Picture me if you would with my new lawnmower. Wanting to quickly get it going because of my excitement, I ignore the owner’s manual and immediately try to get it running. I look at the gas tank and it says that the gasoline must be mixed. Wondering exactly what it means by that I had the passing sensation to open my owner’s manual or call Nick to find out. Yet I have a feeling that I know what it takes to get it running. So I grab my gasoline can, make sure the cap is on tight and shake it really well. Now I know that my gasoline is mixed. I pour it in careful to use the mower ensuring that the gasoline stays mixed. I prime the mower and pull on the cord. It starts right up and I am proud of my mechanical prowess. I begin to mow the lawn and as I do I notice that the engine is smoking profusely. I guess that it must be due to the newness of the engine and continue to mow my lawn for a little longer until it stops. Of course when I can’t get it going again and call Nick to figure out what to do, I get the tongue lashing of my life for destroying my new lawnmower.
Unfortunately, this is the way that some people seek to live the Christian life. They go on intuition, feelings and chance ultimately making shipwreck of their life because they fail to utilize what God has given us to live it.
At the end of chapter three, Paul prays for the Thessalonian believers that they would be made holy. He says that God has given us two means of sanctification apart from which we will not experience the growth of the Christian life, as we should.
The key idea of this passage is that this prayer for our sanctification (holiness) shows us that our sanctification will not come except by the means that God has supplied for His people, the church.
Paul prays for the believers here in Thessalonica. He prays so that they might be sanctified. Before we get into the passage at hand we need to look into the idea of sanctification.
I think we need an introduction to sanctification for two reasons. First, some of you may be unfamiliar with the biblical idea of sanctification. Secondly, you may wonder where the idea of sanctification comes from in this text. Well let me answer the last issue first since it is the simplest part. In verse 13 Paul says, “That He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness.” The word “holiness” is the same word translated in other places in Scripture as sanctification. So Paul is requesting that God would establish (or strengthen) your heart without blame by (through) sanctification. This sanctification is what Paul is saying he would like to see established in the lives of the Thessalonians.
Now onto the first part of this introduction regarding sanctification. Just what is sanctification? Well simply it means to be set apart for God. Our word saint is derived from this. Actually, we could just as well call this being “saint-ified.” God’s plan for our lives is our “saintification.” As a matter of fact, the Scripture says that without it no one will see the Lord.
So let’s describe sanctification. There are three aspects to sanctification, or being made holy or set apart. The first aspect of this sanctification is initial sanctification. This is the act in which God delivers us from the penalty of sin. God sets us apart from it unto Himself. Each of us has carried, or perhaps you still carry, the weight of sin. When we put our trust in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross as that which paid for our sin, God declares us righteous in His sight. At that time, as a judge, God declare us not guilty because He assigns the punishment due us onto His Son. This is why Paul can call the believers in Corinth (with their many problems and their carnality) as having been sanctified in 6:11. And this is why in the opening verses of that letter he is able to describe them as “those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” So here Paul notes that not only are the Corinthians saints, but also are those “who in EVERY PLACE call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” So incase you didn’t realize it, you who have called on the name of the Lord as your Savior are saints. Which brings us to the second aspect of sanctification.
The second aspect of sanctification is practical sanctification. In other words, if God calls us, who have put our trust in Christ, saints we are now to live like it. This is what Paul depicts in 2 Timothy 2:21. “Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the master, prepared for every good work.” So we see there is an additional aspect of sanctification because Paul is speaking of our conduct. If we have been called saints by God then we should live like saints. If we are not living like saints, then we are not useful to the master, prepared for every good work. This is where we mustn’t get the cart before the horse. We don’t try to clean ourselves up and make ourselves presentable to God so that He will call us saints. He does so by very decree through our faith in Him. He cleanses our hearts by faith so that we might be able to live a new kind of life. This is where we have victory over the power of sin in our lives. Finally, there is complete sanctification. This is where we are completely set apart unto God when we see Him in heaven. Here we are removed from the presence of sin and no longer will we fall or stumble or be tempted by sin again. The Scripture sees this part, not occurring simply at the death of the believer, but in the resurrection of the believer at the coming of Christ. This is what Paul seems to imply at the end of 1 Thessalonians when he says, “Now may the God of peace sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” You could say that at this time we will be set apart for Lord (or sanctified) lock, stock and barrel (our body, soul and spirit). So hopefully you can see that we have been sanctified (by God’s decree through faith in Christ), we are being sanctified (by living holy lives) and we will be sanctified when God finally resurrects our bodies and reunites our spirit and body together.
1. The Means of Sanctification
So what are the means of daily practical sanctification that God has given us to live holy lives? I think this passage describes two of them.
A. The Apostles’ teaching
The first means of daily practical sanctification that God has given us to live holy lives is the Apostles’ teaching. As Paul begins to pray here in verse 11, he prays that the Father and Son may direct their way unto the Thessalonians. Why did Paul feel it necessary that they come to Thessalonica? He describes the reason in verse 10 that we viewed last week. There he says, “That we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith.”
This church had had the benefit of the teaching of the apostles for perhaps only 3-4 weeks. Because of the persecution against Paul and his companions this church received one of the shortest segments of apostolic teaching. Paul wanted to give them the foundational teaching about the church that they needed, to ground them solidly in the faith. Continuing in the apostles’ teaching was a sign of the faith of the early believers. Act 2, describes this hunger for the doctrine of the apostles’. In 2:42 it says, the believers “were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching.” That is they were continually seeking to learn the Word of God about His plan for this new body called the church.
Paul wanted to complete the faith of the Thessalonians through their teaching because he wanted to see their hearts strengthened in sanctification. So how is it that we have the apostles’ teaching today? We have the apostles’ teaching through the Word of God. Paul wanted the Thessalonians to be completed or equipped as to their faith through their visit. We see that it is related to the Scripture because he uses a related word in 2 Timothy when he speaks about the work of the Word of God in a person’s life. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 he says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness so that the man of God may be perfect, equipped for every good work.”
What has taken the place of the apostles’ doctrine? The Scripture. The Bible says what God has given us is itself complete and completes those who follow its teaching. So what does this say about the necessity for the Word of God in the completion of our faith and sanctification? Apart from it we cannot progress spiritually. Why is this? God has given the Scripture preeminence as our means of sanctification.
Romans says that “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”
And Paul said that he had to treat the Corinthians to the spiritual milk of the Word because they were not yet able to have solid food.
In Galatians 6 Paul says that it is necessary to be taught the Word of God.
In Ephesians 6, Paul says that our only offensive weapon in the battle against Satan is the Word of God.
In Philippians 4, Paul says that they were to practice the Word of God they learned from him.
In Colossians 3, Paul says that we are to let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly.
In 1 Thessalonians 2, Paul says that we are to receive the Word that performs its work in us.
In 2 Thessalonians 3, it says that we are to pray that the Word of the Lord spreads rapidly so that it would work in others.
1 Timothy 4 describes the necessity for the public reading of the Scripture in church.
2 Timothy 3 says that the Word of God makes us fit for every good work.
Titus 2 says that we are to live in such a way so that the Word of God will not be dishonored and that the pastor of the church is to hold fast to the faithful Word.
Hebrews 4 says that the Word of God is a powerful sword to cut out the sin in our lives.
James says in chapter 2 of his letter that we are to be doers of the Word and not hearers only.
Peter says in chapter 2 of his first letter that we are to desire the sincere milk of the Word so that we may grow in respect to our salvation.
2 Peter chapter 1 says that the Word of God was not written by men’s design but by the Holy Spirit.
John says in chapter 5 of his first letter that it is written so we may know we have eternal life.
In his second letter, he says that whoever does not abide in Christ’s teaching does not have God.
In his third letter, he says that we should walk in the truth of the Word of God.
The book of Revelation says that there will be a curse to those who add or take away from the Word of God. So do you think that the New Testament has a little to say about the importance of the Word of God in the life of the believer? And as the author of Hebrews says, “Time would not permit me” to mention what the Old Testament says about the place of the Word of God in the life of the believer. So how do we practically grow in our holiness? It is by the apostles’ teaching given to us in the Word so that we grow practically (or realistically) in our walk with Christ.
B. The Spirit’s working
The second means of daily practical sanctification that God has given us to live holy lives is the Spirit’s working. Paul says this in verse 12. “May the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you.” Why do I say that Paul is speaking of the Spirit’s Working? It is because of the words that he is using to describe this.
i. Abound
The first word that clues us into the fact that Paul is speaking about the working of the Holy Spirit in the life of these believers is “abound.” May the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another.” How are we able to abound in our love for one another? In Philippians 1:9-11 Paul answers this. Here, Paul is describing the content of his prayer for the Philippians. In it he says, “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
Now hopefully you can see the connection here. First, Paul says the very same thing as in 1 Thessalonians. His prayer for them is that they may abound in love yet more and more. Where do we find this ability to love? Philippians 1:11 tells us. “Having been filled with the fruit of righteousness.” Let’s move now one more step. What is this fruit of righteousness? It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. This fruit is the produce, if you will, of God’s Spirit working in our lives.
Paul is praying for both the Thessalonians and the Philippians that they would experience the working of the Holy Spirit in their lives and it would evidence itself by the fruit of the Spirit.
ii. Love
The second word that clues us into the fact that Paul is speaking about the working of the Holy Spirit in the life of these believers is the word, “love.” Paul asks the Lord to cause their love to abound towards one another and for all people. Why does this speak of the work of the Spirit in a person’s life? Galatians 5 speaks clearly of the Work of the Spirit in a person’s life through the outworking of spiritual fruit. Galatians 5 says, “The fruit of the Spirit is love.” And how does this love work itself out in our lives? As Paul continues, “joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” I think Paul wants love as abounding in our lives because he is using it as the catchall fruit. If you don’t have love acting in your life toward others (believers or unbelievers) then the Spirit is not doing His work in you.
Whenever you want to know if you are godly you can go to this passage in Galatians 5:22-23 and ask, “Is the fruit of the Spirit evidencing itself in my life?”
Now this sanctification, this becoming godly, Christ-like, only comes through the causation of the Lord. Look at Paul’s words. May the Lord cause you to increase and abound.” This is why we need to pray for the Lord to work in us. We need to cry out to God that He would open our eyes to His Word. We need to plead with Him to live God honoring, Spirit empowered lives. And if we are serious about wanting to know His Word and to live like Christ then we will regularly cry out to God to cause us to do so.
From the parallel passages in Ephesians and Colossians we see that the work of the Spirit goes hand in hand with the Word of God. Ephesians 5 says, “Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” Colossians 3 says, Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” Do you see the connection? If you aren’t allowing the Word of God to dwell in you richly, then it is not the Spirit of God by whom you are filled. Take the Word of God and imbibe it, devour it. And cry out to God to make it come alive to you so that the Spirit would do His work in your life.
2. The Result of Sanctification
Finally, we see the result of sanctification. In verse 13 we see this result of Paul’s prayer. He prays that they might be further instructed in the Word of God and that God’s Spirit would work in them with the result that they may be made holy or sanctified. Verse 13 says, “so that (or with the result that) He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.” Paul mentions two characteristics of the sanctification that takes place through the Word of God and the Working of the Spirit of God.
A. Leading to a blameless life
The first characteristic of this sanctification is that it is leading to a blameless life. Paul says in verse 13 he is praying the result of their sanctification would be to establish their hearts without blame. The word for “establish” is literally “to strengthen.” Paul wanted to see the core of their being strengthened. Why did they need to be strengthened? As we learned in the past few weeks, they were going through a time of intense persecution at the hands of their own countrymen. They needed the strength not to give into the temptation to lash back and retaliate being devoid of Christian love.
You see if they failed to respond in a loving fashion how would the conviction of God’s Spirit work in the hearts of their persecutors. If we respond as our persecutors do we are not acting blamelessly. But if, when from the love of the Spirit working in our hearts, we love our enemies then we are blameless. Do you think that it would be easy to go through mocking and hardships because of your faith and still respond in a godly fashion? We need our hearts strengthened to go through such things blamelessly. For how else can we see those who hate Christ and us be reached with the gospel?
God chooses to use our blameless responses to persecution to win people to Him. In a Chinese labor camp in 1969, one young man was hung on a cross like Christ. During the six days before he died, he prayed constantly out loud that his persecutors would be forgiven and receive Christ. In the same camp a young girl was forced to kneel in the center of a circle of people who stoned her. It was said that her face was shining, like Stephen when he was stoned. Later, one of those who threw the stones, broke down and received Christ as Savior.
Perhaps we will never receive persecution like this. But when we receive mocking or abuse for following our convictions in Christ do we respond blamelessly? When we are made fun of at work or by our neighbors or family do we show them the love of Christ? Do we pray for them that they too may see the truth of the Gospel? We can only do so if we are being sanctified by the Word of God and the Spirit of God. God must produce this love in us that allows us to pray for our enemies. I will say, that apart from the Spirit of God we cannot love our enemies. We cannot pray for those who despitefully use us and persecute us for our faith. It is not in us, except by the Spirit of God. And this is why Paul is praying for the Thessalonians that they might be strengthened to be blameless in holiness, or by this process of sanctification.
B. Looking to a returning Savior
Secondly, the next characteristic of this sanctification is that it is looking to a returning Savior. The hope of this sanctification is that Jesus is going to return and reward those longing for His return. John says this in his first letter. “Beloved, now we are the children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”
If we are going to be like Christ forever then we will want to know Him now in preparation for that time when we shall be like Him. So this sanctification anticipates two things.
i. Anticipates judgment
First, this sanctification anticipates judgment. This is what Paul says at the end of verse 13. “Before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” The Word “before” means “in the presence of” and denotes the time that we will stand before the Father in judgment.
But we who are seeking to be sanctified by the Word of God and the Spirit of God are anticipating judgment. Why are we looking forward to the judgment? It is because judgment for the believer does not contain condemnation. There is no reckoning for our sin. Romans 8:1 says, “Now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Paul says in his second letter to Timothy that “In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
Because, for the believer, their sin has already been judged at the cross. All of it has been blotted out. Hebrews 10: 10 says, “By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” and 10:14 says, “For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” His work on the cross was sufficient to have removed our sin from us.
So of what does the judgment for the believer consist? It consists of the reward of the believer in order to bring glory to God. As Peter says in his first letter, “so that your faith . . . may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” This is for those who love His appearing. We should long for the return of Christ and be living in light of that coming. If we live for ourselves and seek our own glory and honor now then what reward will we have to show for our life on earth?
And in anticipating this coming judgment we should live as Paul says, that whatever we are doing we are seeking to be pleasing to God. We live in a society that, as I heard someone say, “thinks with its feelings.” No longer do we find truth to be the governing factor in our lives but how we feel. “If it feels good, do it,” the saying goes. But the Christian’s slogan should be, “If it is good, do it.” Our feelings should not drive our actions but the truth of God’s Word should be our motivating factor. If we are accountable to God for all that we do, should we not then live as if it were so? Should we stand before Him without anything praiseworthy to offer our Lord because we lived on the basis of what we thought and felt was right instead of what His Word says is right? Oh let us anticipate His judgment not in dread but in delight out of a life that is well pleasing to Him lived according to His Word.
ii. Anticipates heaven
Second, this sanctification anticipates heaven. How else does Paul describe this? “At the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.” This statement of Paul’s should evoke from us the joy of seeing our Savior face to face. It signals the wonder of a rest from all our labors. It signals the glory of worship unhindered by the distractions of our mind and sinful flesh. It signals the entrance of a new life with God. It will be a place in which we will not grow weary of worship, a place in which we will not worry about having our needs met, a place where we will finally get to know our Savior like we have been longing to all our life. Nothing will hinder our relationship with Him again “At the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints”
I think there is so very little said about heaven in the Bible because it is so beyond our comprehension. Who are we to understand what it is like to have anything without defect or imperfection? We can’t even have a family picture taken without having someone closing their eyes or sticking out their tongues. Yet heaven is going to be so glorious that presently our minds can only taste the edging of the dessert. How much better will it be when we can sink our teeth clean into it? There will be Jesus and His saints. And we will be changed into His image. There will be perfect harmony between each one of us as we worship our Lord together forever.
Have you been saintified? Are you being saintified? Will you be saintified? You can only be if you have placed your trust in Jesus Christ alone as your Savior. If you are trusting in your good deeds and the fact that you have turned over a new leaf, God will not save you. He will only save you if you recognize that you cannot meet His standards and place your trust in the fact that Jesus bore all your sin away at Calvary.
And let me encourage each believer here today to trust God’s provision for your ongoing sanctification. Look to the Word of God and the Spirit of God to transform your life. Yearn to be made like the Lord Jesus and cry out to Him to open His Word to you and cause His Spirit to work in you. Ask Him to show you how much you need to be made like the Lord Jesus so that you would crave His righteousness in your life. You can’t progress in the Christian life without His Word and His Spirit’s work in your life, so seek Him today.