Studies in 1 Thessalonians #5- Which Way Should We Go?

Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

It is good to see everybody gathered today for the greatest purpose of all:
to give praise and honour to God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit!
In Canada we are celebrating our freedom this day and as children of God we need to be thankful for such freedom but also realize the greater freedom Jesus Christ has won for us!
John 8:32- you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free! We are freed from the power and punishment of sin and for this we should be eternally grateful. We would encourage you that if you don't know this freedom yet, if you don't know what it is like to be buried with Christ in baptism and raised to a new life, why not accept his invitation as soon as possible and know you are forgiven and free?

Please turn in your Bibles to 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 and read with me…
What is so amazing about this letter if you haven't noticed and there appears to be none other like this in that there is really no rebuke from Paul to the Thessalonian church but more exhortation to keep on living properly!1
What have we learned about them from the first three chapters?

They had a great reputation!
Remember that they received the powerful gospel message and this caused them to be known as the church that turned from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for Jesus from heaven! Why?
God has not called us to wrath but to glory!

They believed in the gospel of God and not anything else.
They believed that the God of heaven was good news. They accepted the teaching that their walks (lives) needed to be worthy of God.

They were to be Paul, Silas & Timothy's crown of boasting at the coming of King Jesus!

Their faith & love remained despite all their afflictions and all they are told to do is to allow that love to increase!
Can we be that type of church?
I believe the answer is yes!

Now, after all that Paul has said to them, the question now comes up, which way should we go?
How then should we now live?
Remember what Paul is about to say is not a rebuke of them, but advice on what direction they should now go!
We have been introduced earlier in this letter to the subject Paul is now going to discuss!
2:12- that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
3:12- increase your love, hearts established blameless in holiness before God!
What about daily living?

"I love my wife!
I really believe that she is so devoted to me that there could be no one else. She knows I believe in her and so I don't expect her to mind the times I stay out all night with the guys drinking and just flirting with the girls at the bar. I believe in marriage so much, I just wouldn't have it any other way and who better to raise my kids with me than her. So, she has learned since I believe in this so much that the times I curse at her and cut her down in front of people that its just my way of doing things. I would never think of a divorce or separation. Being one with my wife is just the way it is supposed to be. So, when she just mentioned the word the other night she understands that it was my belief in the sacredness of marriage that made me hit her.
I love my wife!
I really believe that a husband and wife are supposed to be so devoted to the marriage bond that there can be no one or no way else!"

What would you say to a testimony like that?
You would say he hasn't got it straight right?

One of the hardest concepts it seems for people to grasp at times and yet it is very crucial to the essence of Christianity is this:
the Christian religion is not just about facts and ideas to concede as true! There is no question that intellectual faith is a very important part of the Christian religion! John 8:24!
But the Christian religion is also about how we act towards God and our fellow man! James 2:26- faith without deeds is dead!
How we live after our baptisms into Jesus Christ is an important indicator of how converted we are to Jesus Christ! It's not just about being devoted to the facts about Jesus and the church but showing your faith by your life!

Paul now hits on the topic of practical Christianity, or how to live now you that belong to Jesus and the fellowship of the redeemed!
Vs.1,2- Paul again goes to the reminder!
Remember how we told you to live to please God! This is so important for the church to remember today:
the gospel is not only life saving and life exalting but also life changing! One of the messages of the gospel is the message to repent! (Acts 17:30) People need to be told when told about Jesus that they now need to live lives that are pleasing to God! This church was great because Paul is not saying to them you've forgotten about this, but you already do this and I just want you to do it even more! Notice who made this rule of life:
JESUS himself!
These are not rules made by a bunch of crotchety old men who are not up with the times! (By the way the Bible was not written for 1800 America but a culture that was dealing with the same moral problems we seem to be dealing with today as well:
Sexual immorality, homosexuality, drunkenness, abusing of children etc.)

Vs.3-6- Paul goes on to say, God's will is that Christians are sanctified!
God's will is that we are set apart from the world and devoted to him. Basically, sanctification is the process of becoming holy! Justification is being made right (when touched by the blood of Jesus) and sanctification is the work of becoming holy (matching our justification). Look at 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. What should we do?
Learn to control our bodies! In what way?
Well, commit no sexual sin! Don't have sexual relations with someone before marriage, with someone other than your spouse during marriage and then homosexual sin!
Now, there is no indication that the Thessalonians were involved in this, but Paul is telling them again! It almost seems like in our society this is a tall order and that many are succumbing to sexual temptation in one way or another. But, there is also another movement happening that is exciting and that is Christian young people are either vowing celibacy until marriage or reclaiming their virginity!
Paul says don't become like the people who don't know God! As people who know Him, live differently! 1 Corinthians 7:8,9! Notice, what Paul says in vs.6- this is a defrauding of someone else!
God will avenge this and Paul says we forewarned you and spoke solemnly concerning this! Soap opera and talk show theology does not mix well with God. We are free in Christ, but not free to burn in lust.

Vs.7,8- What is all of this you are talking about Paul?
I'm talking about God's call! It is a call to holiness not uncleanness! God did not call you to live as people who don't know Him! God did not call us to live as our society does. Who are we disobeying when we don't live by this rule?
Not old men who don't relate, but God Himself!
Listen, the God you fell in love with for sending His Son to die on a tree you are rejecting if you reject His call to holy living! Why does Paul speak about the Holy Spirit here?
1 Corinthians 6:18-20! Why so much emphasis on sexual sin?
Acts 15:20

Vs.9,10- Now, get away from the devil's counterfeit 'love' and concentrate on true love!
As the former plays a part in defrauding brethren, true love lifts up brethren! Now, God has taught you already to love each other as you should. One of the things the gospel reminds us of is this, when we obey the gospel of Jesus, we become a child of God and therefore a brother or sister to all of like precious faith!

Vs.11,12- finally, Paul says this- now lead a peaceful life.
Don't be a busybody in other people's affairs! Concentrate on supplying for yourself. These are interesting commands.

Don't be a busybody! John 21:21,22!
This is hard sometimes. This doesn't mean dealing with people who are caught in sins or anything like that (Galatians 6:1), but we have to be careful to know when to bud out!

Do your own work. Ephesians 4:28, 2 Thessalonians 3:11,12! Why?
So the outsider will respect you! Don't make it look like the church is filled with a bunch of nuisances! Colossians 4:5
How then should we live?
This is big:
we need to remember that God's grace will cover all sin. Yet, if our goal is to not be holy. If our goal is to satisfy the lusts of the eye, the flesh and the vainglory of life, we are not seeking the things of God.
It is possible to abstain.
It is better to abstain.
It is Christ-like to abstain.
If there is something in your past you cannot change that today, but you can repent of it, tell God that if you were in the same situation again you would strive to abstain. If it is still in your future, remember the God who loves you; remember there is a good reason to do things His way. His way will protect us, it will save us and it will benefit us!

Romans 13:8-10- Paul has gotten through how to live and it is summed up in properly loving others.
Read with me vs.11-14- NCV!

1. The book of Philippians is close except for chapter 4:1-3 and the book of Ephesians could be close but there is some strong language in ch.4:17-5:12!

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