A Call to Holy Living as Preparation for Christ’s Second Coming

At the close of every chapter in 1 Thessalonians, we receive a reference to Messiah’s second advent (1:10; 2:17; 3:13; 4:17; 5:23). The later versification of the Bible helps us to see one major theme of this letter to the church of the Thessalonians. In the structure of the epistle, we see an opening and closing salvation. The body of the letter has thanksgiving, an apostolic defense, and a series of exhortations for holy living.

Paul has received a good report from Timothy regarding the spiritual status of the congregation at the metropolis of Macedonia. With this context in view, he wrote to them to further encourage their faith and practice. His defense was necessary because of the quick intrusion of those who wished to discredit Paul’s character and teaching.

Sound doctrine is essential to every local church congregation. Christians must be taught the Bible by the man of God who rightly handles the Word of truth (1 Tim 2:15). Scripture was not brought together by any one person’s private ideas. Rather, it was the Holy Spirit who moved the writers of holy writ to write the sacred text inspired by God. In like reasoning, no one has any right to claim their exegesis, hermeneutic, or exposition is exclusive as to correctness.

The truth of the Gospel always lends itself to holiness in Christian living. Just as Paul concluded 1 Thessalonians with God alone bringing holiness to pass, we, too, emphasize the grace of God in fulfilling what God calls us to in representing Him. He accomplishes what concerns us (Ps 57:2; 138:8), by performing all our works for us (Is 26:12), as He wills and does His good pleasure (Phil 2:13). He begins the good work of saving us; and He completes it (Phil 1:6).

The promise of God is to sanctify us entirely (1 Thess 5:23). It is by the wise and powerful working of the Holy Spirit that we are made holy as God is holy (1 Pet 1:2, 15–16). His goal is to craft us into conformity to the image of Christ Jesus, the perfect God-man (Rom 8:29). This was His predetermined plan from eternity (Acts 2:23). His intention is for us to be His people, and for Him to be our God.

Our Lord Jesus Christ came into the world at His first advent in order to redeem God’s elect whom He chose before the foundation of the world. Having given these to Christ, He came to save them from their sins (Mt 1:21). He saved us (Titus 3:5), by taking the just wrath of God toward our sins…in our place (1 Pet 2:24). His mission of love was a success. He died on the cross, was buried in a tomb, and rose again on the third day (1 Cor 15:3–5). In this, God demonstrated His acceptance of Christ’s perfect sacrifice (Acts 17:30).

Having ascended into heaven to be enthroned at the right hand of the Father, we know that Messiah is coming again to judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42; 2 Tim 4:1; 1 Pet 4:5). It is written that we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:10).

The second coming of Jesus Christ will occur on the Day of the Lord — a day known only to God the Father (Mt 24:36; Mk 13:32). On that day, the warrior Judge will descend from heaven with the trumpet sound and with a loud voice. All His saints and angels will be with Him to follow Him into battle. It is the day of His glorious appearing when the world will receive its just punishment from the Holy One it judged at Calvary.

The Holy One of God will pour out His fiery wrath upon the earth (2 Pet 3:7). He will raise the dead (Jn 5:28–29). Those outside of Christ will be raised to judgment — the sentence to eternity in the lake of fire (Rev 20:14–15). Those who died “in Christ” will be raised to life (1 Cor 15). This will include the saint’s glorification, body and soul (Rom 8:30). This radical transformation will occur in the twinkling of an eye (1 Cor 15:52), as those dead and those alive in Christ are both caught up together in the air to meet the Lord at His coming (1 Thess 4:13–5:11). The glorified saints will be presented by Christ, holy and blameless before God the Father (Eph 1:4; 5:27; Col 1:22; Jude 24).

An eternity of holiness appeals to the godly ones, in process of spiritual maturity, who lament the ongoing allure of the flesh to sin. The unbeliever, posing as a Christian, will pursue holiness by works of the Law or other formulated rules to attain right standing before God. This always fails because no one is justified by works of the Law (Rom 3:20, 28; Gal 2:16).

The true believer knows there is no good thing in him, that is, in one’s flesh (Rom 7:18). Instead, he looks to the God of peace to sanctify him, entirely (1 Thess 5:23). This is an answer to Jesus’ prayer at Gethsemane (Jn 17). The grace of God is sufficient to perform the necessary works to prepare us, to preserve us, and to present us holy on that day.

The Holy Bible instructs us on the means toward that end. The children of God are given imperatives to work out their salvation (Phil 2:12). Apart from Christ, however, they can do nothing acceptable to God (Jn 15:5; Heb 11:6). It has pleased God to indwell His people by His Spirit (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11). It is no longer the believer who lives but Christ lives in the believer (Gal 2:20), who now walks by the Spirit (Gal 5:16, 25). The Holy Spirit leads, guides and directs the Christian to live in a manner worthy of His calling to be godly.

Our lives are but a vapor (Jas 4:14). The time is very near for our course to be finished. Although gifts and assignments vary between members of Christ’s church, His call for us to be holy is emphasized to all the brethren (1 Pet 1:15–16). In redeeming the time each one is allocated, it behooves you, my dear reader, to fear God and tremble at His Word. Trusting the Lord is not burdensome. It actually manifests the fruit of the Spirit in the life of the elect, redeemed, regenerate soul.

Press on with your high calling in Christ Jesus, putting Him on each day for the good fight of faith, in which we know we have the victory because we are following Christ in His triumph. He is, today, reigning over all in glory; and that is our sure end in this…His sure salvation to be revealed at His glorious appearing.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

October 23, 2023

1 Thessalonians