Progressing even more

Introduction

1 Thessalonians 4:1–12 LEB

1 Finally therefore, brothers, we ask you and appeal to you in the Lord Jesus that, just as you have received from us how it is necessary for you to live and to please God, just as indeed you are living, that you progress even more. 2 For you know what commands we gave to you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in lustful passion, just as also the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 not to transgress and to exploit his brother in the matter, because the Lord is the one who avenges concerning all these things, just as also we told you beforehand and testified solemnly. 7 For God did not call us to impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore the one who rejects this is not rejecting man, but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you. 9 But concerning brotherly love, I do not have need to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another, 10 for indeed you are practicing it toward all the brothers in all of Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to progress even more, 11 and to aspire to live a quiet life, and to attend to your own business, and to work with your hands, just as we commanded you, 12 so that you may live decently toward those outside, and may have need of nothing.

What does God say?

Verses 1 and 9 are changes in subject matter

The asking and appealing (urging or exhortation) is in the LORD Jesus

Paul is urging them in the LORD Jesus to progress even more in the teaching they received and are living

The commands in which they received from Paul and company are in fact the teachings of Christ

Paul writes the will of God is their sanctification. The subject he is addressing regarding their sanctification is sexual immorality. The direction given is to 1) abstain (be distant) from it; 2) know or learn how to possess (control; master) one’s own vessel (body) in sanctification and honor [cf. 1 Co 6:12-20]; 3) not in lustful passions as the Gentiles do, WHO DO NOT KNOW GOD; 4) not to transgress and defraud one another. . . Why?

BECAUSE the LORD is the one who avenges concerning all things just as they told them before hand and testified solemnly (this is a warning)

God calls us to holiness, not impurity. And those who reject what is being said is not rejecting man but God, who give His Holy Spirit to you.

Paul acknowledges brotherly love is being practiced by the community but there is room for growth by the phrase “progress even more.” Being taught by God links the their demonstration of love with that of receiving God’s Spirit, who teaches and guides one into all truth.

However, to progress they must: 1) aspire to live a quite life; 2) attend to your own business (own things); 3) work with your own hands.

“May live decently towards those outside” links with “aspire to live a quite life and attend your own business.” Need of nothing” links to “work with your own hands.”

What must we do?

You have to know God

Praise and warn one another

Your body belongs to the LORD, so look at your value in light of Him not yourself

Sanctification is a process and it requires distancing oneself from anything impure

Since the sin of sexual immorality can be committed in the mind; keep your mind on the Spirit (Rom 8:5-8)

Aspire to live quite lives, attend to your own business, and stop being lazy