1 Thessalonians 4:9 Turning now, and as it were, with a sense of relief from warnings against impurity and covetousness, but still keeping in view the aim of his whole exhortation, viz., "the will of God, even your sanctification," the Apostle resumes the subject of brotherly love. The cultivation... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Thessalonians 4:10 Christian Growth. I. In what are we to increase? There is little or no advantage in the increase of some things. It but increases our danger, and, adding to our cares, lays weightier burdens on the back of life. More riches will certainly not make us happier; and perhaps, para... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Thessalonians 4:10 I. In what forms must we labour to advance Christ's Kingdom? In age after age the saints of God have possessed their souls in joy and patience, not gadding about as busy-bodies or other people's bishops, but doing quietly their humble duty, and spending peacefully their holy liv... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Thessalonians 4:13 The Sleep of the Faithful Departed. St. Paul, in the text, speaks of the saints unseen as of those that "sleep in Jesus"; and Christians are wont to call their burial-grounds cemeteries or sleeping-places, where they laid up their beloved ones to sleep on and take their rest.... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Thessalonians 4:13 The Apostle now turns to speak of Christian hope. It is a transition to a new and all-important theme the hope of the Christian in regard to the saints at the second coming of their Lord. The coming of the glorified Saviour is, as it were, the red thread running through the who... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Thessalonians 4:14 The Intermediate State. I. Where are the saints? and what are they doing? And the Spirit answers, they "sleep in Jesus." Now you must not for a moment understand this expression as though it meant that the spirits of the sainted dead are passing the interval, till the resurrect... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Thessalonians 4:16 The Apostle draws aside yet more the curtain of futurity. He increases and confirms the comfort which "by the word of the Lord" he offers to believers, by revealing additional truth about the resurrection day. "For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout." There... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Thessalonians 4:18 Personal Identity in the Resurrection. I. The context states the identity of the saint after the resurrection and before it. We shall be the same persons hereafter that we are here. It is a very true and simple thing to say, and yet if we think of it, it includes a truth that t... [ Continue Reading ]