Living in Light of Christ’s Coming

As we turn our attention to 1 Thessalonians 5, let’s be reminded of the order in which Paul writes this letter. Paul basically spends the first 4 chapters encouraging the church and telling the Thessalonians what God has done for them. In chapter 5 he begins to tell us how we can live for Him - in light of the second coming of Jesus.

Paul has spent four chapters sympathizing with their persecutions and understanding their temptation to revert back to their old pagan standards. Then in chapter 5 Paul begins to clear up their misconceptions about what happens to believers when they die and teaches us concerning the second return of Christ. Now he says, “Go Church Go” – go forward and encourage and build up each other. Encourage each other in the persecution, build up each other so on one reverts back to the old lifestyle, and continue to encourage grieving believers when death occurs and live as if the second coming of Jesus is today.

With that in mind, we are looking at 5:12-18 today. Paul has specific ways we are to act and behave. We are to do this with the view that Christ is coming again!