Have you ever heard the phrase, “I got myself into this mess, and I’ll get myself out”? Not a bad phrase, but what if we said it another way – “I made bad choices and got myself into this mess; therefore I – by my own bad choices – will get out of it”. If we are honest with ourselves, we pretty much always need help cleaning up our own messes, otherwise, it’s likely we’ll just make it worse. The truth is, when we rely on ourselves, we are guaranteed to keep making a mess of our own lives. As we look again in review of 1 Thessalonians, we are reminded that we must stand firm in the truth and walk worthy of the gospel. But this is something we cannot do on our own. We need help. In part one of this review, we examined the first two needs we have; we need strong relationships with believers and loving fellowship to stand firm and walk worthy of the gospel. In part two, we will examine that by God’s grace, we must stand firm in the truth and walk worthy of the gospel – but never by ourselves. Specifically, we need the Lord and His strength. In the last verses of 1 Thessalonians, we are given the final two reminders which point us towards Him.

1. We need to hear and obey God’s Word

1 Thess. 5:27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.

In the final regards of this letter which Paul is writing to the Thessalonians, he instructs that – by the Lord Jesus, in whom is the true authority – this letter be read aloud to the congregation. There are practical reasons for this command, as well as spiritual. The people back then did not have easy and quick access to the Word of the Lord. So, reading it aloud was the simplest way for everyone to hear it. But more than that, God is instructing His people to hear His word. This instruction was not just for the Thessalonian people though; it was for all God’s people. This would include us today! We have received direct instruction from God – through the Bible which we have clear and ready access too unlike the Thessalonians – so we should pay close attention to it and learn what God says. Yet it is not enough to simply know God’s Word and read it together. We also must do God’s Word. 

We don’t just read scripture together and gain knowledge. What good would it be to listen to God’s word if you then refuse to do what it says? Again, because of what God has done for us in Christ Jesus, we must give our lives and our whole selves to obey what He says. The Thessalonians obeyed the Word because they had believed the gospel (1 Thess. 1:6-10). They sought to remain faithful to God through the instruction and discipleship which they received from Paul and Silas, and as a result they were not shy about their faith. Do we have that same confidence? We must stand firm in the truth of the gospel by relying on His strength. To do so, we need to hear and do the word of God. 

2. We need to always remember God’s grace

1 Thess. 5:28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.   

This verse is a traditional farewell, and a simple prayer reminding the people from Whom they will receive the strength to do the things written in this letter. We, too, ought to recall and rely on the grace of Christ in our lives. There are a few ways the Thessalonians were expected to remember God’s grace. First, they were to consider their salvation (1 Thess. 1:4-5). They were saved by the power of God – the grace of Jesus Christ was already with them! They could have complete confidence, no matter the kind of difficulty or pain they faced on this earth, they belong to Jesus. This is true grace! This simple farewell Paul writes has abundant significance for the person who has put his/her faith in Christ (2 Tim. 1:9). The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ truly is already with those of us who have placed our faith in the saving work of Jesus’ death and resurrection (Matt. 28:20, Heb. 13:5). Just as the Thessalonian believers were to consider their salvation, remembering what Christ has done, so must we. Given all the hard things that happen in our daily lives (death, persecution, heart break, persistent temptation, etc.) it would be easy to doubt and forget what Christ has done. But when you remember Jesus and His work on the cross, you know it is worth it to suffer as you serve Him. 

Second, not only are we to consider our salvation, but we must also walk with God (1 Thess. 4:1-2). This is about remembering Christ’s work in our daily lives. Without His work, there is no real value to what we do or why we do it. In everything, we must remember what Christ did and therefore give our lives back to Him (Rom. 12:1). If you have trusted Christ, you are made new. As part of this new nature, we’re told in Ephesians 4:22-24 that we are to put off our old ways and put on our new ways. In other words: we are a new person and should act like it. When we consider our salvation and apply that understanding to becoming a new person for Christ, it is there we can recall Christ in our lives and rely on His strength. 

Conclusion:

We get ourselves into a lot of messes and the reality is, we can’t get ourselves out. Just as Paul, throughout 1 Thessalonians, shows the believers what they needed to stand firm, we find we have the very same needs. These are God’s expectations for our lives as His children. So, let us seek to walk worthy of the gospel, hearing and obeying God’s Word, and remembering what Christ has done for us, that God may be glorified and Christ magnified in our hearts and lives.  

Questions for Discussion: 

1. Why can’t we stand firm in the truth if we don’t hear and obey God’s Word? 
2. What are some practical ways that you can purposefully hear and do what the Bible says? 
3. Why is it important to remember God’s grace? How often do you think about your salvation?