The Dead Shall Rise: 1 Thessalonians 5:20-28

1 Thessalonians 5:20 "Despise not prophesyings."

This sermon from American Pastor J.D. Montieth explores Paul's epistles to the Thessalonians in a series titled The Dead Shall Rise. This sermon, the thirteenth and final in the series, 1 Thessalonians 5:20-28 concludes Paul's epistle to the Thessalonians with his final exhortations and blessings: "

"It is critical in the church that all things should be proven and examined to see if they pass the test for truly being of God, and inspired by the Holy Spirit. This will include not only using spiritual discernment to perceive true Christians over those who only profess Christ, but also all doctrines, that are said to come in God’s name. Discerning of spirits is essential, in order that nothing is allowed into Christ’s church, without having its source in God.

"Once a nation or generation forsakes God, through choosing sin, then it will simultaneously try and change the definition of what God considers divinely good. It is not enough for evil men to depart from the light, without them also attempting to pervert what true light really is. Sinners thus, when apostatizing from divine rule, will assert that sin is righteousness, and righteousness is sin. Not content with merely breaking God’s commandments, those who practice sin, and have chosen to live lives through being governed by it, will attempt to deceive others as to what truth really is.

"Jesus saves the whole man, his whole being, and men should not think that just because the Spirit returns to God at death, that the entire man will not be fully restored at Christ’s second coming. Understanding that God saves the entire Christian, then it is reasonable that all that the Christian both is and has, should be used in service to the Lord. Because the entire man will be saved at Christ’s second coming, the entire man should be yielded to God, for God’s service, in preparation of that day.

"Hope in Christ’s return also is a mark of a true Christians, since none will both expectantly and longingly wish for Christ’s second appearance, who are not Sons of God themselves. The hope of Christ’s return changed the Thessalonian church and those converted to Christ through it, even as, if we believe the same message, it will transform our lives as well.

"There is hardly anything more that will purify the Christian’s faith and manner of life more, than belief in the Son of God’s return. When a man’s eyes are set on the second appearance of Christ, neither worldly affection nor carnal lust has the power to draw him away from God’s call for his life. It is those who cannot see Christ afar off, and set their hearts on such insignificant things such as worldly fame, temporal abundance and/or pleasure, and human approval. What a man navigates by forms his character, and this is why when men set their eyes on holy things, then they shall themselves, like Moses, be transformed in the process.

"Very appropriately the apostle closes his epistle to the Thessalonians, in like manner that he began it— reminding all the holy brethren of Thessalonica that it was by the grace of God that they were saved, and nothing of themselves which could accomplish this glorious work performed upon them. Leaving us with the simple truth that all Christianity is, at its core, a religion of grace, the only form of religion also that sinners like ourselves could remain faithful to. Thankfully, this grace, comes to us as a gift from God, which gift we must also possess if we are to be received and have our bodies changed by the Lord Jesus at His glorious return. Amen."

Broadcast live on 08/28/2022