I Thessalonians 4: Living to Please God and Hope in Christ's Return
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.
For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
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.
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
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;
And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
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.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
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.
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:
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.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
I Thessalonians 4 provides practical guidance for Christian living and offers profound comfort regarding the future return of Jesus Christ. This chapter transitions from Paul's expressions of affection and encouragement in the earlier chapters to specific instructions on how to live a life that pleases God. It addresses the importance of personal holiness, brotherly love, diligence, and the blessed hope of the resurrection and rapture. This chapter of I Thessalonians 4 is SEO optimized.
Growing in Holiness (I Thessalonians 4:1-8)
Paul urges the Thessalonians to excel in living a life that pleases God. He commends them for their progress but encourages them to continue growing in holiness. As I Thessalonians 4:1 says, Paul wants to see them live and please God. It's easy to start the Christian life, but following Jesus is a lifelong journey. Paul sees little reason to rebuke them in this. He simply says, "as you are doing this (pleasing God), do this even more." This involves understanding and obeying God's commands, which they already know (I Thessalonians 4:2). The challenge, then, is not a lack of knowledge but a commitment to obedience.
Specifically, Paul addresses the issue of sexual immorality, connecting it directly to the concept of sanctification (I Thessalonians 4:3). He emphasizes that God's will is for believers to be holy, set apart from the world's corrupting influences. Sexual sin is presented not merely as a mistake but as a form of idolatry, placing pleasure above God (I Thessalonians 4:5). Paul reminds them that the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses. He sees what we are doing, even if no one else does (I Thessalonians 4:6). Believers are called to live in holiness not to earn God's love, but because they are loved by God (I Thessalonians 4:7).
Brotherly Love and Diligence (I Thessalonians 4:9-12)
Beyond personal purity, Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to cultivate brotherly love (I Thessalonians 4:9-10). He acknowledges their existing love for one another and encourages them to increase in it. This is a testament to the strong community within the Thessalonian church. Paul has nothing to say other than, “Keep walking that walk.” Unlike most churches, the Thessalonian church seemed to have mastered the art of loving each other.
Paul also addresses the importance of living a peaceful and productive life. He urges them to mind their own business, work diligently with their hands, and avoid being dependent on others (I Thessalonians 4:11-12). Waiting expectantly for Jesus' return does not mean stopping work and wasting time until the rapture. It means working differently, looking to Jesus (and not our work) for our hope. This not only ensures their own needs are met but also provides a good testimony to those outside the church. Living an exemplary life demonstrates the transformative power of Christ and opens doors for others to hear the gospel.
Comfort in Christ's Return (I Thessalonians 4:13-18)
The final section of I Thessalonians 4 addresses the topic of Christ's return, specifically focusing on those who have died in Christ. Paul wants the Thessalonians to be informed, because an ignorant Christian can become a hopeless Christian. To know the truth is to be set free from the hopelessness of ignorance. The Thessalonians were concerned about the fate of believers who had died before Jesus' return, fearing they might miss out on the blessings promised to those alive at His coming.
Paul assures them that death is not the end for believers. As I Thessalonians 4:14 states, "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus." He explains that when Jesus returns, He will resurrect the bodies of those who have died in Christ, and together with living believers, they will be "caught up" to meet the Lord in the air (I Thessalonians 4:17). This event is often referred to as "the rapture." Where Paul says that we will be caught up together, the Latin word for “caught up” is rapturo. At the rapture, those of us who are still alive will join other brothers and sisters in Christ, and we will meet them in the clouds.
The return of Christ will be a glorious and unmistakable event, accompanied by a shout, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet of God (I Thessalonians 4:16). Repeatedly in the letter, Paul has told the Thessalonians that Jesus is coming back. Now we see how he is coming. Apparently it will be a loud event since the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout. Jesus came the first time like a whisper. Most people, in fact, missed him. But no believer will miss him the second time.
Paul concludes this section by urging the Thessalonians to comfort one another with these words (I Thessalonians 4:18). The hope of Christ's return is not meant to be a source of fear or anxiety but a source of encouragement and comfort, reminding believers of their ultimate destiny with the Lord.
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.
For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
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.
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
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;
And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
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.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
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.
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:
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.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
I Thessalonians 4 provides practical guidance for Christian living and offers profound comfort regarding the future return of Jesus Christ. This chapter transitions from Paul's expressions of affection and encouragement in the earlier chapters to specific instructions on how to live a life that pleases God. It addresses the importance of personal holiness, brotherly love, diligence, and the blessed hope of the resurrection and rapture. This chapter of I Thessalonians 4 is SEO optimized.
Growing in Holiness (I Thessalonians 4:1-8)
Paul urges the Thessalonians to excel in living a life that pleases God. He commends them for their progress but encourages them to continue growing in holiness. As I Thessalonians 4:1 says, Paul wants to see them live and please God. It's easy to start the Christian life, but following Jesus is a lifelong journey. Paul sees little reason to rebuke them in this. He simply says, "as you are doing this (pleasing God), do this even more." This involves understanding and obeying God's commands, which they already know (I Thessalonians 4:2). The challenge, then, is not a lack of knowledge but a commitment to obedience.
Specifically, Paul addresses the issue of sexual immorality, connecting it directly to the concept of sanctification (I Thessalonians 4:3). He emphasizes that God's will is for believers to be holy, set apart from the world's corrupting influences. Sexual sin is presented not merely as a mistake but as a form of idolatry, placing pleasure above God (I Thessalonians 4:5). Paul reminds them that the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses. He sees what we are doing, even if no one else does (I Thessalonians 4:6). Believers are called to live in holiness not to earn God's love, but because they are loved by God (I Thessalonians 4:7).
Brotherly Love and Diligence (I Thessalonians 4:9-12)
Beyond personal purity, Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to cultivate brotherly love (I Thessalonians 4:9-10). He acknowledges their existing love for one another and encourages them to increase in it. This is a testament to the strong community within the Thessalonian church. Paul has nothing to say other than, “Keep walking that walk.” Unlike most churches, the Thessalonian church seemed to have mastered the art of loving each other.
Paul also addresses the importance of living a peaceful and productive life. He urges them to mind their own business, work diligently with their hands, and avoid being dependent on others (I Thessalonians 4:11-12). Waiting expectantly for Jesus' return does not mean stopping work and wasting time until the rapture. It means working differently, looking to Jesus (and not our work) for our hope. This not only ensures their own needs are met but also provides a good testimony to those outside the church. Living an exemplary life demonstrates the transformative power of Christ and opens doors for others to hear the gospel.
Comfort in Christ's Return (I Thessalonians 4:13-18)
The final section of I Thessalonians 4 addresses the topic of Christ's return, specifically focusing on those who have died in Christ. Paul wants the Thessalonians to be informed, because an ignorant Christian can become a hopeless Christian. To know the truth is to be set free from the hopelessness of ignorance. The Thessalonians were concerned about the fate of believers who had died before Jesus' return, fearing they might miss out on the blessings promised to those alive at His coming.
Paul assures them that death is not the end for believers. As I Thessalonians 4:14 states, "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus." He explains that when Jesus returns, He will resurrect the bodies of those who have died in Christ, and together with living believers, they will be "caught up" to meet the Lord in the air (I Thessalonians 4:17). This event is often referred to as "the rapture." Where Paul says that we will be caught up together, the Latin word for “caught up” is rapturo. At the rapture, those of us who are still alive will join other brothers and sisters in Christ, and we will meet them in the clouds.
The return of Christ will be a glorious and unmistakable event, accompanied by a shout, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet of God (I Thessalonians 4:16). Repeatedly in the letter, Paul has told the Thessalonians that Jesus is coming back. Now we see how he is coming. Apparently it will be a loud event since the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout. Jesus came the first time like a whisper. Most people, in fact, missed him. But no believer will miss him the second time.
Paul concludes this section by urging the Thessalonians to comfort one another with these words (I Thessalonians 4:18). The hope of Christ's return is not meant to be a source of fear or anxiety but a source of encouragement and comfort, reminding believers of their ultimate destiny with the Lord.