1 Thessalonians 4

Sanctification

1 Th 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

1 Th 4:2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
1 Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

When we are saved and bornagain of the Spirit, we are sanctified, set aside for the Lord's service. We belong to him. sanctification, is the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing us to be more and more like Christ Jesus. We are to work outwardly our new life in Christ.

Phil 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Phil 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Paul was talking to a people in an immoral society. God requires that there be no sexual sins; no fornication, no sex outside of marriage, certainly no homosexual acts. No living together before marriage. No cheating on a partner, for it is evil in God's eyes.

2 Tim 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
2 Tim 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2 Tim 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
2 Tim 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

1 Th 4:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

We are to keep our bodies free of sin and be servants of God. To be sanctified is to be holy, set aside for God.

1 Pet 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1 Pet 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Sanctification comes through Gods Holy Spirit, it is not our doing. We can obey God's Spirit. For by him we are sanctified. It is a choice.

2 Th 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
2 Th 2:14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

You can be clean of sin through Jesus and his Holy Spirit. Before you had no choice, now you do.

Holiness

1 Th 4:5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

Concupiscence means evil desire, the passion of lust, indwelling sin. They were not to be like the world around them.

1 Th 4:6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

We should not cause evil to come to another. We are not to cheat or steal or lie to another brother. The Lord will hold you accountable. Time to ask forgiveness and repent if this was done.

1 Th 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

1 Cor 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
1 Cor 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1 Cor 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1 Th 4:8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

Many despise the church of God, the Bible, even Christians. They are holy, separated unto God. So, when they are despised, it is against God. The devil is subtle, using his possessed servants as serpents, tempting to destroy and take dominion of God's things.

Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
Jude 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen.

Brotherly Love

1 Th 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

Brotherly love, from the Greek word "philadelphia;" the Christian's love for brothers and sisters in the Lord. We were taught of God to love one another.

John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

If we are to love one another, then why are the Christian chats so full of hate, strife and division? The simple, or sinful answer is that the enemies of God come to destroy the unity. Some Christians still walk in the flesh, in the way of self pride. It is easy to stir them up and bring confusion, even name calling, as they seek to justify themselves in the flesh.

Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

1 John 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
1 John 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

1 Th 4:10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Study

1 Th 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

Learn to not spread gossip, learn the mind of Christ. King Solomon, a wise man gave advice about studying.

Eccl 12:12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
Eccl 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

The world's knowledge will not satisfy, you will get weary from much studying. But to seek and study God through His Bible is joy to the soul. The apostle Paul looked at studying Gods word, with a warning following.

2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Tim 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

Studying God's word is approved of God, you need not be ashamed, correctly understanding what it says. But, we are not to do as many, we are not to use profanity. We are not to speak empty babblings, la la la la, or silly talk. For this talk goes nowhere and does not edify the hearer. In the Internet chats many come in like this, killing time, but show no interest in the truth of God's word. Someone may need encouragement, so be sensitive in the spirit, and shun silly talk, when the word of God is needed.

Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Isa 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

These hands are made for work and good deeds. By them we earn our living and by our hands we give out to others.

1 Th 4:12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

Do you want those needing Christ Jesus to be hindered? Then, we do not gossip, or use lying or deceit. We do not use bad language and act as foolish ones in our flesh. Speak God's truth and walk honestly before all people. Work with your hands a productive life and you will not be unprofitable in the eyes of God and the world. Write words that uplift others and walk in truth.

Those who sleep

1 Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

Some of the new believers were waiting for Jesus to return Some had seen people die and they were concerned that these would miss the coming of our Lord for his church. Paul gives comfort in this scripture, which explains the coming of the Lord.

What does it mean to be asleep? Those who trust in Jesus Christ, live forever with him. So we need not speak of death as if all was over, for our soul and spirit go to Jesus. Some see the person as sleeping, but be assured he is not sleeping in the grave. Sleep refers to the body in several places of the Bible. Jesus knew he was going to raise people from the dead, so he referred to them as sleeping.

Lazarus was raised from the dead.

John 11:11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

Lazarus, though dead, was referred to as sleeping, and Jesus raised him up. He still was flesh and blood. How much more shall we live through faith in Jesus Christ? Our spirit has been made alive in him, for His Spirit has given us eternal life. The ruler's daughter was raised

Mat 9:23 And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,
Mat 9:24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
Mat 9:25 But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.

Likewise our bodies shall be risen as new spiritual bodies

After Jesus himself, arose from the sleep of the grave, he gave us the assurance that we shall never be separated from him. Jesus gave revelation knowledge to the apostle Paul. Our soul will go to Jesus and our new body will come when he returns for the church.

2 Cor 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
2 Cor 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
2 Cor 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

The soul goes to Jesus, the body sleeps or is awaiting a new spiritual body. I do not want to be asleep in a dead body. Jesus said we are made alive, eternally alive in him. The soul goes to Jesus. If not in him, our soul goes straight to hell.

Mark 12:26 And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
Mark 12:27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.

Those who died before Jesus defeated death and the grave, were kept in a place separated from hell. (see Luke 16:19-31) God knows where he has them now. I believe they were taken up when Jesus arose and returned to the Father. These are alive through faith in God's promises.

Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Psa 68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.

Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

One body in Christ

1 Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

If you believe, this is important. If you believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ. If you belief enough to turn to Jesus in complete trust, then you will believe what the word of God says. Listen to the word of God: If you believe that Jesus died and rose again, this is the heart of the gospel. This is the message of the cross that Paul preached, leading thousands unto our Lord Jesus Christ. If you believe he shed his blood on the cross for your sins and has risen from the grave. If you believe, though dead (asleep) in Christ, even then will God bring you with Christ. You are with Christ, wherever he goes.

1 Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

We who are alive when Jesus comes for His church, we who are connected to him by his Spirit, we shall not prevent those asleep in Christ from coming with him first in their new bodies. There spirits are with him now. In death or in life, we are still one body in Christ.

Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Who will come to Jesus at his call?

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
John 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
John 10:30 I and my Father are one.

We are one with God the Father and His Son Jesus, through the Holy Spirit that connects us to Christ.

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Nothing shall separate us from our holy calling in Christ Jesus, if His Spirit dwells in you.

Rapture

1 Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

This has been called the rapture of the church. The catching up of the members of Christ's body, to be with him forever. Wherever the dead (sleeping) are, whether old testament believers in a spiritual holding place, or those who are with Jesus through faith in his atonement on the cross, these who have passed away in their physical bodies, shall be in their new bodies with Christ Jesus first. At this time they will all receive their spiritual bodies.

The old testament believers are received through faith. The New testament saints also receive through faith, having a greater revelation of the way to God, through Christ Jesus.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel,

The Lord Jesus Christ himself will descend with a shout. The arch angel Michael will proclaim his coming. Jesus is not Michael, as many cults teach. The angels spoke in the book of Acts, of his coming again.

Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

The angels were present when the Christ came as a baby, born of a virgin, conceived by the Holy Ghost; God in a human.

Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

and with the trump of God

The trumpet sounds a sure sound, of gathering together.

1 Cor 14:8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

A bugle is used in the military, each call has a meaning. A call to awaken, a call to assemble and others calls.

When Jesus returns to earth following the tribulation , he will be accompanied by angels. This is not the rapture.

Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

The angels do escort us into His presence.

Mark 13:26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
Mark 13:27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

1 Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1 Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Cor 15:51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1 Cor 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1 Cor 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

There is much discussion about the time that this will occur. This is the calling up of the church. I believe that it occurs before Israel has received the full revelation of Jesus.

Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

God will seal the foreheads of 144,000 Jewish evangelists, filling them with His Spirit. (Revelation 7) Also he will send an angel throughout the earth, preaching the gospel. Will this be an angel with wings, or one of the appearance of a man, like Billy Graham?

Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

Regardless of when Jesus comes, we are to be ready, as if he were coming today. This is what he expects of us.

What of the unbelievers?

Mat 8:21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
Mat 8:22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

Mat 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Pray for the unsaved that God may reach them by His Spirit and that they may be saved from their sins.

Superragman@aol.com

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