Chapter # 4 Paragraph # 1 Study # 2
October 26, 2014
Dayton, Texas
(Download Audio)
(083)
Thesis:The walk that pleases God has a specific process and goal in mind: sanctification.
Introduction:Last week we looked into the issue of the believer's "bottom line": a focus upon gradual improvement in skillful walking. Tonight we are going to look further into that issue.
- I. Paul's Focus Upon the Process.
- A. Giving/Receiving.
- 1. When Paul arrived in Thessalonica, he gave them instructions.
- a. The word used means "revelations of the desires of the originator of the revelations".
- b. The strength of those instructions varies in the various contexts in which they are found.
- 1) With demons, the instructions are "demands" that will not brook rejection.
- 2) With humans, the instructions vary all the way from "invitations" to "demands".
- 3) The underlying issue of "enforcement" is not consistent.
- 2. When Paul arrived in Thessalonica, the Thessalonians "received" the instructions given (4:1).
- a. This word is an intensified term, taking a primary verb and adding the preposition para.
- b. Its meaning is revealed in John 1:11-12 where the intensified form is used in 1:11 and the regular form is used in 1:12.
- B. Instructions.
- C. Knowing.
- 1. Because "pleasing" the God requires "faith", there has to be relatively clear understanding.
- 2. Paul's declaration that they "know" indicates that they have that understanding.
- D. The Lord's Involvement.
- 1. The grammar is sufficiently odd as to attract the attention of the grammarians.
- 2. What Paul has in mind seems to be a recap of his understanding that the Thessalonians' "receiving and knowing" is a result of the work of the Savior/Lord.
- II. Paul's Focus Upon the Goal.
- A. In General.
- 1. The desire of the God (Father).
- a. Paul's focus upon the God is that He is our Father.
- b. The instructions coalesce around what His desire is for His children.
- 2. Your sanctification.
- a. The purging of "imbalance".
- b. The instilling of anything that is missing.
- B. Specifically.
- 1. Learning how to "abstain".
- a. The word signals a holding a thing at a distance.
- b. The concept is that of "believing" whatever promise addresses the "thing".
- 2. Avoiding sexual misconduct.
- a. The word is a general term that includes all manner of activities.
- b. The implication is that there is a particular "imbalance" that is relatively universal.
