Peter Barnes: 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11
SERMON NOTES: FROM ELECTION TO ENCOURAGEMENT (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11)
– he traces salvation all the way through from election to being with Christ forever, and then applies that. It shows how closely doctrine (what we believe) is connected to ethics (what we do).
- God elects His people to salvation.
– 5:9. There are two fates in front of everyone on this earth: wrath (see 1:10) and salvation.
– elected us for salvation; see 1:4.
– Calvin: ‘The man who fights in fear and uncertainty is half defeated … There is no better assurance of salvation to be found anywhere than can be gained from the decree of God.’ Eph.1:3-6.
- Christ died that we should always live with Him.
– 5:10. Election joins the believer to Christ who died for sinners. Irenaeus says that Christ became what we are that we might become what He is – 2 Cor.5:21.
– ‘Sleep’ in verse 6 refers to ‘spiritual lethargy’; in verse 7 it refers to those who are literally asleep; in verse 10 it means ‘die’.
– John 11:25-26.
- We need to encourage believers in this.
– 5:11. It is the same word as in 4:18, and the ESV and the NIV have translated it both times as ‘encourage’. But the word can also mean ‘comfort’ or ‘exhort’.
– Paul is not rebuking them – 4:1, 10. The Westminster Confession, XXV says that ‘This catholic Church hath been sometimes more, sometimes less visible.’