Sanctified. 1st Thessalonians 5:23 In the five places in scripture where “the God of peace” is used to describe the One who answers prayer, there appears to be an underlying cause of anxiety. The anxiety of the Thessalonian believers stemmed from a lack of understanding about the coming of the Lord. In this brief prayer, Paul emphasizes that holy living and the nature of the church are connected by the challenge of sanctifying the entire person. God has made peace between Himself and believers through the blood of Christ. A continuous living relationship exists between our spirits and the Spirit of God.
We cannot separate our spiritual life from any other part of our lives. We are involved with more than just when we attend assembly meetings. We do not obey Him only in matters that concern our souls and spirits. Our Lord has the right to control all parts of us, not just those related to prayer, Bible study, attending the assembly, and Gospel testimony. God Himself bestows this grace of sanctification on every part of our being, and it is meant to be complete and absolute.
Only then can we be considered “blameless” when we meet our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming. Every aspect of a Christian’s life should reflect evidence that we have been set apart as holy people by a holy God. This same grace should be visible in the life of a church as a holy living organism. Just as spiritual light reveals spiritual truth, this process of sanctification continues throughout our lives and will likely persist and grow in eternity.
Our spirits must be protected from anything that interferes with our relationship with and worship of God during our time here. Our souls need safeguarding from the corruption of uncontrolled thoughts and temptations of the flesh that battle against the soul. Our bodies are tempted to evil uses that attract us to do what is “good for food,” which God has forbidden; “a delight to the eyes,” which gratifies the soul; and “make one wise,” which can make the spiritually dead believe they are as important and knowledgeable as God.
My obedience to His word sustains my spirit and my fellowship with God. It is lived out daily as "the Spirit bears witness" with my spirit. Every aspect of a Christian’s life should demonstrate that we are set apart as holy to the God of peace. The soul is sanctified as my relationship with others is influenced by my response to my spirit's fellowship with the Lord. My body will turn away from what attracts it because of the mental and moral boundaries set by my soul and spirit. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all working on our behalf as "the God of peace" to preserve us so there will be no grounds for accusation when the Lord comes.
Joy flows from our spirits by choice when we worship wholeheartedly. Others catch that happiness because holy joy is contagious and is expressed when we gather in testimony and joyful fellowship to praise our Lord Jesus, who blesses us every day. We offer thanks in thoughts and words when our souls are warm. Through songs, we testify and praise our Lord's name as we await the moment when He will return. With prayer and thanksgiving, we honor His name and glory.
These bodies, in which our spirits and souls reside, move under the control of our choices. The Holy Spirit prompts and guides us to open our voices and proclaim the salvation and blessings we have received from God. This epistle was written so that we might look higher than the earth to where the things of time and sense will soon become things of the past. Spirit, soul, and body are of immeasurable worth and will ultimately be truly holy at the rapture. When the Lord comes, we will finally be home.
God is Faithful. 1st Thessalonians5:24 God has called us to Himself. What we cannot do on our own, God can do through us. He will fulfill His will when we are available for Him to use, which is what He expects from us. The Thessalonians needed to be taught that God was working through them to advance the Gospel, and that was why they were successful in their Christian testimony so far. They had to be made aware of how God plans to use them and their responsibility in this work. The same is true for us today.
God not only calls us to be holy, but He also makes and keeps us holy. Like the apostle Paul, our confidence rests in the nature of God, who can always be trusted. What He starts, He completes. Through Him, we are saved and forgiven of our sins forever. Since then, He has been working in us to make us like our Lord Jesus Christ, and He will finish this work of salvation when our bodies are made like His glorious body.
God does not change His mind like humans do. He always does what He says and keeps His promises. When the Lord Jesus said He was going away to prepare a place for us and would come again to receive us to Himself, that is a promise He will fulfill. The comfort and reassurance the promise of our Lord’s return brought to the believers in Thessalonica have continued to comfort believers through the centuries up to today.
Since it was written in the Bible, “He that shall come will come, and will not tarry” has long been an encouragement for holy living and faithful service among all of God’s people. It provides comfort to saints who are suffering and grieving and who do not want to be ashamed before Him at His coming. This promise, which purifies, sanctifies, and motivates, is a practical reason for individuals and congregations of God to remain faithful to our Lord and His Word.