1Thessalonians Encouragement to a fledgling Church

Last Week Paul’s Missionary Methodology Included: Building relationships that were transparent Did not use flattery, or abuse power. Did not seek gain, avoided becoming a burden Urged the church to prepare for difficulties and be sure that they were like the seed sown upon fertile ground, with deep roots and abundant fruit.

Chapter 4 Describe the church at Thessalonica the way you would describe it today from what we have learned so far…

How to please God Finally then, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us how you must walk and please God—as you are doing [a] —do so even more. 2 For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.a Paul is exhorting the church towards Sanctification

Sanctification In general: Clean Pure Set apart Dedicated to

Positional Sanctification Absolute Measurement No sliding scale We can’t be more “positionally” sanctified than we already are When God looks at us, He either sees the imputed righteousness of Christ, or He doesn’t We are either His or we aren’t This comes about at the moment of salvation Does not speak to actually living righteously

Practical or Progressive Sanctification The progressive work of the Holy Spirit transforming us gradually towards Christ-likeness It is a measure of how our living relates to being a follower of Christ Not measured against other believers, just the standard We never quite arrive, but we should be getting closer to the ideal all the time

As you are doing… Paul acknowledges that the people are doing these “living out their faith” activities already. Paul encourages them that they are not finished…they need to do this “more and more” Further, the measuring stick is not that they are seen by others as doing it well, or talk about doing it well, but are actually personally following the instructions of Christ.

Pure conduct 3 For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality, 4 so that each of you knows how to control his own body [b] in sanctification and honor, 5 not with lustful desires, like the Gentiles who don’t know God. 6 This means one must not transgress against and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses, [c] as we also previously told and warned you. 7 For God has not called us to impurity but to sanctification. 8 Therefore, the person who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who also gives you His Holy Spirit.bc

Opposite of Sanctification Impurity Unholy Carnal Unclean Immoral The body should be under the command of the spirit, which is indwelt and sanctified as a believer. Allowing lust and fornication to rule in the body, allows it to defile the practical state of sanctification.

Not like the Gentiles We cannot walk or act or sin the same way. We have a higher purpose and an established truth. We cannot give in to our lusts the same way because we know better and have supposedly crucified those lusts by embracing Christ.

We know better Private uncleanness has an impact on others, and we are responsible for that as well. There is no such thing anymore as “what happens behind closed doors” or only in “our imagination”… All aspects of our being need to be subjugated to God We reject God when we reject these commands, and we reject God when we allow lust to rule over us. But the Holy Spirit is given so that we may fight and win these individual battles

A Humble Life of Love Need to increase in effectiveness even though they are still doing great by every worldly measure. Paul wants to encourage them but also to point out that since there is clearly fruit there, God has already taught them this lesson, which is more important than any words that Paul could give them. God is the best teacher, but we still need to encourage one another to continue in growth of all areas.

Our Ambition What is ambition?

The goal Living a quiet life Minding our own business Working with our own hands to provide things that are useful Why? so that we are not depending upon others for our survival so that others will see something admirable and different about our lives Does this look like our life’s ambition today?

A Proper view of Death One that removes the need for overwhelming grief. They had lost friends and loved ones… When we mourn, we mourn our loss, not the deceased’s loss. It is truly their gain, and we must trust in that. Tears are fine, mourning is fine, but it has only it’s proper place. They are already in a better place as they await the Lord’s Day…they are removed from struggle and pain, and resting for that day.

We will all meet the Lord together They will not “miss out” on anything during that wonderful day. They will be raised first and witness the powerful coming of the Lord from Heaven, then those who are still alive will join them, not the other way around.

Next Week 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5 The Day of the Lord