Children Of The Day
CHILDREN OF THE DAY
1 THESSALONIANS 5:1-11
God calls the church to be alert in order that he may display it as the church triumphant.
The second concern of the fainthearted was their unpreparedness for the Day of the Lord, when God comes to judge all people and unleash his wrath (see, eg Amos 5:18; Isaiah 13:6-8; Ezekiel 13:10; Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11). Paul had instructed them that the Day of the Lord will come with an unexpected suddenness “like a thief in the night,” catching the wicked unaware (5:2f.; see also Luke 12:39; 2 Peter 3:10). Without a blameless life men cannot enter into eternal fellowship with the Lord (3:13; 5:22f.). Who is equal to such a demand? The fainthearted were fearful for their own salvation.
At the beginning of the letter Paul had anticipated his present words of encouragement when he expressed his assurance that God had chosen the Thessalonian Christians (1:4). Now he takes up their concern in earnest, perhaps in response to a specific request for further information concerning “times and seasons” (5:1). The Thessalonians were asking, “How long will it be before the Lord comes?” and, “What guideposts will help us to recognize the nearness of his coming?” The apostle assures his readers that they do not need additional instruction concerning the Day of the Lord (see 5:2-5), but a fresh determination to demonstrate the watchfulness and soberness characteristic of the “day” (5:6-8).
“Night,” “darkness,” “sleep,” “drunkenness” describe those who are insensitive to God’s purposes and for whom there will be no escape when the Day of the Lord exposes their deeds to his judgment. “Day,” “light,” “wakefulness,” “soberness” evoke the image of the alert church vigilant, waiting expectantly for the coming of Christ. The church knows all that it needs to know—that the Day of the Lord will come, that God will bring to fulfillment his sovereign purposes, and that God demands a life consistent with the character of Christian calling (4:7). The antidote to anxiety and fear is engagement in a spiritual warfare, for which God has provided an adequate armor in faith, love and hope (5:8; see also Ephesians 6:10-20). To dispel unjustified fears once for all, Paul reassures his readers, “God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (5:9, see also 1:10). He reminds the Thessalonians of Christ’s death on our behalf and his ultimate intention that we shall “live with him” (5:10; see also 4:16f.).
The Day of the Lord is a day of wrath, but not for God’s redeemed people. In this assurance there may be found a sufficient reason for mutual encouragement and upbuilding (5:11).