Studies in First Thessalonians, Video preaching

A farewell prayer

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-28

Sermon notes

Paul makes his farewell to these saints under the shadow of Christ’s return. Partings of any kind are never easy but for the Christian they are especially poignant in light of Jesus’ return. The glorious doctrine of the second coming should impact our separations.

Paul is writing in the spirit of prayer here. He prays for them and urges them to pray for him.

I  HE PRAYS FOR THEIR SANCTIFICATION.

  1. Scope. His prayer obviously is for them but is couched in such terms as to indicate these words apply to all believers right up till the end of the age. Paul’s prayer is made with reference to the return of Christ.
  2. Substance. His desire for them is simple: full sanctification. This is the ideal/ambition of every Christian! It will of course only be realized when Jesus comes again.
  3. Spirit. This is the seat of man’s spiritual life—the life of God within him. In the sinner the spirit is dead; in the Christian it is alive. Paul is praying therefore for a fullness of spiritual life. Cp John 10:10, 15:2—a purging that means more of the life of Christ flows into the branch.
  4. Soul. The soul is very closely connected to the spirit but it is basically that which animates the body. It is the seat of self-consciousness and physical life in man.
  5. Body. The physical, material part of man’s being. The body is the primary battleground with sin as it is the vehicle for impulses of the soul and spirit
  6. A preserving work. Sanctification is God’s work. It is the means of keeping His people. Cp 1Peter 1:5.
  7. It is the God of peace who sanctifies. Sanctification follows justification on which basis alone we have peace with God, Rom 5:1. The ongoing sanctification Paul envisages here is the only means by which we may continue to experience the peace of God upon the earth.
  8. The faithfulness of God gives confidence in this matter. The promises of God stand! His faithfulness underwrites them. He has called and He will finish the work. Cp Rom 11:29, Phil 1:6.

II  PARTING REMINDERS OF DUTY.

He gives three parting commands.

  1. Pray for us. Paul knew his need of prayer and the contribution these saints could and must make to that need. Cp Rom 15:30. Prayer will be a mark of those who live in the light of Christ’s return, v17. It is part of the warfare that God has called His people to, Eph 6:18-19.
  2. A loving regard for all saints. He urges Christian love and family fellowship. He is advocating a loving union and closeness among God’s people. Note how this involves holiness! Holiness is the basis of true Christian fellowship. Cp 1 Tim 5:1-2. Further, it involves all the brethren. This requires deliberate effort in response to a command if it is to be maintained.
  3. Read the book! He impresses upon the elders of this church the need to read the book to all the brethren. Those who are holy—justified and sanctified—have an appetite for the written word of God.

The grace of Christ is sufficient for all these things in the lives of God’s people. 

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