For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
God has not destined those who believe for the punishment that comes with the Lord's day, but for rescue through Jesus Christ. That rescue is certain because Christ died so that all who belong to Him, living or dead when He returns, will share life with Him forever. That day will arrive without warning like a thief at night, bringing sudden ruin on those who feel secure, while believers live as people of daylight clothed in faith and love and the hope of rescue. Therefore they stay awake and clear-minded instead of sleeping like others, and they strengthen one another and live changed, obedient lives of kindness, peace and purity.
Wrath, Salvation, and Context
God has not appointed believers to the wrath connected with the day of the Lord, but to obtain salvation through Jesus Christ. He does not want them to be where His wrath shall come upon them, but to be where beauty and loveliness of character reflect His divine image. That appointed salvation is secured because Christ died for them so that whether awake or asleep they will live together with Him. Whether living or dead, and whether living or dead when He comes, they will live with Him. The death of Christ on the cross of Calvary is what saves them from eternal death.
The setting is the coming of the day of the Lord as a thief in the night, bringing sudden inescapable destruction on those saying peace and safety. It comes upon people as a trial stealing unawares, and is the reason for constant preparation.
In that light believers are brethren who are children of light and of the day, not of night nor darkness. They are marked by faith and love always united, with the hope of salvation, as breastplate and helmet. That armor God has furnished for everyone, but each one must put it on.
Living the Hope Daily
Appointed not to wrath but to obtain salvation through Jesus Christ, believers are called to constant preparation, not sleeping as others do but watching and being sober as people of the day, trusting in Christ. Those who are together are to comfort and encourage and strengthen and edify one another, building one another up by working on the principles of the Bible. Carried into practice, this word brings a great change in lives formerly inspired by the spirit that works in the children of disobedience, so the whole chapter should be read and heeded in every church before as well as during seasons of prayer.
It calls for earnest obedience in life and practice, drawing near to God, fearing to sin against Him by injustice to brethren, fearing to offend His children, and refusing to wound or bruise His heritage or handle a brother's reputation in a way that offends God. Because hope is in His mercy for sinners and Christ died for all, believers are to show tender interest for all, and to know and highly esteem in love those who labor and lead and admonish in the Lord, living at peace among themselves. They are to warn the unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all, never return evil for evil, and always pursue what is good toward brethren and all people, since God loves each one as He loves the other and takes as much pleasure in one as in another. Believers are to cultivate kindness and forbearance and love and to represent Christ in character, leaving no place for evil speaking, accusing, faultfinding, and misrepresenting brethren because personal ideas are not considered of highest value. Conduct shows what influence and held principles are worth, for if self is the center self will be seen in all that is done, while if Christ is the center His likeness will be borne.
The position of believers is not to watch the defects, haltings and errors of those around them and place themselves on the judgment seat to judge them, but to watch for souls as those who must give an account, watching for prosperity of souls rather than faults. If one is seen in error they are to go kindly to him, presenting truth in contrast with error because there is always a truth with which to meet error, speaking a word in season and out of season. They are to remove difficulties between brethren in the name of the Lord and in the spirit of Christ, living as brethren and sisters, and clearing the rubbish from the door of the heart so as to be prepared to work for outsiders. God does not want believers to be where His wrath shall come upon them, but to be where beauty and loveliness of character reflect His divine image. The salvation appointed calls for praise and thanksgiving expressed in both word and deed.
The passage from verse 1 to verse 9 calls for the education needed to meet the coming day, training all powers and consecrating them to service after the pattern of the school of the prophets, using time, money, young zeal and youthful ardor to glorify God. It sends students forth filled with zeal, love and deep devotion to do real, good, thorough, well-organized efforts under instructors to be a blessing to others instead of spending holidays and school life on games. The fifth chapter is given to be read and studied as a warning to a man remaining under Satan's delusive representations and expressing love to women besides his wife, exposing such love as base lust of the mind and fruit of corrupt thoughts with nothing of true love in it. He is called to talk no more of it and to fall upon the Rock Christ Jesus, so as to escape bringing reproach upon the work of God and to avoid becoming unable to retain his position of influence.
God has not destined those who believe for the punishment that comes with the Lord's day, but for rescue through Jesus Christ. That rescue is certain because Christ died so that all who belong to Him, living or dead when He returns, will share life with Him forever. That day will arrive without warning like a thief at night, bringing sudden ruin on those who feel secure, while believers live as people of daylight clothed in faith and love and the hope of rescue. Therefore they stay awake and clear-minded instead of sleeping like others, and they strengthen one another and live changed, obedient lives of kindness, peace and purity.
Wrath, Salvation, and Context
God has not appointed believers to the wrath connected with the day of the Lord, but to obtain salvation through Jesus Christ. He does not want them to be where His wrath shall come upon them, but to be where beauty and loveliness of character reflect His divine image. That appointed salvation is secured because Christ died for them so that whether awake or asleep they will live together with Him. Whether living or dead, and whether living or dead when He comes, they will live with Him. The death of Christ on the cross of Calvary is what saves them from eternal death.
The setting is the coming of the day of the Lord as a thief in the night, bringing sudden inescapable destruction on those saying peace and safety. It comes upon people as a trial stealing unawares, and is the reason for constant preparation.
In that light believers are brethren who are children of light and of the day, not of night nor darkness. They are marked by faith and love always united, with the hope of salvation, as breastplate and helmet. That armor God has furnished for everyone, but each one must put it on.
Living the Hope Daily
Appointed not to wrath but to obtain salvation through Jesus Christ, believers are called to constant preparation, not sleeping as others do but watching and being sober as people of the day, trusting in Christ. Those who are together are to comfort and encourage and strengthen and edify one another, building one another up by working on the principles of the Bible. Carried into practice, this word brings a great change in lives formerly inspired by the spirit that works in the children of disobedience, so the whole chapter should be read and heeded in every church before as well as during seasons of prayer.
It calls for earnest obedience in life and practice, drawing near to God, fearing to sin against Him by injustice to brethren, fearing to offend His children, and refusing to wound or bruise His heritage or handle a brother's reputation in a way that offends God. Because hope is in His mercy for sinners and Christ died for all, believers are to show tender interest for all, and to know and highly esteem in love those who labor and lead and admonish in the Lord, living at peace among themselves. They are to warn the unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all, never return evil for evil, and always pursue what is good toward brethren and all people, since God loves each one as He loves the other and takes as much pleasure in one as in another. Believers are to cultivate kindness and forbearance and love and to represent Christ in character, leaving no place for evil speaking, accusing, faultfinding, and misrepresenting brethren because personal ideas are not considered of highest value. Conduct shows what influence and held principles are worth, for if self is the center self will be seen in all that is done, while if Christ is the center His likeness will be borne.
The position of believers is not to watch the defects, haltings and errors of those around them and place themselves on the judgment seat to judge them, but to watch for souls as those who must give an account, watching for prosperity of souls rather than faults. If one is seen in error they are to go kindly to him, presenting truth in contrast with error because there is always a truth with which to meet error, speaking a word in season and out of season. They are to remove difficulties between brethren in the name of the Lord and in the spirit of Christ, living as brethren and sisters, and clearing the rubbish from the door of the heart so as to be prepared to work for outsiders. God does not want believers to be where His wrath shall come upon them, but to be where beauty and loveliness of character reflect His divine image. The salvation appointed calls for praise and thanksgiving expressed in both word and deed.
The passage from verse 1 to verse 9 calls for the education needed to meet the coming day, training all powers and consecrating them to service after the pattern of the school of the prophets, using time, money, young zeal and youthful ardor to glorify God. It sends students forth filled with zeal, love and deep devotion to do real, good, thorough, well-organized efforts under instructors to be a blessing to others instead of spending holidays and school life on games. The fifth chapter is given to be read and studied as a warning to a man remaining under Satan's delusive representations and expressing love to women besides his wife, exposing such love as base lust of the mind and fruit of corrupt thoughts with nothing of true love in it. He is called to talk no more of it and to fall upon the Rock Christ Jesus, so as to escape bringing reproach upon the work of God and to avoid becoming unable to retain his position of influence.