1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 - The Day of the Lord (Part 3)

I. We Have a Different Nature

1 Thessalonians 5:4–5 NKJV

4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

A. We are Not in Darkness

B. We are Sons of Light and Sons of the Day

II. We Have a Different Life

1 Thessalonians 5:6–8 NKJV

6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

III. We have a Different Destiny

1 Thessalonians 5:9–11 NKJV

9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. 11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

A. Our Destiny is Salvation

1 Thessalonians 5:9a - For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation

Paul gives this phrase as a reason for what he had said previously.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 NKJV

8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

We are to be sober, aware, awake and also be prepared for battle with the enemy. The enemy, by the way, is not those who are trapped in darkness like we used to be. They are the mission field. The enemy is the one who is keeping them trapped in darkness - Satan, the deceiver. He is the enemy. As Christians, as much as we should be disgusted by the way unbelievers think and the things they do, we must not ever consider them the enemy. We must work tirelessly to reach them with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The only way we can do that is how Paul describes in verse 8. Be aware of what is happening. Pay attention. Stay awake. Put on the breastplate of faith. Trust God completely. Know that He is in control and we have nothing to fear. Add to that love. Love for God, who is to be our supreme desire. And love for others, both Christians and the world. Sacrificial love like God has, which caused Him to give His own Son to save people who were trapped in darkness.

And, put on as a helmet, which guards your head and, symbolically, your mind, the hope of salvation. A looking forward to a future victory where Christ reigns supreme, all sin is gone, the devil is defeated, and there is only righteousness. We will be there, participating in all that glory. That hope is what keeps us grounded here and now. We realize that this world is not our home. We are pilgrims who are just passing through. One day, Jesus will return in all of His glory, as the righteous Judge and Savior.

The reason we can see those in darkness as our mission field while being alert and trusting in God and anticipating the return of Christ with joy rather than fear is found here in verse 9 - FOR God did not appoint us to wrath, but to salvation.

1 Thessalonians 5:9a - For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation

appoint (τίθημι tithemi) - generically means to put or to place. In this context, it has the sense of to fix conclusively or authoritatively.

John 15:16 - You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you

Hebrews 1:2a - has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things

1 Peter 2:8b - They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed

wrath (ὀργή orge) - strong indignation directed at wrongdoing, with a focus on retribution. In many usages, it involves a building up of the indignation.

Matthew 3:7 - But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Ephesians 5:5 - For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Revelation 6:14-17 - Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

obtaining (περιποίησις peripoiesis) - gaining, acquiring, obtaining

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 - But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

salvation (σωτηρία soteria) - deliverance, preservation, salvation

Here it is talking specifically about the culmination of our salvation, when our battle is through and Christ reigns supreme and sin is finally completely defeated.

Romans 13:10 - And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

1 Peter 1:3-9 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

B. Our Destiny is Secured

1 Thessalonians 5:9b-10 - through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

1 Thessalonians 5:9b-10 - through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ - the source and provider of every aspect of our salvation.

Acts 4:10-12 - let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

2 Timothy 2:10 - Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

2 Timothy 3:14-15 - But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Salvation through His death

“who died for us”

Colossians 1:13-14 - He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

GOSPEL

Ephesians 1:3-7 -  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

C. Because of our Destiny, we should Strengthen each other

1 Thessalonians 5:11 NKJV

11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

1 Thessalonians 4:18 NKJV

18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 - Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

comfort (παρακαλέω parakaleo) - to call to one’s side for the purpose of helping, supporting, encouraging.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

edify (οἰκοδομέω oikodomeo) - build up

Romans 14:19 - Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

John 14:1–3 NKJV

1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.