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Romans 1:5 - …through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among the nations,

Welcome back dear readers!  We are examining the wealth of information contained in the salutation of Paul’s letter to the Roman church.  In our last post, we learned that the same Jesus who is both the Son of David and Son of God, the Messiah of the world, is the one who appointed Paul to preach/expound the gospel message to the church, including the fellowship in Rome.  

This means that Paul writes to them under the direct authority of Christ; the doctrines he is about to give them should be regarded as coming from God.  And indeed, they were.  Scripture tells us that Paul did not receive these truths from any earthly teachers.  He received them by direct revelation from Jesus himself (I Corinthians 15:1-8, Ephesians 3:1-3).

Paul goes on to say that he (and the other apostles) had received two vital things from God – grace (the favor of God upon his life) and apostleship (the mantle or office of an apostle).  The apostolic office gave him the authority to preach the word while grace gave him the ability to carry/deliver the message despite the obstacles he faced.

The purpose of these favors was to bring about obedience of faith.  In other words, God freely gave the apostles all the tools they needed to spread the gospel throughout the world, just as he commanded them:

Mark 16:15 – And he [Jesus] said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”     

Through the preaching of the gospel, sinners received forgiveness in Christ.  Through the continued teaching of sound doctrine, they grew in faith and became disciples.  As disciples, they became obedient to the commands of God.

The end result of this obedience is that the name of Jesus is honored among all the nations.  This, in turn, results in more and more sinners finding salvation, becoming disciples of Christ and spreading the good news to others.

But everything wasn’t a bed of roses for the apostles.  They worked relentlessly, endured hardship and lack, faced persecution and opposition, traveled constantly and eventually laid down their very lives to continue the spread of the gospel, so the name of the Lord would be honored.  Nevertheless, I am sure that when we meet them in heaven, they will say it was well worth it!

In summary, we see that Paul is giving the church his credentials – his commission and authority to deliver the gospel message came from the Lord Jesus Christ.  Furthermore, he was specifically chosen to be the apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15).  Therefore, Paul had every right to minister to the church in Rome, even though he was not its founder and even though he had (as yet) never visited them.

Romans 1:6 - …including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

The believers in Rome are called to the same salvation/obedience of faith as all other true Christians (including us).  This call is not a mere outward or external invitation to join a church fellowship. 

It is an internal, spiritual, life-changing call from Holy Spirit which transfers men and women out of darkness and into the marvelous light of salvation.  It is a call that breaks the bondage of sin and leads to freedom in Christ.  It is a call that removes men and women from the brotherhood of the wicked and ushers them into the fellowship of the saints.  It is a call that strips us of the filthy rags of our own righteousness and clothes us in the pure and holy righteousness of Christ.  It is an irresistible, divine, holy call that delivers us from death and gives us eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Though the saints in Rome were formerly pagans and idolaters, they were now Christians and members of the world-wide church/kingdom of God.  Because they now belong to Christ, they are entitled to all the benefits God has provided for them under the covenant of grace. 

Romans 1:7 - …to all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul addresses his letter to all the saints at Rome, whether rich or poor, bond or free, male or female, Jew or Gentile.  All were sinners saved by Christ and all are loved by God. 

By virtue of their faith in Christ, they are saints.  Saints are people who are devoted or consecrated to God; they are separated from the world and set apart for his service just as the Jews had been separated from other nations and devoted to the service of God under the law.   

Paul pronounces blessings of grace and peace on the saints. 

Grace refers to the favor of God.  It includes all the blessings that are conferred upon Christians both temporal and spiritual.  These include blessings for right now (our life on earth) and blessings for our future life in eternity.  The implication is that all blessings proceed from God and we should not look for them in any other place.

Peace is commonly defined as freedom from disturbance or agitation.  It is the opposite of war.  While war entails calamity, danger, lack and hopelessness, peace includes success, safety, hope and prosperity. 

‘Peace to you’ was a common blessing among the Hebrew people and it was meant to confer earthly safety and prosperity upon the recipient (Genesis 43:23).

But peace is also spiritual.  The bible describes sinners as being troubled/agitated like the sea, which can never rest:

Isaiah 57:20 - But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

As you and I can confirm, this is a terrible way to live!  But of course, there is hope.  Jesus is the source of all peace for mankind (John 14:27 & 16:33, Acts 10:36, Ephesians 2:17). 

When the sinner surrenders to Christ, his inner spiritual conflict is resolved, and he experiences peace in his heart and mind.  This peace abides with every Christian, regardless of his or her circumstances.  

Romans 5:1 – Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through or Lord Jesus Christ.

So we see that the salutation of peace in this epistle is something more than just a greeting or an earthly blessing.  It has a special reference to the spiritual blessings that result from reconciliation with God through Jesus the Messiah.

On a side note, it is worth mentioning that by linking the phrases ‘God our Father’ and ‘Lord Jesus Christ’ together in this verse, Paul affirms that both are divine and both are equal. 

Romans 1:8 – First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.

Having introduced himself and greeted the church, Paul now begins his epistle with a word of thanksgiving for the good that is being exhibited in the lives of the Roman Christians. 

Specifically, he is thankful for their faith.  In this case, Paul uses the word ‘faith’ to refer to their Christian walk.  The Roman believers not only embraced the gospel, they firmly and faithfully adhered to its commands even in the midst of intense persecution and ridicule.  Their faith was so remarkable, it was known and celebrated throughout the empire, which Paul refers to as ‘all the world’.

Paul’s thankfulness glorifies God and affirms his love and respect for the believers.  It also predisposes the Roman Christians to listen to his message with an open mind or teachable spirit. 

Notice that Paul specifically states that his thanksgiving is directed towards God, through Jesus Christ.  This is in perfect keeping with Jesus’ role as the mediator between God and man.

I Timothy 2:5 – For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

We were completely cut off from the presence of God due to sin.  We can approach his throne only by way of Jesus Christ and the blood he shed for us (John 14:6).  No sacrifice of prayer or praise is acceptable to God without him.   For this reason, all communication between God and man is represented as passing through Christ. 

Romans 1:9 – For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers,

Paul had a very deep concern for the spiritual welfare of the Roman church.  This concern manifested itself in two ways: consistent prayer for them and an ardent desire/longing to see them.

It’s important to remember that Paul has not yet met any of the believers in the Roman church.  Therefore, it was impossible for them to understand the depth of his concern and love for them.  Since Paul wanted the Romans to be fully persuaded of the sincerity of his claims, he calls upon God to act as a witness to the truth of his statements.  His words carry all the force of an oath.

The God he calls upon to bear witness is the same God he (and the Roman believers) served.  In this case, the word ‘serve’ generally denotes worship.  More specifically, it refers to the priestly services of the temple (Hebrews 9:9 & 8:5).  Thus, worship is not just acknowledging God with words – it is also obedience to his commands.         

However, Paul’s service was not just an external service of works (as was sometimes the case with the Jewish rites).  Paul served God in his spirit/heart because he was thoroughly convinced of the absolute truth of the gospel he preached.  He voluntarily served God with his whole body, soul and spirit.

When making this statement, Paul may have been differentiating himself from the unrepentant Jews who continued to serve God with outward rites and ceremonies, while their hearts were far from him.

Paul mentioned the Romans in his prayers ‘without ceasing’.  In other words, he prayed for them constantly and repeatedly; every time he entered the throne room of God, he mentioned them.  Paul’s faithfulness in prayer is something we should all strive to emulate.

Romans 1:10 - asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.

Paul’s desire to visit the Roman church was not a spur of the moment decision.  The phrase ‘now at last’ shows that he had planned to visit them numerous times (probably for years), but he had been hindered every time he tried.  Each failed attempt to connect with them only made his desire grow; he never gave up the hope of going to Rome and ministering to them in person. 

In fact, Paul had made his proposed visit to Rome a subject of much prayer before God.

His prayer request was two-fold:  One, he was asking God to open a door for him, so he could physically visit Rome and minister to the saints in person.

Two, he wanted God’s favor and blessing to rest upon his journey so it would be safe, prosperous and successful.

God answered his prayer, but not in the way he imagined.  The full details of his journey to Rome are found in Acts 21-28.  If you have the time, these chapters are well worth reading! 

Just in case you don’t have the time, let’s take an abbreviated look at what happened.

• Shortly after arriving in Jerusalem, Paul was falsely accused by the Jews of defiling the temple (Acts 21:17-29).  A riot ensues, Paul is dragged from the temple and was about to be killed when the Roman soldiers intervened (Acts 21:30-36). 

 

• Paul addresses the mob, who were happy to listen about his background and his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus.  But when he claims that God sent him to preach to the Gentiles, the riot starts up again (Acts 21:37-22:21).  The Romans ‘stretch’ Paul out, in preparation for flogging him, but when they discovered he was a Roman citizen, they immediately stopped (Acts 22:22-29). 

 

• The next morning, a hearing was held with the Jewish leaders, but it too turned violent, and the Roman soldiers once again had to rescue Paul (Acts 23:1-10).  That night, the Lord spoke to Paul:

Acts 23:11 – The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” 

At this point, Paul knows the first part of his request is finally being answered - he is going to Rome.  Perhaps he thought that from this point it would be a simple, direct journey.  But as he soon found out, that was not going to be the case.

• The next day the Jews tried to assassinate Paul (Acts 23:12-22).  The Romans respond by sending him to Caesarea.  Paul eventually spent two full years there (57-59 AD) under the authority of Felix and then Festus, the Roman governors (Acts 23:23-24:27). 

 

During this imprisonment, Paul preached the gospel to large numbers of Jews, high Roman officials and even to royalty (King Agrippa and his wife Bernice; Acts 25:13-26:32). Eventually, Paul appeals to Caesar (Acts 25:1-12).

 

• Then, in the beginning of winter when sailing was known to be dangerous, Paul is placed on a cargo ship bound for Rome.  Eventually, there is a massive storm and ship is destroyed, though God spares the life of Paul and all those with him (Acts 27:1-44). 

 

• The sailors, soldiers and prisoners are stranded on the island of Malta, where Paul is bitten by a viper (Acts 28:1-6).  Through him, God heals the sick, and the gospel is preached to all of the natives (Acts 28:7-10). 

 

• Only then does Paul finally make it to Rome (Acts 28:11-30)!

Of course, Paul wrote his letter to the Romans before any of these events occurred.  But when he eventually looked back on his journey, what do you think he discovered?  Well, let’s take a look:

Did God open a way for him to get to Rome?  Yes, he did.  In fact, Paul went to Rome with the government paying his entire way!

Paul wanted God’s favor and blessing to rest upon him so that the trip would be safe. 

Was Paul safe?  Yes.  Despite angry mobs, an assassination attempt, imprisonment, an ill-fated sea voyage, a shipwreck, a snake bite, and being stranded on an island, God kept Paul safe every step of the way.

Was Paul’s journey prosperous and successful?  YES!  Paul’s only thought was to get to Rome as quickly as possible so he could minister to the saints in that city.  But on the way God opened opportunities for Paul to share the gospel with the Jews, with Roman soldiers, with Greek sailors, with government dignitaries, with royalty and with native islanders.  It is impossible to say just how many people received salvation while Paul traveled to Rome. 

Conclusion:  God is amazing!!  He does abundantly above all that we can ask, think or imagine!  But remember – he rarely does things the way we anticipate!

So, what are you asking God to do in your life or the life of your loved ones?  Are you willing to go on an unexpected journey to reach that goal or get that answer?

Romans 1:11 – For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you –

Paul confirmed that he had a passionate desire to visit the church in Rome, and that he frequently prayed for an opportunity minister to them.  He now gives the Romans the reasons why he wanted to fellowship with them.  First of all, Paul desired to impart a spiritual gift to them. 

Bible scholars disagree on what Paul meant by that phrase.

One view says that Paul was referring to establishing or maturing the faith of the Roman Christians through exhortation and the preaching of sound doctrine.  In so doing, Paul wanted them to receive spiritual understanding/knowledge, peace, strength and comfort. 

Specifically, the Jews may have been trying to burden the Gentile believers by telling them they had to obey the law and the Mosaic rites (like circumcision).  Through preaching and teaching, Paul would free the Roman believers of these false ideas.

A second view claims that Paul desired to lay hands on the Christians and impart to them the power to perform miracles. 

A third view maintains that Paul was referring to the gifts of the Spirit which are enumerated in I Corinthians 12:7-11.  These include word of wisdom, word of knowledge, gifts of healing, gift of tongues, gift of interpretation of tongues, discernment of spirits, and gift of faith.

Finally, some scholars believe that Paul was speaking in a general sense; he was referring to any/all gifts of grace.  His overall point was that he desired to labor for their spiritual good and to strengthen their faith. 

Regardless of which theory is correct, the bottom line is that Paul wanted them to be ‘established’ or strengthened in their walk with Christ.  He wanted them to grow in grace and faith.

Let me offer you some encouragement:

In today’s post, we noted that Paul received two things from God – grace (the favor of God on his life) and a specific call (to the office of an apostle).

God does the exact same thing for each and every one of his children.  His grace and favor rest upon us; all we need to do is step out in faith and serve him in whatever area of life he has called us into.  Paul was called into full time religious ministry, but you may be called into business, politics, farming, skilled trades, medicine, manufacturing, sports, technology, full time motherhood, or even art & entertainment.  

As we serve him in faith, he will open doors of opportunity for us to advance the kingdom of heaven on earth, just as he did for Paul. 

Let me offer you some relief:

Paul’s desire to visit the Roman church went unfulfilled for a very, very long time.  I’m sure that from time to time, Paul wondered why his request wasn’t being granted.  

But in retrospect, we can see that God kept Paul waiting because his plans were far, far greater than anything Paul imagined.

What requests or opportunities have you been asking the Lord to give you?  If you’ve been waiting for that chance for a long time, I urge you not to give up!  God’s timing is always perfect; he will open that door when you can be the most successful and touch the most lives.

Let me offer you some strength:

God answered Paul’s prayer for an opportunity to travel to Rome, but he didn’t answer it in the way Paul thought he would.  The same thing happens to Christians in every generation. 

Why don’t you take a moment right now to remember a time when God answered a prayer for you in an unexpected way?  If you can’t think of one, then consider Paul’s journey to Rome.

As you meditate on that request and answer, remind yourself God’s ways are not our ways and his thoughts are not our thoughts – his plans are always much, much greater and more amazing than ours (Isaiah 55:8-11)! 

With this in mind, I encourage you to let go of your preconceived ideas and plans.  Strengthen your faith and be open to having God move in unexpected ways in your situation. 

Remember, in the end his word will not return void; his plans and purposes will come to pass and you will wind up shouting for joy and living in peace (Isaiah 55:12).   

 

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Romans 1:1 – Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

As we discussed in our introduction, Paul is the uncontested writer of the letter to the Roman church.  In his opening salutation he identifies himself as a servant of Jesus Christ.

Servant is a general title that is used extensively throughout scripture:

• It is the title applied to prophets who were honored by God (Deuteronomy 34:5, Jeremiah 25:4).
• It is the general title that Jesus used to identify his followers (Matthew 10:25 & 20:27, Mark 10:44). 
• It was the customary name which Christians subsequently assumed for themselves (Galatians 1:10, Colossians 4:12, Acts 4:29, James 1:1).
• This title was also appropriately assigned to Jesus, because as the Messiah he was a servant of God.

Isaiah 53:11 – Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.

In the Greek, the word for ‘servant’ is normally translated as ‘slave’ or ‘courtier’.  In both instances, the proper meaning is one who is not free.  The slave has a master; he or she is under the control of another person.  In the same way, the courtier is subject to the will of the king. 

The only real difference is that the title of courtier carries a connotation of dignity and honor because the servants of a king are normally officers of high rank or station. 

Ephesians 2:6-7 – [God has] raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Jesus Christ.

Considering the fact that God has honored us by raising us up and seating us in heavenly places in Christ, I believe the term ‘courtier’ is the better of the two terms.

You and I tend to ignore or take for granted that Paul was a servant of Jesus.  But back in the day when this letter was penned, that was not a universally accepted statement.  It was important for Paul to be crystal clear that he was not writing as a servant of Moses/the Law, or a servant of the traditions of the Jewish elders, or a servant of Satan (as some accused him of being).  Ever since his conversion, he was an absolute servant of Christ and Christ only!

Paul further identifies himself as one who has been called to be an apostle.  An apostle is one who has been sent out or appointed to fulfill a commission.  They operate under the direct authority of the one who sent them. 

In this instance, the term specifically applies to those who were personally chosen and commissioned by Jesus to spread the gospel, establish the church and be witnesses of the resurrection.

In essence, Paul is placing himself in the same category as the first 12 apostles that Jesus appointed during his incarnation (Luke 6:13), even though his appointment came later and in a different manner.  It is important for him to be received as an apostle, because it means that the doctrines he is about to establish in his letter should be embraced and obeyed as coming from Christ.

However, it should be noted that Paul had more than just words to support his claim of apostleship.  God chose to work amazing miracles through his ministry, just as he did the other twelve.  These miracles were confirmation of the truth of his mission, authority and doctrine, just as they confirmed the apostolic ministry of the others.

So, we see that the salutation of the letter establishes Paul in a position of authority under Jesus Christ for the purpose of ministering sound doctrine directly to the Roman church. 

The neat thing is that the ministry of the letter did not stop there.  Back in that day, when one church received a letter from Paul, they would make a copy for themselves and pass the letter on to other churches.  This ensured that the message circulated far and wide to smaller congregations. 

And (praise be to God) Holy Spirit also preserved the letter to the Romans for us.  Who knows how many countless saints have benefitted from the letter since it was written!

Romans 1:2 - …which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,

Paul goes on to say that the gospel was promised through the scriptures long before the day he wrote this letter.

In other words, the gospel was not some new doctrine which sprung up from nowhere.  It was not invented by Paul.  It was not a knee-jerk reaction by God in response to an unforeseen attack of Satan upon mankind.  It wasn’t a recent development due to the inability of the Jews to live up to the Law.  Neither was the gospel a recent novelty like some of the man-made religions of that day.

The plan of salvation, with Christ as our sacrificial lamb, was already in place before the world was created (I Peter 1:20). 

God began to reveal his plan of salvation way back when Adam and Eve committed the first sin (Genesis 3:15).  Promises concerning Christ the Messiah and his kingdom can be found throughout the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 18:18, Psalms 16:10, Isaiah 7:14, Daniel 9:24-26, Micah 5:2, Zechariah 9:9, Malachi 3:1 and many others).

With this reference to Old Testament scripture, Paul reinforces or validates the harmony between the prophets and the apostles, between the Old and New testaments.  The gospel Paul brought them wasn’t new – it was a fulfillment of the former promises.     

Both the Old and New testaments reveal the gospel message, but they reveal it in different ways and degrees.  In the Old Testament the message is somewhat veiled whereas it is plainly revealed in the gospels.

We also notice that Paul refers to the scriptures as holy.  We still do this today.  Why is that?  What makes the bible holy? 

• The author is the Holy Spirit.
• They were penned by holy men under the influence of the Spirit.
• The subject matter of the book is also holy; it reveals the will of Almighty God.
• The scriptures are holy in their purpose – to draw us to God and make us holy.

In light of this, the entirety of the scriptures can be referred to as a holy book and we should treat it as such.

Romans 1:3 - …concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh,

In the first two verses Paul pointed out that he was appointed or set apart by God for the preaching of the gospel.  Now he goes on to declare that Jesus Christ was the main subject of the gospel message which he preached.  Paul describes him by his two-fold nature: Jesus was both fully human and fully divine.  

Let’s examine his human nature first.  In order to do so, we need to go back to the Old Testament.  Remember King David?  Because of his devotion to the Lord, God made David a promise – that he would always have a descendant to sit on his throne (I Kings 2:4 & 8:25, II Chronicles 6:16). 

This ancient promise was always understood to refer to the Messiah.  The Jews universally believed that the Messiah would be a physical descendant of David (John 7:42).    

Thus, in the New Testament great pains are taken to show that Jesus was indeed a descendant of David after the flesh (Matthew 1:1-16, Matthew 22:42, Luke 1:27, II Timothy 2:8, John 7:42).  In fact, throughout his time on earth Jesus was consistently addressed as the Son of David (Matthew 15:22 & 21:9). 

The King James version says that Jesus was ‘made of the seed of David’.   When we make something, we know that it has a definite beginning or starting point.  When we consider the incarnation (the time Jesus spent on earth in human form), we can say that Jesus had a definite beginning – his physical birth. 

However, as we will see in the next verse, this does not apply to the divine nature of Jesus. 

Romans 1:4 - …and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

Now let’s look at the divine nature of Jesus.  

Jesus is the Son of God.  He was begotten, not made, which means that he has no beginning; he has existed eternally. 

John 1:1-4 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Because he is God, Jesus possesses all the qualities that we associate with God the Father – he is omniscient, omnipotent, sovereign and immutable.  Like God the Father, God the Son (and Holy Spirit) has no beginning and no end. 

Jesus confirmed his divinity through demonstrates of power.  His power was revealed:

• In the creation of all things out of nothing. 
• In the upholding/sustaining of all life.
• In the miracles he wrought. 
• In the performance of the great work of redemption. 
• In the success of the gospel in the conversion of sinners. 
• In the birth, development and preservation of the church. 
• In the raising of the dead. 

In addition, Holy Spirit confirmed Jesus as the Son of God in several different ways.  First, he was involved in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead:

I Peter 3:18 – For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened [made alive] by the Spirit,

(See also Romans 8:11, Romans 1:4, etc.)  Second, Holy Spirit bore witness to the truth about Jesus through the Holy Scriptures (1 John 5:5 & 5:20, Luke 8:28, Hebrews 4:14, etc), which he divinely authored (II Peter 1:19-21). 

Third, Holy Spirit reveals the truth of who Jesus is every single day by convicting people of sin when they hear or read the truth of the gospel message. 

John 16:8 – And when he [Holy Spirit] comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement:

(See also I Thessalonians 1:5, John 15:26, 1 John 5:6, etc.) 

Here in verse four Paul also speaks of resurrection from the dead. 

• This may refer to the many people that Jesus resurrected by his power while on earth including Lazarus, Jairus’s daughter, and the son of the widow of Nain.
• It may also refer to the numerous saints who were resurrected at the exact moment that Jesus died (Matthew 27:50-53). 
• Or it may refer to the resurrection of the last day, when all the saints in Christ will arise from their tombs and meet the Lord in the air (I Thessalonians 4:13-18).

But it most likely refers to Jesus’ own resurrection which clearly witnessed to the fact that he was the true Son of God (John 10:17-18), the first fruits of all that will be raised at the end of the age (I Corinthians 15:20). 

The bottom line is that in many ways Jesus was declared to be the divine, powerful and omnipotent Son of God, having the same power and majesty as the Father. 

Paul is simply stating that Jesus, recently crucified and resurrected in Jerusalem, in whose name salvation is preached to the world, was indeed the Son of God, the long-promised Messiah and the one with the only true right to sit on the throne of David, as spoken of in the scriptures. 

Let me offer you some encouragement:

In today’s post Paul stressed that he was a servant of Jesus Christ.  As we study the scriptures, we find that he ‘practiced what he preached’.  In other words, he was a servant to those around him; he put his own needs second to the needs of others. 

Matthew 20:26 - …whoever would be great among you must be your servant… even as the Son of Man came not be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

In the coming week, why don’t we try doing the same thing?  Let’s temporarily put aside our wants, desires or hobbies for a day and encourage someone else by serving them!

Let me offer you some relief:  

If you are unable to set aside time in your schedule to serve someone else, you have a problem.  You’re too busy. 

If that sounds like you, I want you to consider giving yourself some relief by reevaluating your commitments, hobbies and activities.  Stepping away from some of these obligations will not only open up opportunities for you to serve others, it will also relieve a lot of stress in your own life!   Consider this:  There is more satisfaction in doing a few things well than doing many things poorly.

 

Let me offer you some strength:  

We all go through trials and tribulations in this life.  In our culture, we tend to glorify those who stand on their own during these times.  We like to think we are independent, and we don’t need help from anyone else. 

But let me remind you that Jesus designed the church to function like a body – all the parts work together for the good of all; no one person can do everything. 

Let me put it this way:  If Jesus wants us to serve others, then by default someone has to be on the receiving end of the service.

There is no shame in reaching out to your brothers and sisters in Christ when you need a helping hand.  So, if you need some strength, help or assistance today, don’t be too proud to reach out and ask for help – you are giving someone else an opportunity to exercise servanthood!

 

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Welcome back, dear readers!  We are about to embark on a study of the New Testament book of Romans. 

WHO:  Throughout the history of the church the apostle Paul has been recognized as the undisputed author of the book of Romans.  Paul identifies himself as the author in the salutation of the letter (Romans 1:1).  In addition, this book contains topical themes and terminology which are commonly used by Paul in his other epistles.  As no significant contradictory information has arisen to dispute these facts, his authorship is uncontested. 

WHEN:  On his third missionary journey, Paul left the city of Ephesus, traveled to Macedonia, and then continued on to Corinth (located in Greece) where he spent the winter of 56-57 AD (Acts 20:1-3).  During this time period, he dictated the book of Romans to his scribe, Tertius.  The letter was delivered to the church in Rome by a woman named Phoebe (Romans 16:1-2).

At the time this letter was written, Paul was in a kind of transition period in his ministry.   Having established (and revisited) a number of churches in Asia minor and Galatia, he was now moving westward into unevangelized territory.  He planned to visit Jerusalem and then stop at Rome on his way to Spain.  

WHERE:   The church at Rome was not founded by Paul.  It is believed to have been organized by a group of Jewish Christians who became believers in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:10).  Some ancient sources say that Peter played a role in the establishment of the Roman church, but there is no direct source to corroborate that belief.  Nevertheless, Holy Spirit laid it upon Paul’s heart to minister there.

WHY:  Paul had many reasons to write to the believers in Rome.  

First of all, he fully intended to visit the church of Rome and minister there, so one reason for this letter was to prepare them for his visit.  The doctrines provided in this letter gave the Roman believers a lot to think about before Paul arrived.

It is also clear that Paul was, in part, rallying support for his planned ministry in Spain (Romans 15:24).

Here is something else to consider:  The Roman empire was at its zenith during the days of the early church.  It is estimated that one hundred million people lived within Roman territory.  The empire’s footprint extended westward to modern day Great Britain, northward to modern day Germany, eastward to modern day Iran and southward hundreds of miles up the Nile River. 

The capital city of Rome was considered the epicenter of communication, wealth and influence, as well as the base of all civil and military power for the kingdom.  Troops, goods, luxuries and anything else the emperor or senators desired could easily be moved to or from any part of the realm via the extensive, well-maintained road system which was characteristic of this empire.

Given this situation, the church in Rome had an exceptional and unique opportunity to disseminate the gospel.  Any letter written to them would have been circulated with relative ease to churches far and wide throughout the known world.  Paul was clearly aware of this fact, which may partially account for the systematic/academic feel of the letter.  Romans is certainly less personal and more formal than Paul’s other epistles.   

Furthermore, as with all of his letters, Paul was motivated by a desire to minister to the spiritual needs of the congregation.  All of the early churches had common problems and they faced common dangers.  For example, most of the early churches were made up of both Jews and Gentiles – two groups that didn’t get along so well! 

The Jews tended to regard themselves as better/more special than others, because historically speaking they were the chosen people of God.  In fact, they often referred to Gentiles as dogs. 

They attached great significance to the rites and ceremonies of the law as well as their national traditions which had been handed down from generation to generation.  First and foremost among these was the rite of circumcision.

Even though Christ ushered in the age of grace through his death and resurrection, the early Jewish Christians had great difficulty giving up the law.  Their underlying thought process was that all Gentiles should become Jewish converts before they became Christians.  This would place the Gentiles under all of the obligations of the Mosaic Law (including circumcision), before they could accept salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. 

For their part, the Gentiles looked upon the Jews with contempt.  They thought the beliefs of the Jews were bigoted, narrow minded and senseless because they resulted in slavery to ceremonies and traditions.  Consequently, the Gentiles wanted nothing to do with the obligations of the Mosaic law, which were so dear to the Jews.  It’s fair to say there was constant tension and jealousy among the believers in the early church.

This is just one example of the common problems that Paul addressed in his letters to the churches. 

Finally, it should be noted that Paul was well aware that he faced profound opposition and danger in Jerusalem (Acts 21:11-14).  For this reason, he may have been motivated to clearly and systematically record some doctrines for use by the future church, in the event of his death.

This belief is supported by the fact that the book of Romans is by far the fullest exposition of the doctrine of salvation in all of the New Testament.  In addition, Paul discusses other important topics such as the righteousness of God and his just dealings with humanity throughout history, the ministry of Holy Spirit, the impacts of sin, and eschatology (the doctrine of final things such as death, judgement, the end of the age, etc).  And, as in his other epistles, he explores the practical applications of these doctrines to our daily life.

OTHER:  Now, I know what some, if not most of you, are thinking – Romans is a lot like a textbook – it’s really hard to understand and, quite frankly, it’s BORING! 

I admit, it may seem that way on the surface.  If you are just plowing through the material like a novel, you’ll soon be overwhelmed.  But we aren’t going to do that in our study.  We will take our time and present the truths of this book in a way that allows us to fully digest the important doctrines that Holy Spirit has preserved for us. 

Let me assure you, the epistle to the Romans is a life changing book.  It had an amazing effect on many of the men and women who shaped church history including Augustine, Martin Luther and John Wesley.  I believe it will have a profound effect upon our lives as well, if we are willing to put in a little bit of effort.

Here is what I’d like to suggest:  First of all, commit to taking the time to study with me each week.  Be willing to read the material over more than once, if you need to, in order to get it fully planted in your mind.  Meditate on it during the week.  

Most importantly, I strongly recommend asking Holy Spirit to open your spiritual eyes and ears to the message he has for you.  It would be a good idea to pray this regularly throughout our study. 

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul prays that exact thing for all believers – that Holy Spirit will give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation in a knowledge of him that we might understand the hope of our calling, the riches of his inheritance in the saints and the exceeding greatness of his power:

Ephesians 1:16-19 – I (Paul) do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power…

Why not pray for these verses over yourself during this study?  If we do so with a sincere heart, God will hear and answer and our lives will be changed by the word and the Spirit.  We will be equipped and empowered to share these truths with the lost and lead them to salvation in Christ.

 

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I Thessalonians 5:23 – Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul ends his letter with a prayer for the church of Thessalonica. 

It has often been said that doctrine is useless, unless God writes it on the tablets of our hearts with his own finger.  In other words, it isn’t enough for these believers to just hear the words of Paul in this letter.  Holy Spirit needs to touch them with the message, so it takes root within their hearts and produces a change in their lives.  This is the general meaning of Paul’s closing prayer.

In this prayer, Paul refers to the Father as the God of Peace.  This is a fitting title, as God is the source of all peace and he sent his Son Jesus, the Prince of Peace, to bring salvation into the world:  

Isaiah 9:6 - For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

(See also Hebrews 13:20, Romans 16:20, Philippians 4:9, etc).  Through that salvation we have peace with God as well as the peace of God – regardless of the circumstances we are facing.

Paul prays that the same God who is the author of peace and salvation (the God who does what is impossible for us to do) will sanctify believers.  To sanctify is to make free from sin; to cleanse from moral corruption; to purify.  It also means to make something sacred or holy, to set it apart for a holy use.

Sanctification is both an instantaneous event and a long-term process:

• It is instantaneous in the sense that we are cleansed of our sin the moment we accept Jesus as Lord. 
• It is a long-term process in the sense that we must continually strive for greater and greater levels of holiness.  The more holy we become, the more use we will be in the kingdom of heaven (II Timothy 2:20-22).

Sanctification is the process by which we become more holy.  It is a special function of Holy Spirit within our lives.

There is no question that the believers in Thessalonica had already been sanctified to some degree.  They were instantly sanctified when they turned from idols to serve the true and living God. 

Meanwhile, they were working on their long-term sanctification.  We know this because they had evidence of faith, hope and love in their lives, as well as other fruits of the Spirit.  But the process of sanctification was not yet complete.    

Notice that Paul doesn’t want us to be partially sanctified or even mostly sanctified.  His prayer is that we are completely/totally sanctified.  In other words, he wants our whole person – body, soul and spirit – to be 100% sanctified and set apart for use by God.

Body – The body is our physical being which God formed from the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7).  It is often referred to as the ‘flesh’.

Soul – When we talk about the soul of a person, we are talking about what are referred to as ‘inferior faculties’.  This includes things like our senses, desires/passions, emotions and appetites. 

Spirit – Similarly, the spirit is referred to as the place of our ‘superior faculties’.  This includes the mind (intelligence, thinking/reasoning), the will and the conscience.

The process of sanctification must begin with our spirit.  Using the scriptures (or messages/teachings on the scripture) Holy Spirit will appeal to our thinking/reasoning and conscience.  He will show us where our lives fall short of God’s commands.  He will then motivate and empower us to make changes. 

In response, our spirit engages our will, which sets in motion a desire to comply with God’s commands.  Our spirit takes authority over our soul (emotions, desires, appetites) and forces it to align with our will. 

When the spirit and the soul are in agreement, the body will follow.  Thus, with the aid of Holy Spirit, we can choose to abandon the way of sin and follow paths of righteousness.  The more we do this, the easier and more natural it becomes. 

An example will probably make this clearer:

Let’s suppose there is a woman who is caught up in lust.  She hears a sermon on the evils of lust.  Later, when she is about to engage in lust, Holy Spirit brings that message to her remembrance.  At that moment, she has an opportunity for sanctification.

As Holy Spirit speaks to her spirit, she uses her intelligence/reasoning powers and conscience to decide that she will not engage in this act of lust.  She sets her will in motion; her spirit takes authority over her soul (desires, emotions, passions) and she resists the urge to engage in lust. 

Because her spirit and soul are in agreement, her flesh will follow.  She will not surrender her body to an act of lust.  The more times she successfully does this, the easier it becomes until she established a new pattern in her life.  She has made progress in sanctification. 

One of the keys to sanctification is that it MUST begin with your spirit.  If you allow your soul to be in charge of your life, your emotions and desires will force your mind to justify any and every sin you want to commit.  Eventually your conscience will be seared and there won’t be any limit to the sins you will pursue.

This is one of the reasons it is so important for us to renew our minds with the word of God.

Romans 12:2 – Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Thus, we conclude that long term sanctification isn’t something that God ‘magically’ does in our lives.  If he did, it would be a violation of our free will.  Instead, it is a partnership between us and Holy Spirit; it is a process over time.  We all begin as spiritual babies in Christ but then grow in grace until we become fully mature.

We also conclude that Holy Spirit will guide and strengthen you through the process, but you have to do the work; you must place your spirit in control of your soul, so you can control your own vessel. 

The good news is that eventually, as your spirit continues to submit to the will of God, your soul will set its affections on things above and the body will fall into line and become an instrument of righteousness (Colossians 3:1-10).  It will become second nature to do what pleases God as opposed to giving into the desires of your flesh.  This is sanctification.

2 Corinthians 7:1 - Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Paul goes on to pray that each Christian will be preserved or kept blameless in a state of holiness and grace until we die, or Christ returns.

I Thessalonians 5:24 – He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

Paul now reassures the saints that God would certainly answer his prayer to sanctify them and keep them blameless until they died or Christ returned. This reassurance is based on the fact that God is faithful to his word.  His faithfulness is a pledge that he will perform all that he has promised.

Philippians 1:6 - Being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Each one of us can be fully confident that God is going to do his part in the progressive work of our sanctification.  However, we must again stress that he does this in conjunction with our own efforts.  As one scholar put it, we can do nothing without God; God will do nothing without us.

I Thessalonians 5:25 – Brothers, pray for us.

Paul and his team were mighty men of God and seasoned soldiers in his army.  But they were also human.  They were fully engaged in some very difficult work. 

They faced constant travel, threats of public beatings, imprisonment, death and hardship in every city they entered.  They faced active opposition to the gospel from all segments of society – the Romans, the Jews and the Gentiles. 

Given these circumstances, it isn’t surprising that Paul requested prayer for himself and his team.  But his prayer requests may seem a bit strange to many of us.  Paul didn’t ask for things in his life to become easier.  He didn’t ask to be spared from physical violence.  He didn’t pray to receive the riches or honor of this world.

Instead, he desired to have God open even more doors for the spread of the gospel.  He wanted God’s divine blessing on the seeds of the gospel, so they would sprout and produce a hundred-fold harvest of salvation throughout the world.

I Thessalonians 5:26 – Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

What is a holy kiss?

A holy kiss refers to a pure and chaste kiss of brotherly love within the church (I Peter 5:14, Luke 7:45, Acts 20:37, etc).  It stands in opposition to the treacherous kiss of Judas.

This appears to have been a common mode of salutation in many eastern cultures and especially among the Jews (Genesis 27:26, Proverbs 24:26). 

Practically speaking, within the church setting, men greeted other men (and women greeted other women) with this kind of kiss.  In the early church it became an outward symbol/token of love and friendship.  In our modern-day church cultures, this kind of love and friendship manifests itself in shaking hands or hugging.   

I Thessalonians 5:27 – I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

Remember, what we consider to be the ‘book’ of I Thessalonians was actually a letter.  As such, it had to be sent to a single individual.  But Paul is very clear that the contents of this letter are to be read to the entire church congregation during one of their assemblies because it contained divine instruction and doctrine.  It was meant for all the saints, not a select few who were in positions of authority. 

Paul is so adamant about this, he puts the receiver of the letter under an oath.  This indicates one of two things:   

One, that he must have had some reason to think that his letter would be suppressed or withheld from the entire congregation at Thessalonica.

Or two, that the leaders in Thessalonica might keep the letter for themselves and not share it with the other, smaller churches in the region of Macedonia. 

There is no doubt that Paul (and the other writers of the New Testament) wanted their letters to be copied and sent to all the churches in the vicinity of the church to which they were addressed. 

Just as every Jewish synagogue had a copy of the Law and Prophets, so every Christian church was to have a copy of the gospels and epistles which were sent by the apostles.  They were to be read every Sabbath for the instruction of the saints.  This is how the word of God was disseminated throughout the early church.

If the church leaders failed to pass on the letter, a great number of smaller congregations would never have heard the true doctrines of the gospel found in the book of I Thessalonians. 

I Thessalonians 5:28 – The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

And finally Paul prays that God’s grace – his favor and goodwill and blessings – would surround and overflow each member of the church, at all times and in all places.  Amen!

Let me offer you some encouragement, relief and strength:

Today’s post speaks of the importance of sanctification.

There is a form of long-term sanctification in which we partner with Holy Spirit to bring ourselves (body, soul and spirit) into alignment with the commands of God.  As the name suggests, this is a gradual process that takes place over time. 

This process can only begin once we have experienced instant sanctification, which is the forgiveness/cleansing of our sin the moment we repent and acknowledge Jesus as Lord of our life. 

So, the question is, have you done that?  Have you confessed your sin before God and asked Christ to wash you in his blood?  If not, you can do so RIGHT NOW.  Just talk to him like you would anyone else; tell him you are sorry and you want him to be Lord of your life.  If you are having trouble finding the right words, you can use this prayer:

Dear Jesus,  I confess to you that I am a sinner.  I am sorry for all the wrong things I have done and I ask you to forgive me.  I believe that you are the Son of God, that you died on the cross and rose again, and that your blood paid the price for my sin.  I invite you to come into my heart and life and to be my Lord and Savior.  I commit myself to you right now.  Thank you for saving me from death and giving me the gift of eternal life.  Amen.

If you prayed this prayer and sincerely meant it, then you have received the gift of salvation from Jesus Christ! 

 

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I Thessalonians 5:19 – Do not quench the Spirit.   

The next reminder Paul gives the Thessalonians is not to quench the Spirit.  This metaphor is taken from the power and nature of Holy Spirit.  He is likened to a fire, which illuminates our way, purifies/refines our lives and warms/enlivens our service for Christ.  During the first Pentecost, he appeared as tongues of fire upon each believer: 

Acts 2:2-4 – And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.  And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The fire of Holy Spirit was kindled on the day of Pentecost.  However, just as an earthly fire can be put out with water, there are things in our lives that can put out or quench the work of Holy Spirit.

Let’s begin our study by attempting to define what Paul meant by the work of the Spirit. There are two main theories.

One theory says that Paul is referring to all influences/workings of Holy Spirit.  This includes the illumination of our understanding, the conviction of wrong, revelations of the mind/will of God, the growth of spiritual fruit, personal sanctification and the gifts of the Spirit.  Because Holy Spirit also kindles in us a supernatural zeal for God, as well as love for God and man, these influences would be included too.

There is certainly nothing wrong with this theory.  However, given the context of the chapter (addressing issues specific to the Thessalonian church), a narrower definition of the Spirit’s work may be better.  This is what we find in the second theory.

The second theory says that in this context, the work of Holy Spirit is limited to the gifts of the Spirit.  The gifts are word of wisdom, word of knowledge, gift of faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, gift of prophesy, discernment of spirits, speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues (I Corinthians 12:1-11).  This is the view we will adopt for the rest of today’s study.

Those who hold this view point out that in the Thessalonian church there were members who believed that the return of Christ was imminent and as a result, they got ‘carried away’ in the operation of their spiritual gifts.  This resulted in constant interruptions or disturbances during the church services.  Because of the chaotic atmosphere this created, church leaders (and probably other members as well) were attempting to discourage or stifle the operation of the gifts among the congregation. 

While the leaders certainly needed to maintain order, this was the wrong thing to do.  They should have trained their members on how to properly operate in the gifts, rather than trying to discourage their use.  (In their defense, they probably didn’t know how and they had no resources to turn to.)

This was apparently an issue in more than one of the early churches, as Paul addressed this topic at length in his letter to the Corinthians (I Corinthians 14:26-40).  In that epistle he gives specific instructions on how the gifts should function in the church assembly.  He concludes that all things in the church must be done in order (without confusion or chaos).

Nevertheless, the point is this: It is possible to hinder/impede/quench the work of Holy Spirit.  How is that done?  What does it look like?

As it turns out, there is more than one way.

Just as a fire will be extinguished without fuel, we can extinguish the Spirit’s work in our own lives by lack of prayer, by failing to fill ourselves with the word, by being absent from church services and/or other places where believers gather, or by being disorderly in the operation of our gifts. 

Fires can also be extinguished by inundating them with water.  We can extinguish the work of the Spirit in our own lives by submerging ourselves in sin, pride, ambition, anger, malice, unforgiveness, revenge, or love of the world. 

Worse yet, we can discourage others from practicing their gifts as well.  We can effectively do this by criticizing them or by scorning their message.  In the case of the early church, they also did this by interrupting each other, so no one could be heard.   This is another form of quenching the work of the Spirit.

The bottom line is that spiritual gifts MUST be allowed to operate within the church.  These gifts are given from God, through Holy Spirit for the edification and growth of the church. 

The leadership of the church is responsible for maintaining order while the gifts are being used.  They should train congregants in their operation, as needed. 

Incidentally, all nine of the gifts should be in operation in the church.  By missing one, the church is missing a vital resource.  If you see that one or more are absent, pray and ask Holy Spirit to fill that gap.

I Thessalonians 5:20 – Do not despise prophecies,

What do you think of when you hear the word ‘prophesy’? 

The most common definition of this word is ‘to utter predictions; to make a declaration of events to come’.  This is the way the word is used in passages such as Matthew 15:7 or I Kings 22:8.

But the word ‘prophesy’ can also be defined as ‘to give instruction in religious matters; to interpret or explain scriptures or religious subjects; to preach; to exhort; to expound’.

Here is verse 20, prophesy means the interpretation and application of the scriptures, which we commonly call preaching:

1 Corinthians 14:3 – On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 

It is possible that in Thessalonica, as was the case in Corinth, there were believers who regarded certain gifts of the Spirit (such as tongues or miracles) to be more important than prophesy/preaching.  In their estimation, preaching was a ‘lesser’ gift which they undervalued and/or disrespected.

It is equally possible that the Thessalonian church had been ‘burned’ by some bad preachers.  In every generation there are people who abuse the gift of prophesy by preaching worthless/vain messages or by deceiving people with spiritual errors and false doctrines.  If this was the case in Thessalonica, it’s no wonder the believers disliked of preaching.   

But Paul sets the record straight on the true preaching of the gospel – we are to place a very high value upon it; it is the method God has chosen for the conversion of sinners as well as the instruction and edification of his church.  Prophesying/preaching is a very valuable spiritual gift; it should be earnestly desired and sought after (I Corinthians 14:1, 14:5, 14:39).   

This command (do not despise prophesy/preaching) is tied to the one before it (do not quench the Spirit), because the main way in which the Spirit illuminates our hearts/minds is through the doctrines of the bible.  Therefore, those who think they have no need for continual instruction (regular preaching as well as teaching) are quenching the work of the Spirit in their own lives.  Don’t be that person!

When some of the believers at Thessalonica despised the preaching of the word, it had a ripple effect on the entire congregation.  It created a rift between them and their fellow parishioners.  It also discouraged the leadership, which in turn quenched the work of the Spirit in their lives.    

The bottom line is that every Christian should hold the gift of preaching the gospel in the highest esteem.  Great care should be taken to listen/understand to the preaching of the word, because it benefits our spiritual lives.

I Thessalonians 5:21 - …but test everything; hold fast what is good.

Although the church was not to despise the preaching of the word, neither were they to blindly accept everything they were told.  The same holds true for us.

It would be wonderful if every single person who claimed to be preaching the gospel were really doing so.  But we know that was not the case.  Back in the days of Paul, there were many false prophets/preachers/teachers:

II Peter 2:1 – But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

This is reason enough for every church in every generation to ‘test’ or closely examine what they are being told.  The method of testing is to examine what is being preached or taught to make sure that it lines up with the words of Jesus and with the doctrines outlined by the apostles (Acts 17:11, Galatians 1:8-9).

We can’t help but notice that this directive is given to ALL Christians, not just the church leaders.  In this day and age, every Christian should have a copy of the bible, and every Christian should be familiar with what it says.  Each one of us should be using our own intelligence and our own knowledge of the word to examine what is being said (Hebrews 5:13-14).

I Corinthians 14:29 – Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weight what is said.

I John 4:1 – Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Furthermore, the church was to pay attention to the vessel through which the word was given.  If a person came to the church claiming to have a word from God, but they were known to be a heretic or known to be living an immoral life, they should not be allowed to speak under any circumstances.  Only those known to be living lives in accordance with Christian principles should be given a platform to preach or teach in the church (Titus 1:5-9).

In addition, Holy Spirit gives the gift of discerning of spirits.  The holder of this gift is able to perceive or recognize the source of the teaching or message.  If that message is from the devil and not from God, or if the message is arising from a fleshly desire such as pride or ambition, this Christian will recognize it.  If your church doesn’t have this gift in operation, you should ask the Lord to give it to someone in your congregation. 

Once a sermon/teaching (or other manifestation of the Spirit) was tested and judged to be good, it was to be accepted and put into practice by each individual believer.  In this case, ‘good’ is defined as something that is genuine or true.  It includes that which is:

• honest/true. 
• profitable.
• in line with sound doctrine.
• useful for instruction.
• useful for edification.
• valuable for increasing faith.  

Notice that ‘good’ does not necessarily refer to something that is agreeable.  We may find that God gives us a word that we personally don’t like and would rather ignore, but that is not an option. 

The bottom line is that if the word given is genuinely from God, it must be accepted and added to our lives, even if that entails the crucifixion of our fleshly desires. 

We are to steadfastly continue in the gospel and in the practice of good, even in the face of opposition, ridicule, personal loss or persecution.  This is the mark of a true Christian (Hebrews 4:14, Revelation 3:3 & 2:13, II Timothy 1:13, etc).

I Thessalonians 5:22 – Abstain from every form of evil.

Not surprisingly, there are differences of opinion on the exact meaning of the apostle. 

Some think he is warning against any practice which seems sinful but might not technically be so.  In this scenario, Paul is believed to be referring to the realm of Christian liberty. 

As you recall, Paul tells us that certain things are permissible for all believers, but at the same time, some believers may feel conviction about exercising that liberty.  For them, it would be wrong to do so. 

For example, back in Paul’s day animals were sacrificed to idols.  Soon afterward, the meat was available for sale.  This caused a controversy among Christians – was it a sin to eat that meat, or not? 

Paul concludes that it was not a sin to eat it, as long as you gave thanks to God for it. 

However, he also says that if a brother or sister believes it to be sinful (hence the appearance of evil), then we should not do it because we do not want our brother or sister to stumble in their faith (see I Corinthians chapter 8). 

I Corinthians 8:13 – Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.    

Romans 14:21 – It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. 

Another interpretation says that Paul is referring to instances where the Christian still has doubts about a sermon or teaching that they heard, even after searching the scriptures.  Those who hold this view believe Paul is telling Christians to avoid any doctrines which they find doubtful, until they receive further confirmation on the matter.  Once they receive further clarification, the doctrine can then be either embraced or fully rejected.

A third interpretation says that Paul is referring to any practice that pushes the limits of morality.  We might describe this as living on the edge of evil or getting as close to evil as possible without technically participating in it.  

For example, if you are married, it isn’t technically a sin to flirt with another person, but if you do you are on the edge of sin/evil.  Unbelievers may get the impression that you are okay with engaging in sexual sin and this casts a bad light on the gospel message.

This theory also states that Christians should avoid any activity that is a known gateway into evil.  Drinking alcohol is in this category.  Technically, it isn’t a sin to drink.  However, after you begin drinking you are prone to doing things you wouldn’t otherwise do.  You can lose control of yourself and wind up in sin.    

Any or all of these three interpretations may be true.  It certainly wouldn’t hurt us to adopt all three of these views into our daily lives!

The bottom line is that we represent Christ to the world.  We shouldn’t be engaging in any activities that cast a bad light on the gospel, or that are harmful to our Christian brothers and sisters.

Let me offer you some encouragement and relief:

Today’s post mentions the nine spiritual gifts of Holy Spirit which are found in I Corinthians 12.  However, this is not an exhaustive list of gifts.

God also gives gifts of service, teaching, exhortation/encouragement, giving/contributions, leadership, management/administration, ‘helps’, hospitality and others (Romans 12:3-8, I Corinthians 12:28).

The Thessalonians made the mistake of thinking that some gifts were greater or more important than others.  Let’s not fall into that same trap!   The truth is, all the gifts of God are desperately needed in the body of Christ. 

Do you know what your gift is?  If not, here are some questions to help you find it: What are you good at?  What comes naturally to you?  What do you enjoy? 

If you need additional help finding your gift, there are other resources available; just look for them.

If you do know what your gift is, then excel in it!  Find opportunities to use it.  Discover ways to enlarge it.  Don’t be afraid to partner with others in their ministries because your gift will compliment theirs. 

The bottom line is that you should practice your gift and rejoice in it, because God has given it specifically to you!

Let me offer you some strength:

Today’s post talks about quenching or stifling the work of Holy Spirit within the church.   This is something that can happen in any church, so we need to be aware of it.

It’s possible that you grew up in a church that did not practice these gifts, so they are new to you.  Even if you did, there are times when the gifts of the Spirit manifest in ways that are unusual.  This can make us uncomfortable or fearful or irritated. 

But I encourage you to be patient.  Allow the pastor or church leaders to address these issues first.  They should be on hand to ensure that everything is done in order and the service does not become chaotic. 

Also, I encourage you to focus on the message, not necessarily on the way or manner in which it is delivered.  God may do something out of the ordinary in order to get your attention.  What you want to do is examine the message – does it line up with scripture?  Does it edify and lift up?  What does your pastor have to say about it?

Keep in mind that anyone who receives a gift will need to learn how to effectively operate in it.  In other words, they need to practice.  Mistakes will be made, so show them some mercy.

The bottom line is that the gifts of the Spirit are for the edification of the whole church, so your church doesn’t want to be without them.  Each congregation will need to learn how to embrace them.

 

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I Thessalonians 5:16 – Rejoice always,  

We are finishing up our study of I Thessalonians.  In the final portion of this letter, Paul writes several brief, last-minute instructions.  These instructions were either given to address some minor problems within the church, or they were simply important reminders to stay faithful to our Christian duties.  Either way, they are pertinent to the church of today.

The first of these is the duty to ‘rejoice always’.  To rejoice is to feel joy; to experience a high degree of gladness, to delight, joy, exult or triumph.    

It would be great if Christians were always rejoicing because everything in life was perfect – but we all know that is not the case!

Every Christian experiences trials, temptations, problems, seasons of mourning, and other afflictions.  When these situations arise, we have two choices: 

First, we can give into our flesh and react like the world does.  We can complain, despair, lose faith, throw a pity-party, blame others, become angry or give up.  When we do, we give the enemy an open door into our lives and cause ourselves spiritual harm. 

For example, scripture tells us that the words we speak are like seeds that we plant into our lives.  Eventually they will produce fruit – either life or death:

Proverbs18:10 – Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

So if we react to problems by complaining, blaming others or losing our temper, we are planting death/destruction into our own lives.  We are tearing down our faith instead of building it up.     

Worse yet, when a Christian reacts in this manner, it is an insult to God.  Whether you realize it or not, sinners are watching your life.  When you allow your flesh to determine your response to problems, you are misrepresenting God; you are spreading false rumors about him. 

As a result, sinners will conclude that God is not who he claims to be.  After all, if God really is sovereign, all powerful and the fountain of all goodness and love, why would he be so mean to his children?  Is he incapable of taking care of them, or is he just indifferent to their suffering?  Either way, how can he be trusted? 

We can safely conclude that reacting with our flesh results in nothing but evil and devastation.    

But it doesn’t have to be that way.  There is another choice – we can choose to respond to life’s challenges with our spirit, like the children of God that we are.

First of all, let’s make one thing clear - I’m not suggesting that we should be glad when bad things happen.  For instance, we don’t rejoice when a tree falls on our garage and smashes our new car.  That would be ridiculous. 

However, Christians can rejoice because no matter what happens, God ‘has our back’.  He is the source of anything and everything we will ever need and we can lean into him when a crisis occurs. 

Consider the following:

We can rejoice because all things (trials, temptations and adverse circumstances), work together for our good (Romans 8:28).  We have the assurance that when a crisis reaches us, it was filtered through our heavenly Father first.  He did not cause it, but he allowed it to touch our lives for a purpose.  God often uses difficulties as a tool to shape our lives, change our priorities/values or make us over into his image.    

We can rejoice because no matter how grievous our situation is (or seems to be), we know it is only temporary.  At some point, our circumstances will change or God will call us home.  In either case, we know that relief is on the way.  Simply stated, sorrow may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning (Psalms 30:5).

We can rejoice when we suffer persecution or distress for the sake of the gospel, because God will reward us for it (Luke 6:22-23).

We can rejoice because regardless of the situation, God is everything we need.  We are in a personal relationship with Jehovah Rapha, the healer (don’t forget healing is physical, spiritual, emotional and mental).  He is also Jehovah Jireh, the One who provides and Jehovah Elyon, the One who blesses, and Jehovah Shalom, the One who gives peace, and Jehovah Saboath, the Lord of Hosts who has NEVER lost a battle!  We could go on and on, but I think you get the point. 

Romans 8:32 – He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

God has already given us the most valuable gift in the universe – his own Son.  Since that is the case, anything else we ask him for is clearly a lesser gift; it wouldn’t make sense for him to deny us those things. 

We can always rejoice because as Christians, we do not depend on external circumstances for joy or happiness.  The source of our joy is the indwelling Holy Spirit.  He is our comforter, guide, teacher and constant companion.  He is the sure guarantee of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The bottom line is that Christians can rejoice in hard times, because we have a loving, supremely powerful heavenly Father that we can lean into until our crisis is over.  We can also be certain that the crisis will be for his glory and our good.

Furthermore, when a Christian responds to problems with rejoicing, it presents a clear picture of God to the unbelievers around us.  They will be curious about the source of our joy and peace.  We will then have opportunities to witness for Christ.

So, the next time you get hit with an unexpected trial or difficulty (like a tree smashing the garage and destroying your car), don’t give into your flesh.  Before you say or do anything, stop and take a deep breath.  Remind yourself that you have every reason to rejoice, no matter what you are facing.      

I Thessalonians 5:17 - …pray without ceasing,

Prayer is the act of talking with God.  It is so simple that a child can do it, yet it is so rich and complex that no one fully understands it.  Hundreds of books have been written on this important subject.  It would be silly to think that we could cover even the basics in today’s study.

Therefore, we will limit our comments to the ‘without ceasing’ part of Paul’s command. 

Obviously, we cannot live our lives on our knees constantly calling upon God.  We need to make time for other events/obligations in life such as work, sleep, eating/drinking, education, raising our children, etc.

The apostle Paul also had a busy life.  He traveled, preached, established churches, reasoned with the Jews and worked a job, yet he described himself as one who was ceaseless in prayer (Colossians 1:9, II Timothy 1:3, etc).

How did he do that?

According to the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary, the phrase translated ‘without ceasing’ means ‘without intermission’ in the original Greek.  In other words, there should not be prayer-less gaps in our lives.

Please note, this is not speaking about the amount of time we spend in prayer.  The amount of time you spend in prayer is a decision for you and the Lord to make together.

To pray without ceasing addresses the frequency of our prayers; we should be praying on a regular basis.  This is opposed to those who pray sporadically (only when they are in trouble or when they want something).

Think of it this way – Earthly relationships thrive when people spend time with each other.  By spending time with another person, you get to know and understand them better.  Your love for them grows.  As you participate in activities together, you strengthen your relationship through shared experiences and memories. 

The same is true of our relationship with God.  Prayer is one of the ways we spend time with him.  As we fellowship with him, we discover new things about him.  Our love for him grows and we naturally desire to obey him.  As we partner with him in performing good works, our relationship is strengthened.  Our faith in him grows as we meditate on our past experiences with him.

The converse is also true.  If we stop spending time with someone, the relationship grows cold.  Likewise, if we stop consistently spending time in prayer, our relationship with God will also grow cold.   

We can avoid this trap by praying with consistency and perseverance.   

Luke 18:1 – And he [Jesus] told them [the disciples] a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

Consistency:  Believers must be committed to the constant observance of regular seasons of prayer.  The most important of these is daily personal prayer.  They key word here is ‘daily’ – we should be communicating with God on a regular, consistent basis. 

Just to be clear, let me emphasize that we are not talking about a state of legalism where personal prayer becomes just another thing on our to-do list.  Personal prayer is one of the ways we fellowship with God and strengthen our relationship with him. 

During personal prayer, we have the opportunity to offer God a sacrifice of praise and worship, to ask for provision, to obtain forgiveness, and to stand in the gap for others. 

Personal daily prayer is a source of strength and joy because we know that God hears and responds to our requests:

Matthew 6:6 - But you, when you pray, enter into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly.

There are other regular/consistent times of prayer besides personal prayer.  Many churches have regular prayer meetings where members gather together to pray and intercede for others.  There are also prayers lifted up during normal weekly church services and prayers offered up in the home.  All of these are examples of consistent prayer.

A consistent spirit of prayer is necessary since we are people who live in constant need of our King.  Let’s face it - we are constantly surrounded by temptation, constantly exposed to trouble/affliction, and in constant need of the necessities of life.  We are in constant battle with the forces of darkness and in constant need of spiritual growth. Basically, we are fully dependent upon our Savior for all things at all times.  Therefore, it only makes sense that we should be consistent/ceaseless in our prayers.    

Perseverance:  To persevere is to persist, to continue, to steadily pursue a course of action without giving up. 

To pray with perseverance is to continually pray in faith though the answer we seek has not yet manifested.  It may seem as though that answer will never come.  It may seem like nothing is happening in the situation, but still we pray earnestly and fervently.  We pray in faith, knowing that God is at work, even when we, from our limited perspective, don’t see it.  When we pray with perseverance, God will reward us at the proper time (Luke 18:6-8).

To pray with perseverance is to know what God says in his word, to grab a hold of that word/promise and to never let go no matter what, knowing that God binds himself by his word.

I Thessalonians 5:18 - …give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Paul now moves on to the topic of thanksgiving. It is our Christian duty to be thankful to God in all the seasons of life, those that are favorable/prosperous as well as those that are adverse.

Thanksgiving, however, is different from rejoicing. 

As we already noted, rejoicing is a state of joy/hope/expectation because we know that God is accomplishing something in our lives in all circumstances, both good and bad. 

Thanksgiving is the act of rendering gratitude for favors or mercies; it is the acknowledgement or celebration of divine goodness. 

Thankfulness begins when we understand that our blessings have come from God.  For example, you may have a great job.  While you contributed to that by training/qualifying yourself for that position and being a good employee, ultimately it was God who gave you that blessing.  The Lord makes this very clear in his address to the children of Israel:

Deuteronomy 8:17-18 – Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’  You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth. 

In other words, it was ultimately God who gave you the opportunity to receive training, the money to pay for the training, the mental and/or physical ability to complete the training, and continued health to stay on the job. 

In every situation in our lives, we can trace our blessings back to God.  This is the first step in being thankful.

Next, we must have some value for what is received.  Are you glad for your material possessions (car, house, jewelry, tools, etc)?  Do you value good relationships?  Are you grateful for your spouse and children?  Do you appreciate your good health?

What about spiritual blessings – salvation, peace, spiritual gifts, the indwelling of Holy Spirit, the word of God, etc?  Do you truly value these things?

If we don’t have value for something, there is no way we can be grateful for it.  So be sure to take time to think about your blessings and how much they mean to you. 

Third, we must have a sense of God’s goodness as well as our own unworthiness.  In other words, we need to acknowledge that God has given us amazing blessings which we do not deserve.  Because of our sin, we were entitled to nothing but death and destruction.  But because of his love and goodness he has heaped blessing after blessing after blessing upon us.    

When taken together, these three steps will result in spontaneous thanksgiving.   

What about unbelievers?  Based on what we know, we would NOT expect them to be especially thankful.  In fact, we would expect them to be unthankful.  Scripture confirms this to be true:

Romans 1:21 – For although they [wicked people] knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 

Scripture also tells us that just before the return of Christ, unbelievers will be characterized by being unthankful (II Timothy 3:2). 

By contrast, it is the mark of a true Christian to be thankful to God for all the blessings we enjoy:  

Colossians 2:6-7 – Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Ephesians 5:20 - … giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Christian who is constantly rejoicing and constantly praying will have no difficulty in constantly finding reasons (both spiritual and temporal) to give thanks to God, even in the midst of adversity.

Paul then remarks that ‘this is the will of God’.  Scholars have a difference of opinion on what he was referring to.  Some believe he was referring exclusively to giving thanks in everything.  But others believe Paul was referring to the broader passage; he was linking together the three things we studied in today’s post – rejoicing, praying and giving thanks in all circumstances.  Those who hold this view believe that all three of these Christian duties are the will of God for us.     

Paul also tells us that this is the will of God ‘in Christ Jesus’.  Paul is saying that the will of God (either thanksgiving or rejoicing/prayer/thanksgiving) was revealed and exemplified in Christ.

It is certainly true that we would have no knowledge of the will of God outside of Christ.  It was Jesus who became the Mediator between God and man by his death and resurrection.  Only through him are we reconciled with the Father and able to receive/understand his will for us. 

Furthermore, Jesus was our perfect example of giving thanks to God in all situations, whether easy or difficult.     

Let me offer you some encouragement, relief and strength:   

In today’s post, we discussed rejoicing, prayer and thanksgiving. 

There is no greater relief in life than prayer – it allows us to cast our burdens on the Lord, to obtain forgiveness/grace, to offer God sacrifices of praise/worship, to find deliverance for temptation, to forgive others and to request the necessities of life.  

We can pray confidently, knowing that there is no burden that is too big for God.  There is no problem that is too complex for him to solve.  There is no lack that he is unable to supply.  There is no wisdom that he cannot impart to us.  There is nothing that he cannot heal or resurrect. 

Consistent, daily communion with God via prayer is one of the biggest blessings we enjoy as believers.  Just think – YOU have the opportunity to have an audience with the King of kings and Lord of lords right now!

As we commune with God in ceaseless prayer, our understanding of him and his ways increases.  We begin to glimpse just how much he loves us and just how much he has done for us.  Every answered prayer encourages us in our faith and gives us yet another reason to be thankful. 

Prayerful communion with God also helps us to rejoice in all circumstances.  As we offer praise and worship to the Lord, we remind ourselves that God is omniscient, sovereign, omnipotent and immutable.  He is just and righteous.  He is love.  He is our Father and he is 100% capable of keeping ALL of his promises to us.  We can rejoice at all times, because our joy comes from him, not from our circumstances. 

Rejoicing in the Lord during difficult times gives us the strength and encouragement to stand firm until we see victory!

 

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I Thessalonians 5:12-13 – We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.  Be at peace among yourselves.

Paul has now come to the closing portion of his letter where he briefly instructs believers on several last-minute but important points. 

It is safe to assume that these final reminders were given to address some minor problems within the Thessalonian church.  As we go through our study, we will see that these minor issues can pop up in any church, at any time.  For this reason, it’s good for us to study them.    

Based on verses 12-13, it becomes apparent that there were some people in the congregation who did not treat their pastors and/or leaders with due respect.

In this particular instance, Paul is not talking about himself (or Silas or Timothy).  He is referring to leaders that he (or his team) put into place before they left.  We know this because in every church Paul founded, it was his common practice to appoint elders, deacons, and bishops to lead the church on a daily basis:

Philippians 1:1 - Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

Titus 1:5 - For this cause I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed you:

It is the job of these individuals to ‘labor’ within the church (I Corinthians 15:10 & 16:16).  The word ‘labor’ implies wearisome or difficult toil and constant work.  It perfectly describes the role of pastors. 

It is the responsibility of pastors and leaders to dedicate themselves to prayer, to reading and meditating on the word, and to hearing the voice of God.  You may not see them doing this, but it goes on behind the scenes all the time.    

Their burden of responsibility is enormous; they must lovingly give the congregants spiritual truth, warn them of imminent dangers, encourage them to perform their Christian duties, assist them in the use and development of spiritual gifts and correct those who go astray. 

In order to effectively perform these duties, the pastors and leaders must possess wisdom (both worldly and spiritual), maturity and a thorough knowledge of the scriptures.  They must be able to hear the voice of Holy Spirit.  They should be people of upright character, discretion and patience.  They must have the ability to hear both sides of an issue without jumping to conclusions.    

I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted just reading this job description!

As members of a church congregation, we should all stop and remind ourselves that there are NO perfect people.  Pastors and church leaders are undoubtedly hard working, God-fearing men and women, but they aren’t perfect.  Although they are mature and wise, they too will make mistakes.  They will occasionally say something they wish they hadn’t.  Sometimes they may fail or let you down.    

But for the most part, I think we can all agree that they are amazing people, appointed to their positions of authority by God himself.  God has given them the tools and abilities to lead the congregation just like a shepherd leads his flock. 

For instance, they offer solid, nutritious spiritual food through preaching and teaching.  They will lead you into waters of refreshment/showers of blessing through praise and worship.  They will help you identify and steer clear of ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’.  They will encourage you to grow in faith and if you go astray, they will bring you back. 

They will faithfully and lovingly walk with you during some of the most significant events of your life – when you are baptized, when you have children, when you marry (or divorce), when you have serious emergencies, and when someone you love dies.  Their labor is a gift from God to us - and what a wonderful gift it is!

On top of all that, pastors and leaders bear another burden as well - they will give an account of their stewardship over the flock.  Supreme authority does not reside with pastors; they themselves operate in submission to the one in authority over them, which is Jesus.  As such, they must lead with a spirit of meekness and love.  They must use their positions of authority to edify, guide, protect and feed the flock just as Christ would do.

John 10:11 – I [Jesus] am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.

Without a good leadership team, the church in Thessalonica would soon have folded.  The same is true in churches today.  God has appointed pastors, teachers, elders and others to hold positions of authority in the church.  When these leaders are strong and diligent, the church is an active and powerful part of the body of Christ. 

But if the leadership is distracted or busy or spiritually lazy, the church will, at best, be ineffective in this world.  Worse yet, it could become a hindrance to the kingdom of heaven.        

If you are having trouble giving respect to your pastors and leaders, there must be a reason.  Why not examine yourself first? 

• Are you holding some kind of grudge because you feel like they let you down?  If so, go clear the air with them. 
• Do you feel like they haven’t been preaching or teaching sound doctrine?  Again, you owe it to them (and yourself) to meet them privately and discuss the matter.
• Maybe you don’t appreciate your pastors and leaders because you have forgotten just how much they do for you.  Why not take some time to recall the moments in your life when they were there with truth, love, support and comfort? 

In the end, you need to have a true spirit of appreciation, thanksgiving, obedience and love for your spiritual leaders.  If you simply cannot give them that, it may be time to change churches.

Paul goes on to say that in addition to respecting spiritual authority, the congregation of believers is to be at peace among themselves.  That’s because nothing kills a church quicker than disunity. 

Satan is always on the lookout for an opportunity to sow discord and strife within a congregation.  He knows that when arguments, strife and division prevail, all work in the church will cease.  However, where mutual love, respect, forgiveness and unity are present, successful ministry will follow.  That’s why the apostle James tells us to admit our faults and to pray for one another:

James 5:16 – Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Operating in this manner promotes peace and unity in the body of Christ.

One additional note:  Some scholars believe that having ‘peace among themselves’ does not refer to the congregation as a whole, but to each individual member. 

Those who hold this viewpoint feel that Paul was referring to the peace of each individual in their own heart, which can only be obtained by being mindful of the sacrifice of Christ and his forgiveness of their sin. 

When we each have peace within ourselves, we are at peace with those around us.

I Thessalonians 5:14 – And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

The responsibilities mentioned in this verse are given to ‘brothers’.  In other words, they are not just for the leadership of the church.  They are given to all members of the body.

Admonish the idle:  To admonish is to warn against danger or to notify of a fault. 

The original Greek word for ‘idle’ is actually a military term.  It refers to men who are ‘out of their ranks’ or those who are disorderly, unoccupied/inactive, insubordinate and meddlesome.    

As we noted in an earlier post, there were people in the Thessalonian church who were idle – they had quit their jobs, they were living off the donations of others, and they spent their time gossiping and stirring up trouble in the church. 

Notice that people like this are not to be ignored or put up with.  They are to be notified or warned that their actions are unacceptable and must be changed.  This is for their own good; if they continue on this path it will lead to sins of both commission and omission (James 4:17). 

It is also for the good of the entire church because people who consistently act this way cause animosity and division in the church.  

Thus, it is the duty of each member of the church to humbly and meekly confront those who are living contrary to the commands of the gospel.  This should be done quietly and in love whenever possible.  However, there may be times when a sharp reproof is needed to get that person back on the straight and narrow path.  I suggest consulting the leadership of the church before giving a strong rebuke like this.    

Encourage the faint of heart/help the weak:  The faint of heart are Christians who are staggering under a heavy load.  For example, in the Thessalonian church, some members were staggering under the weight of grief because of their lost loved ones.  Others were ‘faint of heart’ because they were suffering persecution or severe trials. 

The term ‘weak’ applies to believers who are without spiritual strength or stamina.  They are spiritually fearful.  For example, they may live in fear of God’s wrath, or have feelings of unworthiness due to a consistent sin.  In the Thessalonian church this also included people who were under the bondage of ceremonial rites (the Jews) and had no confidence in their Christian liberty. 

These brothers and sisters are not to be reprimanded like the idle.  They are to be encouraged and strengthened by the members of the church. 

Romans 15:1-2 – We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.  Let each of us please is neighbor for his good, to build him up.

We can’t help but notice that many times these faint or weak members of the church are simply ignorant of what God says.  For instance, some of the Thessalonian believers staggered under the weight of grief because they did not know that God was going to resurrect the dead when he returned for the living. 

With sound teaching, the support of mature Christians and personal spiritual growth, believers who are weak or faint of heart will grow in faith and become spiritually strong.  

Here is an interesting point to consider: There comes a time in the life of EVERY Christian when they are discouraged or disheartened because they have suffered a defeat at the hands of Satan, or they made a critical mistake/missed an opportunity, or they are waiting for an answer to prayer/the fulfillment of a promise which never seems to come.

In short, they are spiritually struggling.  Even mature believers can experience this from time to time.  In fact, if you’ve been a Christian long enough, you’ve probably experienced this yourself.  

As you think back on those struggles, one thing becomes very clear - There was a point when you received deliverance.  Eventually you walked through the consequences of your failure, or God answered your prayer, or you saw the fulfillment of the promise. 

Coming through such a trial (or failure) gives you experience in dealing with these situations.  It gives you a testimony to the faithfulness of God. 

In a sense, these testimonies and experiences are the property of the entire church.  The victories and triumphs of every believer are the means by which others are encouraged and strengthened to continue the fight or hold on to their faith until the promise becomes reality.  Simply stated, your testimony can make a difference in someone else’s life.  Your victory gives them hope.

 You and I may want to keep these testimonies and experiences a secret, because we don’t want to admit to having any problems in our lives.  However, if we think this way, we are walking in pride.  We are denying God the glory he deserves for moving on our behalf.

Don’t get me wrong – we don’t want to constantly bring up each other’s faults or to go into unnecessary details about our moral failures.  But by the same token, the trials we have endured and the victories we have won are of incalculable value to those who are currently struggling with the same problems. 

Let me say it one more time:  Your testimony, your support, and your prayers could be the very means by which struggling saints are encouraged and strengthened until they find their own deliverance.

So be a blessing to others – share your story!

 Be patient towards all men:  As a wise person once noted, the idle, the weak and the faint of heart will, without a doubt, exercise your patience and try your temper! 

The fact is, each one of us is at a different stage in our Christian maturity.  Each one of us faces unique situations and temptations.  Likewise, each one of us deserves the love and support of our fellow church members. 

Romans 15:5-6 – May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Remember, mature believers should have a healthy dose of the fruit of the Spirit growing in their lives.  This includes kindness, gentleness, patience, long suffering and self control.

As we practice patience and long suffering, God is glorified and the church is strengthened.   

I Thessalonians 5:15 – See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

Paul goes on to say that Christians should never be in a position where they are ‘repaying evil for evil’ or, in other words, we should never be seeking revenge or acting in a vindictive manner.

I Peter 3:9 – Do no repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called that you may obtain a blessing.  

Keep in mind that this applies to what might be described as personal revenge.  It does not mean that we cannot challenge evil in our government or society.

Then Paul goes one step further – he reveals that it isn’t enough to simply refrain from revenge.  We must go the extra mile by showing goodness to all people, even those who have injured us.  ‘Good’ includes anything that is honest, morally pure, profitable and glorifying to God.  It includes good works that are done in faith from an attitude of love.   

Romans 12:21 – Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.

The phrase ‘always seek’ carries the connotation of ‘pursing with eagerness’, like a hunter pursues his prey.  The idea is that when someone wrongs you, you should respond by actively looking for a way to bless them by doing something good. 

Galatians 6:10 – As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

As Christians, we have a special relationship with those in our local body.  Nevertheless, good is to be poured out upon all – sinners as well as the saints; upon the unlovely as well as those we love; upon the evil and on the righteous.  This gives us the chance to strengthen believers and witness to the lost (Matthew 5:16).

Let’s circle back to the Thessalonian church.  The majority of believers in that group were Gentiles who were known for their long-standing feuds with other people.  The idea of reacting with goodness instead of revenge was a new and astonishing concept for them.  It was difficult to mentally grasp, much less live out in their daily lives!

This was why the members of the church (not just the leaders) were instructed to encourage, strengthen and admonish each other. 

Let me offer you some encouragement:

As Christians, good works are often second nature to us.  But there are those times when we find ourselves being judgmental about a situation or a person.  During those times, we need to stop, take a deep breath, and remind ourselves that in the matter of practicing good, we must let Jesus be our example:

Acts 10:38 – How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

If Jesus only did good some of the time, or if he judged people instead of showing them goodness, then we would have the right to do that as well.  But obviously, that was not the case. 

As Paul teaches us, we should actively be pursuing good, just as a hunter actively purses his prey.  We should be ready to show that goodness to sinners as well as saints.

Hebrews 10:24 – And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works…

Notice that scripture not only encourages us to do good works, it encourages us to think about ways to stir up good works in our fellow man!  Why not practice that this week?

Let me offer you some relief:

In today’s post, Paul instructs us NOT to render evil for evil, or in other words, not to seek revenge. 

Let’s be honest – there are certain circumstances where revenge seems like a good idea.

But, like everything in the kingdom of darkness, that is a lie.  Revenge doesn’t heal you; it poisons your life and brings death.  It doesn’t set you free; it binds you and makes you a miserable person.  Revenge will destroy your mind and heart, rob you of your time, kill your relationships, and steal your peace. 

So stop and ask yourself this question:  Who likes to steal, kill, destroy?  Who wants to keep you in bondage through sin?  That’s right – our enemy Satan.  It’s obvious that the desire for revenge springs from your fallen nature/sinful flesh.  Therefore, it is something that must be crucified:

Galatians 5:24 – And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  

The bottom line is that if you want/need some relief in your life, get rid of revenge (and his wicked step brother, unforgiveness)!

Let me offer you some strength:

‘Admonishing the idle’ or correcting another believer in the church is not something that any of us want to do.  Most of us avoid it at all costs.

But if we do it properly, it can be a blessing and a benefit to the idle person and to the whole church.  The first step is actually to examine your own motivation.  Are you truly concerned about the spiritual state of your fellow Christian, or are you acting out of anger or pride? 

Anytime we look to correct another, it should be done out of true concern and in a humble manner:   

Galatians 6:1 - Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering yourself, lest you also be tempted.

If you try to correct a brother or sister with any other motivation, you will just be causing more trouble in the church.  If you aren’t sure, speak to the pastor or one of the elders before you proceed. 

Furthermore, if you feel called to help with correction, you should know that it isn’t simply a matter of pointing out a sin – you are required to help restore this person back to spiritual health. 

In essence, you are taking on some of the burden of walking them through the situation.  You should be involved in helping them see the truth, praying with them and generally supporting them until they are spiritually restored. 

 

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I Thessalonians 5:6 – So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.

Welcome back, dear readers!  In our last few posts we have been examining the doctrine of physical death and resurrection. 

Specifically, Paul describes sinners as people who are spiritually asleep.  Because of their rejection of the gospel, they will be surprised by (and unprepared for) the return of the Lord. 

However, this will not be the case for Christians.  We are spiritually awake.  We are fully cognizant of the fact that, at the time appointed by the Father, Jesus will return to earth to claim his bride and judge the world. 

Here in verse six, the word ‘so’ acts as a bridge between the prior explanation of Paul and the conclusions he will reach in the following verses. 

In other words, because of the fact that Christians do not live in spiritual darkness and because we are very well aware that Christ will return to the world as both Savior and Judge, certain things should be true in our lives. 

First of all, we need to take great care not to fall asleep like the heathen.  This is a concerning command because it implies that we can become cold or complacent or apathetic in our Christian lives.  In fact, Jesus told the disciples that this very thing would occur right before his return: 

Matthew 24:12 - And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall grow cold.

In this verse ‘iniquity’ includes the sins of those who persecute believers, the lies/deceptions of false teachers and the sin/wickedness that prevails in the lives of Christians.

Notice that the increased level of sin causes the Christian’s love of Christ to grow cold.  In essence, it puts him or her into spiritual slumber!   

If this happens to enough Christians, their local church can become spiritually asleep just like unbelievers.  This appears to have been the case for the church in Sardis:

Revelation 3:1-3 - …”I know your works.  You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.  Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.  Remember, then, what you received and heard.  Keep it, and repent.  If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.”

Here is a sobering thought – Jesus isn’t speaking these words to the world; he is addressing his own church!

But there is also good news.  Jesus warns his followers and gives them a chance to wake up and change.   

As individuals, it is critical that we do not become careless in our personal holiness.  When we indulge in the lusts and sinful pleasures of this life, they drive a wedge into our relationship with Christ.  They cause us to grow complacent about spiritual things. 

When we grow complacent, we are no longer diligent in our stewardship/service to the King.  We miss opportunities to bring him glory, to share the gospel message, to defend the truth and to fight the good fight of faith. 

In short, we become like salt that has lost its saltiness (Matthew 5:13) or we become like a lamp that has been hidden (Matthew 5:15-16).  Our relationship with Christ turns into nothing more than a mere profession of religion.  When this happens we are spiritually sleeping!

In light of this possibility, we are commanded to ‘keep awake’ (your translation may say ‘watch’). 

This means that each one of us must be on our guard against the tricks of the devil.  We must actively monitor our hearts, thoughts, affections, words and actions.  If we find something amiss in our lives, it is important for us to immediately repent.  This will close the door of access that the enemy has opened into our lives. 

There are also things we can do to avoid his attacks altogether.  For instance, we can repel him by filling our hearts and minds with the word of God, by exercising our faith, by speaking words that bring life, and by staying in the presence of God through prayer and worship.

Not only are we to be awake, we are to be sober or sober-minded.  To be sober-minded is to have a clear, rational, balanced understanding of life.  It involves being free of literal intoxication (poisoning from drugs, alcohol, etc) as well as spiritual intoxication (poisoning or mental impairment due to sin, worldly passions, etc). 

The Christian who is sober-minded is spiritually mature and able to think clearly.  They can see potential dangers or snares that our enemy has laid for us.  It includes the ability to recognize both lies and half-truths.  The sober-minded Christian is characterized by sound reasoning and good judgment; they are able to resist emotional extremes. 

As Christians, we need to remind ourselves that we live in this world, but ultimately we are not part of it.  We have been bought with the precious blood of Christ and we belong to him. 

1 Corinthians 6:20 - For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.          

Those who are spiritually sober will be ready for the return of Christ at all times.  They walk humbly through life with a realistic understanding of their own talents, gifts and abilities, which they dedicate to the Master’s use.  

Before we move on, let’s touch on one side note – being sober-minded does not make you sour, gloomy or unable to have any fun.  In reality, the opposite is true – we have the joy of the Lord, which is a strength to us during times of trial.  God has given us a garment of praise in place of a spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3), which ultimately results in his glory. 

The world finds happiness in favorable circumstances and material possessions, which are both as fleeting as the wind.  They can be here one moment and gone the next.  But joy and peace are part of the Christian life regardless of the circumstances we walk through.

Plus, Jesus himself said that we should approach his kingdom as little children. If you are around kids at all, you know they love laughter and fun.

I Thessalonians 5:7 – For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.

Some sinners are thoughtless and careless.  They slumber over moral and spiritual subjects.  If they consider the spiritual realm at all, it is with dreamy unconcern. 

But there are other emissaries of Satan who stay awake at night actively seeking to do evil.  Paul describes them as those who are drunk.  These people promote and indulge in every kind of evil and wickedness, hiding their shameful actions under as much cover as possible.  They seek to snare the unwary into being drunk too.    

I Thessalonians 5:8 – 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.

If you have been a Christian for any length of time, you know that God has provided us with a set of spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:13-17).  This armor has both offensive and defensive components. 

However, in this particular instance, Paul only makes note of two items – the helmet and the breastplate. 

The helmet and the breastplate are both defensive pieces of equipment.  They protect two of the most vital parts of the body – the head and the heart.

Breastplate of faith and love:  In Ephesians 6, the breastplate is described as the breastplate of righteousness, but here Paul calls it the breastplate of faith and love.  Is this a mistake or a discrepancy?  Of course not!  Scripture tells us that the righteousness imputed to man by Christ Jesus (which is for our justification/salvation) can be described as ‘faith working by love’:

Galatians 5:5-6 - For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.  For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works by love.

Bible scholars note that faith in Christ is the motivation which works inside our hearts, while love towards God and mankind is the outward manifestation of that same faith.  Together these two virtues help guard us against every kind of evil.  Therefore, they result in righteousness. 

Helmet, the hope of salvation:   The presence of Holy Spirit has been given to us as a down payment or an earnest of our future salvation (II Corinthians 1:22 & 5:5, Ephesians 4:30). 

So, in a sense, we possess salvation now even though we have not yet experienced the full manifestation of it.  Paul already told us that when Christ returns, he will summon us to himself in the sky, and once that happens, we will never be separated from him again (I Thessalonians 4:17).  That is when the full manifestation will occur.

Until that time, we live by faith in hope.  The hope of salvation sustains our courage during the trials of life.  It gives us the strength to continue fighting the spiritual battle.   

Once again, we find Paul making mention of the three most important Christian virtues – faith, hope and love (I Corinthians 13:13).  

Faith enables us to endure the difficulties and disappointments of this life, because it allows us to ‘see’ Christ and his glorious plans.  Love motivates us to actively and diligently show the love of God to others, while overlooking their faults, and thus bring them into the kingdom of heaven.  Meanwhile, hope allows us to anticipate the final end of all things.  On that day (the return of Christ), the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and we shall reap the rewards of our stewardship in this life.  Hallelujah!

I Thessalonians 5:9 – For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

When God sent his Son into the world, he acted out of perfect mercy and perfect love.  His primary motivation was to save the world, not condemn it:

John 3:17 - For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Scripture is very clear that it is God’s will that no one should spiritually perish, but that everyone would be saved through the ministry of Christ (II Peter 3:9) and enjoy all the benefits of being a child of God.

What could be greater than salvation?  It delivers us from the wrath of justice, the penalty of the law, the bondage and tyranny of Satan, the root and fruit of evil and from our own corrupt hearts.  It procures our pardon and atones for our sin.  It reunites us with the Father.  Thank you, Jesus!

Notice that God has ‘destined’ (your translation may say ‘appointed’) us to salvation.  The word ‘destined’ does not speak of hastiness or some kind of knee-jerk reaction.  It indicates a well thought out and perfectly executed plan. 

God, in his divine and perfect council, determined that his Son would be the Mediator between God and man (both Jews and Gentiles), before the foundations of the earth were laid (I Peter 1:18-20, Revelation 13:8, Ephesians 1:4).  The plan of salvation was determined long before man allowed sin to enter the world.  Thus, we can rest assured that it was ALWAYS God’s plan for us to be delivered from judgment.

So… since God does not destine/appoint men and women to suffer his wrath/judgment, who does?

Sadly, sinners appoint themselves to punishment and suffering when they willfully and obstinately refuse to believe and obey the gospel message.

God has appointed all of mankind for salvation, but he will still allow us to choose our own destiny.  Those who choose life in Christ are energized and motivated to be sober, to put on the armor of God, to fight the enemy and to watch for the Lord’s return. 

I Thessalonians 5:10 - …who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

What does Paul mean by saying whether we ‘wake or sleep we will live with him’?

Not surprisingly, scholars offer differing interpretations.  Here are a few:

One theory says that Paul is referring to the literal states of sleep and wakefulness in our daily lives.  Those who hold this view believe the meaning is that believers are always safe and secure, regardless of what is going on around us.  Should we perish or should Christ return, the outcome is the same - we are assured of our salvation.

A second theory says that the terms ‘awake’ and ‘asleep’ refer to the spiritual states of believers. Those who hold this theory say that some Christians are fully awake in their walk for Christ, while others are ‘sleepy’ - poor Christians but Christians nonetheless.  They believe the overall meaning of the passage is that all true Christians will be saved on that day, regardless of the quality of their walk with Christ.  They emphasize that salvation depends upon the sacrifice of Christ, not the degree of wakefulness of the believer. Therefore, salvation cannot be hindered by a drowsy spiritual life. 

A third theory maintains that in this verse, Paul circles back to the issue he addressed in chapter four, verse 13.  As we noted when we studied that verse, there was a false belief circulating among the church that those who died before the return of Christ were either omitted from heaven altogether, or they entered heaven at a significantly later time resulting in a loss of some eternal benefits.

But after much teaching on this subject, Paul concludes that it does not matter whether a Christian is awake (alive) or asleep (dead) when Jesus returns to earth; all those who count on him as Savior will be joined to him forever.  All will accompany him to heaven at the same time.  Thus, he is Lord of both the living and the dead; death cannot keep us from his presence.

Romans 14:9 - For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

Would you like to take a short side trip with me?  If so, read on.

Have you ever heard of something called ‘soul sleep’?  It is a theological concept found within some sects of Christianity (Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh-day Adventists and others). 

These groups believe that when a Christian dies, they enter something called ‘soul sleep’.  According to this point of view, the soul does not go to heaven or hell, it stays in the grave in a state of sleep or unconsciousness. While in this state of limbo, they are not aware of anything around them, including the passage of time.  Those who hold this theory believe that every dead person will remain in that state until the Lord returns.  At that time, they will rise to undergo judgment and then be sent to either heaven or hell.  

Those who oppose this theory believe that when a Christian dies, their empty body remains in the grave, but their spirit/soul goes on to heaven, where it lives with Christ.  When Christ returns, their spirits/souls are reunited with their bodies.  Then, their bodies are transformed into new bodies which are suitable for eternal life.

I mention this because I Thessalonians 5:10 is one of the key verses that speak AGAINST the validity of soul sleep; even if we are dead, we ‘live together with him’.  There are other scriptures that seem to discount this view as well.  For instance, Paul expected to be with Christ immediately upon his death (Philippians 1:23); he makes no mention of a period of limbo before meeting the Lord.  

The good news is that regardless of which view you believe, Christians can expect to spend eternity with Jesus.

In conclusion, we find that Paul’s discourse on this subject served a number of different purposes:

• It corrected the false beliefs that were circulating in the church. 
• It gave comfort to those who had loved ones that had already died. 
• It prompted an earnest expectation of the second coming of Christ, which provided encouragement to the believers.   

I Thessalonians 5:11 – Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Paul ends this portion of his letter by telling the Thessalonians to comfort and encourage each other with this doctrine – but which doctrine is he referring to?

He may be referring to the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, or that of the second coming of Christ, or the thought of being with Christ (and our loved ones) forever.  In truth, all these doctrines bring great solace to Christians of every generation.

He may also have been telling them to encourage each other to be spiritually awake at all times, watching for the return of Christ and guarding against spiritual slothfulness.

Regardless of the specifics, the overall meaning is that by discussing these ideas together, or reminding one another of them, we can build each other up in faith, hope and love. 

Let me offer you some encouragement, relief and strength:

In today’s post the apostle Paul continues to discuss the eventual return of Christ as well as the death and resurrection of the saints and the importance of faith, hope and love. 

In studying this portion of scripture, I ran across this rather startling statement in the Pulpit Bible Commentary:

“The early Christians were mistaken in regarding that time [the return of Christ] as at hand, and we perhaps may be equally mistaken in regarding it as distant.”

Wow – this observation brings up some important and relevant questions.

When was the last time you thought about or meditated on the reality of the return of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, or your own state of spiritual watchfulness?

What if Christ returns before the end of this year?  How will he find you - Asleep at the wheel?  Consumed with the cares of this life?  Or the diligent and faithful steward you want to be? 

The fact is, consideration of the return of Christ (and/or the reality of our own eventual death) helps to keep us spiritually awake and active.  Therefore, it is a good thing to regularly consider.

Now think about this:  When is the last time someone you know lost a loved one to death?  Did you avoid that situation all together or did you feel uncomfortable because you didn’t know what to say?   

If so, then you clearly haven’t been meditating on the death and resurrection of the saints.  True hope and comfort can be found in the knowledge that our loved ones will be raised to life again, at the return of Christ.  Once we are all united with him, we will never again be separated.  We will experience the eternal joys of God together.

Let me leave you with this question:  How will consideration of the return of Christ influence the way you live your life this week?

 

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I Thessalonians 5:1 – Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.

At the end of chapter four, Paul was giving the Thessalonians divine truth regarding physical death and resurrection.  The basic truths he relayed were these:

• At a time appointed by the Father, Jesus will descend from heaven to gather his bride (the church) and take her home. 
• At the incarnation, Christ came humbly and in relative obscurity.  However, on his return he will come in all of his majesty and glory. 
• Jesus will not be coming alone; he will be attended by an innumerable host who will raise a shout as he descends. 
• This momentous occasion will also be marked by the sounding of trumpets, which is fitting for the King of kings and Lord of lords. 
• Christ will not touch the earth.  He will hover somewhere in the earth’s atmosphere (where he can be seen throughout the world) and give a command for the righteous dead to rise. 
• An archangel will carry this command all around the world. 
• The dead will rise to meet Jesus in the air, where their bodies will be transformed into new spiritual bodies fit for life in heaven. 
• After the dead have risen, Christians who are alive at this time will also be ‘caught up’ to meet Christ in the air.  They too will receive new bodies. 
• At that point, Christians will be forever united with Christ.

Now let’s pause and ask ourselves a question:  If we had just heard that amazing teaching for the first time, what would our first follow up question be? 

Normal curiosity would lead most people to ask WHEN those events were going to occur.

Paul anticipates this question and he answers it by saying there was no need for him to write anything related to ‘times and seasons’.  What does he mean by that?

One of the Greek words for time is chronos.  It refers to the simple marking of time in seconds, minutes, hours, days, etc. 

For example, when you ‘clock in’ or report to work on a specific day at a specific time, to labor for a specific number of hours, that is chronos.  This is the word used in passages such as Matthew 25:19, Revelation 10:6 and Hebrews 4:7.

Keiros is another Greek word for time, but it refers to periods of time which are suitable/proper for a particular task.  In English, this word is properly translated as ‘season’.   

For example, we might say there is a time for the harvest (Matthew 13:30), but we can’t pin it down to a specific day and hour.  Any farmer will tell you that the exact time will vary depending upon the maturity of the crop, the weather, the amount of daylight, or his available resources. 

So it is more accurate to say that the harvest occurs in an opportune period of time which is suitable for gathering crops.  Therefore, it is a season (keiros).

There are many such seasons mentioned in scripture.  King Solomon speaks of seasons of time in the famous passage of scripture in Ecclesiastes chapter three:  

Ecclesiastes 3:2-3 – For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted… 

Now let’s circle back to our text.  Paul tells the Thessalonians that there is no need to discuss the exact time or even the season in which Christ will return to earth.  The implication is that there is no need to discuss it because they already know the answer to this question.  How is that possible?  

They know it because they were no doubt familiar with the teachings of Jesus.  Hence, they were fully aware that the apostles had already asked Jesus the ‘when’ question during their discussion of the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age:   

Matthew 24:3 – As he [Jesus] sat on the Mount of Olives, 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?”

(See also Acts 1:6, Luke 21:7).  Jesus gives them several signs which will mark the season of his return, but he does not give them a definite date and time.  In fact, he makes it very clear that God has no intention of revealing this information to any of us:    

Matthew 24:36 – “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

(See also Acts 1:7).  Therefore, any guess or calculation or speculation regarding the time of Christ’s return is empty, futile and spiritually unprofitable. 

Clearly, the purpose of Paul’s teaching on death and resurrection was not to reveal the time of Christ’s return.  It was to give comfort, hope and encouragement to believers. 

Specifically, its purpose was to stir up their faith, to alleviate their grief concerning their departed loved ones, and to give them strength to continue in the faith despite persecution/opposition to the gospel.

Since that is the case, the information regarding the inevitable and magnificent return of Christ should affect the daily lives of believers.  They should not quit their jobs and become idle.  Again, they should not spend their time in useless speculation or vain curiosity.  It should be enough for them (and us) to know that God, in his own wisdom and sovereignty, has a time set aside for this important event (John 14:3). 

In the meantime, we have work to do.  We have been given stewardship over God’s kingdom on earth.  We are to use our time, talents and resources to spread the gospel, to take authority over darkness and to minister to the hurting.

Matthew 25:13 – Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. 

Like the ten virgins in the parable (Matthew 25:1-13), we need to be constantly watching for the return of our Lord, so we can be ready when he comes. 

I Thessalonians 5:2 – For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

The expression ‘day of the Lord’ is taken from the Old Testament where it generally refers to a time that God has fixed for a visitation of his presence.  These visitations are almost always accompanied by vengeance or punishment: 

Isaiah 2:12 - For the day of the LORD of hosts shall come upon everyone that is proud and lofty, and upon everyone that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: 

(See also Joel 2:1 & 3:14, Jeremiah 46:10, Ezekiel 13:5, Amos 5:18, etc).  In the New Testament, the definition has become synonymous with the great day when Jesus will return as King of kings and Lord of lords as well as the judge of all the earth. 

Although we know nothing about the time of his return, he does give us some details regarding the manner of his return – he will appear as a thief in the night.  This indicates that his return will happen suddenly and unexpectedly.

When a thief breaks into a house, he does so without giving any advanced warning or indication of his plans.  When the sleeping home owners are awakened by his presence, they are shocked, dismayed, fearful and hopeless.

Matthew 24:42-43 – Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.  But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.

(See also Revelation 3:3 & 16:15, II Peter 3:10).  In the same way, since sinners are spiritually asleep, they will be completely unprepared for the return of Christ.  Indeed, many of them may be unaware that he plans to return at all!

In either case, they will have no warning; for them, the day of the Lord will be sudden and unexpected and full of woe. 

I Thessalonians 5:3 – 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.

On that day, the wicked will be fully convinced of their own safety and prosperity.  They will falsely believe that man has achieved a ‘golden age’ - a state of lasting peace, prosperity, equality and happiness for himself. 

But in reality, when they think they are the most secure, they will be in the greatest danger!     

Having scorned all warnings and rejected every opportunity to embrace the gospel message, they will be completely unprepared for Christ’s return; they will not escape the judgment that has suddenly come upon them any more than a woman can escape the pains of labor.   

In the scriptures, the concept of a woman in labor is often used to denote great consternation - amazement and horror that confounds the mind and causes dismay, panic and alarm. 

Psalms 48:6 – Trembling took hold of them [the enemies of Israel] there, anguish as of a woman in labor.

(See also Jeremiah 6:24, Micah 4:9-10, Isaiah 13:8, Jeremiah 4:31 & 13:21).  This is an appropriate comparison because, like labor pains, the judgment of the wicked will be sharp, severe, and unavoidable.  Just as a woman’s pain comes from within herself, so the judgment of the wicked comes from ‘within themselves’ or as the result of their own choice to reject Christ and retain their sins and transgressions.       

Consequently, the wicked will experience ‘sudden’ (unforeseen or unexpected) destruction. 

While our translation says this destruction will come upon them (future tense), the original language reflects the present tense.  In other words, at this very moment destruction is standing over the wicked and unless they repent, it will suddenly fall upon them. 

This is a principle that history has shown us time and time again: 

• During the days of Noah, the wicked of that generation rejected all chances of escape and were suddenly drowned. 
• The citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah were warned by Lot before they were suddenly consumed by fire and brimstone. 
• Belshazzar heard the testimony of Daniel and saw the handwriting on the wall before the sudden fall of Babylon.   
• The Jews in Jerusalem who rejected Christ were suddenly slaughtered or placed into slavery by the Romans. 

So it will be with the sinners who have contempt for God.  Though the gospel is preached far and wide, they will either die in their sin or find themselves face to face with the One they have scorned and rejected, resulting in sudden destruction.  What a sobering thought! 

It should be noted that ‘destruction’ is defined as:  to demolish, to devastate/ruin, to pull down, to consume or to waste.  It does not necessarily mean annihilation.  This is in keeping with scripture which tells us that the wicked do not cease to exist.  Rather, being cut off from salvation, they will experience eternal torment for their sin and rejection of Christ.     

This destruction will be all the more miserable and terrifying because it came during a time when they felt they were safe.    

I Thessalonians 5:4 – But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.

Paul now offers a word of comfort and relief to the church at Thessalonica - there is a big difference between the righteous and the wicked. 

Christians will not be surprised at the return of the Lord because we are anxiously watching and waiting for this event to happen.  When it does, we have no reason to fear because we are diligently serving him.

For the Christian, the return of Christ is a glorious day; a day of resurrection and redemption and vindication and rejoicing and reward:

Hebrews 9:28 – So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Revelation 22:12 - And, behold, I [Jesus] come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Not only are we prepared for his return, we can encourage each other in the faith by reminding ourselves that this day is coming!  Regardless of whether we will be alive or dead when Christ returns, we will meet him in the air and be with him forevermore! Hallelujah!  

I Thessalonians 5:5 – For you are all children of light, children of the day.  We are not of the night or of the darkness.

Sinners will be caught off guard by the day of the Lord because they continuously walk in darkness, and are thus spiritually blind and deaf.  As John Calvin says in his commentary, “No darkness is more dense than ignorance of God.”  

Christians, however, are ‘children of light/day’.  This Hebraism (a peculiar expression or idiom of the Hebrew language) means that we live in the light of Christ. 

This is possible because we were called into spiritual enlightenment by Holy Spirit.  He helped us see our lost state, understand the bondage of sin and recognize the insufficiency of our own righteousness.  He introduced us to Christ through the gospel, and quickened our hearts to accept his grace and forgiveness.

John 8:12 - Then spoke Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.  

Because we live in the light of Christ, our spiritual eyes and ears are fully functioning; we are always spiritually awake and active.

Because we have been enlightened by the gospel, we walk in godliness and holiness, striving to keep the commandments of God.  We don’t do this out of fear.  We do it because it is in keeping with our redeemed nature and because we love the One who has forgiven and saved us (John 14:21).   

Now let’s switch gears for just a moment. 

The Jews had a belief (based on Psalms 9:7-8) that God would judge the Gentiles in the night time, when they were utterly secure and careless, but he would judge the Jews in the day time, when employed in reading and performing the words of the law.  

Regardless of the accuracy or inaccuracy of this belief, it does cause us to pause and consider our own service/stewardship to God.

Every single day we are to walk in the light of Christ and be faithful stewards.  But there are times when we can become spiritually lazy, disobedient or inattentive.  We must be on our guard against falling into these traps. 

Periodically meditating on the return of Christ will spur us into being the good and faithful stewards we desire to be.  So if you haven’t thought about the return of Christ for a while, now is a good time to think about it.  

If the Master returned today, would you be ready, or would you be embarrassed? 

Let me offer you some encouragement:

The truth is, if we had our way, most of us would love to know when the return of Christ will be.  But God knows that if we had that information, we would live our lives differently.  

Think of it this way:  If you knew that the return of Christ was a hundred years in the future, and you thought you had 40 years of life left, would you have a tendency to neglect some of your Christian duties?  Would you delay the pursuit of some areas of personal holiness?  Would you indulge in a sinful passion, knowing that you had time to repent later?  Would you put off doing good works until a more convenient time?    

We’d all like to think that we would never do those things, but the truth is, we just might!

So, not knowing the date of his return is actually a blessing because it encourages us to be close to him at all times!

Because we don’t know the day or the hour of his return, we live in a constant state of watchfulness.  We do everything we can, every day, to be good stewards of the kingdom.  Not only that, we do not neglect our relationship with Jesus.  We stay close to him in prayer, in praise and through reading his word.    

Let me offer you some relief:

This passage of scripture contains some good news for sinners – there is still time to turn from wickedness, embrace the forgiveness of Christ, and become a child of God! 

The era of grace is still open, but it will close at the return of Christ.  This is why the prophet Isaiah encourages sinners to seek God while he may still be found (Isaiah 55:6-7).

If you have a loved one who is still not saved, don’t give up hope!  God has a major spiritual harvest planned before Christ returns, so continue to lift them up in prayer. 

Continue to seek the advice of Holy Spirit on how to best share the gospel with them, and boldly do whatever he commands.

Let me offer you some strength:

I must confess that sometimes, when I am having a particularly bad day, I have been known to say, “Today would be a great day for the Lord to return.” 

In all honesty, I say that because I am overwhelmed or frustrated at my current circumstances.  The statement reflects a poor attitude more than anything else, and I probably shouldn’t say it.

Nevertheless, the fact remains that no matter what circumstances we face in this life, we have reason to rejoice.  Our names are written in the Lamb’s book of life which means that one day Jesus is going to return and gather us to himself.  That will be an astonishing day, full of glory and grandeur.

So the next time your circumstances get tough, dwell on the promise of that day!    

 

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I Thessalonians 4:15 – 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. 

As we noted in our last post, there were two main false beliefs circulating among the Thessalonian church regarding death and resurrection. 

The first was that there was no resurrection at all; only people who were alive at the return of Christ would be admitted to heaven.

The second belief was that the saints who were alive when the Lord returned would be immediately ushered into heaven while those who had already died would remain in a state of waiting for an undisclosed amount of time.  The end result was that some saints would have more benefits/blessings than others in the eternal realm.   

Paul puts these false ideas to rest by giving the Thessalonians the truth regarding physical death and the resurrection.  In our last post, Paul confirmed that every person will be resurrected.  Some will rise to experience everlasting life while others will receive everlasting death, but the fact is EVERYONE will be resurrected: 

Matthew 25:32, 46 – Before him [Jesus] will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  …and these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.

(See Matthew 25:31-46 for full details).  In today’s passage, Paul makes it very clear that the living will not prevent the dead from rising, the living will not be changed (receive new bodies) before the dead, nor will the living be admitted to heaven any sooner than the dead or receive any special blessings/advantages.

But before we get into all that, let me ask you this:  Did you notice that the apostle says the message he is delivering is ‘a word from the Lord’?  What does he mean by that? 

Some scholars believe Paul discerned these truths through knowledge/study of Jesus’ discourses on earth.  Those who hold this view believe that Paul is simply speaking in the manner of the Old Testament prophets who often began their messages with ‘thus says the Lord’. 

Others believe that Holy Spirit gave Paul a divine, direct revelation of this truth, so there would be no confusion within the church.  In other words, it was a message straight from God!  Those who hold this point of view say that there is no way Paul could have discerned the specific details he shares here from the public discourses Christ gave.

The good news is that in either case, we can be sure that the words of Paul are not a tradition of some kind, an idea he made up on his own or a theory purported by others.  The source of this teaching is divine, and by faith it should be received as such.  

I Thessalonians 4:16 – 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.

Paul now gives us some more specific information about what will happen on that remarkable day.  

The Lord himself will descend from heaven:  When the time comes for us to depart for heaven, Jesus does not simply yell or whistle for us to come to him, nor does he send a messenger to get us. 

On the appointed day he himself, our Redeemer and Savior, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords will rise from his throne on the right hand of the Father, and personally come down to earth to claim his bride!  He will come visibly, in his human form.  We know this because scripture tells us that he will return in the same manner in which he left:

Acts 1:9-11 – And when he [Jesus] had said these things, as they [the disciples] were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.  And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven?  This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”  

Furthermore, Jesus will not come silently or in secret.  He will not come humbly or in obscurity as he did during the incarnation.  This time, Jesus will come in all the dignity and splendor of his eternal majesty, accompanied by an innumerable host who will shout has he descends.     

With a cry of command:  Your translation may say ‘with a shout’.  The Greek word for command/shout means a clamor, a shout or a cry of excitement.  It refers to the collective shouts of an army going into battle.  The shouting does not communicate any particular orders or information; it simply represents a loud, stirring sound which draws attention to the events which are unfolding.

A careful reading of the text reveals that the Lord himself will not be shouting; it says the great multitude that attends him will be shouting, clamoring or crying out as he returns.  

With the voice of an archangel:  Scripture indicates that the angels are divided up into ranks and orders, much as an earthly army.  It is commonly believed that archangels are the highest rank of the angel army.   

So we know that there will be one or more of the highest ranking angels present on the momentous occasion of the resurrection.  We should not be surprised at this.  In fact, it would be ridiculous if the highest ranking officers in God’s angelic army were not present with their King to witness this important event and take some part in the proceedings.  Indeed, innumerable angels of all ranks will be present.

Think of it this way – this is a one-time event that all of heaven has been waiting for.  The Lamb sacrificed himself in order to redeem his bride (the church) and now the Father has given him the command to go and bring her home! 

This is an event that has been planned since the foundation of the world.  It has never occurred in the past and will never be repeated.  It is a day when the Judge of all things will return to the earth and display his power over death by resurrecting all those who placed their faith in him.  It is a day like no other!  

One thing needs to be made clear:  The voice of the archangel does NOT summon the dead back to life.  That is done by Jesus himself:

John 5:25, 28-29 – Truly, truly, I [Jesus] say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live…. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.  

So what role does the voice of this angel play?  His voice will certainly be part of the multitude crying out as Christ descends from heaven.  In addition, many scholars believe that once Christ gives the command for the living and the dead to appear before him, that command will be heralded or announced throughout the earth by this angel. 

The command to rise from the dead and appear before Christ will be confirmed/accompanied by the sounding of a trumpet. 

With the sound of the trumpet of God:  First, we need to clarify that God is not sounding the trumpet himself.  Rather, he has appointed that a trumpet shall be sounded on this great and solemn occasion.  That is why it is called the trumpet of God. 

Under the law, Israel sounded the trumpet for a number of different reasons such as going to battle or moving their camp.  The sounding of the trumpet was also used to call God’s people to their solemn assemblies (Numbers 10:2, Leviticus 23:24, Joel 2:15, etc).

One such example was when the law was given to Israel (Exodus 19:1-25).  On that solemn occasion, the entire nation was called to Mount Sinai with numerous blasts of trumpets.  Scripture says these blasts became louder and louder until the Lord came down to the top of the mountain. 

Many bible commentators see a parallel with the resurrection – once again, a trumpet blast will be used to summon God’s people into his presence during the solemn and majestic resurrection event.   

But God’s people don’t come to the assembly/celebration randomly.  God has a set order – the dead first, followed by those who are alive at his return.  

The dead in Christ will rise first:  As Paul said earlier, the dead in Christ will actually rise before those who are alive at the return of our Lord and Savior. 

They will rise with the same bodies they possessed on earth, and then instantaneously, their bodies will be changed/glorified and reunited with their spirits.

I Corinthians 15:51-52 – Behold!  I tell you a mystery.  We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 

This makes perfect sense.  The bodies we have now have been corrupted with sin.  Consequently, they are subject to sickness, decay, etc.  They cannot serve us in the heavenly realm, so God gives us new bodies that are appropriate for our roles in eternity.   

I Thessalonians 4:17 – 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.

Next (after the dead are raised and changed), the living saints be called into the air where they will undergo the same metamorphosis.  

Caught up in the air:  When Christ returns to resurrect the dead and take his bride to heaven, he will not step foot on the earth.  He will remain/hover in the air (somewhere within earth’s atmosphere) and from there he will give the command for the dead to rise and meet him.

[Just to clarify, Jesus will indeed step foot on earth again (Zechariah 14:4), where he will rule for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4-7), but that will be a later time.]   

Paul tells us that the living will be ‘caught up’ in the clouds.  The word ‘caught’ denotes suddenness – one moment believers will be going about their mundane daily activities and the next they will find themselves in the physical presence of Jesus!  Wow!  That’s a moment to look forward to!    

The phrase ‘caught up’ also indicates that the saints will not rise by their own power; it will be an external force which accomplishes this.  It may be done through the ministry of angels or by the direct power of Jesus.

In the clouds:  When the saints are ‘caught up’ into the sky, they are described as being ‘in the clouds’.  Not surprisingly, there are differing viewpoints on the exact meaning of this phrase.

The first says that the clouds are actual clouds.  In this case, it means the redeemed will be caught up to meet Jesus in the region of the clouds, or that the clouds will serve as chariots which transport the redeemed to Christ (Psalms 104:3). 

Those who hold this view point out that clouds carried Jesus up to heaven (or rather Jesus, who is the master of all things, rode the clouds under his own power) and clouds will also be present upon his return:

Mark 13:26 – And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.

(See also Matthew 24:30, Daniel 7:13, Revelation 1:7, etc).  

Another scenario says that ‘clouds’ refers to the innumerable number of people who have been resurrected and are in the sky with Christ.  They believe that, rather than being in one enormous bunch, the saints will be gathered into multiple groups which resemble ‘clouds’ of people especially to those on the ground.

Those who hold this view point out that the literal translation from the Greek is ‘in clouds’ not ‘in THE clouds’. 

Again, we see that the saints are meeting the Lord in the air which indicates he will not physically touch the ground, but will remain in the air at a distance from the planet as he gathers us together and takes us home. 

Some scholars believe that the judgment of mankind will also occur in the air, because the earth will not be large enough to contain all of the people who have ever existed. 

We will always be with the Lord:  Once the saints rise up and are changed, we will never again be separated from the Lord!  Our old sinful flesh will be gone; we will be clothed with new, glorious bodies which cannot be touched by sin, disease or death.  Our new bodies will be fit for eternity in the presence of God!   

In conclusion, we can say that Paul has confirmed that there will, in fact, be a resurrection.  He also confirms that there will be absolutely no disparity between the dead and the living when the resurrection occurs.   

It should also be noted that Paul does not discuss details of the resurrection of the wicked, the judgment, the millennial reign of Christ, or any other end-time events because they were not pertinent to the topic at hand – the resurrection.   

I Thessalonians 4:18 – Therefore encourage one another with these words.

In this case, encourage is synonymous with comfort. 

At some point, everyone will lose a friend or loved one to death.  Unlike sinners, the grief of the Christian is mitigated by the knowledge that death is not the end; it is merely a period of separation. 

At some point, we will also die and be reunited with our loved one, or Christ will return and we will be reunited on that occasion.  In either case, our relationships will resume in heaven where they will never be broken again. 

Let me offer you some encouragement and some relief:

If we aren’t careful, the daily grind of life can take a toll on our joy, our patience and on our overall outlook on life.  Sometimes our circumstances can be overwhelming and we feel discouraged or hopeless. 

But God has given us a remedy for these afflictions of the mind and heart – we are to focus our thoughts on his goodness and blessings:

Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

The truth of the resurrection is one of the topics we can turn to for encouragement. 

Whatever challenges we face in this life, they will end.  We are not bound by them forever.  At some point, we will finish our race on earth and God will call us home. 

So don’t let the enemy overwhelm you or discourage you.  Leave your past mistakes behind.  Face today with the knowledge that God is with you, that he has equipped you to be victorious, and that one day he will personally come to get you (John 14:1-4)!     

In other words, give yourself encouragement and relief by meditating on the doctrine of the resurrection:

• Imagine the cry of the hosts of heaven and the sounding of the trumpet as Christ descends in glory. 
• Picture seeing him for the first time, as he descends in the clouds. 
• Imagine being miraculously ‘caught up’ into the air with other believers. 
• Try to wrap your mind around the fact that heaven is real, and you are on your way there!    

Let me offer you some strength:

A wise person I know says that sorrow/grief is the price you pay for loving someone, and they are correct – the more you love someone, the greater the sorrow you will experience when they die.   

It hurts to be separated from someone you love.  There is no way around that; there is no magic cure to make your pain disappear. 

For this reason, we view death as a bad thing.  But did you know that God sees death differently?

Psalms 116:15 – Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

Wow!  Meditate on that mind-blowing statement for a while, and then cast your mind back to the Garden of Eden. 

When God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the garden, he was in a face-to-face relationship with them.  He visited them in the evenings (Genesis 3:8-9).  But after the fall, we were cut off from this relationship.  Sin separated us from God.

Therefore, in his great mercy, God locked us out of the garden so that we couldn’t eat from the Tree of Life and be forever separated from him in our sinful state (Genesis 3:22-24).

As astonishing as it may sound, death is actually a gift from the Father, because it allows our spirits and souls to be freed from our flesh, which has been corrupted with sin.  Without death, we could not receive a glorified body and be reunited with God in face-to-face fellowship. 

Now we can understand why God considers the death of a Christian to be something of great value – death is the conduit or path which takes us back to him!

The next time you are mourning a loved one who has gone on to heaven, take comfort and strength in knowing that his or her death was a gift from God. 

Here is something else to consider:  When you give someone a gift, it is common for you to be present when they open it, so you can see their reaction.  I believe the same thing is true of God. 

In other words, I don’t think anyone dies alone.  Regardless of the circumstances, God was present when the gift of death was received and opened by your loved one.  He, or one of his angelic messengers, was right there to guide your loved one into his presence, where they are currently rejoicing – without pain, without sickness, without depression, without any of the cares or burdens of this life.   

I strongly suspect that when you see them again, they will tell you death was one of the best gifts they ever received!  

I hope you can strengthen yourself with the knowledge that, for the Christian, the pain of separation we experience by death is only temporary.  You WILL be reunited with your loved one when Christ returns!