"The Day of the Lord"_I Thessalonians 5_Nov 01 2020

Intro

Continuing our series: "Becoming a Church of Faith, Hope, and Love"

Bibles: I Thess 5

My message today is called “The Day of the Lord”

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Today, we’re going to look at I Thess 5

So far is I Thess -

This is an upbeat and encouraging letter about a vibrant Christian church in ancient Macedonia

Paul and his missionary team shared the gospel with these Gentiles - they were once idol worshippers - but they received the gospel with the power of the Holy Spirit

They grew in Christ and they became examples to all the Christians in Macedonia - and their faith went forth everywhere to all people

They did this even though they suffered afflictions for Christ

But Paul loved them and discipled them - and Paul was eventually separated from them

But Paul’s disciple, Timothy had visited this Thessalonian church and brought back a good report to Paul - the church was healthy and vibrant

We learned about discipleship

We learned how to love all people - believers and unbelievers - and to love with the right motives

We learned to walk more and more like Jesus - and allow him to sanctify us

And we learned that he coming back one day

Turn with me now to I Thess 5

English Standard Version Chapter 5

The Day of the Lord

5 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Pray...

So far, not one imperative (command) in this letter

Except the last verse in chapter 4: Therefore encourage one another with these words

And now, in chapter 5, fifteen imperatives

This list of commands includes one of the shortest verses in the Bible: Rejoice always (v. 16)

Did you know that is a command in the Bible?

This chapter also continues to address end-times (from last part of chapter four)

Most people focus on when the last days are coming:

Matt 24: 3 the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?

Luke 17:20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed...

Acts 1:6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

We have a preoccupation to know when things will happen - but then the Lord gives them the answer in Acts 1:7: He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.

We just read - I Thess 5:2 that the Lord is coming like a thief in the night

When we study end times - we need to focus on Christ, not chronology - we need to focus on the returning King, not when he returns

I know it can be fun to speculate and study eschatology and all that - just don’t lose the main point

The main point in Chapter 5: We are children of light, not of darkness - start acting like it

It is enough for us to be ready for Christ’s return

That’s why Paul used 16 imperatives to remind us to act like the new creatures he made us

This is all about our identity in Christ

If you were saved by grace - and justified - and sanctified - and redeemed - and made holy -

If you were set apart to serve Christ - to love others and make disciples

If the Spirit has given you gifts - and wants to display his fruit through you - LET HIM!

If you are a Christian, act like it

Paul said in Ephesians 4 I beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.

Christianity is not about you get saved - and now you have to try hard to be a good person - and try not to sin

Being a Christian means you were dead in your sins - you had no hope

But you turned away from your sins and turned to Christ - who died for you and forgave you

If you’re in Christ, you’re a new creation! The old life is gone - the new life has begun (2 Cor 5:17)

Your actions don’t make you a Christian - only Jesus can make you new

But if you say that Jesus changed you - and there is no fruit in your life - you may want to examine yourself

The forgiveness of Jesus is your certificate - your new life proves that you have one

Don’t keep deliberately sinning - like Heb 10 talks about - in other words, don’t think you’re saved while you continue in your old life

I’m married to my wife - we have a legal certificate from a legal ceremony in the state of Nevada

Let me ask: Is that certificate merely a piece of paper? Or is it truly significant because it represents something real?

When you got baptized, or said the “sinners prayer” was that a meaningless act? Or was it truly significant because it represented something real?

If I were to deliberately, and continually act like I was not married - if I never showed love to my wife

if I was never around, never cared, and never showed love for my wife - but then expected her to treat me like I was her husband?

Then I suppose that certificate would just be a piece of paper

Would you agree - my actions would prove either way: that it was just a piece of paper, or something truly significant?

Would it not be my actions that would validate that certificate?

But would it not also be true: that my actions, without that certificate, could never mean that I was married?

What makes me a husband? A certificate, or my love and devotion?

Or maybe the certificate is true and has meaning - because my love and devotion to her is real

What makes me a Christian? My declaration of faith, or my faith?

I can declare all I want - but without faith - there is no justification from God. Without my faith - there is no forgiveness of sins - and no salvation

Even though God freely offers forgiveness and justification

I’m saved by grace - but it’s my faith which unlocks that grace

And my faith declares my trust in Jesus - and I can’t trust him without serving him - because if I’m not serving him, I’m not really trusting him

But all the works in the world can never save you - works do not unlock grace - faith does

But even that faith comes from God - everything comes from God

The salvation was given to you when you placed your faith in him - not when you did works for him

Works are not meant to prove what you’re doing for Jesus - true works prove what Jesus is doing through you

That’s why it’s called the “fruit of the Spirit” and not your fruit

Ephesians 4:21-24 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

You see how this has nothing to do with “Try to be a good person”?

Back to I Thess 5

Even though this is about end times, it’s really about putting on your new nature - getting ready for Christ’s return - like Ephesians 4

Verse 1-2- Paul is saying there’s no need for me to write about when Jesus will return because you know he will come like a thief in the night

There is a repeating theme throughout the Bible - that the Lord’s return will be judgement for the world - but it will be salvation for us

But since no one knows when he is coming, it’s time to get ready for him

A thief in the night refers to someone coming unexpectedly - and Paul is referring to the world’s perspective

We are fully aware that he will come like a thief in the night - but the world is not aware

Verse 3: While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

He’s talking about the world here

In their time, the people were enjoying the peace of the pax Romana under Caesar Augustus

Paul was making a reference to those who look to the government for their peaceful life

It was true then - and now - that the world looks to itself to provide its own peace and security

But then Paul switches gears - to our response - he appeals to our true identity in Christ

Look at verses 5-7. As we read it together - don’t look at it as “be a good person”

Read it in context - that we are being reminded of our true identity - we are in Christ - and not of this world

English Standard Version Chapter 5

5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.

That’s our identity - we are children of light and children of the day. So since that is who you are, Paul is saying, then act like it

There’s only one other place in the Bible where Christians are referred to as “children of light”

It comes again from Paul in Ephesians 5:8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

Same thing - this is your new identity - live your life as your new identity in Jesus

Do you see how this is different from “Now that you’re a Christian, now go try to be a good person”?

Our motivation to live a worthy life for Jesus is because we live in anticipation to see him face-to-face

We still sin, but we’re technically not sinners - we’re anticipators!

The Bible is literally saying, “Act like your identity”

The logic is simple: act like you truly are - because you truly are a new person

Ever hear “Act your age”?

My “certificate” of me as a Christian is the day I got saved - and the validation of that certificate is his work in me - I just let him

The certificate is true because my life in him is true - because he is true

It’s all him

It would be silly for me to say that my life in Christ is true - because of all the good things I do

Verse 8 is interesting - remember, that this is Paul’s first letter - and later, he uses the famous illustration of the Armor of God in Ephesians

Verse 8 is a partial list of that armor - and this is a little different - but it’s not meant for us to be critical that he applies different applications for that piece of armor

Notice each piece of armor have two designations:

Breastplate: faith & love

Helmet: hope & salvation

At any rate, he gives us a picture to wear those things which the Spirit has given to us

Verse 9 is one of the most encouraging verses in the entire Bible

It starts off with “For” - which refers to his comment in verse 4: But you are not in darkness, brothers

In other words - you’re not part of the dark world, therefore God is not planning for his wrath to fall on you

Nor will we be surprised when Jesus comes back because we’re anticipating it

Verse 9-10: For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

Isn’t that wonderful? I like how Paul says “whether we are awake or asleep” - remember, even back then the pagan world worried about their dead loved ones

That there was no hope - but if you have salvation through Jesus, you have hope

Then in verse 11, after he gives us wonderful hope - he tells us to go out and encourage one another - just like he did in chapter four

Paul continues with an ongoing list of imperatives:

Respect those who labor among you

Be at peace

And apparently (in verse 14):

The idle require admonishment

The fainthearted require encouragement

The weak require help

And everyone requires patience!

The list goes on:

Don’t repay evil for evil

Seek to do good

Rejoice always

Pray without ceasing

Give thanks in all circumstances

Don’t quench the Spirit

Don’t despise prophecies

Test everything

Abstain from evil

Then look at verse 23

It’s the Lord who does the sanctifying, not us

The prayer is that he sanctifies us “completely”

In other words, allow him to mature you spiritually

Look at verse 24: He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

He will surely do what?

Verse 23 clarifies - he will surely return

That’s our hope - that’s the reason we live our lives - for the hope of seeing Jesus face-to-face one day

Pray...