If you turn in your copy of God’s Word now to 1 Thessalonians, I believe that’s on page 1,257 of your few Bibles. And I’ll be reading 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 through the first 12 verses. Let’s give attention to the very Word of God. Finally then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that as you receive from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.
For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification. that you abstain from sexual immorality, 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, that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you before and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness, Therefore, whoever disregards this disregards not man, but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. 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.
Thus far in the reading of God’s word, amen. Please be seated. Would you pray with me? Heavenly Father, now as we have read your word, we ask that you would add your blessing to it, that you’d guide each of us. Father, we know that from eternity past, you’ve ordained exactly what you would do with your word this morning. And so we pray, have your way with us. We ask all this in Jesus’s name, amen. What is it about you that draws others to Christ or away from Christ.
That would have been a good question to ask those believers in the apostolic church. In Acts chapter 2, at the end of it, we were reading that The believers had everything in common, they were selling their possessions and giving to others as they had need, and they were going to the temple together, they were worshiping together, they were listening to the apostles together, they were breaking bread in their homes, and they received their food with gladness and generous hearts, praising God. That particular verse ends this way, praising God and having favor with all the people. God was adding to the church because of what was happening in the church. Day by day, people were being saved. They were being brought into the church because those on the outside were looking at the church and what was going on on the inside. What was it about those believers? that drew others to Christ. What is it about you that draws people to Christ?
It seems to be what’s going on here as Paul writes to the church at Thessalonica. We know that Paul had received that vision, a Macedonian vision. They were attempting to go to other places, and the Holy Spirit said, no, no, come this way, ultimately ending up in Thessalonica, where Paul preaches in the synagogues on three Sabbath days. But we know that that was it. Three Lord’s days, and then Paul and Silas were out. They had to flee because of the persecution of the Jews.
And so there’s this infant church that’s been planted in Thessalonica. And as we’ve gone through these first three chapters, we’ve seen doctrine after doctrine after doctrine set forth. Now, Paul hides it in such a way, but that’s exactly what he’s doing in this first three. What we have now is the first three chapters, this letter.
It began with the power of God. We give thanks to God, remembering before our God and Father. They were acknowledging the power of God. Paul was doing that. Paul was acknowledging that God works by and through election. He has chosen you. He was encouraging them. He was calling them away from false gods to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, who delivers us from the wrath to come.
Paul wrote about the doctrine of triumph over Satan. He wrote about Satan, the power of Satan, but he wrote about triumph over Satan. He wrote about the Word of God and its power. And he wrote about the joy in heaven as a sinner repents. What is our hope and joy, our crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you? He was expressing to them their joy. in seeing and knowing that these had come to faith, and that’s the doctrine of joy in heaven as every single sinner repents.
Paul wrote of the doctrine of suffering. We were to suffer affliction. He wrote of the doctrine of temptation, that the tempter had somehow tempted you away and out of your faith, and that’s what they were concerned about. He wrote of the doctrine of comfort and brotherly rejoicing, for now we live. if you are standing fast in the Lord,” he wrote of the doctrine of holiness, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness.
And he ends chapter three in that benediction or prayer, now, may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. May he make you increase and abound in love for one another and establish your hearts blameless. Now we come to chapter 4, and it’s a turning point. He’s encouraged these new believers, he’s reminded them of these doctrines, but now there’s a different tact, there’s a different approach. He begins using the imperatives, the commands, directing these Thessalonians in their walk with Christ. He begins with a headline, Finally then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, You ought to walk and please God.
And he provides some specifics. He speaks to them about their sanctification, that they abstain from sexual immorality, that they love their brothers, they live quietly. It’s a short chapter. It’s a short portion of chapter four, but it’s full. We might sum up the teaching here this way.
By having more of Jesus, believers are perfected and sanctified. By having more of Jesus, believers are perfected and sanctified. We’ll see that in three points this morning. First, seeking perfection, believers have it in Christ. Secondly, seeking sanctification, believers achieve it by the Spirit. And then finally, seeking radiance, believers gleam it in humility. As we go through this portion of chapter four, I want you to be asking yourself that question. What is it about me that draws others to Christ? Well, first, seeking perfection. What was left for Paul to give to these new believers?
There’s a sense that he’d given them so much, all these doctrines, but he begins this portion of this chapter forward, this one word, finally. Finally, then, brothers. The word in the Greek, if you open up a Greek dictionary, it would tell you it’s a transition to something new, especially when it comes near to the end of a literary work. And that’s where we’re headed, to end of this literary work. Or you could translate this as, well, beyond what I’ve already told you. Beyond that, there’s this, finally. Paul is now subtly transitioned.
The doctrines that he has imparted to them by and through the work of the Holy Spirit are, in a sense, complete for the most part. Those that were most needful for those in Thessalonica have been stated. The truths, the precepts, the foundation, the base upon which the application would stand or sit have been given. Without these bases, without these urgings, these truths, without these doctrines and precepts, the following applications, which is what we have right now, would fall upon deaf, unhearing ears.
Isn’t that the case with us? That we need the truth first. We need the doctrines first. We need the imperative, the indicatives first. Then, We will have ears to listen to the imperatives or the commands. With this foundation, those in Thessalonica were more likely to be moved by the Spirit to act in the way that Paul was urging them to act. So that’s where we are now, this emphasis upon application or the imperatives, the commands, the urgings, these new believers to action, to continued action. It’s a hallmark of Paul. and the other apostles. Doctrine first, then application. Doctrine first, then application.
That’s the way the scriptures set forth before us, isn’t it? Consider Genesis. Where does Moses begin? He begins with truth, doesn’t he? In the beginning, God. The creation. He begins with truth. Everything else hangs upon that truth. The call for Adam to obey by not eating the forbidden fruit hung upon the truth that God made Adam and that God made the fruit. The movement to action was founded in the truth of God’s creative sovereignty. Similarly, Paul first gives these at Thessalonica the truth that they needed to hear, and now he calls them to action.
There were no imperatives that I could find, no verbal commands that I could find in the first three chapters, but now they’re set forth. Are you moved by the truths found in scripture? Sometimes we can become intellects. merely receiving words, the truths of scripture as information, or maybe some new understanding. But that’s really not the purpose, the ultimate purpose of the word of God.
Now consider the inspired words of John, but these are written so that you may believe. These are written so that you may believe, and that by believing, you may have life. That’s why we have scripture. to come to a believing, saving knowledge of Christ.
And believing is always coupled with doing. We spoke about that this morning in our education hour. If anyone would come after me, as Jesus is speaking to his disciples, meaning if anyone would believe in me, come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. You see, believing is always coupled with doing.
So the question, are you personally moved by the doctrines of scripture? The one who is not moved by the doctrines of scripture needs to question the efficacy of their faith. Is it real saving faith? Or is it mere head knowledge? Westminster Confession states this about faith. By this faith, a Christian believes to be true whatsoever is revealed in the word, for the authority of God himself speaking therein acts differently upon that which each particular passage thereof contains. It acts differently. You see the connection between belief and doing?
And so we have that here in this first command, this first imperative from Paul. Finally, then brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that as you receive from us how you ought to walk and please God just as you are doing that you do so more and more. The Greek dictionary, again, says this means to be in abundance, to abound, to be outstanding, to be prominent, to excel. There’s a progression, obviously, set forth here, more and more. It’s a powerful call to increase in obedience, but remember, Those at Thessalonica were heeding the teaching. We ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that just as you received from us how you ought to walk and please God, just as you are doing. They were loving brothers and sisters. They were imitating Paul and Silas and Timothy. The Spirit was obviously working in these powerfully, in these new believers. And Paul seems to be pleased with their living, yet he calls them to more obedience.
We ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that you do so more and more, that their obedience, their walk with Jesus increases. That there would be this closer and closer following after Christ, and the ESV puts it that way, more and more. The New American Standard translates it this way, you excel still more. Paul wasn’t satisfied. It wasn’t enough yet for Paul. So he’s asking and seeking for more. Was he seeking for perfection? Was he asking that they become sinless? That they increase so much that they just stop sinning? Was that it? The answer is obviously not.
While believers should be striving to be without sin or to be blameless, we know that it’s not possible, not in our corruption in Adam. Paul knew that sinlessness or pure holiness was not possible. Not yet. So that’s not what Paul was seeking or teaching. We know from Paul’s own pen, as he penned that letter to those in Rome, he confesses that he was a continual sinner. For I have desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.
Think of it, Paul, the one who penned at least 13 inspired letters, the one to whom Jesus spoke with directly, the one who preached in such a way that many came to faith, even these at Thessalonica, he wasn’t seeking sinless followers of Jesus. He knew it was impossible.
So the first danger in reading this passage is to read it in such a way, to understand it in such a way that Paul was calling for perfection prior. to entering glory. And the first danger leads to the second, that someone will read this passage as a call to become sinless and conclude that one is saved by and through his achieving perfection. That’s a misreading of Paul’s letter here, and it’s a downfall of many. The conclusion that Paul calls upon perfection to enter glory is a common deception of Satan, for he knows that’s not the way to salvation.
He knows you can’t obtain it, and so he perpetuates the lie. I found so common. When you ask people if they’re going to hell or to heaven, so many, nine and a half out of 10 will say heaven, and you’d ask them why, and they’ll say, because I’m a good person. And they truly believe that. But that’s not what Paul’s writing. And indeed, you can’t find it anywhere in scripture. So if Paul’s not writing about perfection, what is it?
Why is he urging these dear ones to more and more to increase? In other words, if you can’t get to perfection, then why try? Why exhort these to do more and more? Have you asked yourself that question? Why am I trying to improve my walk with Jesus? What’s my motivation? What’s the purpose? What’s the goal?
Did you notice in verse one, as Paul writes, how you ought to walk and to please God. That seems to be foremost in Paul’s heart and mind, pleasing God. Does that move you? Are you pursuing this pleasing of God, of the Lord Jesus Christ, or are you pursuing self-righteousness this morning? For this is the will of God, your sanctification. Are you moved to seek after and desire the will of the Lord Jesus Christ? As you trust in Jesus, if you’re trusting in him this morning, this should be your primary motive for all your actions, especially this call to more and more. And while you cannot and will never accomplish perfection in this life, there is one who has. There is one who has lived a life of more and more, and that’s Jesus Christ.
From the temptation of 40 days in the wilderness, of betrayal, of denial, of scourging, of crucifixion, of forsakenness, of death and burial in the tomb, his father was perfecting him. You say, well, I thought Jesus was sinless. You’re right. He is and was. And he was perfect. and is perfect in his sinlessness, in his purity, in his holiness. He never sinned and he always will be perfect, but he grew. That’s a hard thing to understand, isn’t it? He grew in his perfection. Jesus was the more and more. He’s the one who excelled in his perfection.
Matthew Henry writes this. That though the eternal word was united to the human soul, he’s speaking of Jesus Christ, from his conception, yet the divinity that dwelled in him manifested itself to his humanity by degrees in proportion to his capacity. As the faculties of his human soul grew more and more capable, listen to his words, more and more, the gifts it received from the divine nature were more and more communicated. That’s Matthew Henry’s take. I tend to agree. Jesus Christ grew in favor with men and God. It wasn’t that he was ever a sinner, but he grew in his perfections.
And you see, this perfection This perfection of Jesus Christ, which you can’t obtain in your own, you can receive as a gift. It’s freely given to all who trust in Christ. This gift of Christ’s perfection, this more and more, you can have it in Christ.
If you’re not trusting in him this morning, let me say to you, let me call you to hear that you can have Christ. You can have his perfection. All you need to do is cry out to him now. But if you are trusting in Christ. Rest assured that you have been clothed with the perfection of Christ. His more and more has become yours. Praise be to God.
Brings us to our second point. seeking sanctification. There’s somewhat of a continuum here as Paul gets to the particulars. He first says, we’re urging you to walk in a way that is pleasing to God. And now he jumps into the particulars. The headline is set forth that you do so more and more. And now he bookends with two specific examples, two particular examples that are bordered by the more and more. First, he goes from that you abstain from sexual immorality to, now concerning brotherly love, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love another.
But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more. Paul is seemingly setting down this spectrum, this continuum, from one end of Christian living to another. To the end, he begins with a warning of sexual impurity, which really is self-love or false love. He sets that warning against the love for brothers. You see the continuum, the opposite ends of the spectrum.
So while Paul does not address all manners of sin, nor all kinds of obedience, in this short chapter, he urges this more and more. We might understand Paul is setting forth that a line of thinking from one of the greatest sins, sexual impurity, to one of the greatest acts of obedience, loving your brother, and thereby, by implication, including all other sins and acts of obedience in between, from one end to the other. He’s ultimately writing about sanctification, that this more and more falls so nicely within that doctrine of sanctification. And now he gives those two important examples or instances wherein these at Thessalonica needed encouragement in pursuing their sanctification.
Well, first, sexual immorality. What is it? In the Greek, it’s very limited. Unsanctioned sexual intercourse. In short, sexual relations outside of the bonds of marriage. That would be a good Greek definition of that word, porneia. Today, we would certainly include pornography in it. Today, we would probably expand the idea of sexual impurities to include that.
So why? Why does Paul write of this overarching sin of sexual impurity if those at Thessalonica were doing so well? He commends them. He writes that they’re imitating himself and Timothy and Silas who are presumably keeping themselves from sexual impurities. Why? Well, first, because of the serious nature of it and because it’s so prevalent. It was so prevalent then and it’s so prevalent now. It’s destructive. It’s destructive to your faith. It’s destructive to our culture. It’s destructive to your heart. That’s why.
We also need to understand and appreciate that a believer who has made strides against a particular sin, such as sexual impurity, does not always remain at the same level, so to speak, in his or her fight against sin. Fighting against sins such as sexual immorality is not like walking up a set of stairs or climbing a ladder, one rung or one step at a time. No. Because of our corruption in Adam, we can be backsliders. We can fall back into the same sin over which you’ve had victory in the past. And Paul certainly knew that. He knew it was a possibility. He knew it was a likelihood that those in Thessalonica, these new believers, would possibly, would likely fall back into sin, which they’d achieved success over in the past. You see, sanctification is not a once and done. It’s not, I’ve achieved this level one, I’m going now to level two. I’m never going back to level one again. It’s not an elevator headed up in one direction.
No. As one comes to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, it’s the dominion of sin which is destroyed. Sin is no longer your master. That’s the point. That’s what happens as your heart is regenerated. Your chains to sin are broken. But that doesn’t mean that the several lusts thereof are gone. Indeed, as we read this morning, sanctification is defined as the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened, and they are more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces. That’s sanctification.
Do you see the more and more? As the remnants of corruption abide in every part, there is that continual and irreconcilable war, the flesh lusting against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh. Sanctification is not up, up, up, up, up. No. It’s up and down and up and down and up and down and up. That’s Sanctification. It’s a battle. Some are won. Some, in one sense, are lost.
But the Lord is using every single battle. So you see the work of the Spirit, don’t you? Constant as he abides in each and every child of God. But that doesn’t mean that believers are immune or permanently sheltered against falling back into a sin that they fought successfully against in the past.
See, that’s why Paul writes about sexual impurity. Why does he write about it to you? It was and is a warning, isn’t it? It’s a reminder, isn’t it? And it’s certainly a broad brush call to live in a manner worthy of your calling. But it’s also an encouragement. You may be scratching your heads and wondering, well, how is this an encouragement?
Think of yourself, think of how you’ve fallen back into sin, the same sin again and again and again and again. And don’t you want to know that that’s part of following Jesus? Not that you sin. But the part of following Jesus is knowing, is being convicted that you have sinned against him. And as you follow him, you’re called to work your way out of it, so to speak. Not only will you fall back as other Christians, as other believers do, but you’re called to work yourself out of it by and with the work of the Spirit.
It’s one significant reason why the Spirit’s given to you. Do you praise God for that? Are you encouraged? You should be. As the Spirit is abiding within you, he’s bringing you to confession. and he’s working in your heart to bring you out of that sin. Why does Jesus tell his disciples that they must forgive a brother or sister who sins against them multiple times, 70 times seven? Because he knows. He knows that we’re sinners. He knows that we’ll backslide. He knows that we’ll fall back. But he freely grants forgiveness, doesn’t he?
And that actually brings us to the next point that Paul speaks of, loving your brother. That’s the other end of the spectrum, the other end of the continuum. These new believers were doing it, weren’t they? For indeed, For that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia.” They were loving their brothers. Jeremiah’s prophecy was being fulfilled in these former idolaters. I will put my law within them. No longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, know the Lord, for they shall all know me. So why the urging to do more? Loving others, the penultimate pinnacle of the Christian life. That means it’s the second in line to the top. Loving God is the pinnacle.
Loving brothers demonstrates or illustrates your love for God and for his son. But you must see that loving your brothers is not merely the opposite of sexual impurity or loving yourself, but loving brothers and sisters is truly following Christ. Sexual impurity is clearly loving yourself without loving your neighbor. Loving your brothers is to deny yourself.
It’s exactly what Jesus did. You see, his love was so great for you. As you were his enemy, he went to the cross. That he would deny himself his own life. for you, that he would deny himself that which he cherished and adored, if I can put it this way, even more than you, his communion with his father. He denied himself this communion so that he could love you by going to the cross.
You see, that’s loving your brothers and sisters, isn’t it? It’s imitating Christ. It’s imitating his love for you. That’s the pen ultimate pinnacle of the Christian life. The depth of depravity is loving yourself exclusively, without care, without concern for anyone else. The height of sanctification in the Christian walk is to love your neighbor and deny yourself.
So now this more and more should become a little bit clearer The call is to love your neighbor, to love your brothers and sisters more and more. Not that you will achieve perfection, but that’s what you’re called to. That’s what Paul is writing to those at Thessalonica. The call, the command, the opportunity, the privilege to love your brothers, sisters, your neighbors, even those who are striving against you. I’m hoping at this point you’re asking that question, how? How do I do that? How do I do that which I’m required to do? And the answer is actually very simple.
It’s actually set forth here in this passage, and it’s to set your mind upon the things above, upon Jesus Christ. If you’ve been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above. Where Christ is seated at the right hand of God, set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth. Colossians chapter 3.
You see, we falter, constantly falter as we set our minds upon the things of the earth. It’s so easy for us to set our minds upon the things of this world, what our wants are, our desires, our pleasures, the good things that the Lord gives to us. But you see, that misses Christ, doesn’t it? And that leads to self-love. Enjoy the things that the Lord has given you. Yes, of course. But as you enjoy them, recognize and acknowledge that they’re from Christ.
And so I think the teaching really here is to seek more and more of Christ. See, Christ is the only person, the only one that the Spirit will point you to as you’re being sanctified. And so this more and more that Paul sets down here in this letter seems really to be more and more of Christ. As you set your mind, your heart upon Christ, as you learn more about Christ, as you understand day by day more of his person, more of his character, more of his love for his father, and more of his love for you, you begin to see now this idea of more and more. The inspired Apostle Paul may have actually been encouraging those new believers to seek more and more of Christ. And not only those at Thessalonica, but those at Philippi. Not that I have already obtained this or I’m already perfect, but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus made me his own. Seeking to know more of Christ. Paul clearly knew that he needed more of Christ. Every believer needs more of Christ.
You can never get enough. And once again, it seems that that’s what Paul is saying. This to increase in obedience more and more, to excel in obedience, is truly to get more of Christ. Do you pray that? Oh Lord God, give me more of Christ. It brings us to our third point, which is not very long. Seeking radiance.
The prior specifics that Paul gave, the sexual immorality, the loving brothers, were actually both with regard to brethren, with regard to those within the church. But now, now he speaks to them, he writes to them about walking properly before outsiders. Verse 12. We urge you brothers to do this more and more and to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, to work with your hands as we instructed you so that you may walk properly before outsiders, meaning those who are outside the church.
And so it seems that as Paul is reminding them of his teachings, as Paul’s calling them to more and more obedience, as he’s calling them to seek more of Christ, he’s saying to them, you need to radiate Christ. You need to display Christ to others. And he’s saying, this is how you do it. This is how you display the beauty of Christ to others outside of the church.
Live quietly, mind your own affairs, work with your hands. It’s simple. What Paul is doing is he’s saying, Be Christ-like, then you will radiate Jesus Christ. These things depict a simple life, uncomplicated, unmajestic, unassuming, modest, pure, simple, humble. That seems to be the point. A humble, a quiet life. Not bringing attention to yourself, but pointing to Christ. Bringing attention to Him. Not seeking to exalt yourself, but seeking to exalt Christ. By pointing away from yourself.
Isn’t that what John the Baptist expressed? He must increase, I must decrease. Do these descriptors describe you? Decreasing. Living quietly. not being a gossip or bringing others down, working to support yourself, your family, being able to give to others out of the excess that you have as you work diligently.
It’s a picture of life in Christ, isn’t it? Are you living that way? If you are, in reality, what you’re doing is radiating Christ. Just as Jesus radiates his father, he’s the exact imprint, he’s the radiance of the glory of God. You’re proclaiming Christ by and through the way you live, submissively, diligently, working in a way that brings attention not to yourself, but to Christ. You may be thinking, well, how’s that possible? living quietly, not drawing attention to myself, just working with my hands. How am I radiating Christ?
No one’s going to see it. But that’s not true. Consider the saints in the apostolic church. What were they doing outside the church? I don’t know. They were selling their possessions, belongings, distributing to the proceeds as any had need. Day by day, they were attending the temple together, breaking bread in their homes, receiving their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God, having favor with all the people. The people were watching. And they wanted to know and to have what those had in the church.
Isn’t that what happens? As you live quietly, as you don’t draw attention to yourself, as you work with your hands, as you take care of your own affairs, aren’t people wondering, what happened to you? Whatever happened to you, I want to get that as well. That’s radiating Christ. That’s living in Christ. And that’s the call to every single believer this morning. Radiate Christ through your quiet, peaceful, content hearts.
Yes, by having more of Jesus, believers are perfected and sanctified. It’s exactly what was happening to those in the apostolic church. They were having more of Jesus day by day, and they were expressing it in their love for the brethren. And as they did so, those outside the church saw. You see, it was their quiet, content, joyful way of living that wooed others to Christ.
Are you doing that? That’s our call this morning. Praise be to God. Amen. Heavenly Father, we thank you and praise you for your word and for this teaching that we’ve received this morning. And Father, we pray that it would not be mere intellectual, but that you would put your word deeply within our heart, that you’d apply it, Father, That based upon the doctrines, the truths, the precepts that you’ve given to us, Father, that we would be moved to do more and more in and through Christ, that we would want more and more of Christ. Guide us, help us, give us more of Christ. And we ask all this in his name, amen.