1 Thessalonians 4

1 Thessalonians 4:1-

1 Thessalonians 4:1–18 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. But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Asking ‘in the Lord Jesus’ and ‘through the Lord Jesus’ Both ability and authority comes from Jesus.

Regarding the instructions in verse 1 compared with the commands in verse 2: We taught you while with you, now do. Greek for the commands carried military connotations with the expectation of obedience!

God’s will: your sanctification. Set apart. But not on the shelf. For a purpose!

Sometimes God’s will is the most obvious thing in the world. Written down for us to obey!

It was that obvious to Paul’s readers. Four infinitives in the original: to abstain, to know, to transgress (negative) to defraud/wrong (also negative). The would have heard the smooth organization of this literary style and understood well. Translation to English kinda butchered it for us. But we can understand.

The New American Commentary: 1, 2 Thessalonians 2. Exhortations regarding Sanctification (4:3–8)

the ontological reality—sanctification designates the Christian as one possessed by God and/or dedicated to the service of God

The New American Commentary: 1, 2 Thessalonians 2. Exhortations regarding Sanctification (4:3–8)

ethical implications. A person dedicated to God should act in a manner consistent with the character of God.

So live in a manner consistent with the character and commands of God.

Sexually pure

Controlled emotions and behavior. Hot-headedness

Not transgressing (misbehaving or stepping out of bounds relationally)

Never defrauding your brother

Holiness over impurity. Restating the authority coming from God. And stating that He is the ‘justice giver’ avenger. He is still a just God!

Even for the saved person, living inside the body of Christ, sin brings consequences. To live an immoral lifestyle is to reject the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Advice for relating to one another. Nothing new to add, just keep on keeping on. Dont rest on your laurels.

Your actions: love. Even love for all of Macedonia. How? Taking the gospel!

Your actions: love. Even love for all of Macedonia. How? Taking the gospel!

To be informed regarding death, resurrection and return of Christ.

There is a resurrection of the dead. Death does not terminate existence.

We dont have to grieve for believers die.

The God who raised Jesus will raise us.

Whether there are 2 resurrections/parousia/rapture or only one is a mystery not yet revealed. to life, to judgement.

We, whether through death or Jesus’ return, will be with Him forever.