_But of the times and seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you--Perhaps because the apostle had told them, or because the sudden coming of Christ was a universal belief._ So in modern times a preacher might say, “There is no need for me to speak to you of the uncertainty of life.” ... [ Continue Reading ]
_For ye yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night _ CHRIST COMING AS A THIEF IN THE NIGHT Here we have a striking comparison--one which, to all appearance, had passed into a recognized formula, yet one which no Christian would have dared to use had it not... [ Continue Reading ]
_When they shall say, Peace and Safety _ THE DAY OF DAYS If Scripture did not warrant the figure in which the future coming of the Lord is compared to the act of a felon breaking into a house at night to plunder, we should not have ventured on it. The comparison is suggested by the Lord Himself:... [ Continue Reading ]
_But ye, brethren, are not in darkness _ RESPONSIBILITY FOR RELIGIOUS PRIVILEGES It is universally admitted that the extent of our responsibility is to be measured by the amount of our privilege. Hence our Lord said, “To whom men have committed much, of him will they ask more.” It is in harmony w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye are all children of the light _ I. What it is to be of the night and darkness. This is a fitting symbol of a soul away from God, blind in understanding and heart and will. There is implied in it-- 1. Ignorance of God. 2. Wickedness. “Men love darkness rather than light,” etc. 3. Misery. Day... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober _ SLEEP I. The sleep of sin--Scripture teaches us, with the utmost explicitness, that a state of sin is a state of slumber. Sleep is a figure which is commonly employed to illustrate man’s natural and unrenewed state. Sin is t... [ Continue Reading ]
_They that sleep sleep in the night, and they that be drunken are drunken in the night _ A MANIFOLD DRUNKENNESS The drunkenness here spoken of is not that from wine only, but that also which comes of all vices. For riches and the desire of wealth is a drunkenness of the soul, and so carnal lust; a... [ Continue Reading ]
_But let us, who are of the day, be sober _ GOOD COUNSEL I. The condition to be shunned. Christians must keep their natural desires and appetites after the things of this world within due bounds. “Let your moderation be known to all men” is a Divine injunction. St. Paul enjoins sobriety. Now, sobri... [ Continue Reading ]
_For God hath not appointed us unto wrath _ GOD’S EVERLASTING PURPOSE I. God’s purpose is-- 1. That we should not be lost. We all deserve wrath. All have sinned, and every sin the Divine indignation will avenge. The longer we live in sin, therefore, the greater the amount of wrath our iniquities... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore comfort and edify one another _ COMFORT AND EDIFICATION I. Comfort implies-- 1. The presence of discomfort, and the duty of mutual support under trial. Men are troubled-- (1) By sin. We must comfort by restoring such in the spirit of meekness, by pointing them to the Saviour. (2) By... [ Continue Reading ]
_We beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you _ FAITHFUL MINISTERS WORTHY OF RESPECT I. The particulars upon which this claim for the ministers of Christ is founded. 1. The influence of the ministerial office. They are “over you in the Lord” by a Divine appointment, by your own c... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now we exhort you, brethren, war them that are unruly--The verse contains four distinct, but coordinate and mutually connected exhortations._ I. “Warn them that are unruly.” In pursuing peace, fidelity was not to be sacrificed; and one of the methods in which Christian peace might be promoted was t... [ Continue Reading ]
_See that none render evil for evil _ NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE PRECEPTS I. See that none render evil for evil unto any man. Retaliation betrays a weak and cruel disposition. Pagan morality went so far as to forbid the unprovoked injuring of others; and it is not without noble examples of the exercise... [ Continue Reading ]
_Rejoice evermore _ A TRINITY OF PRIVILEGES I. Study these advices separately. 1. “Rejoice evermore.” Rejoice because of-- (1) Your conversion. (2) Your privileges as children of God. (3) Your apprehension of Christ and His love. (4) Your hope of glory. These are always available, and if we s... [ Continue Reading ]
_Pray without ceasing _ I. What is it to pray? 1. It is a desire. That is the nature of it. We may desire a thing-- (1) With our mouths only (Isaiah 29:13). (2) With our hearts only (1 Samuel 1:13). (3) Both with heart and mouth. This is prayer; and so prayer is both cordial and oral (John 17:... [ Continue Reading ]
_In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you _ THANKSGIVING The duty and privilege of praise are not appreciated. Worship--ascribing worth to God and describing His worth--is in His Word the leading feature, as in modern days it is the least feature of th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Quench not the Spirit _ POSITIVE DUTIES I. The first advice--“Quench not the Spirit.” The Spirit is quenched as a man doth quench his reason with over-much wine; and therefore we say, “When the wine is in, the wit is out,” because before he seems to have reason, and now he seems to have none; so o... [ Continue Reading ]
_Despise not prophesyings _ I. What prophesyings? 1. The Scriptures written (2 Peter 1:20; 2 Timothy 3:16). (1) The truths asserted (Acts 26:27). (2) Commands enjoined (Mark 7:8). (3) Promises made (Romans 4:20). (4) Threatenings denounced (Proverbs 1:30; Amos 3:8). 2. The Scriptures preached... [ Continue Reading ]
_Prove all things: hold fast that which is good--The design of these precepts is to caution us against two pernicious extremes; one is taking opinions on trust without examination, the other is after a wise choice not being able to abide by it._ Credulity and unsteadiness are alike dangerous, and t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Abstain from all appearance of evil _ SAFE CONDUCT A man will never begin to be good till he begins to decline those occasions that have made him bad; therefore saith St. Paul to the Thessalonians, and through them to all others, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” I. The way to fulfil this c... [ Continue Reading ]
_The very God of peace sanctify you wholly _ A SHORT BUT COMPREHENSIVE PRAYER The apostle had told the Thessalonians in the beginning of his Epistle, that he always made mention of them in his prayers; and, now he is Writing to them, and closing his Epistle, he lifteth up his whole heart for them.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Faithful is He that calleth you _ THE FAITH OF MAN AND THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD 1_._ The highest object of man’s existence is to hold communion with God. For this his nature was framed, and in this alone will it find repose. 2. But the vital tie that connected us with heaven is broken. We are as... [ Continue Reading ]
_Brethren, pray for us _ PRAYER FOR MISSIONARIES I. The grounds of this appeal. 1. The character of the men required. “Pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest,” etc. The work requires fully qualified workers. It must have apostolic, unselfish, unworldly, spiritual, sympathetic, brotherly men.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss _ THE HOLY KISS This exhortation in various forms is frequent (Romans 16:16; 1Co 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Peter 5:14); and it must be borne in mind was addressed to men with respect to men, and to women with respect to women only. At this time worship... [ Continue Reading ]
_I charge you by the Lord that this Epistle be read unto all the holy brethren _ THE AUTHORITY OF ST. Paul’s Epistles This is by implication a remarkable ecclesiastical sanction claimed for this Epistle. In the Jewish Church Moses and the Prophets were constantly read (Luke 4:16; Acts 13:27; Acts... [ Continue Reading ]