Encouragement during Persecution

Introduction to 2 Thessalonians.

Author: Paul directed by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. (Paul was probably in Corinth at the time.)

Date: A.D. 49-52

2 Thessalonians was probably written soon after 1 Thessalonians (perhaps within 6-12 months).

Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians to:

Reassure those who were terrified by reports that the Lord had already come back.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 NLT
^2:1 Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him. ² Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us.

Strengthen the Thessalonians in the face of continuing intense persecution.

2 Thessalonians 1:4-5 NLT
⁴ We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. ⁵ And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering.

Deal with the problem of some church members refusing to earn their own living.

2 Thessalonians 3:11 NLT
¹¹ Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business.

2 Thessalonians 1:1-6 NLT
Greetings from Paul
1 This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy.
We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
² May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Encouragement during Persecution
³ Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. ⁴ We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. ⁵ And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering. ⁶ In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you.

Examine the Scriptures:

Encouragement during Persecution

2 Thessalonians 1:1-6 NLT

Greetings from Paul

1 This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. 

This epistle begins by naming the same three men mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 1:1.

Refer back to 1 Thessalonians 1:1 

1 Thessalonians is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy.

Silas, and most likely Timothy, had been with Paul when the church was founded in Thessalonica, and their presence in the letter’s greeting emphasizes the fact that this ministry to the Thessalonians was a shared ministry and all three men had a love for the community.

Paul is the author.  (Widely accepted as authentic by most scholars)

Silas and Timothy are co-senders.

Throughout the book Paul uses the word “we”.

Paul is communicating the thoughts of others.

The inclusion of Silas and Timothy emphasizes that the gospel work was a team effort and that the Thessalonians already knew and trusted these men. 

We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Note:  Paul names both God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ together.

Application:

• The church (made up of believers) belongs to God.

John 1:12 NLT
¹² But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

Romans 8:16-17 NLT
¹⁶ For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. ¹⁷ And since we are his children, we are his heirs. … 

Galatians 4:4-7 NLT
⁴ But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. ⁵ God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. ⁶ And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” ⁷ Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

Ephesians 2:19 NLT
¹⁹ So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 

² May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Don’t take this lightly!

God is the giver of grace and peace.

Grace: (Define Grace)

God’s riches at Christ’s expense.

God’s unearned favor that saves and sustains.

God’s unmerited favor which He freely bestows on all who accept the gift of salvation (verse 1).

God gives man the opposite of what he deserves: blessings instead of judgment.

Grace is God giving us what we do not deserve—life, forgiveness, and restoration—through Jesus Christ.

Peace: (Define God’s peace)

Grace comes first, then peace.

In Scripture, peace refers to a state of wholeness, harmony, and right relationship with God, others, and oneself.

Inner stability even during outward turmoil.

Christians experience the peace of God as a result of Christ’s work.

Reflect on the following verses:

2 Thessalonians 2:16 NLT
¹⁶ Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope,

• God the Father and God the Son are the source of grace, peace, comfort, and hope.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.

• Even in persecution, the Thessalonians could (we can) experience God’s peace.

Encouragement during Persecution 

³ Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. 

1 Thessalonians 3:6 NLT
⁶ But now Timothy has just returned, bringing us good news about your faith and love. 

Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians:

1 Thessalonians 3:12 NLT
¹² And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows.

Paul’s prayer was being answered.

• Despite persecution, the Thessalonians faith was flourishing and their love for one another was growing.

Despite persecution, the church at Thessalonica was growing.

Suffering had united the Thessalonian church, it had not divided the church.

A growing faith indicates a growing Christian.

Faith, love, and endurance are fundamental Christian virtues.

• Faith is the root; love is the fruit.

James 2:14-17 NLT
>Faith without Good Deeds Is Dead
¹⁴ What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? ¹⁵ Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, ¹⁶ and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
¹⁷ So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

Paul and his coworkers were thanking God for the Thessalonians.  The Thessalonians were a cause for thanksgiving. 

⁴ We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering.

The persecution the Thessalonians were suffering had intensified since Paul’s first letter.

1 Thessalonians 3:2-4 NLT
² and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, ³ and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles. ⁴ Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come—and they did, as you well know.

• Persecution is a way of life for many believers.

• The endurance of the Thessalonian church under persecution had become a testimony to other churches.

The Thessalonians were so outstanding that Paul told other churches about their endurance and faithfulness in all of the persecution and hardships they were suffering.

The Thessalonian church was a model to be copied.

• The suffering of the Thessalonian church had not silenced the gospel; it had amplified it.

Example for others to follow

1 Thessalonians 1:3 NLT
³ As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 3:5 NLT
⁵ May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ. 

⁵ And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering. 

The Thessalonians were patiently enduring the suffering they did not deserve (v. 4).

James 1:2-4 NLT
Faith and Endurance
² Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. ³ For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. ⁴ So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Matthew 5:10 NLT
¹⁰ God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

2 Corinthians 12:10 NLT
¹⁰ That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

• God makes us worthy of His kingdom.

A Christian is made worthy by God’s grace.

Endurance in trials demonstrates one’s worthiness.

God did not leave the Thessalonians to deal with persecution using their own resources.

God provided them with strength to endure, and this in turn produced spiritual and moral character. 

⁶ In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you.

• God is just.

Galatians 6:7 NLT
⁷ Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.

• God’s judgment flows from His holiness.

God will not allow evil to go unjudged.

God pays back, not us.

Vindication and retribution are to be exercised by God, not us.

When God repays and how God repays are to be determined by Him.

Romans 12:19-21 NLT
¹⁹ Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,
“I will take revenge;
I will pay them back,”
says the Lord.
²⁰ Instead,
“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
burning coals of shame on their heads.”
²¹ Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. 

1 Thessalonians 5:15 NLT
¹⁵ See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.

The justice of God brings punishment on unrepentant sinners, and it may be in the here and now as well as on judgment day.

• In his justice he (God) will pay back those who persecute you.

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Paul’s Final Advice

Introduction

In this section of scripture, Paul turns from instructions regarding the future to practical instructions and reminders for the present.

It’s good to anticipate the Lord’s return, but it is just as important, or even more important, to live godly lives now.

This passage is loaded with instruction.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 NLT
Paul’s Final Advice
¹² Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. ¹³ Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.
¹⁴ Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
¹⁵ See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.
¹⁶ Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
¹⁹ Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. ²⁰ Do not scoff at prophecies, ²¹ but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. ²² Stay away from every kind of evil.

Paul’s Final Greetings
²³ Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. ²⁴ God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.
²⁵ Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us.
²⁶ Greet all the brothers and sisters with a sacred kiss.
²⁷ I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters.
²⁸ May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.                          

Examine the Scriptures:

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 NLT
Paul’s Final Advice

Instructions for relating to others, including spiritual leaders.

¹² Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. ¹³ Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work.

• Esteem, value, respect, and love your spiritual leaders for their work. 

And live peacefully with each other. 

Peace in the church is rooted in mutual respect.

Colossians 3:12-15 NLT (This passage is similar to 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15.)
¹² Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. ¹³ Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. ¹⁴ Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵ And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. 

¹⁴ Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy.

Admonish the idle.  They need to be corrected.

Encourage those who are timid.

Encourage the fainthearted (the discouraged).

Just previous to this passage.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT
¹¹ So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

Take tender care of those who are weak.

Galatians 6:2 NLT
² Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

Be patient with everyone.

James 1:19 NLT
¹⁹ Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

1 Corinthians 13:4 NLT
⁴ Love is patient and kind.

• Warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

• Christian love is discerning. One response does not fit every situation. 

¹⁵ See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.

1 Peter 3:9 NLT
⁹ Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.

Romans 12:17-19 NLT
¹⁷ Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. ¹⁸ Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
¹⁹ Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,
“I will take revenge;
I will pay them back,”
says the Lord.

These are not natural responses.

• Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

Instructions for holy living.

¹⁶ Always be joyful. 

Philippians 4:4 NLT
⁴ Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!

We have a reason to be joyful.  (Remember the following.)

Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT
⁸ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. ¹⁰ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. 

• Always be joyful. 

¹⁷ Never stop praying. 

Keep the lines of communication with God open throughout the day.

Be aware of God’s presence in your life.

John 14:16-17 NLT
¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. ¹⁷ He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

Prayer as ongoing fellowship with God, not merely a list of requests.

Prayer is not only speaking but also hearing and reflecting on God’s word. 

Psalm 46:10 NLT
“Be still, and know that I am God.”

Ephesians 6:18 NLT
¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Philippians 4:6 NLT
⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Colossians 4:2 NLT
² Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. (See v. 18)

Luke 18:1 NLT
18 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.

• Never stop praying. 

¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances,

This does not say for “for” all circumstances.

God is sovereign.  God is in control.

• Be thankful in all circumstances. 

for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Verses 16-18 

¹⁶ Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 

¹⁹ Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.  

Galatians 5:16 NLT
¹⁶ So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

Ephesians 4:30 NLT
³⁰ And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live.

• Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. 

²⁰ Do not scoff at prophecies, 

• When God’s word is preached or read, it is to be honored and valued. 

²¹ but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. 

Acts 17:11 NLT
¹¹ And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.

²² Stay away from every kind of evil. 

• Test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good and stay away from what is evil.

Paul’s Final Greetings

²³ Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. ²⁴ God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.

God is interested in our entire being,

Philippians 1:6 NLT
⁶ And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

• God is actively sanctifying His people in every aspect of life, preserving them until Christ returns.

²⁵ Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us. 

²⁶ Greet all the brothers and sisters with a sacred kiss.

A physical expression of true Christian love that was culturally acceptable in Paul’s time.

An alternative gesture in our current culture could be an embrace, a handshake, or a pat on the back. 

²⁷ I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters. 

I put you under oath before the Lord (ESV)

I charge you before the Lord (NIV)

By the Lord’s authority, I order all of you (CEB)

• The Bible is for all of humanity. 

²⁸ May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

A familiar, but very powerful and encouraging, benediction from Paul.

Remember what God has done for you. Ephesians 2:8-10

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The Day of the Lord

Introduction

Focus on the things you know and understand.

Focus on living a life pleasing to the Lord rather than putting your efforts into predicting dates of the Lord’s return.

¹¹ So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 NLT
The Day of the Lord
^5:1 Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you. ² For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. ³ When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.
⁴ But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. ⁵ For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. ⁶ So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. ⁷ Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. ⁸ But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.
⁹ For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. ¹⁰ Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. ¹¹ So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.                               

Examine the Scriptures:

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 NLT

The Day of the Lord 

^5:1 Now concerning how and when all this will happen,

Questions about Christ’s return have always occupied the thoughts of many.

dear brothers and sisters,

Once again we see “dear brothers and sisters”.

Paul truly loved the Thessalonians. 

 we don’t really need to write you. ² For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.

• Christ’s return will be unexpected and unwelcome by those not ready for it.

Matthew 24:36, 43-44 (Luke 12:3540) NLT
³⁶ “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.
⁴² So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.
⁴³ Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. ⁴⁴ You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.

2 Peter 3:10 NLT
¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief.

Revelation 3:3 NLT
³ Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.

Revelation 16:15 NLT
¹⁵ “Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.”

The day of the Lord will include both judgment and blessing.

• We don’t know the timing of God’s final judgment, but we do know that it is coming. 

Prepare for Christ’s return by living godly lives.

• Live godly lives in light of coming judgment on the world. 

 ³ When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.

This will be a time of judgment and destruction for the unbeliever.

• God’s ultimate judgment comes unexpectedly to the unbeliever and is inescapable.

2 Thessalonians 1:9 NLT
⁹ They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power. 

⁴ But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. 

• Christ’s return will not take believers by surprise (however, the timing might).

The signs of Christ’s return are discernable to Christians, but we do not know the exact time.

Christians will not face destruction on judgment day. 

⁵ For you are all children of the light and of the day;

Colossians 1:11-14 NLT
¹¹ … May you be filled with joy, ¹² always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. ¹³ For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, ¹⁴ who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

John 12:36 NLT
³⁶ Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”

Acts 26:17-18 NLT
¹⁷ … Yes, I am sending you (Paul) to the Gentiles ¹⁸ to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’

Ephesians 5:8 NLT
⁸ For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!

1 Peter 2:9 NLT
⁹ But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

we don’t belong to darkness and night. 

• Christians are children of light and of the day—people transformed by Christ. 

⁶ So be on your guard, not asleep like the others.

Unbelievers are spiritually insensitive. Living without considering the coming Day of Judgment. 

Stay alert and be clearheaded. 

Matthew 24:42 NLT
⁴² “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.

Matthew 25:13 NLT
¹³ “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

• Anticipate the Lord’s return.

Be watchful and clearheaded, waiting for the Lord’s return. 

⁷ Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk.

Matthew 24:48-51 NLT
>⁴⁸ But what if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ ⁴⁹ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? ⁵⁰ The master will return unannounced and unexpected, ⁵¹ and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The drunk are unable to respond properly.

The drunk lack self-control.

The drunk are unprepared for the master’s return. 

 ⁸ But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

• Know that God has equipped you with faith, hope, and love to protect your heart and mind until Christ returns.

A good prayer to pray for those preparing for Christ’s return:

Philippians 1:9-11 NLT
⁹ I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. ¹⁰ For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. ¹¹ May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. 

⁹ For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. 

Ephesians 1:4-5 NLT
4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

John 15:16 NLT
16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit,

1 Thessalonians 1:10 NLT
¹⁰ And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.

Romans 5:9 NLT
⁹ And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.

• Jesus has rescued Christians from the terrors of the coming judgment. 

¹⁰ Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. 

Review verses from previous lesson:

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 NLT
¹⁵ We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. ¹⁷ Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.

Additional verses:

2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT
²¹ For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

John 14:1-3 NLT
^14:1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. ² There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? ³ When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

• Christians will live with the Lord for all of eternity. 

¹¹ So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

Remind each other of the promises of God that we already know. 

• The church is a community that encourages and builds others up in preparation for Christ’s return.

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The Hope of the Resurrection

Introduction

Focus on the things you know.  We have hope.  As Christians, we are citizens of Heaven.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NLT
¹³ And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. ¹⁴ For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.
¹⁵ We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. ¹⁷ Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ So encourage each other with these words.

Examine the Scriptures:

The Hope of the Resurrection
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NLT 

¹³ And now, dear brothers and sisters,

Dear brothers and sisters used 20 times in 1^st & 2^nd Thessalonians.

This is a clear indication of Paul’s love for the Thessalonians. 

we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died 

We do not want you to be uninformed … NIV & ESV

• There were some things the Thessalonians needed to know.

Review:

1 Thessalonians 3:9-10 NLT
⁹ How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. ¹⁰ Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith.

The Thessalonians were concerned about what would happen to the Christians who have already died.

Some Thessalonian Christians had died before Christ’s return, and the church worried they would somehow miss out on the blessings of the Second Coming.

• Paul is about to tell the Thessalonians what will happened to the Christians who have died. 

so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 

Grieving is not wrong.

Godly people grieve.

Acts 8:2 NLT
² (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.)

However, it is wrong for Christians to exhibit hopelessness in their grief.

The grief of a believer differs from that of unbelievers.

Unbelievers have no hope of a bodily resurrection.  Believers do have hope.

• Christ transforms grief. Christians grieve, but not hopelessly. 

¹⁴ For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again,

Christ’s resurrection is the center of God’s plan …

1 Corinthians 15:12-14
¹² But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. ¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. 

• The death and resurrection of Jesus is a well-known recorded fact of history.

People Who Saw the Resurrected Christ

Mary Magdalene
Other women
The disciples (multiple appearances)
Over 500 believers at once
Paul

The certainty of our resurrection rests entirely on Christ’s resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:23 NLT
²³ But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.

we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

¹⁵ We tell you this directly from the Lord:

• This is a message from the Lord, not from Paul.

This is not speculation; it is divine revelation. 

We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. 

There is no advantage for the living over the dead. 

Picture this in your mind. 

 ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves.  

1 Corinthians 15:42-44
⁴² It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. ⁴³ Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. ⁴⁴ They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.

• Christ’s return will be a powerful, public, unmistakable, transforming, and triumphant event.

After the dead come forth, their spirits, already with the Lord, are now being joined to resurrected bodies

2 Corinthians 5:6–8 NLT
“To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”
⁶ So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. ⁷ For we live by believing and not by seeing. ⁸ Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.

Luke 23:42–43 NLT
Jesus tells the repentant thief:
“Today you will be with Me in paradise.”
⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”
⁴³ And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” 

John 11:25–26 NLT
Whoever believes in Christ will live even though he dies.
²⁵ Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. ²⁶ Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” 

¹⁷ Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 

1 Corinthians 15:51-55 NLT
⁵¹ But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! ⁵² It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. ⁵³ For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.
⁵⁴ Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory
⁵⁵ O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?” 

• All believers — resurrected and transformed — are united.

Death is permanently defeated.

• All Christians will be with the Lord forever. 

¹⁸ So encourage each other with these words. 

• The primary purpose of this passage is to provide encouragement to those Christians whose (Christian) loved ones have died.

The dead will be resurrected and will participate in the Lord’s coming for His own.

When Christ comes the living will be reunited forever with their loved ones.

Believers will spend eternity with the Lord.

Understanding about the Lord’s return should give us comfort and encouragement.

Believers can and should encourage other believers in the face of death.

Other scripture passages to reflect on: (this list is not all inclusive)

Philippians 3:20-21
²⁰ But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. ²¹ He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

John 14:1-3 NLT
^14:1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. ² There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? ³ When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

1 Peter 1:3-4 NLT
³ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, ⁴ and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.

1 John 3:2 NLT
² Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.

Revelation 21:3-4 NLT
³ I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. ⁴ He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

2 Peter 3:13 NLT
¹³ But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.

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Instructions for Practical Christian Living.

Introduction

Living a Life Pleasing to God

Instructions for Practical Christian Living.

A Life Pleasing to God
Practical Christian Living
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 NLT
⁹ But we don’t need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another. ¹⁰ Indeed, you already show your love for all the believers throughout Macedonia. Even so, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you to love them even more.
¹¹ Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. ¹² Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.

Examine the Scriptures:

A Life Pleasing to God

Instructions for Practical Christian Living.

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 NLT 

⁹ But we don’t need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another. 

Some instructions for Christian living come through God’s Word (reading God’s Word or being taught by people like Paul who are teaching God’s Word).

Other lessons are taught by God Himself to his children directly.

This verse tells us that the ability for loving others comes directly from God’s (the Holy Spirit’s) work in the believer’s heart.

Christian love is not merely a human effort but a divine enablement.

• God himself had taught the Thessalonians to love one another.

Reflect on the following passages of scripture:

Jeremiah 31:33-34 NLT
³³ “But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. ³⁴ And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,” says the Lord. “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” 

Isaiah 54:13 NLT
¹³ I will teach all your children,
    and they will enjoy great peace. 

John 6:45 NLT
⁴⁵ As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. 

1 Corinthians 2:13 NLT
13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.

Romans 1:19-20 NLT
¹⁹ They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. ²⁰ For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

God has made Himself known to all people, so humanity is without excuse for ignoring or rejecting Him.

• Paul teaches that God has made certain truths about Himself plainly evident to all humanity.

Review:

The greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.
The second is to love your neighbor as yourself.

Romans 13:8-10 NLT
Love Fulfills God’s Requirements
⁸ Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. ⁹ For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁰ Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.

John 13: 35 NLT
³⁵ Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” 

Ephesians 5:1-2 NLT
5 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. ² Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

Galatians 5:22 NLT
²² But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

Romans 5:5 NLT
⁵ And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. 

1 John 4:7, 8, 12 NLT
Loving One Another
⁷ Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.
⁸ But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
¹² No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

• Love is a work of the Spirit.

• Christian love is not merely commanded—it is God-produced in those who walk with Him. 

¹⁰ Indeed, you already show your love for all the believers throughout Macedonia.

• The Thessalonians already showed their love for all the believers throughout Macedonia.

Their love wasn’t confined to their local church; they extended it “toward all the brothers in all Macedonia,” demonstrating a vibrant and expansive Christian network.

We read about that in:

1 Thessalonians 1:7-8
⁷ As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece—throughout both Macedonia and Achaia.
⁸ And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it, 

2 Corinthians 8:1-5 NLT
^8:1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. ² They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
³ For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. ⁴ They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. ⁵ They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.

Paul is talking about the Macedonian believers— specifically, the believers in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea.   These believers were poor, persecuted Christians whose joyful generosity became a model of Christlike giving for the Corinthian church. 

Even so, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you to love them even more.

The Thessalonians already showed their love for all the believers throughout Macedonia, but Paul urged them to love them even more.

There was still room for improvement.

Even in something they do well, Paul encourages continuous growth and greater application.

Christian maturity is an ongoing process.

• Even though the Thessalonians loved well, Paul encourages them to love even more.

In the Christian life, love is never a completed task. 

¹¹ Make it your goal to live a quiet life, 

• Make it your goal to live a quiet life.

1 Timothy 2:2 NLT
² Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.

1 Peter 3:4 NLT
⁴ You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.

Live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.

Clothe yourself with a gentle and quiet spirit.

Live peacefully with others instead of interfering in others affairs.

Be a person who strives to be at peace with himself and God.

Proverbs 25:17 NLT
¹⁷ Don’t visit your neighbors too often,
or you will wear out your welcome. 

minding your own business 

• Mind your own business.

Don’t be a busybody.

Apparently some Thessalonians, probably because of their idleness, were taking undo interest in other people’s affairs.

This directly addresses the busybodies—those who were meddling in others’ lives because of their idleness. Christian love does not involve intrusive gossip or unsolicited interference. 

and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. 

• Earn your own living.

Work itself is a blessing, and working with one’s hands should never be despised by Christians.

Don’t look to be supported by others.

It appears that some Thessalonians were neglecting work and were relying on others to support them.

Some members, perhaps fueled by the expectation of Christ’s imminent return (the next chapter addresses this), may have become idle, neglecting work, and interfering in others’ business.

Diligent, honest labor is presented as a spiritual discipline and a necessary component of a godly, quiet life. This corrects any notion that intense focus on the Second Coming excuses laziness or dependence on others. 

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 NLT
¹⁰ Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”
¹¹ Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. ¹² We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living.

A self-supporting person is not a burden to others.

Paul’s own example:

2 Thessalonians 3:7-9 NLT
⁷ For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. ⁸ We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you. ⁹ We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow.

• Love is shown through responsible living, hard work, and not burdening others. 

¹² Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live,

NIV so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. 

ESV so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

Putting verses 11-12 into practice wins the respect of non-Christians.

Walk properly before outsiders.

Earn the respect of the unbelievers.

The Christian community’s conduct directly impacts its witness to the non-believing world.

1 Peter 2:12 NLT
¹² Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

Matthew 5:16 NLT
¹⁶ In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Titus 2:7-8
⁷ And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. ⁸ Teach the truth so that your teaching can’t be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.

This kind of behavior also wins the respect of believers.

• Christians should display integrity, industry, and decency so that outsiders see the gospel lived out. 

and you will not need to depend on others.

Paul is not saying every Christian must be completely self-sufficient.

Paul is advocating personal responsibility.

Working prevents the believer from becoming a financial burden on the church or the community, maintaining their dignity and independence.

The combination of love, quietness, and work ensures the church functions with internal harmony and external respectability.

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Live to Please God

Introduction

Paul wrote this letter to the church in Thessalonica, but it is certainly applicable to us 2000 years later.

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 NLT
Live to Please God
^4:1 Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more. ² For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
³ God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. ⁴ Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— ⁵ not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. ⁶ Never harm or cheat a fellow believer in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. ⁷ God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. ⁸ Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Examine the Scriptures:

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 NLT

Live to Please God

^4:1 Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus

“dear brothers and sisters”

“We urge you”

“in the name of the Lord Jesus” Paul taught with authority from Jesus Christ.  Paul’s teaching carries divine authority, not just personal advice.

Paul is saying “This is important!” 

to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you.

• Live in a way that pleases God.

“as we have taught you”

• Do what you know you should be doing.

• Scripture instructs us to live lives that please God.

2 Corinthians 5:9 NLT
⁹ So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him.

Ephesians 5:8-10 NLT
⁸ For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! ⁹ For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
¹⁰ Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.

Ephesians 5:17 NLT
¹⁷ Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

Pray

For us:

Psalm 19:14 NLT
¹⁴ May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

For others:

Colossians 1:9-10 NLT
⁹ So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. ¹⁰ Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. 

You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more.  

The words “even more” show sanctification is a lifelong process—there is always room to grow in holiness and love. 

² For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

³ God’s will is for you to be holy,

Set apart from sin.

Romans 6:6 NLT
⁶ We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.

To be holy is to belong fully to God — to live for His purposes, not just our own.

• “God’s will is for you to be holy.” 

Ephesians 1:4 NLT
⁴ Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

This means our values, priorities, and behavior should be different from the world’s — guided by God’s truth rather than culture or self-interest.

Romans 12:1-2 NLT
^12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. ² Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

so stay away from all sexual sin. 

You have been set apart for God’s purposes and you need to be growing in moral purity.

For former pagans, the lure of sexual sins was strong.

In the first century moral standards were generally very low.

Sexual immorality was tolerated in the Mediterranean world.

Prostitution was allowed.

In many Greco-Roman cities (like Corinth, Ephesus, and Rome), temple prostitution was part of pagan religion.

In the Greco-Roman world, sexual immorality was common and socially accepted, so Paul’s teaching marked Christians as distinct.

Ephesians 5:3 NLT
³ Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people.   

• Stay away from all sexual sin.  

⁴ Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— 

Holiness begins in the body; what we do with our bodies matters to God.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 NLT
¹⁸ Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. ¹⁹ Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, ²⁰ for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

2 Timothy 2:21 NLT
²¹ If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. 

⁵ not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. 

Ephesians 4:17-19 NLT
Living as Children of Light
¹⁷ With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. ¹⁸ Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. ¹⁹ They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

• Don’t live like pagans.

A Christian, with God’s help, can overcome sexual temptations.

Knowing God is basic to living a holy life.

True knowledge of God transforms moral behavior. 

⁶ Never harm or cheat a fellow believer in this matter by violating his wife,

Sexual sin harms others besides those who engage in it.

Sexual sin is not private; it offends both God and others, resulting in destructive social and spiritual implications.

• Sexual sin doesn’t just defile the sinner; it harms others, violating trust and community. 

 for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. 

Colossians 3:5-7 NLT
⁵ So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. ⁶ Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. ⁷ You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world.

David experienced this.

2 Samuel 11:27 NLT
²⁷ When the period of mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to the palace, and she became one of his wives. Then she gave birth to a son. But the Lord was displeased with what David had done.

2 Samuel 12:11 NLT
¹¹ “This is what the Lord says: Because of what you have done, (referring to David’s sin with Bathsheba) I will cause your own household to rebel against you. 

Hebrews 13:4 NLT
⁴ Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. 

• God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. 

⁷ God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. 

³ God’s will is for you to be holy, 

• To live a holy life means to be devoted to God, transformed by His Spirit, guided by His Word, and marked by love and purity in every area of life.

God’s plan for a Christian includes purifying his life.

A holy life demonstrates God’s supernatural power at work overcoming what is natural and it glorifies God. 

⁸ Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God,

Other translations of this verse:

Therefore, whoever rejects these instructions isn’t rejecting a human authority. They are rejecting God, (CEB)

So anyone who refuses to obey this teaching is refusing to obey God, not us. (ERV)

Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God (NIV)

The one who turns away from this teaching does not turn away from man, but from God.  (NLV)

Sexual sin is against God.

• To reject Paul’s teaching on sex is to reject God’s teaching, the source of Paul’s instruction. 

who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Galatians 5:16 NLT
Living by the Spirit’s Power
¹⁶ So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

• The Holy Spirit enables us to avoid sexual immorality.

Holiness, then, is not achieved by self-effort but by yielding to the Spirit’s work within.

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