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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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SONS OF LIGHT WERE TO LIVE AND WALK IN THE LIGHT 1Th 5:9-14 (8/7/11) Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. THE SONS OF LIGHT WERE DESTINED FOR LIFE
NOT WRATH (9-11) A. Appointed not for Wrath but Life (9) 1. [Intro] - The Thessalonians were to be
“sober-headed” (vs. 6) because they were: 1) not in darkness - vs. 4a; 2) not
going to be overtaken by the Day of the Lord - 4b; and 3) sons of light - vs.
5. a) But in vs. 9 the Greek conjunction hoti
gives another reason for being “sober-headed.” That reason was because
the believer was not appointed for wrath but for salvation (9-11). b) As “sons of light,” who will not
experience the wrath of God, it should affect the believer’s walk. Paul gives
practical exhortation for their walk (12-14). 2. [1Th 5:9] - The believer has not been
appointed for God’s wrath but for salvation and thus spared from the all of
God’s wrath including the Day of the Lord. a) God did not “destine” (tithêmi - place,
set down, or appoint - Act 1:7 “fixed”) the believer for wrath which
means that He sovereignly set down and appointed that the believer would not
experience His righteous indignation and judgment. b) The believer was not appointed “for” (eis
- for the purpose) of wrath. God’s wrath (orgế) is the future culmination of judgment in an outpouring of
the stored-up anger of God [toward
sin] (Friberg). It can refer to God’s eternal
wrath (Joh 3:36; Rom 1:18; 2:5; 5:9) or God’s temporal wrath poured out
during the Tribulation (Rev 6:16-17; 11:18; 14:10, 19; 15:7; 16:1, 19; 19:15)
and the Day of the Lord. The immediate context then would support Paul’s
referral of wrath to the Day of the Lord. In other words, the believer will
be spared from the end time judgments including the Tribulation and the Day
of the Lord (cp. 1Th 1:10). (1) But God’s wrath here must also include the
Day of the Lord, since that was the Thessalonians’ primary concern. Paul
assured them that they would face neither temporal wrath on the Day of the
Lord (cf. Rev. 6:17), nor eternal wrath in hell. (MacArthur Commentary in loc.) (2) God’s intention for them is not the wrath
that will come on the earth in the day of the Lord, but the full salvation
that will be theirs when the Lord returns for them in the clouds. The wrath
of God referred to here clearly refers to the Tribulation; the context makes
this apparent. Deliverance from that wrath is God’s appointment for
believers. This temporal salvation comes through the Lord Jesus Christ just
as does eternal salvation. (Bible
Knowledge Commentary in loc.) c) Conversely, God has sovereignly set
down and appointed that the believer would “obtain” (peripoiêsis - possess
and preserve) the possession and preservation of salvation (Joh 15:16 cp.
Act 13:48 tassō, cp. 1Pe 2:8). d) It was all accomplished through the agency
(dia with genitive) of the Lord Jesus Christ. B. Appointed for Life to Live with Christ
(10) 1. [1Th 5:10] - Christ accomplished
salvation for the believer because He was “the One who died” on the sinner’s
behalf (“for” hupér with genitive - in place of, i.e.
substitutionary atonement). 2. Whether a believer is “asleep” (a
believer who went home to be with the Lord, cp. 1Th 4:13-15) or “awake” (a
believer who remains alive at the coming of the Lord, cp. 1Th 4:17),
Christ died for the purpose that they will forever live “together” (hama -
at same, used in 1Th 4:17) with the Lord. C. Appointed to Encourage and Build Up One
Another (11) 1. [1Th 5:11] - There is a logical response
(“therefore” dió) for the believer that should come from the
tremendous blessing of being preserved from wrath and preserved for
salvation. That response was to encourage one another. 2. “Encourage” is the exact same word and
usage as in 1Th 4:18, where believers were to encourage one another with the
knowledge that they would be united with their loved ones who went to be with
the Lord. It is parsed as a present imperative of parakaléō and
would be translated, “you must keep on encouraging one another.” One of the
chief responsibilities of every believer is to encourage one another and to
do it on a regular basis. This is not just giving out a mere “at-a-boy.”
Rather, it is spiritual encouragement that is based on the knowledge of the
word of God and spiritual truths. 3. We know this because they were also to “build
up” one another spiritually. The Greek word is oikodoméō and
means lit. to build a house, but fig. it is the process of spiritual growth and development of the
spiritual community and each member within it (Friberg). So the encouragement has a goal and that
is to edify the members of Christ. With what spiritual truths are they to be
encouraged? a) That the believer’s position is not of this dark world (4a). b) That the believer’s positionally is as a
“son of Light” (5a). c) That the believer was not appointed for
wrath but salvation (9). d) That the believer will be spared from the
Tribulation and the Day of the Lord (4b). e) That the believer will live eternally
with the Lord and those who are His (10). f) That the believer keeps abounding in
encouragement and edification (11). II. THE SONS OF LIGHT ARE TO WALK IN THE LIGHT
(12-14) A. Be Respectful Toward Church Leadership
(12, 13a) 1. [1Th 5:12, 13a] - It is at this time that
Paul extends a barrage of practical applications (12-22). He begins with the
admonition for the Thessalonians to be respectful of those in leadership. 2. They were to “appreciate” those in church
leadership. The Greek word comes from oida and means to give deserved recognition to someone, respect, appreciate, have regard for
(Friberg). 3. The reason why this respect was to be
given was because the leadership was to 1) labor diligently (kopiáō
fr. kopos - laborious and hard toil, cp. 1Th 1:3) in ministry among the
body, 2) oversee (proistemi - to set
or place over) the
spiritual wellbeing of the body, and 3) admonish (nouthetéō -
warn from Scriptures) the body from the Scriptures. 4. Such “work” (13a) is a privilege, an
unequaled honor, and a grave responsibility. Such work is worthy of esteem
and such esteem is to be earned (1Pe 5:2-4; 1Ti 3:1-2ff). 5. To behave with the proper attitude as
“sons of Light,” is to esteem and submit to church leadership (cp. Heb
13:17). To behave with an improper attitude is to act as the world acts
toward leadership with insubordination, complaints, and grief (cp. Heb
13:17b). B. Be Peaceful with One Another (13b) 1. [1Th 5:13] - In addition, peace is to be
sought among the body at all cost, save the compromise of the major doctrine
of Scripture. 2. Believers lit. “must
keep on living peacefully among themselves” (present imperative of eirêneuō). That
is how the “sons of Light” are to walk in the Light. 3. Peace is to rule as umpire in all that is
accomplished within the body (Col 3:15). This includes unity, relationships,
preferences, suggestions, and direction within the church. C. Be Christian in All Circumstances (14) 1. [1Th 5:14] - Paul gives general but
practical applications for all circumstances. They are all present
imperatives. 2. Anyone who is “unruly” (ataktos -
disorderly) and disorderly in regard to the Scripture or the
church, is to be admonished (nouthetéō - warned), warned,
and given instruction from the Scriptures. 3. The “fainthearted” (oligopsuchos - one who feels his resources are too small for a
given situation) need
to be encouraged to trust God that He can use each one of us. 4. The “weak” (asthenês - less effective, feeble) are to be supported and encouraged. 5. “Patience” (makrothuméō -
long fuse) is not only a virtue but an expected response from everyone
and toward everyone. |
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