The apostle exhorts and entreats the Thessalonians to make progress in the Christian life, and to practice those commandments which, when he was with them, he gave them by the authority of Jesus Christ. God had called them to holiness and to the letting go of their old selves.
We are warned to be on our guard against all impurity that we were once prone to. We are not to walk according to the dictates of the flesh but according to the will of the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit – this is the only way we can bring glory to Jesus!
Galatians 5:16-24 (ESV)
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Walk to Please God
1 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; 2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
In verses 1 and 2 Paul starts with the word “finally” which does not mean it is the end of his instruction about how they should live and walk as Christians, it actually means furthermore.
The Greek word for finally is “loipos” (pronounced loy-poy) and its expanded meaning is: the rest or the remaining things they should be doing as well. The additional ‘things’ to what he has already told us that will help us in our walk with Jesus that he explains from verse 3.
Another significant phrase that Paul uses in verse 1 is “you should abound more and more”, the key word here is ‘abound’. It comes from the Greek word “perisseuó” (Pronounced per-is-syoo'-o) and its expanded meaning is to excel in, to overflow with and to exceed expectations in. So, from verse 3 Paul tells the Thessalonian Church and us today, what we need to excel or abound in as born again Christians, true followers of Christ – those that worship God in Spirit and in Truth. You cannot worship could in spirit and in truth if you are not filled with and being continually filled with the Holy Spirit. Keep your lamp full and burning brightly!
Paul also tells us in verse 1 that we should strive to keep on improving more and more. This suggests that we should cultivate a daily live style of improvement in Christ Jesus! This is the kind of lifestyle that Paul always teaches because it is a lifestyle that is pleasing to God!
John 4:24 (NKJV)
God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
John 16:13-14 (NKJV)
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
We need to live and conduct ourselves in a manner that is worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Phillipians 1:27 (NKJV)
Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,
Like the Thessalonians, we too know the commandments we have received from Jesus Christ that come to us through the Bible! If you don’t know God’s Word, then you don’t know God!
Our Sanctification is the Will of God
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual
immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.
In verses 3-8 Paul explains to the Thessalonians and to us today the sanctification process that all born again Christians have to go through is the will of God (verse 3).
Now, what is God’s sanctification process?
Well let’s start with what the word sanctification means by examining the Greek word from whence it is translated. The Greek word is ‘hagiasmos’ (pronounced ‘hag-ee-as-mos') and its expanded meaning is: the process of making or becoming holy, to set apart, sanctification, holiness and consecration.
So, because we are in Christ Jesus we are set apart and chosen from the ‘world’ and through being obedient doers of the Word and by being led by the Holy Spirit, we are taken through God’s sanctification process to become holy as He is holy. God sees His Church as a royal priesthood. Because we are in Christ Jesus we are not of the world.
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
John 17:15-18 (ESV)
I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
1 Peter 1:16 (ESV)
Since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Right, my dear Readers, from the second half of verse 1 through to the end of verse 7, Paul explains what we should avoid doing and what we should be doing during God’s sanctification work within us. His instructions are clear and explicit and go like this:
- Abstain from sexual immorality – verse 1.
Here the Greek word for ‘sexual immorality’ is ‘porneia’ (pronounced por-ni-ah) from which we get the word pornography. Its expanded meaning speaks of all sorts of sexual perversion such as fornication, adultery, sodomy and whoredom – all these forms of sexual perversions become idolatrous in nature.
- Each of us should know how to possess our own vessel – verse 4.
There are two words we need to fully understand here, and they are ‘possess’ and ‘vessel’.
Let’s take ‘possess’ first. It is translated from the Greek word ‘ktaomai’ (pronounced ktah'-om-ahee). It is a verb and thus a ‘doing’ word so in this context it means that to ‘possess our own vessel’ is something we all, as born again Christians need to be actively doing for ourselves! It’s expanded meaning is to take ownership of and be fully responsible for!
Now, examining the word ‘vessel’ from the Greek text it is translated from the word ‘skeuos’ (pronounced skyoo’-os) and its expanded meaning is: a vessel to contain liquid; a vessel of mercy or wrath; any instrument by which anything is done.
So, from this I believe we can safely say that by using the word ‘vessel’ here, Paul is referring to our physical bodies. A born again Christian’s body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and we (our bodies) are thus, as followers of Jesus, filled with and are to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. In this way the Bible tells us, that from us will flow rivers of living water that will be a blessing to others and bring glory to Jesus.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV)
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Ephesians 5:18 (AMP)
Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him.
John 7:37-39 (NKJV)
37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
John 16:12-15 (NKJV)
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.
- In order to protect our vessel (body) in sanctification we are not to live in the lust of worldly passion – verse 5. We are to live life in the Spirit and not in the flesh.
Galatians 5:16-17 (NKJV)
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
- In the matter of sexual conduct, we are not to take advantage of or defraud our brothers and sisters in Christ – verse 6.
Here let’s examine the phrase ‘to take advantage of’ and the word ‘defraud’ to get the full meaning of what Paul is telling the Thessalonians and the Church today.
The phrase is translated from the Greek word ‘huperbainó’ (pronounced hoop-er-bah'-ee-no) and its expanded meaning is: to step over, transgress against, to go beyond, overreach and to defraud someone.
Now in the same manner let’s examine the word ‘defraud’. Defraud is translated from the Greek word pleonekteó (pronounced pleh-on-ek-teh'-o) and its expanded meaning is: to have more, to overreach and take advantage of someone. This is much the same meaning as ‘to take advantage of’ but is stronger in the sense that it is a lusting after the things that are wrongful and contrary to the Word of God, especially in the area of sexual lust.
So, in our sexual conduct towards one another we are not to infringe the instructions the Bible teaches us about this in any way. If we do, we are told that God Himself is the avenger of all such infringements. His judgement will be harsh and uncompromising but just!
Deuteronomy 32:4 (NKJV)
He is the Rock, His work is perfect;
For all His ways are justice,
A God of truth and without injustice;
Righteous and upright is He.
- God did not call us to be unclean but to be holy as He is holy as it is written in 1 Peter 1:16 – verse 7.
- If we reject God’s sanctification process, we reject God Himself and we become an enemy of God – verse 8.
James 4:4 (NKJV)
Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Living a peaceful and orderly life
9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; 11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.
In verses 9-12 Paul urges the Church to live lives that are filled with brotherly love towards each other and to live lives that are peaceful and productive so that we will be a good example and testimony to the unsaved in our communities.
John 13:34-35 (NKJV)
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 (NKJV)
12 I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, 13 and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.
In verses 9 and 10 Paul commends the Thessalonians for showing such great brotherly love not only towards each other in Thessalonica but also to all their brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the region of Macedonia. He also urges them to show brotherly love to all their fellow Christians more and more – their love for each other should grow more and more with each day that passes!
God commands us to love our brothers and sisters in Christ if we claim to love Him!
1 John 4:20-21 (NKJC)
20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. As God will bless us with everything we need!
In verses 11 and 12 Paul urges us to make it our God-given duty to live quietly and peacefully, to take care of our own affairs and to work diligently in the jobs that God has provided for us.
If we do this God gives us a promise in verse 12 that if we live like this, we be a living testimony of Christ in us to an ungodly world and we will lack for nothing!
Philippians 4:19 (AMP)
And my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
The Comfort of Christ’s Coming
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
In verses 13-18 Paul stresses and area of Christian life that he doesn’t want the Thessalonians and indeed the Church throughout the ages including us today to be ignorant about. Paul’s concern was focused on “those who have fallen asleep”.
The reason why Paul was concerned about this is because he doesn’t want us to see the death of a brother and sister in Christ as something to be as sorrowful about as those who are without hope – those that are unsaved. For a Christian, death has no sting it is something we can have hope and joy in because we have Jesus! The death of a Christian’s body is the beginning of a new and wonderful spiritual life where there is no more tears and fears or sorrows of the world. Death for the born again Christian is victory in Christ Jesus!
1 Corinthians 15:51-55 (NKJV)
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
Revelation 21:4 (NKJV)
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
In verse 16 Paul encourages us by explaining that just as Jesus has risen from the dead so the dead in Christ will rise too and they will be with Him when He returns.
Romans 8:11 (NKJV)
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
And in verse 17 we have further encouragement as he tells us that those of us in Christ that have not yet fallen asleep will be caught up in the air to meet Him together with those that have fallen asleep!
In verse 18 Paul simply says that we must be comforted by these words!
Life application for today’s believers
- Let your love for each other grow more and more each day
- Let your Christian Walk be pleasing to God by following His commands in His Word!
- Let the sanctification work of the Holy Spirit by ever in your heart and mind and abstain from all sin.
- Be holy because God is holy.
- Let your love for your brothers and sisters in Christ grow more and more each day.
- As far as you are able, lead a quiet and peaceful life in Christ Jesus.
- Let your Christian lifestyle be a testimony to the unsaved.
- Remember always that in Christ Jesus you have the victory over all things, even death!
Dear Father in Heaven
In the name of Jesus I thank you that through Christ Jesus you have given me victory over death and that by your Holy Spirit I will be resurrected just as Christ was resurrected. I thank you that through your great love that my future heavenly hope in Him of everlasting life is my hope and joy! Thank you that I need not be afraid and that I can receive your great comfort because I know Jesus! Thank you, Lord, that in Christ Jesus I have the victory over the things of the world! Amen
To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!
Jesus the Name above all names!
Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself. My word is flawed the Bible is not!
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