1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Q.1. How had the Apostle prepared the Thessalonians for the coming Day of the Lord? – (1 Thes.5:1-4)
Part of Paul’s follow-up teaching was to prepare his converts for the coming Day of the Lord. He could say – now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you (1 Thes.5:1). He wanted to remind them of this because of the increase in false teaching during the Endtimes – While they are saying – ‘Peace and safety!’ then destruction will come upon them suddenly (1 Thes.5:3 c.f. Mt.24:4, 11,23-25). Such a quest for peace is surely commendable. However, it falls short on several counts: (i) Peace will at best be only superficial unless mankind turns from sin; (ii) Peace is impossible without the reign of the Prince of Peace; (iii) Christ, the apostles, and prophets predict a time of judgment before peace. To gain peace while rejecting Christ and His principles is an impossibility.
Q.2. How should the ‘sons of light’ face the Endtimes? What protection have we been given? – (1 Thes.5:4-8)
Paul reminded them that they have come out of darkness to the light and as the ‘sons of light’ and as ‘sons of the day’ they were travelling in a new direction. Yet as sinners we can easily be drawn astray, so Paul urged – let us be alert and sober … and not fall asleep (1 Thes.5:6). To assist us to prevail, God has given us the weapons of warfare – But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation (1 Thes.5:8).
Q.3. To what promises can we cling as the world system breaks down? – (1 Thes.5:9-11)
Why were Paul’s warnings and God’s spiritual protection provided? Because the Lord has a special plan for His own children – 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him (1 Thes.5:9-10 c.f. 1 Tim.4:1-2; 2 Tim.3:1). Paul highlighted these truths, both to build up the faith of his readers, and also so that they could draw encouragement from these promises.