1 The Gospel According to Paul First Thessalonians Lesson 8 “Paul introduces another…” 1 Thessalonians 5:7-28 Page 37

2  Paul had just said that Christians are of the “day” and of the “light” (vs. 5-6) –As such we must not sleep, as others do  Those who sleep [unconcerned, disobedient], sleep at night  Those who are drunk [impaired], get drunk at night [hostile to the truth]  Both sleep and drunkenness will result in ignorance and disrespect for God’s word Being Unprepared 1Th 5:7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.

3  Paul shows the contrast between the Christian and an unbeliever  Christians are of the day, are sober, and must arm themselves with two defenses: –Put on the breastplate of faith and love, and –The helmet of the hope of salvation –A more complete listing of the “Christian armor” appears in Ephesians 6:13-17 Being Prepared 1Th 5:8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

4  God did not appoint us to wrath [violent anger] –BUT to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ –Christ died for us –Whether dead [sleep] or alive [awake], we should live together with Him  God has done everything needful for our salvation  If we fail, we have only ourselves to blame God Appointed Us To Salvation 1Th 5:9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 1Th 5:10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

5  Staying awake and active in their spiritual obligations wasn’t always easy or pleasant  But was it worth it? Absolutely!  They must “keep on, keeping on” as they were doing Comfort and Edify One Another 1Th 5:11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

6  Paul desired that they recognize [regard, respect, pay attention to]: –Those who labor among you –Those who are over you in the Lord –Those who admonish you –Here he is speaking about elders  To esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake  The result: Be at peace among yourselves Their Behaviors Towards Leadership 1Th 5:12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 1Th 5:13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

7  Paul’s exhortations to the brethren: –Warn those who are unruly [disorderly] –Comfort [encourage] the fainthearted [discouraged] –Uphold [support] the weak –Be patient [calm, not easily provoked] with all Their Behaviors Towards Other Members 1Th 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.

8  Paul wanted them to reflect Christ’s love to all men –Not to render evil for evil to anyone, but –To always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all Their Behaviors Towards All Men 1Th 5:15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

9 1.Rejoice [joy, gladnesss] always 2.Pray without ceasing 3.In everything give thanks –For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you Seven Short Commands 1Th 5:16 Rejoice always, 1Th 5:17 pray without ceasing, 1Th 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

10 4.Do not quench [extinguish, put an end to] the Spirit 5.Do not despise [to regard as nothing, to treat with contempt] prophecies 6.Test [prove] all things –Hold fast what is good 7.Abstain [to forbear, or refrain from] from every form of evil Seven Short Commands 1Th 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit. 1Th 5:20 Do not despise prophecies. 1Th 5:21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 1Th 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil.

11  May the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely  May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord  He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it Paul’s Prayer For Them 1Th 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Th 5:24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

12  Brethren, pray for us.  Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.  I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Paul’s Closing Comments 1Th 5:25 Brethren, pray for us. 1Th 5:26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. 1Th 5:27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren. 1Th 5:28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.