Paul set the tone of this letter in 1:3-4, “…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, knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you…” This is a familiar theme in some of Paul’s other letters, and here in chapter 4 he provides an expanded sermon, so to speak, providing more detail for each point.
Q: What is the nature of Paul’s appeal here? Is he imparting something new that they should be paying special attention to for the first time?
A: He’s encouraging us to put into practice more and more of what we ALREADY know.
Application: Consider your personal walk with Christ; are the issues the Spirit brings to your mind unknown things for which you need to seek answers or the conviction that you may not be following all the things you already know? After all, it’s a relationship – not a quest for knowledge.
Q: What is “sanctification”?
A: It is continuing to perfection the work first begun when we became a new person in Christ, bringing all parts of our mind, heart and soul into obedience and devotion to Him.
Q: Scripture teaches us that God had a plan for us before we were even born and has a plan beyond this life. What part of God’s plan for us is sanctification?
A: It’s the plan for this PRESENT life.
Application: Consider for a moment what you currently believe to be the criteria for living a successful spiritual life, for doing God’s will in your life. Are those things mostly achieving specific goals (i.e., witnessing to 100 people, giving $1,000, etc.)? That’s the way the world thinks. God assesses us based on our commitment to be set apart and devoted to Him. Do you see the difference?
Q: Why does it make sense that within the overall context of the Bible that the antithesis of sanctification is sexual immorality?
A: From Genesis through Revelation the most repeatedly used symbol of a bad spiritual relationship is adultery; good spiritual relationships are characterized by marital faithfulness.
Q: What is sexual immorality equated to throughout Scripture? How is that contrasted to sanctification?
A: Idolatry. It’s the contrast of devotion to the One True God or devotion to a replacement false god. It’s the picture of either being faithful or cheating in a relationship.
Q: How is this explained in v.7?
A: Keeping ourselves pure for God. Sanctification is our behavior, our willingness to be devoted and faithful to Christ rather than subject to our earthly desires.
Q: What is Paul’s point in v.8?
A: These are not “moral guidelines” but God’s command. It’s an issue of personal obedience.
Application: Sanctification is the sum of our choices to behave according to God’s commandments rather than our own desire, typified as either a faithful or adulterous relationship. Have you considered that a key measurement of “…your work of faith…” is faithfulness? Can you see why the acceptance/rejection of sexual immorality – whether personally or within the church at large – corresponds to the nature and quality of your spiritual relationship?
Q: Is Paul preaching something new?
A: No. Just as he opened this chapter stating that they already know what they need to be obedient, he extends the same thought regarding their love.
Q: What is Paul urging?
A: “…to excel still more.” (v.10) It’s taking what is already known, what has been put into practice already, and taking it to an even deeper level.
Q: What are the 2 different groups Paul identifies in v.10 and v.12?
A: Believers and non-Believers.
Q: What is the difference in how we are to show love for Believers vs. non-Believers?
A: In v.9-10 Paul is stating that we already know how to love each other within the church and should strive to excel even more at it; in v.11-12 Paul is saying that the example of our life will be the conduit of love towards non-Believers.
Application: Just as “…your work of faith…” is aligning our behavior – in this case to be wholly devoted and pure unto Christ – so is our “…labor of love…” a result of the choices we make in how to live and conduct ourselves.
Q: What is the biggest difference between this point and the previous two regarding faith and love?
A: Whereas the previous teachings were affirmation to excel in what they already knew, here Paul is conveying something new.
Q: What makes this teaching different? What is the human perspective?
A: Whereas the work of faith and labor of love are activities that consume us during this present life, the hope elaborated here is future-focused.
Q: How does hope for something that won’t occur until AFTER this life in all practicality help the “work” and “labor” of this life?
A: It justifies our devotion to a pure relationship with Christ and our obedience to Him in all things – our behavior on earth will result in eternal benefits. Also, “life” is not limited to just our time on earth.
Q: According to v.18, what does our hope result in for THIS life?
A: Comfort for each other.
Application: Our “hope” is not to make a grand commotion about End Times events but to point towards them through our steady, quiet, confident lives. For Believers, it’s a tool of unity and reassurance – not anticipation of a fireworks show.
Note that within each of these points there are both personal and group implications. Our behavioral choices have both personal and group benefits and responsibilities.
Personal
Group
[Note: Each aspect of personal application is the first commandment to love God with all our heart, soul and mind. Each aspect of group application fulfills the second, to love our neighbor as our self.]