Context: What did Thessalonians know about times and seasons? v1-2,10, 1 Thess. 4:11-18
- Times and seasons in regards to the second coming of the Lord
- They were grieving regarding believers who died, as those with no hope
- Because they thought Jesus would return only to those who are alive
- That is, Jesus was returning soon, while they were still alive
- Paul explained that
- we who are alive, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep
- to work with your own hands, even as we instructed you
- Maybe because of the wrong expectation of the second coming?
- They knew that the Lord would return. But they didn’t know when.
- Nor did they know what would happen to those who have died.
- Jesus died for us, so that we, awake or sleeping, should live with him
Who are the children of light? v3-5, John 12:36, 8:12, 3:16
- Those who believe in the light
- The light, that is Jesus
- … whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life …
How should the children of light/children of day behave? v6-8, Eph. 6:10-18
- Awake and watchful
- Sober and not drunk
- Ready for spiritual battle – with the whole armor of God
- Belt of truth
- Breastplate of righteousness
- Feet ready to take the Gospel of peace
- Shield of faith
- Helmet of Salvation
- Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God
How should the children of light treat one another? v9-11
- Exhort one another
- Meaning: strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something.
- Strongly encourage:
- Exhort, comfort and implored, beg.
- Like a father to his own children
- Someone? Children of light / children of day
- Something?
- Good News. Speaking in a way that pleases God.
- So they may walk worthy of God who has called them
- About more and more in loving each other
- Strongly encourage:
- Meaning: strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something.
- Build each other up
- Speak what is good for building others up
Conclusion:
- Believe in Jesus, who died for us, so that we may live with hHim
- Staying sober, awake and watchful
- Ready for spiritual battle with the whole armor of God
- Exhorting one another and building each other up in a way that pleases God
Main Passage 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 – World English Bible (WEB)
5 But concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that anything be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. 3 For when they are saying, “Peace and safety,” then sudden destruction will come on them, like birth pains on a pregnant woman. Then they will in no way escape. 4 But you, brothers, aren’t in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief. 5 You are all children of light and children of the day. We don’t belong to the night, nor to darkness, 6 so then let’s not sleep, as the rest do, but let’s watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep in the night; and those who are drunk are drunk in the night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let’s be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Therefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as you also do.
Notes / Cross References
John 12:36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become children of light.” Jesus said these things, and he departed and hid himself from them.
John 8:12 Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Ephesians 6:10-18 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace, 16 above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word[a] of God; 18 with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints:
Footnotes
- 6:17 from the Greek “ῥῆμα” (rhema), which means “spoken word”
1 Thessalonians 2:3-4 3 For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deception. 4 But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak: not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts.
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 11 As you know, we exhorted, comforted, and implored every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 to the end that you should walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own Kingdom and glory.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 Finally then, brothers, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, that you abound more and more.
1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 But concerning brotherly love, you have no need that one write to you. For you yourselves are taught by God to love one another, 10 for indeed you do it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brothers, that you abound more and more;
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.
