1 Thessalonians 4 - Deceived and the Dead
1 Thessalonians 4 - Deceived and the Dead
This is an interesting chapter. Sexual sin, love others, work hard and be a good influence, and don't worry about your dead Christian friends or family, they are just fine. There it is, in only a few words. I read this many times this morning and jumped to a few commentaries and devotionals...pretty fascinating.
In the first section of this part of Paul’s letter, he is addressing how to live a life that pleases God. Some great takeaways here. Culturally speaking, this letter was written into the Greek culture what was overrun and rampant in the sexual culture. Paul starts with this and opens with it.
“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God;” - 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 NIV
This is crystal clear and solid teaching that we can apply and follow. However, something is really interesting to me as I continue reading. Look at what Paul goes into next, and how he describes them.
“Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia...” - 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10a NIV
Here is what stands out to me. If we just read the first few verses, we can get stuck on the sexual sin and immoral life. In our minds, we can see that as this horrible type of living, and this openly sexual and orgy filled chaos. And by doing this, we can just keep on reading and think, oh, that's not me. But, as we keep reading, we see that these people are upright and solid citizens. Paul describes them as loving, they are currently loving others well, and they are doing as God has taught them.
Why is this interesting, and something that stood out? Because I see this as really a reminder that we can be doing and living as God has instructed, loving others, and walking out our walk well, and still have a hidden struggle and issue with sexual sin. I think that is why Paul opened with it, addressed it off the top, and hammered it home. It’s something that we should not take lightly, something that can not be messed around with, and something that can destroy our lives with we do not squash it. Just because many other parts of our lives look great, and are solid, does not mean this little hidden part is ok. We can not get trapped in this thinking. That is what stood out to me this morning. Don’t be deceived.
Paul continues.
“...Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” - 1 Thessalonians 4:10b-12 NIV
Some great closing thoughts on living to please God. Basically, Paul is telling them and telling us through this to just model it. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life. Wow, that doesn't necessarily sound like the ambition I might have, or that is really the driver for me. Some work here that still needs to be done in me.
And then the closing, v13-18, six verses that have theologians debating. I am no theologian, so we will just get that out in the open right away. These are my thoughts on what Paul is saying here.
“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.” - 1 Thessalonians 4:13 NIV
Paul was with the Thessalonians for just a few weeks. After Paul left, they had some deep questions and were concerned about those they loved who had followed these teachings and followed Jesus but had died. What was going to happen to them? Paul wanted to clear this up and give them hope.
“According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord, himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” - 1 Thessalonians 4:15-16 NIV
Pretty clear writing to me that when the Lord returns, he will not forget those who died before us. They will rise; first, they will be called up and will be with the Lord forever. In v18, Paul then says encourage one another with these words. Or, have hope, and you do not need to worry about your friend and family.
“After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” - 1 Thessalonians 4:17 NIV
Then Paul goes into the rapture, and the “called up” part that always gets the pre and post-tribulation folks rilled up.
So, as I opened with, sexual sin, love others, work hard and be a good influence, and don't worry about your dead Christian friends or family, they are just fine. 1 Thessalonians 4.