Tag: thessalonians

  • Sanctification and your Walk Toward Holiness

    Sanctification and your Walk Toward Holiness

    WHAT IS SANCTIFICATION and WHY DOES IT MATTER?

    Walking instructions to please God more

    Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. – 1 Thessalonians 4:1 KJV

    SOUNDS LIKE GOOD FATHERLY ADVICE, doesn’t it?

    Allow me to tell you a story about a letter.

    ONCE UPON A TIME there were some gentile pigs (as Jews supposed them to be) 
    who having fled their straw and stick houses to a brother's brick-built house where these young believers thought they were safe from the enemy.
    
    BUT did some young saint slip out through a wider door of their former sins?
    And won't the unclean pig only to be barbecued by the enemy?
    
    Paul, a father of these tender believers, knows that the enemy may deceive them. 
    

    The apostles Paul and Silas have recently received good news about the Thessalonians from Timothy.


    Jesus Christ sends out apostles who in turn continue the sanctification of the saints won to the church.
 "and there they continued to preach the gospel. Acts 14:7 talkofJESUS.com

    ἀπόστολος – Apostles of Christ

    and communication with the Church

    1 Thessalonians 3: .. we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith..

    BEFORE Paul’s speech to the idol worshipers of Athens — BETWEEN the two missionary journeys (the first with Barnabas and this with Silvanus) — the risen Jesus sent out JEWS and GENTILES with clarification of the GOOD NEWS (Gospel) of ALL believers becoming sanctified by the blood of the Cross and a call to holiness and righteousness in Christ.

    .. we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,
    but should write to them
    to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.
    Acts 15:19b-20 ESV

    Letters from other Church Fathers about Sanctification

    In the sense that Jesus’ biological half-brother James sends out this apostolic instruction and another letter to the Church, for he too is an apostle (although not by a personal journey into the nations).

    In A.D. 49 James writes:

    And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

    James 1:4

    Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

    from a recent letter from James 1:21 ESV written ~A.D. 49 ~ the same time as the Council at Jerusalem
    the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas included a broad area the Romans governed as Galatia, including Cypress at the time

    Galatia was a large Roman province which at that time included the region north to the Black Sea but most populated along the Mediterranean and included Cypress, Pamphylia and other regions.

    Paul has already written a general epistle to the Galatians in A.D. 49 which includes churches founded during his first missionary journey.

    Sanctification of children learning to walk in Christ

    Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God,

    how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

    Paul’s letter (epistle) to the Galatians 4:8-9 ESV

    “Abba! Father!” WE ARE NO LONGER SLAVES of these things!

    Now the works of the flesh are evident:

    • sexual immorality,
    • impurity,
    • sensuality,
    • idolatry,
    • sorcery,
    • enmity,
    • strife,
    • jealousy,
    • fits of anger,
    • rivalries,
    • dissensions,
    • divisions,
    • 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.

    Paul’s letter (epistle) to the Galatians 5:19-21 ESV

    A.D. 50 –

    Paul, so pleased with his Thessalonian children, now warns of dangers before them.

    1 Thessalonians 4:

    2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

    The Apostle sent by Christ our Lord to the Nations commands his beloved young children.

    3 For this is the will of God,

    your sanctification:

    Before we continue with Paul's command through the Lord Jesus and God the Father let's DEFINE a term sometimes omitted from some English translations of the Holy Bible.

    ἁγιασμός – Lexicon :: Strong’s G38 – hagiasmos

    a word used only by Biblical and ecclesiastical writings signifying:

    1. consecration, purification, τὸ ἁγιάζειν.
    2. the effect of consecration: sanctification of heart and life, 1 Corinthians 1:30 (Christ is he to whom we are indebted for sanctification); 1 Thessalonians 4:7; Romans 6:19, 22; 1 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 12:14; ἁγιασμὸς πνεύματος sanctification wrought by the Holy Spirit, 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2.

    It is opposed to lust in 1 Thessalonians 4:3 f. (It is used in a ritual sense, Judges 17:3 [Alexandrian LXX]; Ezekiel 45:4; [Amos 2:11]; Sir. 7:31, etc.) [On its use in the N. T. cf. Ellicott on 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:13.]

    The King James and other versions of the Bible generally translate this as SANCTIFICATION or HOLINESS. Paul will use it 3x in the next few verses of his Epistle and uses its root word in his benediction [5:23], as well as later in a second letter.

    God has chosen you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

    2 Thessalonians 2:13B

    that you abstain ἀπέχω

    from sexual immorality

    Here’s a HOT TOPIC in Thessaloniki now OR anywhere in every generation.

    πορνεία

    porneia

    fornication” is the old word for this “porneia” behaviour nearly no one remembers.

    Pride in sexual perversion is not only sin, but not the only perversity of rejecting the Gospel of God.
    • illicit sexual intercourse
      • adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc.
      • sexual intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 18
      • sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; Mk. 10:11-12
    • metaph. the worship of idols

    Each must control our body

    4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God.

    "..possess his own vessel" [acquire his OWN wife, referring to fornication or adultery, states the King James] 
    "..in sanctification and honor,"
    
    THERE IT IS AGAIN - SANCTIFICATION of the flesh (for HOLINESS of the vessel of our spirit).

    WHY CONTROL IT?

    Again, from the KJV, the reason lies at the end of Paul's single long sentence which began back in v.3.

    For this is the will of God, even your sanctification.. That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter:

    because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

    Remember v. 2 pointing back to their previous instruction in Christ?

    OR ELSE!

    For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

    ἀκαθαρσίαUNCLEANNESS?

     (Isn't there a better way for a 21st century Christian to read this?)

    Of course we could use other words to describe those who refuse to wash their flesh in the sanctifying cleansing water of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible almost always points toward an imagery of walking in the way Christ would be recognized by OUR witness.

    Lexicon :: Strong’s G167 – akatharsia

    ἀκαθαρσία, -ας, ἡ, (ἀκάθαρτος) [from Hippocrates down], uncleanness;
    a. physical: Matthew 23:27.
    b. in a moral sense, the impurity of lustful, luxurious, profligate living: Romans 1:24; Romans 6:19; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 4:19; Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 4:7; used of impure motives in 1 Thessalonians 2:3. (Demosthenes, p. 553, 12.) Cf. Tittmann i., p. 150f.

     Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

    1 Thessalonians 4:8 ESV

    Paul, Sylvanus and Timothy then return to their opening praise of the Thessalonian church.

    9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia.

    But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

    I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.

    1 Thessalonians 5:27 KJV – conclusion of the first Epistle from Paul to the Thessalonians

    Next (or should I say, LAST) – eschatology

    I have already detailed Paul’s praise for this church with the enemy at the door of its brick house, BUT we won’t want to overlook the Apostle’s warning of later times like these…

    song: "Who's afraid of the big bad wolf, the big bad wolf, the big bad wolf? [repeat] from inside our answer: "Not me.'

    Some commentators believe Paul’s principle purpose in writing to the Thessalonians is warning about last times.

    .. the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 

    Stay tuned.

  • Not ME – the deception of SIN

    Not ME – the deception of SIN

    “Not me,” we boastfully sang out as children.

    We gleefully sang each verse of the children’s song so familiar we knew the continuous scratches in our 45 rpm record. Who’s afraid of the BIG BAD WOLF? — a story also told on our little black and white television and eventually in living color by Walt’s colorful characters. (We knew the story and song by heart.)

    “Who’s afraid of the BIG BAD WOLF?” Not me.
    Who's afraid of the big bad wolf,
    the big bad wolf, the big bad wolf,
    "Who's afraid of the BIG BAD WOLF?"  
    [then 5 familiar notes of melody during which we sang out: 
    NOT MEEEE!]
    

    I’m not even certain ANY version of the song from “The Three Pigs” even included our unanimous care-free response of each little pig; but my sister, brother and I all knew where the story was headed.


    Acts of the Apostles Missions trips of Paul, Barnabas, Silas and several others

    A Father’s Letter to his Gentile Children

    Now you’re probably wondering what a children’s song has to do with the Apostle Paul.

    (I’ll make the connection before the last verse of his letter (so to speak) as we suddenly discover a HOT TOPIC for the church.)

    In the year of our Lord 49 to A.D. 51

    As the Apostle Paul nears completion of a Second Missionary Journey he sends a letter to a church back in Macedonia from where the Apostle to the gentiles had been forced to flee. Paul’s heart for these new believers looks back to Christ’s love in them.

    But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.

    First letter from Paul, Silas and Timothy to the Thessalonian church 2:7
    Thessalonica [Θεσσαλονίκη] next destination of Paul, Silas and Timothy when they depart from Philippi on the 2nd missionary journey of Paul.
    Thessalonica

    The First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians

    What do you do when travelling away from home and separated from loved ones? We do our best to communicate at a distance, (before hand-held phones) traditionally by letter.
    
    Again, from Corinth, the year ~ A.D. 51 

    These new believers in Christ Jesus in Macedonia receive communication from Paul, a father to them in the faith. Silvanus we know familiarly as Silas and their young protoge Timothy has been their trusted courier and also a pastor to believers in distant towns.

    [READ 1 Thessalonians 3 for details that complete the ACTS journey to Athens.]

    Like any good father the Apostle encourages and also exhorts these young believers to maintain their new-found righteousness in the Lord Jesus Christ.


    Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

    To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

    Grace to you and peace.


    We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

    .. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

    8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.

    Is this not what every child wants to hear from its father? 
    
    'Well done, good and faithful young follower of Christ' 
    
    Even in other parts of Macedonia and HERE IN CORINTH ACHAIA the Thessalonian faith has become an example to others.
    
    The Apostle then recounts their struggles in other cities.

    2:  But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive…

    Remember this, and remember the big bad wolf who will knock at our door later.

    5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness.

    Opposition to the Gospel in Philippi and then Thessalonica

    We are proud of you

    11 For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

    And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

    CHILD of God, Christ is at work in YOU.
    Good job, son! Well done, daughter.

    14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind..

    song: "Who's afraid of the big bad wolf, the big bad wolf, the big bad wolf? [repeat] from inside our answer: "Not me.'

    but Satan hindered us

    • DO YOU BELIEVE IN SATAN?
      • “Not me,” will be the response of many 21st century claimants of Christ.
    • Yet the Lord Jesus AND Paul both include along with the Gospel warnings about the fallen angel Satan who huffs and puffs at the door of faith of every Christ follower.

    .. we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.

    1 Thessalonians 2:18 διότι ἠθελήσαμεν ἐλθεῖν πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐγὼ μὲν Παῦλος καὶ ἅπαξ καὶ δίς καὶ ἐνέκοψεν ἡμᾶς ὁ Σατανᾶς ESV

    19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming?

    Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.


    Furthermore then we beseech you..

    Many long-time servants of the Lord Jesus may detect a certain fatherly embrace of Paul opening his arms to his Thessalonian children of the faith. 
    
    The more formal quaintness of the King James Version perhaps captures the Apostle's love for these saints best.

    Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

    First Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians 4:1 KJV

    (Some may even recall familiar and more formal prayers of your own childhood in Christ simply at hearing the plea,

    WE BESEECH YOU.


    A General Thanksgiving (from the A.D. 1928 Anglican Prayer Book)
    
    ALMIGHTY God, Father of all mercies, we, thine unworthy servants, do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us, and to all men; We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all, for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
    
     And, we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may he unfeignedly thankful: and that we show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; 
    
    through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

    NEXT: from Thessalonians 4-5 – WARNINGS

    to the children of the Lord facing that Big Bad Wolf, who disguises himself as light while he huffs and puffs at the saints approaching the narrow door of eternal life.

  • Hot Topics from Galatians #2 – Apostasy

    Hot Topics from Galatians #2 – Apostasy

    Apostasy appears throughout the Holy Bible when God’s people become unholy.

    Roger@TalkofJesus.com

    HOT topic #2 – apostasy

    Although Paul does not specifically name apostasy for the Galatians he will when writing to the Thessalonians.

    [Circumcision may be a HOT Topic of the flesh of 2023 CE,
    but this physical SIGN from a broken covenant was just one sign of apostasy,
    
    SINCE MANY OPPOSE and deny Almighty God 
    and the Lamb of the NEW COVENANT Christ Jesus!

    Galatians HOT topic #1: Perversion of the Gospel

    In our first look at Paul’s letter to the Galatians (possibly sent from ACHAIA) we quickly discovered that the Apostle’s #1 HOT topic and concern for these new churches is perversion of the gospel of Christ.

    Circumcision of men is cutting the flesh as a covenant with the LORD (which was broken). The term 'male circumcision' implies that female circumcision also exists. (It is more properly called mutilation.

    WE easily get pulled off-topic. CIRCUMCISION is NOT the issue.

    Even for the Jews circumcision is NOT the issue, but an excuse to JUDEIZE Greek and Roman converts by forcing a sign of a broken covenant on the flesh of men.


    So apostasy is an unnamed HOT topic in his letter to the Galatian churches. Apostasy is a HOT topic result of false teaching by others which the Apostle to the Gentiles addresses.

    What is it?

    To oversimplify, apostasy is akin to adultery against God.

    And as we see the cultural custom of wedding bands, so too the Jews viewed circumcision of a man as a visual sign of their covenant with God.

    Apostasy defined:

    מְשׁוּבָה

    The KJV translates Strong’s H4878 in the following manner: backsliding (11x), turning away (1x).

    Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

    Jeremiah 2:19 KJV 2:19 תְּיַסְּרֵךְ רָעָתֵךְ וּמְשֻֽׁבוֹתַיִךְ תּוֹכִחֻךְ וּדְעִי וּרְאִי כִּי־ רַע וָמָר עָזְבֵךְ אֶת־יְהוָה אֱלֹהָיִךְ וְלֹא פַחְדָּתִי אֵלַיִךְ נְאֻם־אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה צְבָאֽוֹת׃

    When the Jews broke their covenant with the LORD,

    a NEW Covenant was needed

    – NOT a cultural covenant ONLY for the Jews, but a lasting covenant

    a NEW testament of God’s love for men and women made in His Image — mortals from every culture of the world HE created.

    we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law

    Epistle from Paul to the Galatians 2:15 excerpt ESV

    20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.

    And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

    Galatians 3:

    O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?

    It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.

    Paul’s epistle to the churches in Galatia 3:1 ESV

    Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?

    • all who rely on works of the law are under a curse 10a
    • “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” – 10b
      • Deuteronomy 27:26 אָרוּר אֲשֶׁר לֹא־ יָקִים אֶת־דִּבְרֵי הַתּוֹרָֽה־הַזֹּאת לַעֲשׂוֹת אוֹתָם וְאָמַר כָּל־הָעָם אָמֵֽן׃ פ

    IT’S A BIG DEAL TO THE JEWS who knew AND tried to practice ALL THE LAWS OF SCRIPTURE.


    19 Why then the law?

    It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made.

    The ONLY sinless offspring (son of man) IS Christ: descendent AND predecessor of Abraham (to whom the covenant was given with its sign) AND of Moses (to whom was given the LAW of perfection by which ALL are transgressors (sinners) come under its curse.

    24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.

    25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

    27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

    28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

    29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

    Certainly this was Paul's GOSPEL PREACHED to the GALATIANS at first.

    Galatians 4:

    8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.

    9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

    15 What then has become of your blessedness? .. 16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?

    17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them.

    Galatians 5:

    4 You are severed [cut away] from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.

    5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.

    6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

    • Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
    • This persuasion is not from him who calls you.
    • 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
    • do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh,
    • but through love serve one another.

    The GOSPEL of Christ’s grace IS good news not only to the redeemed but by its evidence to others.

    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.


    Perversion of the FLESH? vs. Fruit of the SPIRIT?

    19 Now the works of the flesh are evident:

    sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 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.

    THE PERVERSITY OF HYPOCRISY BECOMES OBVIOUS IN ITS WITNESS THROUGH THOSE WHO CLAIM CHRIST?

    But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;

    Paul’s epistle [instructive letter to the churches] to the Galatians 5:22-23a ESV

    against such things there is no law.

    24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.


    Let’s just leave it there.

    a side note on Circumcision

    Technically the HOT topic of Apostasy is circumcision which Paul mentions seven [7] times in his epistle to the men of the churches of Galatia and frequently in his other epistles to the churches.

    WHY?

    • Jewish men apostate from the LORD could make false claim to this covenant long-ago broken between the Hebrews and God
      • (much like a christian wearing the Cross of Christ while living in the flesh as Paul calls out to the Galatians).
    • Such claims certainly lead to further apostasy from God by the witness of such hypocrisy justifying further sin forbidden by the LAW and perversion of the flesh!

    Does Paul’s HOT Topic #2 for the saints of the churches in Galatia CONVICT YOU?

    WHAT FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT do you lack?

    OR

    Is your witness as a christian saint somewhat steeped in the unholiness of the fruit of the flesh?

    COMMENTS? or Questions?

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