Christian Behavior
We have very nearly finished our look into 1 Thessalonians. However, there is still more that can be understood about this short book. As we have discussed, Paul wrote this letter with the goal to encourage the readers. He also hit on topics of the responsibility of a missionary, understanding Who’s words Paul is speaking, understanding that we know who follows God by their behavior, and we need to stand firm with God. As we now look into the second to last chapter, we will see that Paul begins to discuss the Christian’s conduct.
“Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; 2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit. 9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; 11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.”
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
We can see that Paul is beginning to write his closing remarks to the church in Thessalonica. And as he does, Paul moves from encouraging the reader to remain strong in their faith, to understanding how they should behave. Paul is now discussing the topic of sanctification, which the Greek word means to properly clean, or to make holy. Paul is now wishing to teach the readers what must be done for them to go deeper into their relationship with God.
The second half of verse three and verse four reminds the reader that we need to be abstaining from sexual immorality. Meaning sex outside of the design of God; before marriage, same sex relationships, and diverting from the sex that is determined at conception are just a few things that those who claim to follow Jesus need to be keeping themselves removed from. However, I thought the word “vessel” in verse four was an interesting choice of word for the context. If you look at the Greek word for “vessel” (G4632) you will see that there is a dual meaning. One meaning is a physical object that is being used, while the other meaning is a man’s wife. Under the context that “vessel” in verse four is referring to a wife, I couldn’t help but be reminded of 1 Timothy 3:4-5 which dictates that a man who wishes to serve as an elder needs to have control over his household. This is not to be used as a way to condone abuse, but as a reminder of the roles that a husband and wife play in relation to understanding Jesus’ role with the church. Jesus is the head of the church, and for us to have a physical representation of this, God has ordained that the husband is to be in charge of the wife and ensuring that she is being taught and led in a way that will bring glory to God in order for mankind to find sanctification. Those who follow Jesus should hold themselves apart from those who have given themselves over to their own sexual gratification and lust.
Paul then dictates that a Christian should not take advantage of their literal or spiritual brethren. Romans 12:18 commands believers to live peaceably, when possible, with those around them. We cannot show other’s God’s grace and mercy if we are acting decitfuly and brashly with those that we are called to love.
Verses seven and eight I would say are the key verses in these twelve verses. Verse seven is reminding the reader that we are not called to live in uncleanness, but in holiness. We are called to be sanctified. Verse eight then identifies that those who reject the traits mentioned throughout this book, are not rejecting man, but God Himself. This was a concept that Jesus Himself taught on, Matthew 12:31-32, “31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” In this section of scripture, we see that those to act against the Holy Spirit, against the idea of sanctification, commit an unforgivable sin. Paul is highlighting in verse eight that there are people who intentionally and willingly continue in their sin, disregarding the consequences.
Finally, Paul ends this section of chapter four with a reminder that he is not concerned about the church in Thessalonica showing their love for fellow Christians, this was a concept that Paul praised the church for in 1 Thessalonians 2. However, Paul is not wanting the church to simply continue in what they are doing; he is wanting them to excell even more. Paul is calling the believers to live their lives in peacefulness. He reminds them that in order to help the sanctification process, they need to attend their own business (I take this to mean not indulge in gossip) and work with their hands (a trait that Paul set an example of as seen in 1 Thessalonians 2); by doing so, they (and us) will behave properly toward those around us and be able to show those individuals what it means to follow Christ.
Seek the truth and encourage one another,
Alex