1 Thessalonians 5:24 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

NIV: The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

NASB: Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will do it.

CSB: He who calls you is faithful; he will do it.

NLT: God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.

KJV: Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

NKJV: He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

In this verse Paul expresses his confidence in God's ability to bring about the Thessalonians' complete holiness. God is able to "perfect" His people. When He saved us, God gave us what is called positional sanctification. This term means God set us apart from the world, to be in Christ, and to be viewed by Him as righteous (Hebrews 10:10; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:21). As we grow spiritually, we become increasingly holy. This process is called progressive sanctification. We lead a life that honors God. Our thought life should grow in purity (Psalm 1:1–3; Philippians 4:8), and our behavior should more and more conform to the teachings of his Word (Psalm 119:133). Ultimate sanctification refers to the completion of our holiness at the rapture, when spirit, soul, and body will be made perfect (Philippians 3:20–21; 1 John 3:2). Our sanctification will take place because, as Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:24, "He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it."

In our own strength, we would fail, but God cannot fail.

First Thessalonians 5:23–28 concludes Paul's initial letter to the Thessalonians. He pronounces a benediction of peace and prays that God will make the Thessalonians completely holy. He prays that this holiness would extend to their spirit, soul, and body and that they would be preserved free of every legitimate accusation at the rapture. He expresses confidence that God would make this happen. Paul's final instructions include a request for the Thessalonians to pray for him, a command to greet one another cordially, and a command to read aloud this very letter to the entire church. Finally, he invokes God's grace to be with his readers.

First Thessalonians chapter 5 reiterates that the rapture will occur quickly, catching the unbelieving world unprepared. In contrast, Paul presents faithful Christians as those who are aware and ready for this event. This passage uses the contrast of day versus night to highlight those differences. Paul also completes his letter by offering various practical instructions. These include the need to be peaceful, hardworking, and forgiving. He also commends constant prayer and an attitude of joyfulness, before closing his letter with a command for this letter to be read aloud.

The end of chapter 4 discussed the nature of the rapture: a sudden, physical ''taking away'' of believers from the earth. Here, Paul continues to refer to this event's sudden and dramatic nature. A key analogy used in this passage is that of daytime versus darkness, and the concept of being awake and alert. As with many of Paul's letters, practical instructions make up the bulk of his closing statements. In particular, Paul adds a command that this letter be read aloud among all of the people of the Thessalonian church.

The apostle Paul's second missionary journey included a visit to the prominent Greek city of Thessalonica. This stood alongside a major land route and boasted a busy seaport. A number of individuals believed Paul's message (Acts 17:1–4), but an angry mob forced Paul to leave the city after his brief stay. Later, while in Athens, Paul received a glowing report: the believers at Thessalonica were growing spiritually and serving God fervently. However, they had questions about the Lord's return, including what happens to a believer who dies before that day. And, as all churches do, they had some areas in which they were falling short. In Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians, written about AD 51, he addresses these developments. Paul expresses gratitude for the Thessalonian believers' spiritual progress, and frequently makes references to Christ's impending return.

Accessed 12/21/2024 6:18:48 AM