1Thessalonians, Chapter 5
Copyright (c) 1999 Darroll Evans-All
rights reserved
1 Thessalonians 5:1 But of the times and
the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
Paul begins this final chapter of First
Thessalonians by telling them not to be concerned about the times and
"seasons."
The English does not do justice to the Greek.
The first of the two Greek words deals with
time as in the time of day.
The second deals with timing as in the
fullness of time.
In the fullness of time at exactly the
correct tick of the sweep second-hand, Christ shall return.
Why would Paul make this statement concerning
times and seasons?
1 Thessalonians 5:2 For yourselves know
perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
He goes on to say that they (and presumably
we) accurately know that the day of the Lord, the return of Christ, will
come, will happen in like manner as a thief in the night.
What does that mean?
Thieves do not call ahead and make
reservations! My friends it is just that simple. People love to speculate, but
some speculation borders on lunacy.
1 Thessalonians 5:3 For when they shall
say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail
upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
Paul then gives us a road sign.
When people are saying, "Peace and
safety," then sudden or unforeseen destruction is coming on them.
This destruction will be as birth pangs to a
woman in labor.
It will be strong, difficult and they may not
escape.
The last word in the Greek in this verse is
subjective.
I interpret that to mean that there is a way
of escape, and that Way is Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:4 But ye, brethren, are
not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Paul then reminds the Thessalonians, and us,
that we do not live in darkness.
That seems a bit odd to me.
Reminding those that live in the light that
they live in the Light.
Most Christians today are Thessalonian by
nature.
We need to be told that the day of His return
will not take us by surprise.
If you live in Christ, the day of His return
will bring no great terror.
If you live outside of Christ, the day of His
return will bring no great joy.
Why the Children of Light insist on this
great speculation is beyond me.
Don't be anxious about such matters.
Your father has things well in control.
But, you say, we need to make plans.
Dear Children, your Father has already made
the only plan that counts.
1 Thessalonians 5:5 Ye are all the
children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of
darkness.
Due to His grace, you are sons and daughters
of Light, children of the day.
We are not people of the night who need
darkness to cover our sins.
We have been washed pure white by the blood
of Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:6 Therefore let us not
sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
Because of our standing with God, we are not
to sleep as others do.
We are to be alert and sober.
In this case, "sober" means to be
calm, cool and collected.
How many Christians do you know that run
around like chickens with their heads cut off in trying to discern the day of
Christ's return?
I know that it is far too many.
1 Thessalonians 5:7 For they that sleep
sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
Those that do not know Christ are as those
who sleep in the daytime.
It seems unnatural.
Psychologically and physiologically, man was
made to sleep at night.
Drunks do their greatest drinking at night.
Thieves do the majority of their work at
night.
We are children of the day.
1 Thessalonians 5:8 But let us, who are of
the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an
helmet, the hope of salvation.
Since we are of the day, we are to act with
sobriety.
We have put on the breastplate of faith and
love, and the helmet, the hope of salvation.
Our Lord is our Protector.
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our
Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together
with him.
Here is a point that seems lost on many, God
has not appointed or predestined us to wrath, be it His or Satan's.
Instead, we have been appointed and
predestined to salvation be means of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He died for us!
So that whether we are physically awake or asleep
(dead in Christ), we live with Him.
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet
not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I
live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 Wherefore comfort
yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
We are to encourage one another with these
teachings.
We are to edify and build up one another with
the truth of Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-15
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and
are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at
peace among yourselves.
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the
feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that
which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
Today, as in days of old, we are to have a
deep respect for those called to labor in the garden of the Lord.
Those serving in the ministry instruct us in
the ways of righteousness.
The work of the Ministry is one motivated by
love.
It is love for Christ first and, through Him
love for us.
Paul puts our responsibility in simple terms,
be at peace among yourselves.
Don't try to complicate life.
Paul went on to urge the Thessalonians, and
us, to warn those that are disorderly, console those that are faint-hearted in
the faith.
We are also to show patience to others.
In doing that, we are not to seek revenge or
to repay those who are evil toward us with out own evil.
Always seek to do that which is good.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22
16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
concerning you.
19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Next, Paul distills the Christian life.
He sets forth the simplicity of our
responsibilities to God and to each other.
Christianity is really very simple, not complicated
at all.
1. Rejoice.
2. Pray.
3. Give thanks.
4. Don't stifle or suppress the spirit. (This
relates to the reborn spirit within you, and not to the Holy Spirit of God.)
5. Don't despise prophetic utterances. (Most
Christians have never heard a prophetic utterance.) This has nothing to do with
preaching.
6. Examine all teachings brought before you,
and keep those that are good.
7. Abstain from the very appearance evil.
Seven is a wonderful number.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of
peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body
be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
At the conclusion, Paul offers this beautiful
benediction.
May the God of peace Himself fully sanctify
you.
May your spirit and soul and body be
preserved complete, and without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:24 Faithful is he that
calleth you, who also will do it.
Our God, Who called us is Faithful to
fulfill, or bring to fruition the purpose of our calling.
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath
begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
1 Thessalonians 5:25 Brethren, pray for
us.
Paul realized that the prayers of the saints
are needed to strengthen each of us.
1 Thessalonians 5:26 Greet all the
brethren with an holy kiss.
We are to greet our brothers in Christ with
signs of Christ's love for us.
1 Thessalonians 5:27 I charge you by the
Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
Paul then petitioned those in Thessalonica to
share this letter with others of the faith.
1 Thessalonians 5:28 The grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
I find myself reminding others at to
beginning or end of each of Paul's letters that this is more than a simple
statement.
It is the basis for our faith.
Without grace we would not be sharing this
with you, and you would not be reading it.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with
you.