God has not destined us for wrath

1 Thessalonians 5:4-28 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, so that the day would overtake you like a thief; ⁵ for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; ⁶ so then, let’s not sleep as others do, but let’s be alert and sober. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk, get drunk at night. ⁸ But since we are of the day, let’s be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰ who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. ¹¹ Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing.

¹² But we ask you, brothers and sisters, to recognize those who diligently labor among you and are in leadership over you in the Lord, and give you instruction, ¹³ and that you regard them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. ¹⁴ We urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. ¹⁵ See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek what is good for one another and for all people. ¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. ¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit, ²⁰ do not utterly reject prophecies, ²¹ but examine everything; hold firmly to that which is good, ²² abstain from every form of evil.

²³ Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will do it.

²⁵ Brothers and sisters, pray for us.

²⁶ Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. ²⁷ I put you under oath by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.

²⁸ May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Yesterday’s text ended saying: Now as to the periods and times, brothers and sisters, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction will come upon them like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.  The world looks at the coming of the Lord with fear. They view the book of Revelation as a frightening picture of the end of the world. Recently the president, invoking fear, used the word Armageddon referring to the conditions of war that we are facing. For those who believe though, the coming of the Lord is not something to fear, but rather something to look forward to. Today’s text says: But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, so that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then, let’s not sleep as others do, but let’s be alert and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk, get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let’s be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing.

There is a “woke” culture in our society today, but they are not awake. They are not alert to the truth, but rather believe and perpetuate lies. They say darkness is light and light is darkness. They call evil good and good evil. In Isaiah 5:20 God says: Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!  God has not destined them for wrath. 2 Peter 3:7-9 says: By His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.  God’s will is that all would come to repentance, but His word says that there will be judgment for those who do not repent, who are not awake to the truth. God gives us a free will, to choose for ourselves what our destiny will be, whether salvation through Christ or judgment for sin.   

The text says: We urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek what is good for one another and for all people. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit, do not utterly reject prophecies, but examine everything; hold firmly to that which is good, abstain from every form of evil.  The way we are to examine everything is by the standard of the word of God. Whether prophecy, doctrine and theology, or philosophy, if it does not line up with the word of God we should reject it. We should, hold firmly to that which is good, abstain from every form of evil.  It is not enough though that we just abstain from evil. Romans 12:21 says: Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.In Matthew 5:14-20 Jesus says: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished! Therefore, whoever nullifies one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”  We overcome evil with good and darkness with light as we walk in His surpassing righteousness.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.