"Putting on Faith, Love, and Hope"

On March 22, 1942, upon escaping from Japanese forces in the Philippines, General Douglas MacArthur uttered his famous words, "I came through and I shall return". Those words gave hope to those still fighting the Japanese there. MacArthur fulfilled that promise in March 1945. It was bad news for the Japanese, but good news for the Philippines. In the same way, Jesus has promised that he would return, and it will be bad news for some and good news for others.

In part of 1 Thessalonians Paul has been dealing with the question of Christ’s return, the Second Coming at the end of this age, and has warned the Thessalonians that this event will come unexpectedly and suddenly. He then reassures them that they will not be caught unawares because they are not walking in darkness but belong to the day. In the light of this, he goes on to remind them how they be living because of this:

1 Thessalonians 5:8 NIV84

But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

Living as children of the day

Living as children of the day

Since we belong to the day – reminds us of who we are.

Throughout the Bible people are considered to belong to one of two groups – those who are God’s people or those who are not, children of Abraham or children of the devil, those who are of the world or those not of this world, the sheep or the goats. Here Paul uses the image of those who belong to the darkness versus those who belong to the light. As disciples of Jesus, we have been given the light of Christ.

If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.

1 John 1:6 NIV84

If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.

It is expected that we will therefore live accordingly.

It is expected that we will therefore live accordingly.

Self-controlled

Reminds us of how we must live – be alert, be prepared

Having clarity of mind and its resulting good judgment.

Putting on

Believers are God’s children, but that does not mean that we will act like it automatically. It is a daily choice we must make to continue living our lives in a manner worthy of Jesus’ name.

Paul refers again to the great triad of faith, hope, and love, as in 1:3.

1 Thessalonians 1:3 NIV84

We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

These three virtues are of paramount importance to the Christian and may well be insisted on again and again.

These three virtues are of paramount importance to the Christian and may well be insisted on again and again.

Faith

Grounded in what God has done for us in the past, produces good works

Love

Lived out through what God does for us now, motivates us to do good. If one believes in God he will also love other people.

1 John 4:20–21 NIV84

If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Breastplate protects the heart

Breastplate protects the heart

Hope of salvation

It is not wishful thinking, but looking forward to what God has in store for us based on what Jesus has done for us. It is knowing that we will be saved from the coming wrath when Christ does return. This inspires us to endure whatever hardships we may face now..

Helmet protects the head

Paul uses the image of armor, here and in other places, to remind us that we are in a battle, not against flesh and blood enemies but against spiritual forces. Paul’s point is that by practicing faith, love and hope the readers, and ourselves, can overcome the pressures of the environment to conform to cultural standards, thereby proving faithful to the Lord who returns for their salvation.

Like those in the Philippines fighting the Japanese, we are to have hope and not give up. After all, we already know that Jesus Christ has won.