Word of God

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God

Matthew 4:4

The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians 5:24

Study notes by Matthew Henry and John Gill

Edited/Prefaced by Doktor Riktor Von Zhades

24 Faithful is he which calleth you, which will also do it.

Brethren:

We are called by God to be His elect. In Hebrews chapter three we read how Moses was faithful to all his house, and all that God had appointed him to accomplish. Therefore it stands to reason that much more so is our High Priest and Redeemer Christ Jesus, whose name is higher, than that of Moses, that He would be faithful to all His house, that is to say, we His Church.

Likewise recall in the Gospel of John that Christ prays for us, yea, intercedes for us to the Father. Again we are His brethren and He is not ashamed to call us as such, and we should not be ashamed of His Gospel.

With the above in mind let us henceforth remain steadfast in our faith, as He remains steadfast as our intercessor and mediator. - Dr. R.V.Z

“The kindness and love of God had appeared to them in calling them to the knowledge of his truth, and the faithfulness of God was their security that they should persevere to the end; and therefore, the apostle assures them, God would do what he desired; he would effect what he had promised; he would accomplish all the good pleasure of his goodness towards them. Note, Our fidelity to God depends upon his faithfulness to us.” Matthew Henry - Theologian

“Two things the apostle mentions as the ground of confidence that the above petition, would be heard and answered; that is, that God would wholly sanctify them, and preserve the whole of them blameless to the coming of Christ; and they are the faithfulness of God, and the effectual calling of his saints. God is faithful to his word, his covenant and promises; he has promised to sanctify and cleanse his people from all their sins, and to preserve them safe to his kingdom and glory; agreeably the Arabic version renders this last clause, "and will execute his promise": and the effectual calling is a sure pledge of glorification; whom God calls he justifies and glorifies; as sure as he gives grace, he will give glory; and whom he calls to his eternal glory, he will make perfect, stablish, strengthen, and settle” - John Gill - Theologian

Word of God

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God

Matthew 4:4

The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians 5:23

Study notes by John Gill

Edited/Prefaced by Doktor Riktor Von Zhades

23 Now the very God of peace sanctify you throughout: and I pray God that your whole spirit and soul and body, may be kept blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Brethren:

This final prayer of the Apostle for the congregation at Thessalonica asks that God keeps then and sets them apart from the non-believers. That the complete man, that is to say the renewed, and regenerated (Read 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:24; 1 John 3:1-3) man be the person that Christ finds upon His return. Make note that he divides unto three separate parts spirit, soul and body. Each part playing an important role in the whole man. For what is the whole without the sum of it’s parts?

It is God Who strengthens us, knowing full well that we’re naught but flesh and blood, and even in our better moments can still set our minds upon the carnality of this temporal plane. Thus the prayers for them are asked in order that we might remain steadfast in our walk and in all our works that we might be found lacking nothing and wanting of nothing when seeking the kingdom of God and of His ways of righteousness. - Dr. R.V.Z

“The apostle follows his exhortations with prayer to God, knowing the weakness and impotency of the saints to receive them, and act according to them, and his own insufficiency to impress their minds with them; and that unless the Lord opened their ears to discipline, and sealed instruction to them, they would be useless and in vain: wherefore he applies to the throne of grace, and addresses God as "the God of peace"; so called, because of the concern he has in peace and reconciliation made by the blood of Christ, and because he is the giver of peace of conscience, and the author of peace, concord, and unity among the saints, and of all happiness and prosperity, both in this world, and in that which is to comE. And the apostle might choose to address God under this character, partly to encourage boldness, freedom, and intrepidity at the throne of grace, and partly to raise hope, expectation, and faith of having his requests answered, since God is not an angry God, nor is fury in him, but the God of peace: and the petitions he puts up for the Thessalonians. Not that he thought they could be kept from sinning entirely in thought, word, or deed; but that they might be preserved in purity and chastity from the gross enormities of life, and be kept from a total and final falling away, the work of grace be at last completed on the soul and spirit, and the body be raised in incorruption, and glory; and both at the coming of Christ be presented faultless, and without blame, without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, first to himself, and then to his Father.” - John Gill - 17th Century Theologian

Word of God

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God

Matthew 4:4

The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians 5:14

Study notes by John Gill

Edited/Prefaced by Doktor Riktor Von Zhades

14 We desire you, brethren, admonish them that are out of order: comfort the feebleminded: bear with the weak: be patient toward all men.

Brethren:

Closing exhortations to those of which this epistle has been written. Friends, we are to place ourselves under the authorities of those that led the flocks. However, we are also to comfort each other, be slow to wrath, quick to forgive. Let those that are unruly be spoken to sternly, but in love. But most of all live in peace with all men. - Dr. R.V.Z

“Warn them that are unruly;

or disorderly, idle persons, working not at all, busying themselves with other men's matters, and living upon the church's stock, reprove them for their sloth, exhort them to work with their own hands, to do their own business, and with quietness eat their own bread; or such who keep not their places in the church, but are like soldiers that go out of their rank, desert their companies, and fly from their colours, or stand aside, rebuke these, and exhort them to fill up their places, to abide by the church, and the ordinances of Christ; or such who are contentious and quarrelsome, turbulent, headstrong, and unruly, that cause and foment animosities and divisions, check them, admonish them, lay them under censure, for such a custom and practice is not to be allowed of in the churches of Christ.

Comfort the feebleminded:

Such as are not able to bear the loss of near and dear relations; are ready to stagger under the cross, and at the reproaches and persecutions of the world; and are almost overset with the temptations of Satan; and are borne down and discouraged with the corruptions of their hearts, speak a comfortable word to them, encourage them with the doctrines of grace, and the promises of the Gospel.

Support the weak;

Who are weak in faith and knowledge, strengthen them, hold them up; or as the Syriac version renders it, "take the burden of the weak" and carry it, bear their infirmities, as directed in Romans 15:1

Be patient towards all men;

Towards the unruly, the feebleminded, and the weak as well as to believers; give place to wrath, and leave vengeance to him to whom it belongs; exercise longsuffering and forbearance with fellow creatures and fellow Christian.” - John Gill

Word of God

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God

Matthew 4:4

The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians 5:9

Study notes by John Gill

9 For God hath not appointed us unto wrath, but to obtain salvation by the means of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Brethren:

“That is to say to destruction and ruin, the effect of wrath; though there are some that are vessels of wrath, fitted for destruction, of old ordained to condemnation, and who are reserved for the day of evil; but there are others who are equally children of wrath, as deserving of the wrath of God in themselves as others, who are not appointed to it; which is an instance of wonderful and distinguishing grace to them: but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.

Salvation is alone by Christ, he alone has wrought it out; it is in him, and in no other; he was appointed to this work, was called and sent, and came to do it, and has done it; and God's elect, who were chosen in him, are appointed in the counsel and purpose of God, to obtain, possess, and enjoy this salvation; and which, as this appointment may be known, as it was by these Thessalonians; the Gospel having come to them, not in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as it is an encouragement to faith and hope, so it excites to sobriety and watchfulness, and the discharge of every duty. The doctrine of predestination does not lead to despair, but encourages the hope of salvation; and it is no licentious doctrine, for election to salvation by Christ is through sanctification of the Spirit, and unto holiness; and good works are the fruits of it, and are what God has foreordained his people should walk in.” - John Gill 17th Century Theologian

Word of God

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God

Matthew 4:4

The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians 4:16

Study notes by John Gill

Edited/Prefaced by Doktor Riktor Von Zhades

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, and with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.

Brethren:

For the believers the day of His return will be wonderful. For those that have denied Him and God’s offer of grace and salvation, it will be one of fearful dread and remorse. Therefore it behooves us to bring to the latter the knowledge of His sacrifice for it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Read Hebrews 10:31; Revelations 7:2). That day is appointed by God, and only He knows the exact time and day. (Read Matthew 24:30-31; Luke 12:40; 2 Peter 3:10). Likewise let us also be watchful keeping an eye on the forthcoming day, so that we are not taken unaware. - Dr. R.V.Z

“Not by proxy, or by representatives; not by the ministry of angels, as on Mount Sinai; nor by the ministers of the word, as under the Gospel dispensation; nor by his spirit, and the discovery of his love and grace, in which sense he descends in a spiritual manner, and visits his people; but in person, in his human nature, in soul and body; in like manner as he went up to heaven will he descend from thence, so as to be visible, to be seen and heard of all: he will come down from the third heaven, whither he was carried up, into which he was received, and where he is retained until the time of the restitution of all things, and from whence the saints expect him.

With a shout; the word here used is observed by many to signify such a noise or shout as is made either by mariners, when they pull and row together; and shout to direct and encourage one another; or to an army with the general at the head of it, when about to undertake some considerable action, to enter on a battle, and make the onset; Christ will now appear as the King of kings, and Lord of lords, as the Judge of the whole earth, attended with the host, or armies of heaven, and the shout of a king will be among them: perhaps the same is intended, as by the voice of a great multitude, as the voice of many waters, and of mighty thunderings upon the coming of Christ.” - John Gill - 17th century Theologian

Word of God

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God

Matthew 4:4

The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians 4:14

Study notes by John Gill

Edited/Prefaced by Doktor Riktor Von Zhades

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

Brethren:

And so, this is a main plank in the foundation of our belief, that He who was able to bring back to life our Saviour is willing, able and most importantly faithful to bring all those that have died in Christ to the same. That all who believe on the name of Jesus, shall be saved in the day of final judgment. (Read Matthew 24:13; Romans 10:13). For we have One that has risen before us and now is our Mediator to the Father. (Read 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 8:6). One who will, on that day speak on our behalf. - Dr. R.V.Z

“As every Christian does, for both the death and resurrection of Christ are fundamental articles of faith; nothing is more certain or more comfortable, and more firmly to be believed, than that Christ died for the sins of his people, and rose again for their justification; on these depend the present peace, joy, and comfort of the saints, and their everlasting salvation and happiness: and no less certain and comfortable, and as surely to be believed.” - John Gill - Theologian

Word of God

Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God

Matthew 4:4

The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians 4:12

Study notes by John Gill

Edited/Prefaced by Doktor Riktor Von Zhades

12 That ye may behave yourselves honestly toward them that are without, and that nothing be lacking unto you.

Brethren:

Consider also this day in your readings and meditation Romans 13:13-14 - Dr. R.V.Z

“ That ye may walk honestly: Decently, in good credit and reputation, providing things honest in the sight of all men, for themselves and families, and honestly paying every man his own; on which account it became them to mind their own business, and work at their trades; otherwise their walk and conversation would be scandalous, and not honest and honourable: toward them that are without; the men of the world, who were without the church; (Read 1 Corinthians 5:12 ) profane sinners, unconverted Gentiles, that were without Christ and hope, and God in the world, and were aliens and strangers; and yet care should be taken that no occasion be given to such to reproach the name of God, the ways of Christ, and the doctrines of the Gospel.

And have wherewith to supply the necessaries of life, and give to them also that stand in need, which is more blessed and honourable than to receive; or might not need any such instruction and exhortation, or any reproof for sloth and idleness; or not stand in need of "any man", as the Syriac version renders it; of the help and assistance of any, of any of those that are without, which would be dishonourable; or of them that are within, of the church, which might be burdensome. The Vulgate Latin version renders it, "that ye may not desire anything of anyone"; as the slothful man covets greedily all the day long what is another's, and this desire kills him, (Read Proverbs 21:25-26 ) he covets an evil covetousness, and craves in a scandalous way the bread of others; when it would be more honourable for him to work with quietness, and eat his own bread got by honest labour, and not be beholden to another.” - John Gill - Theologian