1 Thessalonians 5:1-24

Sermon Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-8

1 Thessalonians 5:1-8 I. The Apostle having disclosed much in the foregoing verses about the Lord's second coming, and the respective shares in its glory which are to fall to those of His people who are then asleep, and those of them who are then alive, and remain, and having shown that the one class will not be more highly favoured than the other, proceeds now to declare to his readers that, having such assured knowledge, they have enough. It is not for them in a spirit of mere curiosity to... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 5:8

1 Thessalonians 5:8 The Work and Armour of the Children of the Day. I. First, this central injunction, into which all the moral teaching drawn from the second coming of Christ is gathered "Let us be sober." Now, I do not suppose we are altogether to omit any reference to the literal meaning of this word. The context seems to show that by its reference to night as the season for drunken orgies. But, passing from that, let us turn to the higher subject with which the Apostle is here evidently... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10

1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 God's Appointment concerning Man. I. Note, first, the persons in whose favour God's appointment is made. They are believers in Jesus. Salvation is limited to faith in Christianity; and therefore the appointment of God that is unto salvation, must be subject to the same limitation. II. The appointment. There is a twofold aspect a negative and a positive view. He has not appointed us to wrath, but He has appointed us to obtain salvation through Jesus Christ. (1) Has He... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 5:9-15

1 Thessalonians 5:9-15 I. This passage, 1 Thessalonians 5:9-15 , has its interest and value as showing us that the earliest and the latest of the Pauline Epistles are all at one in regard to the central doctrines of salvation through Christ. In this passage, we have, wrapped up in few words, indeed, but none the less really contained in them, his one uniform declaration of salvation through Christ, and His atoning death. II. "Wherefore," seeing that such a future, such an inheritance of bliss... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 5:16

1 Thessalonians 5:16 The Duty of Gladness. I. It is of the very nature of a duty that it is in our power to perform it; and so with this one, the very fact of its being laid upon us proves that we may, if we will, obey it. And therefore this at once disposes of those who would be inclined to say that gladness does not depend on ourselves, that it is the privilege of the few only to be gay, and of those few only under peculiar circumstances; and that it is as vain to tell people to be merry and... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 I. "Rejoice evermore." The Thessalonian converts were living in the sphere of sorrow. The Apostle exhorts them to be "girded with gladness." This rejoicing, being in the Lord, is opposed to the spurious joy which is the possession of sinners. The rejoicing before God is the deep, calm delight of the soul in communion with the Saviour. It springs out of the three Christian graces which this epistle so strongly emphasises faith, hope, and love. II. "Pray without ceasing."... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 5:17

1 Thessalonians 5:17 I. The nature of prayer. Prayer is not a rite, not a ceremony, not a cold, outward observance, but an actual intercourse between two parties one who prays and One who hears. It is a communion between man and God, as real and actual as what passes between two men, when they speak face to face with each other. If the inward desire is absent, then prayer is absent; and though a man shall have breathed all his life long the words of prayer, he will never have prayed if he has... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 I. The Holy Spirit is here spoken of not strictly in respect of His Person, but in respect of His energising power in and on the heart. His workings, the Apostle would say, may be so counteracted as to become ineffectual. They may be quenched as the flame that is kindled for a time, but being neglected, sooner or later expires. Rain, dew, wind, fire, those mysterious agencies of nature, are in Scripture the fitting and effective emblems of the Holy Spirit's power in the... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 5:21

1 Thessalonians 5:21 Something Worth Holding. Our religion is I. Faith as opposed to infidelity. II. Holiness as opposed to sin. By holiness I mean all possible human virtues and graces, purity of heart, truthfulness, temperance, uprightness, downrightness, love, generosity, magnanimity all things good, true, and beautiful. To be holy is to be equal to the angels. To be holy is to be in the image of God. Note two things here. (1) The religion of Christ demands holiness. In this demand for... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 5:22

1 Thessalonians 5:22 Evil Superficially Attractive. I. This is so important a precept (1) because men's faculties are so frail. We cannot penetrate below the surface; therefore let that which is superficial express that which is below, and be an outward sign of an inward reality. If you are seeking good, do not let appearances be against you, but let the good which is your object shine out and show. But its importance arises (2) from the influence which men have over each other. If we conceal... read more

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