1 Thessalonians 5 verses 1 to 11: Waiting with Hope

 

Introduction

I wonder what is the most used app on your phone?

For me, it is my calendar. I use it constantly to set reminders about meetings I need to attend and things I need to do. It means, at least in theory, that I’m not caught by surprise with an unexpected commitment.

As a result, it is much easier to plan and prepare for future events. Keeping an up-to-date diary enables me to live in the light of the future. I know what is happening and I can organise my time accordingly.

Planning like this probably makes perfect sense to us. However, it is different when it comes to the return of the Lord Jesus. Though we may be completely persuaded that it will happen, it isn’t easy to know how to enter it into our diary.

And if it doesn’t get entered then it doesn’t shape the decisions which we make today. In fact, that is often the reality of the situation- the Biblical truth of Jesus’ Return doesn’t make much difference to the way that we live. So how does Paul address this sort of issue at Thessalonica?

Remember, Paul is writing to encourage these Believers in their faith. Last week he was doing this by speaking of their hope in the resurrection and Jesus’ Return; knowing these truths should transform their attitude to death. Now in Chapter 5 verses 1 to 11 he will show how Jesus’ Return should transform their attitude to life.

A simple way to understand the passage is like this:

We know that Jesus will return… (verses 1 to 3)

…so, we must be ready for His return (verses 4 to 11)

The Thessalonians know what the future involves. One day they will be with Jesus forever. Paul’s aim is to encourage them to keep this hope clear in their thinking, so that it informs the way that they live in the present.

Let’s see that, firstly, as we explore the truth that… We know that Jesus will return…

The Thessalonians has been well taught about Jesus’ Return. Paul must have spent some time during his original visit teaching on this subject. And now, in verses 1 to 3, he reinforces this teaching to encourage the Believers in Thessalonica; we read:

Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Here we learn that the return of Jesus will an unprecedented event, an unexpected event, and an inescapable event.

an unprecedented event

Paul describes Jesus’ Return as ‘…the Day of the Lord…’. In the Old Testament, the Day of the Lord was an awesome day when God would decisively intervene in history and establish His Kingdom.

It would be a day of judgment for those who had opposed God, and a day of deliverance for those who had been faithful. And it is clear from these Old Testament texts that this would not be a private experience. It would be a public event, an unprecedented event, which all would know about.

So, Jesus’ Return is not just a matter of private interest, relevant to a few people who might believe. This passage is a powerful reminder that the return of Christ will be a public event that will have an impact on absolutely everyone, whatever their beliefs or ideas about the Christian faith. As Believers we need to remember that the Jesus’ Return matters- it is an unprecedented event- impacting everyone for eternity.

It is also…

an unexpected event

In verse 2 Paul uses the striking image of a burglar to show the unexpected nature of Jesus’ Return. This may be a surprising comparison, but it is one also used by Jesus; we see this in Luke 12 for example.

We can think about it this way: you wouldn’t be surprised when the electrician you made an appointment with arrives at your door. You expect Him because you made an appointment. But burglars do not make appointments. Their appearance in your home is certainly an unexpected event!

Likewise, Jesus’ return, will be an unexpected event. Although we can be sure it will happen, it won’t be something that we can predict; no amount of trying to decipher the intricate details of Daniel and Revelation will help us in predicting that Day.

It will be an unexpected day and…

an inescapable event

In verse 3 Paul uses the powerful image of labour pains to emphasise how the Day will be both unexpected and inescapable. Such pains come suddenly and are unavoidable- the baby must be born. Similarly, Jesus’ Return cannot be avoided.

There are many things which we can try to avoid. For example, we can postpone our regular check up with the dentist because you want to avoid the pain, but you can’t do that with childbirth. Likewise, you cannot postpone meeting with Christ at His return.

At this point it is worth noting the phrase, ‘Peace and safety’. This was a popular slogan of the imperial Roman propaganda machine. It was, supposedly, Rome’s ‘gift’ to those they conquered.

But from Paul’s perspective such claims were deceptive and dangerous because true peace and eternal security are only ever found in Chrost. The people of Thessalonica may have enjoyed many years of economic prosperity and political stability under Roman rule, but this could not shield them from God’s coming wrath.

So, wanting to give assurance to the Thessalonian Christians as they faced opposition, Paul gently challenged the prevailing worldview. Here he declares that those trusting in the things of this world, believing they will be safe and secure because of Rome, will not be okay when Jesus returns- they will not be able to escape God’s wrath.

Here we are reminded of the challenge of the Gospel: everyone will stand accountable before the living God. And here we are taken to the great encouragement of the Gospel: we find true peace and eternal security when we trust in Christ, and Christ alone.

 

In speaking of Jesus’ unprecedented and unexpected Return, Paul fleshes out the awesome nature of that day. His teaching brings both encouragement and challenge. Believers can be sure that He will return and make all things right. But those outside of Christ must face God’s wrath. Jesus’ return is inescapable…

 

…so, we must be ready for His return.

In the next part of his teaching Paul explains how Believers should live because the know that Jesus will return. In verses 4 to 11 we see that Believers must be ready for Jesus’ return by living lives appropriate to their calling as ‘…children of the light…’. And they are to be ready by ‘being awake and alert’, by ‘being properly dressed’, and by ‘being an encourager’…

Be awake and alert

In verses 4 and 5, Paul first tell the Thessalonian Believers that they should be who they are. Believers are ‘…all children of the light and children of the day …’. The time of living in the night, of belonging the darkness, is in the past. This means that though the return of Jesus will still be unexpected, it won’t be an unwelcome surprise.

Believers have been delivered out of darkness into the glorious light of Christ. They, therefore, belong in the light as those who belong to Christ- remember, they are ‘in Christ’. These verses remind us of all that Christ has achieved for His People in the Gospel. Jesus, the light of the world, has brought us into the light.

Then, in verses 6 and 7 we read:

 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 

Paul builds on the truths of verses 4 and 5 by making his first application. This is typical of Paul; he states a Gospel truth and then calls for a Gospel response in the life of Believers.

Here Paul draws a contrast between behaviour that is typical of the night and that found in the day. At night people sleep, during the day they are awake and alert. At night people get drunk and lose control of their speech and actions, but in the day people are sober and self-controlled.

Obviously, these are generalisations, but they make the point that there is a difference between night-time and daytime behaviour. Paul’s point is that with the Day of the Lord approaching, Believers are in the daylight, and their behaviour should match their location.

Rather than return to the immoral darkness of their old lives, Believers are to recognise that for them at least the day has dawned and they are to live as those in the day, in the light. The Believer is to lead a life that is alert and prepared for Jesus’s return. And this is a life that is disciplined, self-controlled and not given to excess- a life that loves the light of Christ.

As Christians we are not to return to the behaviour associated with the moral darkness of night. We are not to fall asleep or lose control as we pursue our journey in the Christian life. We are in the light, so we do not live like those in darkness- indifferent to the things of God and insensitive to the work of His Spirit. We should be different in our lifestyle and behaviour because we are awake to what God has done and is doing in us and in the world.

 

 

There is to be a clear distinction between the lives of the Believers and the world around them. The effect of the Gospel- that they have been transferred into the glorious light of Christ- should be evident as Believers seek to live holy lives.

Through the Gospel a new day has dawned for the Believer. They now live in the light, in the day, in Christ. And they are now to serve Christ faithfully in the days that He gives to them.

Daytime is not only a time to be awake, but also a time to…

Be properly dressed

As you prepare for bed, you may put on appropriate nightwear. However, such clothing would not be appropriate for a going to the shops the next morning!

In verse 8 Paul’s aim is to underline that it is now daytime for Believers and that this should shape our behaviour; he says:

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

Here Paul teaches that Believers must clothe themselves appropriately so that they might live appropriately for Christ- as people of the day.

Often our clothing is deliberately and carefully chosen- perhaps a good suit for a particular meeting, or hiking gear for climbing Slieve Donard. In each case it is the activity that determines the appropriateness of the clothing.

 

 

So it is each day in the Christian life. Each day we must travel on the journey of faith, and we are called to fight the Spiritual Battle. This means we need to be clothed with the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet of the hope of salvation- clothing specifically linked to the armour required to protect someone facing attack.

Faith, hope, and love. These have been the dominant themes of 1 Thessalonians, so it is fitting that the items are these spiritual attributes Believers need to be put on day by day.

So faith and love are linked to a breastplate, and the future hope of full salvation is linked to a helmet. As we fight the fight of faith our hearts must be protected with the love of God and our minds must be guarded with Gospel truths. Each day we are to lift our heads and look forward to our meeting with Jesus and enjoying eternity in His light and love.

God grants to Believers His armour to resist the powers of darkness and live as His People in the light. As those wearing this armour, Believers are soldiers- hence the need for sobriety and self-control as they serve in a war zone.

Appropriately, Paul concludes his point by underlining the security of every Believer in verses 9 and 10:

For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 

These verses speak of wonderful Gospel truths that should strengthen us we journey and as we fight.

 

Here we are reminded of a truth found throughout Scripture: Believers are chosen by God, and their salvation is grounded completely in His activity. God has chosen Believers to receive salvation in Christ, rather than suffer the just punishment for their sins. And that salvation is secured by the substitutionary death of the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for His People, in their place. The result of His death is that Believers can be assured that they will be with Christ forever.

The Believer’s faith is grounded in the lavish love of God displayed at the Cross. And Believers have true hope for the future because Christ’s death guarantees their eternal home with Him.

Faith, love and hope are the clothes we wear as we prepare for Jesus’ Return. And we must also…

Be an Encourager

Paul lays all these glorious truths before the Thessalonians for pastoral encouragement; in verse 11 we read:

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Paul, knowing these Believers are living in the darkness of a hostile culture and facing many battles, seeks to encourage them. In verses 9 and 10 he has given them assurance that they will arrive at their final destination and be with Christ forever. And on that basis, he has called them to clothe themselves with faith, hope and love. His final word in this section is that the Thessalonians should recognise that they are travelling to this glorious destination together and should assist each other in this journey.

This would involve reminding each other of the goal of their journey, meeting the Lord Jesus Christ.

It would mean encouraging each other to put on the appropriate clothing needed for their journey.

In these ways they would strengthen each other’s hope and confidence and so enable each other to arrive at the goal of their journey.

Ultimately, therefore, getting ready for the return of Jesus is about helping each other to live for Christ each day through putting on faith, love and hope. In that way we will be ready, whatever the date.

 

Conclusion

Clearly, our passage today is intended to inspire us to live life well in light of the Gospel and be ready for the return of our precious Lord Jesus. So let me leave you with two ‘take aways’ for the days ahead…

Firstly, let us remember that the Day of the Lord is cause for anticipation, not apprehension. For those who do not know Christ, His return will bring eternal punishment- and they should fear His Return. But we can look forward to Jesus’ Return knowing that for us, in Christ, it brings perfection It means that, for those in Christ, we will be with Him forever, enjoying His perfection.

Secondly, let us prepare for the Day of the Lord in service rather than speculation. We cannot know all that the future holds- we are not supposed to- but we know the One who holds the future. And we know what He requires of His People: to love well, to live faithfully, and to put our hope only, ever in Him.

In Christ we know what the future holds: eternity with our precious Jesus. May the certainty of our eternal destination daily encourage us to live lives worthy of Him and in readiness for His certain and glorious Return.