He is Coming! 1 Thessalonians 4

Intro

Continuing our series

Paul is both celebrating and concerned for the churh

Timothy brings a good report, but there is a problem

Paul switches to teacher to address the issue

Chapter 4 continues Paul discussion of holiness

1 Thessalonians 4:1–8 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.

Set Apart for Great Things

most important thing; God’s will for you is to be sanctified

Sanctification is the process of being made holy

Holiness is often understood as things we don’t do

Items in the temple and tabernacle

They were made for a reason, but could not be treated as common

You are created for amazing things, and as such should not live common lives

holiness is so important, to disregard holiness is to disregard the God who makes you holy

because you are holy, you will do two things differently

1 Thessalonians 4:9–12 ESV

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.

Love and Work

Paul has talked a lot about love

The church’s love has impacted believers in the whole region

But their ability to love is something to constantly grow in

Jesus said the world would know we are his disciples by our love for one another

Paul also encourages the church to work hard and keep their heads down

They were persecuted, so Paul was encouraging them to not make it worse

For us, don’t draw attention to ourselves unnecessarily. Work hard, rely on no one but God to accomplish your dreams

Peter tells us to live such good lives, that anyone who tries to speak poorly of you would be found to be liars

working hard, loving others, and being holy is all in light of Christ’s return

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 ESV

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.

Don’t worry about those who are asleep

church was worries about those who had passed away; they would miss the resurrection

so concerned they ceased to be effective

the dead will rise first, the living next

this is our hope; Christ will return, and if we pass away, we will be resurected

we can be certain of resurrection because Jesus was resurrected

live holy lives, because our actions could have eternal consequences. Don’t live for today, but live for eternity

don’t live common lives, but supernatural, holy lives

Let’s pray