The Faithfulness of the One Who Calls (1 Thessalonians 5:24)
Glory be to God
The Faithfulness of the One Who Calls
Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:24.
In 2 Timothy 2:13 we read a saying of trustworthy that even if we believe not, God remains faithful to us, because He cannot deny Himself. We also see a special thing in our key verse: God is not only faithful to those whom he called, He also promises He will fulfill the purpose of calling in them. This is the assurance given to the holy brethren who are partakers of the heavenly calling (Hebrews 3:1). Therefore, the Word of God asks these brethren to give diligence to make sure their calling and election lest they fall, for so an entrance shall be ministered unto them abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:10–11).
In Ephesians 1:18–19 we are told of certain things we ought to know, that is knowing what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.That is, we must have the knowledge that we are called to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:14). To experience this, we must also know the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward. Since to obtain His glory is not by our ability, but by the great power of God.
Romans 8:28–30 shows that God calls a group who love Him for whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate according to his purpose, who created all things by Jesus Christ, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, the fellowship of the divine mystery might be known by the church according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:9–11). This divine purpose is that we might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ for that we are called to be saved by the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:14).
To think more clearly, even before a person is born, God knows his state, He foreknow and predestinate them according to their character (Jeremiah 1:5). For example, according to the nature of Esau and Jacob (Genesis 25:27), God hated Esau but loved Jacob (Romans 9:13). Romans 8:28–30 shows that when God looks at men, He foresees some as those who love Him, who through their life experiences encourage themselves to obtain the glory of Christ for He predestinates them. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory (Colossians 3:4). The foreknown ones having this hope are those whom God did predestinate (1John 3:2–3).
Those whom God predestined, He made partakers of the heavenly calling and called them to salvation through the gospel (Hebrews 3:1) When they believe and are baptized they are saved (Mark 16:16), they receive justification by the faith (Galatians 2:16). Then, God gives them His Holy Spirit and sanctifying them through the Spirit and making them holy brethren (1 Peter 1:2). Christ gave Himself on the Cross to present it to himself a glorious church, and thus these holy brethren are added into the Church (Ephesians 5:26–27). The Lord Himself added to the Church daily such as should be saved (Acts 2:47). Even so, God whom He called, He justified, whom He justified He lead them to glorify, thereby revealing His faithfulness to the called (Romans 8:30).
King Solomon though foreknown and predestinated by God (1 Chronicles 22:9–10) and loved by God (2Samuel12:24–25) later he was rejected. When we think of the state of man who become like God to discern good and evil by adamic sin (Genesis 3:22). Since the imagination of the thoughts of his heart was evil continually (Genesis 6:5) instead of choosing good he always choose evil. Even King Solomon turned away his heart from the Lord, by choosing evil, and not obeying God’s commandments, therefore God rejected him (2 Kings 11:9–10). This is a moral lesson for us as well.
To accomplish His divine purpose of glorification in us, God does two things as we read in 1 Thessalonians 5:23. First, the God of peace sanctifies wholly whom He called. He who is born of God does not commit sin since the seed of God abides in him, for he keepeth himself (1 John 3:9,5:18). If we sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous (1 John 2:1). If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness through the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7–9). Therefore, when we confess our sins with true conversion and repentance Jesus Christ the Righteous, deliver us from that, being the propitiation for our sins unto the Father (1 John 2:2). Jesus by His blood cleanse us without spot and without any filthiness (Ephesians 5:27). Our God firstly desire to see us without spot and be found of Him in peace at his coming (2 Peter 3:14). When we stand as the bride of the Lamb we will receive grace to array with clean garment (Revelation 19:7–8). On that day this grace is revealed at the appearance of Jesus Christ for the bride alone, therefore let us set our perfect hope for this grace from even now itself (1Peter 1:13).
Secondly, in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 we read that our spirit, soul, and body will be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Having predestinated us unto the adoption by Jesus Christ according to the good pleasure of His will, He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love (Ephesians 1:4–6). God our Saviour is able to keep us from falling and to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with great joy (Jude 1:24–25). Therefore, our whole spirit, soul, and body will be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Christ will present the Church to Himself wrinkleless and blameless (Ephesians 5:27). Our God secondly desire to see us blameless ( 2 Peter 3:14). We will be clothed with white garment by the grace which is revealed at His appearance (Revelation 19:8) Hereby with two things He will present us firstly without spot, secondly without blame. In Revelation 19:8 we will receive grace for two special garments to be clothed firstly clean, secondly white. May we attain both of these experiences from the faithful God who sanctifies us and makes us blameless.
Our God in order to protect us, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings how often would have gathered her children (not we, our children) under her wings, and ye would not (Matthew 23:37). Our children is not we but our inward man (2 Corinthians 4:16). This is the inner man, (Ephesians 3:16) otherwise a man child who is caught up all of a sudden to God or unto His throne (Revelation 12:5). When our Jesus would have often gathered us under His wings, ye would not! We can understand certain things, when we consider why we who were once willing later became unwilling, our Jesus says concerning them they killed the prophets and stoned the servants sent unto them (Matthew 23:37). Let us not reject the divine doctrines and the word of God which we receive through divine counsels and prophecy. Let us not despise prophesyings (1 Thessalonians 5:20). For no prophecy is of any private interpretation nor came by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost (2 Peter 1:21). Jesus Himself says he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness but is in danger of eternal damnation (Mark 3:29). Not only that, we should not be those who blame neither mock and hestitate the appointed ministers who observe and teach us all that Jesus has commanded (Matthew 28:20). If we don't receive them we reject our Jesus as well our God (Matthew 10:40) therefore let us honour them and listen diligently to their words.
Though the scribes and pharisees were hypocrites who did not practice what they say yet Jesus said, “whatsoever they bid you observe, for they sit in Moses’ seat” (Matthew 23:1–3). Just as the Father sent Jesus, even so Jesus sends His servants, therefore we must never stone them instead receive them with joy and encourage yourselves to live according to their doctrines and the word of God (John 17:18; 20:21). They who are the sheep of Jesus hear His voice and follow Him, for He as well God hides them in His hands and protect them,they shall never perish, instead give them eternal life (John 10:26–29). Those who love God’s Word will not be offended and they will be preserved (Psalm 119:165). Not only that they will have great peace and they will be found of Him in peace at His coming (2 Peter 3:14). Likewise our faithful God, thereby to present us or the church as holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:27). For He has called them to obtain of His glory and to present to Himself gloriously (2 Thessalonians 2:14). Because it is God who bring many sons to glory (Hebrews 2:10). Romans 8:30 says that, whom He called, He also justified, and whom He justified, He also glorified. Therefore when Christ who is our life appears, we as the Church will appear with Him in glory (Colossians 3:4). God who calls you is faithful. He will fulfill the hope of His calling in us. May our faithful God lead us, bless us, and fulfill His faithfulness in our lives.
