When Faith and Culture Collide. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

v. 1 Now about the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no need for explanations.

These verses connect directly to 4:13-18. The concerns the church had for those who had passed away regarding the Parousia were matched by their need to understand what happens to those who love Jesus and are alive when He returns. That’s the reason for the “Now, about that…” beginning. It almost appears they have been chatting with Paul about this already.

In ch. 4, Paul had need to write in order to help; here in ch. 5, he doesn’t have to explain in order to help. He simply encourages with the truth.

Concerning “times and seasons” can be times and opportunities or opportune moments. The two words indicate the stretch of time generally and the specific time period. And it would be that specific time where opportunity to live for the Kingdom is found.

Matthew 24 and Acts 1:7 relate directly what Jesus says. It’s not for us to know the very moment.

Illustration: Late Great Planet Earth, my experience. Click bait or worse at times. If you are interested in End Times Prophecies I recommend you read and watch with wisdom. Ask this question: does this knowledge propel me to live the Good News more effectively and fervently? Or does this knowledge only affirm my worries or concerns instead of causing me to fall in love with Jesus and live and share the Good News with more passion?

v. 2 Because you know all too well that the Day of the Lord comes like a thief during the night.

Paul likes to remind the church that “you, yourselves know…” In this case, they know very well that Jesus will come, and will come without warning.

In this set of verses, the church in our understanding is contrasted with the world who has ignored Jesus.

John 14 – Jesus goes away in order to come back and make things right.

The world is having “its day.” The Lord will come and bring His Day, His judgment, His reign.

Is there a connection between the Day of the Lord and Sunday’s worship becoming known as “the Lord’s Day.” It’s a foretaste of heaven to worship Jesus, see His grace and power poured out, etc.

Like a thief who intentionally shows up without warning, without noise, and in the night, to catch the person unawares.

v. 3 For while others might boast, “Peace, prosperity, stability,” at that very hour ruin looms suddenly;  just like a woman having a child has labor pains in her womb, it’s inescapable.

Ezekiel 13:10 and elsewhere, “they will say peace where there is no peace.” The boasts of peace and prosperity are echo chamber promises that don’t pan out. Peace and there is war; prosperity and there is want; stability and at the same time shifting sands. The verse means at the very time they proudly spout “peace” the opposition is happening.

One verb means “hanging over” and the adverb is suddenly.

v. 4 You, however, are not in the dark in such a manner that the Day should overcome you like a thief.

Since we are not walking around in the dark, we recognize the truth and see the Day coming. It will not suddenly loom as we are alert; neither will it bring pains like the sudden throes of labor. We see the thief at the stoop; we see the Day since we are children of the day.

v. 5 Because you all live as children of light and belong to the day; we do not live for the darkness and in the night.

For the Christian, the Day of the Lord will be filled with light, goodness, revelation, truth, joy; for the world, that Day will be like night, fearful, wandering aimlessly, destructive. You are sons and daughters of light.

Because we are children of light, we see, we know, we are freed from fear, our sin doesn’t haunt us, the guilt that holds others prisoners is gone in the light, the hope for a future is a product of the light.

Because we are children of light, we are ready for the Day of the Lord.

v. 6 We, then, don’t live as if we are asleep like everyone else but we keep our eyes open and  live sensibly.

Sleep is essential to life; but living as if we are asleep to the truth, to the mission of the Kingdom’s Good News, leaves us dead spiritually. We thrive when we are alive to the Good News. We live circumspectly and soberly. We keep our senses about us.

v. 7 For there are those who live like they are asleep in the night and those who are in the dark and barely aware from their drunken slumber.

Both of these images go against what people know are good healthy practices. If you live all the time as if you were asleep in the dead of night, you would not have real life. If you were drunken and lived in a stupor all day as if you had been on a binge, you would not have real life (but a real hangover.) If I did a verbatim translation: They that sleep, sleep in the night; they that are drunk, are drunk in the night.

This is juxtaposed with the following verse.

v. 8 But because we belong to the day, we should be clear-headed; since we are suited up with faith’s spiritual Kevlar, with love, and with the headgear of redemption’s hope.

Remember the earlier call to sober or mindful living. Here we are sober or clear-headed. And the reason is we live in Christ and have his protective gear on. Breastplate and helmet. Kevlar is the modern breastplate.

v. 9 After all, God has not positioned us for wrath, but instead we possess salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ;

God has not destined us, determined for us, positioned us for wrath. Instead, it’s salvation we have in Christ Jesus.

We have obtained, we possess salvation in Christ.

v. 10 The one who died for us so that together with Him, we might live no matter if we are alert and alive or asleep in death.

This refers back to the last chapter and those asleep in Christ (dead) will receive their reward but if we can live, we can also as alert and alive followers of Jesus still meet him.

The Gospel is Christ’s Redemptive as well as Returning work.

v. 11 That’s the reason you can encourage one another and build each other up just like you are already doing.

There is the reason for hope: He has saved us, not for wrath and punishment, but for redemption and relationship. Jesus will come again to make all things right. He will leave no one who trusts in Him behind. Edify is the word we’ve used for decades. Lift up each other. Build one another up.

Small Group Questions:

1. Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met or known?
2. Before we read our passage, what is one thing you have heard about regarding Jesus and His Second Coming?
3. Why does this passage compare the “Day of the Lord” or Jesus’ Return to a thief and to childbirth? How does this help us be awake?
4. What “times or seasons” do you see that makes you consider that Jesus will return soon?
5. How can we pray and be encouraged today?