Mar. 19, 2025

Dear Friends,

I hope you can attend our Bible study tonight! We will be studying passages from 1 Thessalonians 3 and 4. Notes are attached.

1

LIVING THE CHRISTLIFE

WAYNE BARRETT

HILLTOP LAKES CHAPEL

MARCH 19, 2025

1 Thessalonians 3:1-7; 4:1-8

3 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we

sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in

your faith, 3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for

this. 4 For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just

as it has come to pass, and just as you know. 5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to

learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in

vain. 6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith

and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you—

7 for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through

your faith. …

4 Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you

ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2 For you know

what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification:

that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in

holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 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 beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.

8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

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vv 1-2 – Therefore when we could bear it no longer …

Often prevented by Satan (we do not know how) from returning to Thessalonica, the apostles

could no longer endure being concerned for the church there without knowing what was

going on

We were willing – more lit. “we were well-pleased” – the way we might say “we were happy to

do it” if it meant having contact with the Thessalonians

Timothy

He had previously remained with Silas in Berea when Paul had been helped to leave for reasons

of safety (Acts 17:10). Presumably, Timothy and Silas joined Paul in Athens “as soon as

possible,” as Paul had urged (Acts 17:15).

“our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ”

A powerful and challenging description of Timothy’s calling as a minister, not just a

coworker of Paul and Silas (although he was) but God’s coworker in the gospel of

Christ.

Could this be a mission statement for church ministries? – We are God’s coworkers in the

Gospel of Christ?

Note: Timothy was probably the letter-bearer, and the letter was probably written since it was

decided that Timothy would be going to Thessalonica. God at work.

vv 3-4 – “that no one be moved by these afflictions”

afflictions – thlipsis, tribulations, severe suffering and persecution

2

Paul seems to be principally referring to the treatment of the apostles—concerned that this may

dishearten Christians and cause them to turn away—although the word also applies to the

tribulation of the Christians in Thessalonica.

“For you yourselves know …”

It may not be welcomed, but it is not a surprise

Are “destined” – keimai, to be set, appointed, placed

“For when we were with you…”

The apostles had taught the church beforehand that the suffering would come—and it

happened just as they said

vv 5-6 – “For this reason, when I could bear it no longer…”

Paul’s great concern for the churches in evidence

“for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you”

Unfortunately, we have been somewhat inoculated against the seriousness of temptation, as the

word enjoys a light-hearted usage in modern English

Temptation is the devil’s effort to influence us to go against the will of God, his attempt to ruin

us, with eternal consequences for ourselves and consequences in the lives of others

Temptation is sinister, life or death, heaven or hell, joy or torment, Christ or condemnation

And the sad news is that he is sometimes successful, causing work done for the gospel to have

been in vain. Once spiritually-healthy lives become, like some once-healthy small towns,

ruins of their former selves

v 6 – “But now Timothy…”

The apostles received a good report about the church—a source of great encouragement

4:1-2 – “Finally, then, brothers…”

“We ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus” – as strong an appeal as could be made, indicating the

importance of what is to follow

“just as you received from us …”

For the Thessalonians – the apostolic teaching. For us, Biblical teaching.

“how you ought to walk and to please God” — this is the goal, then and now, for all Christians

and for all churches

“just as you are doing, that you do so more and more”—both affirmation and encouragement –

again, a great word for then and a great word for now

The exhortation is in living for Christ—pleasing God in how we walk, not necessarily to do

things that would be recognized as “accomplishments” in the world

v 3 – “For this is the will of God…”

There is no doubt about this, no “ifs, ands, or buts”

“your sanctification”

Taught throughout the NT

Our justification is done. It is accomplished in Christ. Our sanctification is also ours in Christ (1

Corinthians 1:20), but at the same is being accomplished in us. Both/and.

sanctification – hagiasmos, holiness, consecration, set apart, belonging exclusively to God

3

“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness [hagiasmos] without which no one will see

the Lord.”—Hebrews 12:14

This is a whole-person ownership by God. All of the Spirit’s work in us is regarding our

sanctification, including what is to follow.

More lit. “stay completely away from sexual immorality”

This is the summation.

porneia, based on the Greek word for prostitute (and so sometimes translated accordingly) it did

not only refer to acts with prostitutes but to sexually-immoral acts in general

A huge problem then, a huge problem now

More lit. “that each of you should fully understand how to possess his own body in holiness and

in honor”

Note: our bodies include our eyes and our ears

“not in the passion of lust like the people [ethnos] who do not know God”

Then and now

“Passion of lust” – we might say “strong emotional desire”

Note: emotions do not justify desire

“that no one transgress and defraud his brother in the matter”

The immediate implication is that adultery was involved

“because the Lord is an avenger in all these things”

Lest any one think that “God does not care” about sexual immorality

Here, apparently specifically addressing adultery, it is the Lord himself who is the avenger

avenger – ekdikos, one who executes justice

“as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you …”

There is no doubt—and this had been clearly taught.

v 7 – “For God has not called us for impurity…”

We are to live moral lives. We are to live clean lives, inside and out. God has called us to this.

It, perhaps, will always be an issue. And one of the devil’s ongoing strategies is to convince

Christians that things aren’t such a big deal and God doesn’t really care, there are so many

worse things, etc.

v 8 – “Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to

you.”

Lest there be any dissention…

Sex, sexuality, gender, marriage, immorality, adultery, purity, holiness—God has spoken to all

of these things, and those who disregard his teaching disregard God “who gives his Holy

Spirit to us.”

The Bible contains many warnings. This is one of them.