Living in the Light of Christ's Coming

The Thessalonians could therefore rejoice that at Christ's coming, God was going to bring their sanctification to its ultimate completion. John Polhill offers a fitting summary of this section when he writes,

God had set the Thessalonians apart in Christ; He chose them (1:4). And He would remain true to his calling them; he would keep them as his own, blameless until the coming of Christ. (Polhill, Paul, 195)

1 Thessalonians 5:25-28

No matter how high you can jump theologically, what matters the most is how straight you walk when you hit the ground. Throughout 175this epistle, Paul has expounded some deep theological truths—some with present implications for how we live today, and others with future implications for how we will face tomorrow. He takes us on a journey from the moral purity of the human heart to the heights of heaven at the return of Christ. He teaches us how to view death, and he challenges us to make the most of life. He demonstrates the differences between those who love the darkness and those who walk in the light. And he contrasts the judgment of the Day of the Lord with the joy and expectation of seeing Jesus. His teaching has been both profoundly deep and immensely practical. Yet as Paul ends his letter, he comes right back to the local church. He endeavors to keep the Thessalonians firmly planted in their calling. Thus, in his parting words, he draws their attention to three tasks that the Thessalonians must not forsake: praying, encouraging, and growing.

Paul ends his letter in much the same way that he began his letter—by praying. The slight difference is that in the opening chapter he offers prayer on their behalf (1:2; see also 3:12-13; 5:23), while here he also asks for prayer on his behalf. He begins verse 25 with the term brothers, which he has used more than a dozen times throughout the letter. "Brothers" is placed at the beginning of the sentence most likely to emphasize his earnest request for their prayers. It's as if he is saying, "Brothers, we are not just asking for your prayers—we need your prayers." Paul's request reveals two things about him. First, he was never too important to identify with God's people. Imagine how the news of Paul's request must have reverberated through the Thessalonian church. From personal experience, I know what an honor and encouragement it is to be asked to pray for others, especially those whom I admire and respect. Second, Paul's request for prayer reveals that He saw his work as part of God's greater work. Paul never lost sight of the strategic mission and importance of the local church.

Although Paul did not name a specific request for which they should pray, the Thessalonians must have been aware of the challenges of his ongoing ministry (cf. Rom 15:30-32; Eph 6:19-20; Col 4:3-4; 2 Thess 3:1-2). Paul's greatest allies in his ongoing work were the untold number of Christians who were privately and corporately praying for him. Not 176everyone can go on missionary journeys like Paul, but through intercessory prayer everyone can partner with those who do.

As you know, the church is a living, growing spiritual body (Eph 2:19-22; 4:11-16; 5:23-33; 1 Cor 12:12-27). Like our physical bodies, it comprises many parts, each with its own specific function. As has been made clear in this letter, each member of the body of Christ comes with his own set of hurts, habits, and hang-ups, including being fearful, discouraged, and irresponsible (5:14). Considering the varying backgrounds, personalities, and preferences of those within the body of Christ, it is a miracle that the church is able to accomplish anything. Yet through the power of His Spirit, God not only equips His people to do His work, He also enables them to love one another while they do it.

God expects His people to build close relationships that are marked by mutual love and accountability. God did not establish His church to be a place; He established His church to be a people—a people who love Him and love one another. To those outside the church, Paul's request to "greet all the brothers with a holy kiss" might seem a bit unusual (5:26), but those who are a part of the body of Christ understand the profound love that Christians have for one another. The cold formality and palpable superficiality that you may experience in some churches do little to encourage the simple shake of a hand, let alone the giving of a holy kiss! As the apostle John affirms, one of the most visible signs of a redeemed heart is a genuine love for others:

By giving them this affectionate request, Paul reminds the Thessalonians to express their love for one another visibly. As Marshall points out, while we may not practice the same custom today, we still must be careful so as not to miss the point:

Paul's final command is written in such a way so as not to be misunderstood: "I charge you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brothers" (5:27). That this command is written in the first person singular most likely indicates that Paul has personally penned these words. Up until this point, Paul likely employed an amanuensis, or secretary, to record his words (cf. 2 Thess 3:17; 1 Cor 16:21; Gal 6:11-18). With very strong language, he commands them to have the letter read to the church.

To understand why Paul was so bold in his command is not difficult. Although Paul was the human author of the letter, its message was divinely inspired (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20-21). This message came from God to the church, and since God had spoken through Paul, the letter represented divine truth. Since the letter addressed many specific concerns and issues within the fellowship, the leaders were obligated to make certain that everyone was exposed to its teaching. While God's Word touches every area of our lives, it cannot do its work if it is not heard. And to be heard it must be proclaimed (Rom 10:14). Paul knew that there was enough misinformation circulating throughout the church. Therefore what the church needed was not another opinion, but a word from God Himself.

Put yourself in the Thessalonians' shoes on the day that Paul's letter is read to the church. Suppose that you are one of the members who had lost a loved one. Imagine the weight that is lifted from your shoulders when you hear that your loved one will not miss out on the glorious return of Christ. Perhaps you are one of the busybodies who have been meddling in everyone's affairs, but after hearing Paul's letter, you are convicted to stop bothering others and to start helping them. Maybe you have been contemplating sexual sin, but because you now recognize that God's will for you is to remain morally pure, you flee from sexual immorality. Of course, you could name dozens of other ways that Paul's letter would speak to a person, but that is exactly what God's Word does. That is why the writer of Hebrews states,

178In typical Pauline fashion, Paul ends his letter on a note of God's grace. Without God's grace, Paul is just another man and 1 Thessalonians is just another letter; but because of God's grace, Paul is the apostle sent from God and 1 Thessalonians is God's Word to us. Paul began the letter with grace (1:1), and now he ends his letter with God's grace (5:28). For Paul, grace was not merely an invocation and a benediction—it was his life.

Let's conclude by highlighting four takeaways from this passage.

God has taken a special interest in you. His construction project on you begins from the moment He saves you. And it's more than a renovation project that will last for only a few months—it's a transformation project that will last for a lifetime. He doesn't break for lunch, and He never takes a vacation. He won't break His contract, and He won't let you down. God uses only the finest materials, and He never takes shortcuts. He promises to bring to completion the work that He began in you.

The time to get serious about your personal holiness is now. Your sanctification is not in doubt, for God guarantees it. If God guarantees your sanctification, then why would you resist? To resist God's hand makes no sense. You will only find yourself fighting a battle that you cannot win. His sanctifying work can either be a blessing or a battle. If God is committed to complete the good work that He began in you, then perhaps it's time to partner with Him in the process.

Recognize that God is sanctifying others also. God is not only at work in our lives, He is also working in the lives of others. When we are tempted to lose our cool because of their lack of progress, we would do well to remember that we also are works in progress.

Nothing is accidental. God oversees the affairs of our lives even to the smallest of details. If He is at work in us, then we can be confident that He is also at work around us. Only God can take the thousands of seemingly insignificant details of our lives and weave them together to bring about our ultimate good. Even when we cannot see the good, we can still take comfort that God is good. Although we cannot give thanks for everything, we can still give thanks in everything. The apostle Paul sums it up perfectly:

2 Thessalonians