Thursday, May 25, 2017

The Apostle by Chapter: 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4

By Sam Nobles

With this chapter, Paul begins to instruct the Thessalonian Christians to walk in holiness, especially in view of the coming of Jesus Christ. Paul urged them to live in a manner that is pleasing God, and to live that way, “more and more” (v.1).

More and more holiness (v.1-8)
Your body is not your own – it belongs to God. It is God’s will that you use your body for holy purposes and not allow your passion to get out of control. It would do us well to remember that Father has called us to holy living, not an impure and lustful existence (v.7). It would also do us well to remember Christ is the one who purchased our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:18-20), and it is the Spirit of God who now dwells in your body (v.8).

More and more love (v.9-10)
Love is a principle that the Apostle Paul knew was apparent to the Thessalonian Christians because they were taught by God to love one another, yet they still needed to be reminded. Love is not an achievement to be gained, it is a grace that is to be practiced so that we may increase in it more and more.

More and more quietness (v.11-12)
The believers in Thessalonica expected an imminent return of the Lord Jesus. This is not a bad expectation, but some of the members of that church had quit their jobs and become idle and meddlesome. Their lives were drawing the wrong kind of attention and giving a poor witness and testimony to the lost. Winston Churchill told the story of a man who was always chattering. “Sir Winston,” he chirped, “I haven’t told you about my grandchildren yet.” “And for that,” Churchill answered, “I am deeply grateful.”[i]

More and more hope (v.13-18)
Every once in a while, I am asked to officiate the funeral of a person that I know was an unbeliever. Those kinds of services are gut wrenchingly difficult, mainly because there is nothing I have no hope to offer that family for the eternity of their lost loved one. On the other hand, the funeral services I officiate for believers is polar opposite. Those types of services are filled with hope for eternity. Christian people will have sorrow, but it is not a hopeless kind of sorrow because Jesus is coming again.

Scripture to Claim:
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.  1 Thessalonians 4:1


Corson’s Application Commentary on the New Testament, accessed May 16, 2017, https://www.christianbook.com/coursons-application-commentary-the-new-testament/jon-courson/9780785251552/pd/251553.




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