Let’s take a look at Paul’s statement, “Live in peace with one another.” (I Thessalonians 5:13b). In my Bible, this verse falls into a section titled, “Christian Conduct”. Here we find several quick “do this” and “don’t do that” sort of statements. To properly understand Paul’s meaning, I want to examine the word “peace”.
First, let me quickly dispel whatever wrong notions you may have of this particular word Paul has used. The Greek word translated here as “peace” is used only four times in the New Testament. This is not the peace of being reconciled with God in regards to our sin. This is not the inner peace and tranquility that comes from the Holy Spirit as a result of that reconciliation. This is not peace in the sense of the absence of civil wars or government armies marching into battle with each other.
The peace Paul speaks of here is peace with other individuals, not between governments. This peace means living in harmony and Paul’s statement is a warning against divisiveness, quarrelling and bickering. Furthermore, this is not a command to make peace with all men or at all cost. Paul here speaks of living in peace “with one another” – within the Body of believers, between those in Christ.
However, there are limits to seeking peace with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul’s next statement makes that quite clear – “We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly” (I Thessalonians 5:14a). Biblical living in peace is not about tolerance of sinful behavior. In fact, all of I Corinthians 5 rebukes believers for boasting of their tolerance of rather than the disciplining and correcting of an errant brother.
Such a “peace” is no peace at all, and is instead actually quite evil because it comes directly from Satan. To avoid confrontation and decide to not “rock the boat” is to fear men more than God. Furthermore, “the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith” (I Timothy 4:1). Therefore, Christians desperately need admonishing and rebuking when they are sinning to avoid such falling away from the faith!
Yet our goal is to “live in peace with one another”. Our Lord prayed for unity in His Church while He was here on earth (John 17). But neither Jesus nor Paul is proposing sinful compromises within the Body of believers for the sake of unity and peace. John 17:23 says, in part, “that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me”. It is our faithfulness to this teaching – “Live in peace with one another” – that we represent Christ to the world. As we grow in our unity with each other, we are perfected and matured into true Christ-likeness.
II Corinthians 13:11 “Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”
Showing posts with label 52 I Thessalonians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 52 I Thessalonians. Show all posts
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Seek Good for One Another
Today’s one another comes from the last half of I Thessalonians 5:15, “always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.” Paul has been speaking to the church at Thessalonica about the need for personal holiness in preparation for the Day of the Lord. Here he continues to speak concerning our Christian conduct.
The Greek word used by Paul here for “good” means benevolent, profitable, useful, and beneficial (Zodhiates’ Complete Word Study Dictionary). From this definition, we learn that seeking after someone’s good is more than just the absence of malice; “good” is actually beneficial to the other person. Psalm 118: 68a says both “God is good” and “God does good”.
As we seek good for those around us, we need to keep in mind that God’s ultimate good for us is to be reconciled to Him. Therefore, when we seek after good for others, we witness to the lost and we admonish and rebuke our errant brother or sister in Christ.
The Greek word translated as “seek” is a very interesting choice. There is another more common Greek word used over 70 times in the New Testament translated as seek or seeking. But here Paul chose a word that is most commonly translated as persecute, persecuted, and persecuting. In fact, this is the same word used 10 times (mostly in the book of Acts) to describe how Paul, as Saul, persecuted Jesus Christ and His Church.
But let’s take a quick look at other examples using this same Greek word in a positive sense. Romans 14:19 says “pursue the things which make for peace”. Philippians 3:14 says “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” II Timothy 2:22 says “pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace”. When we “seek after” good for someone, it is in this sense of pursuing and pressing onward.
According to Zodhiates, this Greek word means “to follow or press hard after, to pursue with earnestness and diligence in order to obtain.” It would seem then that Paul’s use of this particular word in I Thessalonians 5:15 speaks of the unrelenting passion and zeal we should use when seeking God’s goodness for one another. It is the same passion and zeal that young Saul used when persecuting the early church. But here he wants that energy re-focused on doing good, being beneficial to our fellow believers as well as to all people.
Galatians 6:10 “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”
The Greek word used by Paul here for “good” means benevolent, profitable, useful, and beneficial (Zodhiates’ Complete Word Study Dictionary). From this definition, we learn that seeking after someone’s good is more than just the absence of malice; “good” is actually beneficial to the other person. Psalm 118: 68a says both “God is good” and “God does good”.
As we seek good for those around us, we need to keep in mind that God’s ultimate good for us is to be reconciled to Him. Therefore, when we seek after good for others, we witness to the lost and we admonish and rebuke our errant brother or sister in Christ.
The Greek word translated as “seek” is a very interesting choice. There is another more common Greek word used over 70 times in the New Testament translated as seek or seeking. But here Paul chose a word that is most commonly translated as persecute, persecuted, and persecuting. In fact, this is the same word used 10 times (mostly in the book of Acts) to describe how Paul, as Saul, persecuted Jesus Christ and His Church.
But let’s take a quick look at other examples using this same Greek word in a positive sense. Romans 14:19 says “pursue the things which make for peace”. Philippians 3:14 says “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” II Timothy 2:22 says “pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace”. When we “seek after” good for someone, it is in this sense of pursuing and pressing onward.
According to Zodhiates, this Greek word means “to follow or press hard after, to pursue with earnestness and diligence in order to obtain.” It would seem then that Paul’s use of this particular word in I Thessalonians 5:15 speaks of the unrelenting passion and zeal we should use when seeking God’s goodness for one another. It is the same passion and zeal that young Saul used when persecuting the early church. But here he wants that energy re-focused on doing good, being beneficial to our fellow believers as well as to all people.
Galatians 6:10 “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Comfort One Another
Today I had the privilege of attending the memorial service of a well-loved, godly man. It was encouraging to hear of this man’s many years serving our Lord. It was also wonderful to hear the joyous laughter in the fellowship hall after the service as people shared stories from his life. Today truly was a celebration.
Yes, we’ll miss having this dear man in our church family, but today there was joy, peace, and comfort written on so many of the faces of the people attending. Paul says in I Thessalonians 4:18, “Therefore comfort one another with these words.” I know “these words” were and are the source of comfort for days like this – and really, for all days!
So what are “these words”? The previous paragraph in Scripture teaches what happens to those who die “in Christ”. You see there isn’t a Bible verse that reads, “Say good-bye to one another”. Instead, Paul says in I Thessalonians 4:13, don’t grieve as those who have no hope. As Christians we are to handle the death of a loved one differently than the lost world. I think it is here that the reality of our faith is tested and hopefully it shines forth as a bright light for the world to look upon with wonder, “Where do they get their comfort?” Paul says our comfort is in “these words”:
“For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” I Thessalonians 4:15-18.
Discussion Question:
What other promises in Scripture give you comfort regarding the death of a loved one?
Yes, we’ll miss having this dear man in our church family, but today there was joy, peace, and comfort written on so many of the faces of the people attending. Paul says in I Thessalonians 4:18, “Therefore comfort one another with these words.” I know “these words” were and are the source of comfort for days like this – and really, for all days!
So what are “these words”? The previous paragraph in Scripture teaches what happens to those who die “in Christ”. You see there isn’t a Bible verse that reads, “Say good-bye to one another”. Instead, Paul says in I Thessalonians 4:13, don’t grieve as those who have no hope. As Christians we are to handle the death of a loved one differently than the lost world. I think it is here that the reality of our faith is tested and hopefully it shines forth as a bright light for the world to look upon with wonder, “Where do they get their comfort?” Paul says our comfort is in “these words”:
“For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” I Thessalonians 4:15-18.
Discussion Question:
What other promises in Scripture give you comfort regarding the death of a loved one?
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