the Reading of His Holy, Infallible, and all Sufficient Word.

Let’s Pray

Transition

Central to the point in verse 1 is the statement. “do so more and more.” Lets read verse 1 and get into the text.

“do so more and more”

1 Thessalonians 4:1 ESV

1 Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.

Id just like to point out that Paul was a preacher. The word translated finally “Λοιπὸν” (Lu-poi-on) means, and in the end.

The preacher urges them “urge you in the Lord Jesus”

If you are in Christ Jesus the urgency of the call the Paul make should tug at your heart.

walk and to please God

do so more and more

“to be present over-abundantly” [3]

I like how Calvin renders it, “As, says he, ye have been taught. Lest, however, he should seem to take away from them what he had previously assigned them, he does not simply exhort them to walk in such a manner, but to abound more and more.” [4]

Jesus said, “So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” (Mt 7:17–20, ESV)

“For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Pe 1:8, ESV

What does it mean to be “ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Pe 1:8, ESV)

I would admit that there are different levels of ineffective or unfruitful, but a correct understand of this is that being “ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” could mean you are one of those trees that is cut down and thrown into the fire.

A Life Pleasing to God is not additional to Christianity is it Christianity.

A life is Pleasing to God that is abundantly overflows with Christ-like-ness.

Transition

Now I want keep the point a live in about how being “ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” could mean we end up being one of those trees that is cut down and thrown into the fire.

I think this is exactly what Paul is driving at in verse 2-8

Let’s read verses 2-8

Do not Disregard God

1 Thessalonians 4:2–8 ESV

2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

I titled this section, Do not Disregard God

There is a lot here, I mean we could camp out here for a few weeks.

But right now we are looking to the main points that Paul is making.

Lets start there verse 2. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification”

sexual immorality, is the archetypal sin that flows from covetousness.

“16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. (1 Jn 2:16, ESV)

ESV is the only translation that the renders is desires

If we say we are born from above, there is no place for lust/covetousness in our live.

Calvin said it this way “Where the knowledge of God reigns, lusts must be subdued.” [5]

“not in the passion of lust (same word as John) like the Gentiles who do not know God”

“control his own body in holiness and honor”

Holiness

Honor

“the Lord is an avenger in all these things”

“we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you”

They have already heard it and he is telling them again, its that important.

“Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.”

Why did Paul say this?

Calvin Gives us three good reasons for what Paul says here.

“first, in order that they may distinguish what proceeds from God” [6]

The call to holiness proceeds from God himself.

“secondly, that they make such a difference as is befitting between holiness and impurity” [7]

The importance of the Call.

“thirdly, that, with heavenly authority, they may pronounce judgment against all manner of unchastity” [8]

Have you ever felt unworthy to remind a brother they should be talking in Holiness?

But you will say to me, Aaron Jesus said get the beam out of our own eye first.

Yes, yes he did, let handle that text correctly, Jesus is talking about hypocrisy there.

We never come to a brother or sister and say let me left you up where I am.

Its always in love and as Paul said “give preference to one another in honor” (Romans 12:10, ESV)

Transition

This out doing one another in giving honor is a great connecting into verse 9-12.

We see the instruction to do so more and more again this time about the love we have of one another.

“do so more and more” again

1 Thessalonians 4:9–12 ESV

9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

“9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,”

“7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 Jn 4:7–8, ESV)

“10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more,”

Paul says yes I see you are loving the Brothers, now love them more.

Holiness and Honor.

Its a single Greek word φιλαδελφίας (philadelphias)

“11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs”

“so that you may walk properly before outsiders”

“and be dependent on no one”

The community of Christ is to support one another in such a way that outsiders see and acknowledge our love for one another.

God, family, church those in need is the Biblical order of priority for the believers.

Christian shouldn't hope for a change of atmosphere they should create an atmosphere where Holiness and Honor thrive.

That’s the goal hear Brothers and sisters.

Day after day, year after year to more and more create a community of believers that live in holiness and honor.

Conclusion

Finally “Λοιπὸν” (Lu-poi-on), I want to conclude by reiterating, that this is not optional.

This is not

Ten way to feel better about yourself as a Christian

Its not just a good idea or a good approach

To continually press on and increase in Holiness and Honor being sanctified more and more every day is Christianity.

To disregard the call to Holiness and Honor is disregard God and there will be consequences, God punishes his children and he is the avenger against those that live in antiquity.

This is eternal life or eternal torment we are talking about here.

We conclude with a doxology from the Apostle Paul

Benediction

Ephesians 3:20–21 ESV

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

References

[1] John Calvin and John Pringle, Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul the Apostle to the Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 272.

[2] Ibid

[3] Friedrich Hauck, “Περισσεύω, Ὑπερπερισσεύω, Περισσός, Ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ, Ὑπερεκπερισσῶς, Περισσεία, Περίσσευμα,” ed. Gerhard Kittel, Geoffrey W. Bromiley, and Gerhard Friedrich, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1964–), 58.

[4] John Calvin and John Pringle, Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul the Apostle to the Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), 272.

[5] Ibid, 273.

[6] Ibid, 275.

[7] Ibid

[8] Ibid

Bibliography

Calvin, John, and John Pringle. Commentaries on the Epistles of Paul the Apostle to the Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010.

Kittel, Gerhard, Geoffrey W. Bromiley, and Gerhard Friedrich, eds. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1964–.