1 Thessalonians 3 | A Call to Sanctification

Introduction:

Justification: Comes from the Greek concept meaning “to declare righteous”. It is a legal act wherein God pronounces that the believing sinner has been credited with all the virtues of Jesus Christ. Whereas forgiveness is the negative aspect of salvation, meaning the subtraction of human sin, justification is the positive aspect, meaning the addition of divine righteousness. (Moody Handbook of Theology, pg. 715)

Sanctification: Comes from the Greek verb meaning “to set apart”. It is used in two ways: (1) the believer is positionally sanctified; he stands sanctified before God; (2) the believer grows in progressive sanctification in daily spiritual experience. (Moody Handbook of Theology, pg. 723)

Glorification: The glorification of the Christian is that we shall share in God’s glory when we are in our resurrected bodies in the new heavens and new earth, experiencing deeper fellowship with God and not being at risk of falling away into sin, God’s glory finally being “all in all.” (The Gospel Coalition, An Essay be Gerald Bray)

1. A faith that is .

Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. For by this our ancestors were approved. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith. By faith Enoch was taken away, and so he did not experience death. He was not to be found because God took him away. For before he was taken away, he was approved as one who pleased God. Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. — Hebrews 11:1-6 (CSB)

• Faith that grows in .
• Faith that gives you.
• Faith that will make us .

Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God ​— ​who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly ​— ​and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, being double-minded and unstable in all his ways. — James 1:2-8 (CSB)

2. A love that is

• A love for one another.
• A love for everyone.

God’s love is grounded in who He is, and not the servant of our emotions or circumstances.

Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent his Son as the world’s Savior. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God ​— ​God remains in him and he in God. And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. — 1 John 4:7-16 (CSB)

3. A faith that is .

“Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it. — Matthew 7:13-14 (CSB)

Then he said to them,“Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand all of the parables? — Mark 4:13 (CSB)

• Parable of the Sower is a foundational teaching. (Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23)

Sower =

Seed =

Soils =

Birds =

(1) Path (Hard Ground) – Hardened .

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts — Hebrews 3:7-8 (CSB)

(2) Rocky Soil (Shallow) – Walk away because of .

“For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, after he has laid the foundation and cannot finish it, all the onlookers will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man started to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

“Or what king, going to war against another king, will not first sit down and decide if he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If not, while the other is still far off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple. — Luke 14:28-33 (CSB)

(3) Thorny Soil   – Worries and .

Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” — Matthew 19:23-24 (CSB)

For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. If we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. — 1 Timothy 6:7-10 (CSB)

Then he told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive. He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared ​— ​whose will they be? ’ “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” — Luke 12:16-21 (CSB)

“Since the days of your ancestors, you have turned from my statutes; you have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Armies. Yet you ask, “How can we return?” “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me!” “How do we rob you?” you ask. “By not making the payments of the tenth and the contributions. You are suffering under a curse, yet you ​— ​the whole nation ​— ​are still robbing me. Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this way,” says the Lord of Armies. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not ruin the produce of your land and your vine in your field will not fail to produce fruit,” says the Lord of Armies. — Malachi 3:7-11 (CSB)

(4) Good Soil  – Spiritually .

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one seated on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before the one seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne and say,

Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and by your will they exist and were created. — Revelation 4:9-11 (CSB)

GROW GROUP QUESTIONS:

1. What are some of the things you have experienced that grew your faith?

2. Are there any changes you need to make to further grow your faith?

3. Would you say your love for others is overflowing?

4. What soil do you struggle not being?