Focus and absorb. That’s the ticket.
To the casual Bible reader, the apostle Paul’s first letter to “the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” might easily be overlooked as the literary jewel of hope that it is.
But the serious student of Scripture who applies the inductive study process would no doubt recognize the repeated references to an event the author considered worthy enough to mention five different times in the text:
“We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers, constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father...” [1Thes. 1:2-3]
“For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, before our Lord Jesus in His presence?” [1Thes. 2:19]
“…and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father in the presence of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.” [1Thes. 3:12-13]
“For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.” [1Thes. 5:2]
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.” [1Thes. 5:23-24] [all emphasis mine]
So it’s no coincidence that Paul also chose to expand on some of the specific features of this future event he referred to as “the day of the Lord” by describing in great detail Jesus Christ’s second coming and the subsequent resurrection of the righteous dead and transformation of the righteous living. [vss. 4:13-18] And, here again, the emphasis is on the Lord’s presence and in the spirit of comfort and encouragement:
“…and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” [1Thes. 4:17b-18]
[Read more about this passage: Dead or alive?…Safe in Christ!]
The faithful disciple of Jesus Christ will reshape his life in order to prepare himself for the day his real hope might be realized. Only by developing a standard of integrity for studying the Bible can he achieve a level of spiritual maturity necessary to understand the significance of Jesus Christ’s presence upon His return to the earth.
[How can I develop that “standard of integrity” for studying? see: Inductive Study? Sounds Like a Plan.]
He strives to establish his “heart, spirit, body and soul” [that is, everything he consists of] as holy in order to be found without fault in the presence of his Master when He appears.
Read it and reap!
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Posted: July 11, 2018 by cjournalme
Living in the Hope of His Presence
Focus and absorb. That’s the ticket.
To the casual Bible reader, the apostle Paul’s first letter to “the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” might easily be overlooked as the literary jewel of hope that it is.
But the serious student of Scripture who applies the inductive study process would no doubt recognize the repeated references to an event the author considered worthy enough to mention five different times in the text:
“We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers, constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father...” [1Thes. 1:2-3]
“For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, before our Lord Jesus in His presence?” [1Thes. 2:19]
“…and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father in the presence of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.” [1Thes. 3:12-13]
“For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.” [1Thes. 5:2]
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.” [1Thes. 5:23-24] [all emphasis mine]
So it’s no coincidence that Paul also chose to expand on some of the specific features of this future event he referred to as “the day of the Lord” by describing in great detail Jesus Christ’s second coming and the subsequent resurrection of the righteous dead and transformation of the righteous living. [vss. 4:13-18] And, here again, the emphasis is on the Lord’s presence and in the spirit of comfort and encouragement:
“…and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” [1Thes. 4:17b-18]
[Read more about this passage: Dead or alive?…Safe in Christ!]
The faithful disciple of Jesus Christ will reshape his life in order to prepare himself for the day his real hope might be realized. Only by developing a standard of integrity for studying the Bible can he achieve a level of spiritual maturity necessary to understand the significance of Jesus Christ’s presence upon His return to the earth.
[How can I develop that “standard of integrity” for studying? see: Inductive Study? Sounds Like a Plan.]
He strives to establish his “heart, spirit, body and soul” [that is, everything he consists of] as holy in order to be found without fault in the presence of his Master when He appears.
Read it and reap!
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