"The Obligations of a TRUE BELIEVER"

“The Obligations of a TRUE BELIEVER”

 

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.   For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.  He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.  Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.        1 Thessalonians 5:8-11

 

The Apostle Paul, in his first letter to the believers in Thessalonica, instructs them as to how they SHOULD conduct themselves as TRUE BELIEVERS or as he called them Children of the Light.  He tells them that they are to be SOBER, which means that they SHOULD practice self-control in their lives.  He says that they SHOULD put on FAITH and LOVE as a breastplate, the breastplate of a soldier protected most of the vital organs.  It usually went from the neck to the waist, therefore it protected the HEART.  FAITH and LOVE are inseparable, FAITH in God gives protection inwardly and LOVE for people protects outwardly.  When one has FAITH in God, they will have a LOVE for people.    These attitudes will prepare the TRUE BELIEVER for the RAPTURE.

 

Then Paul instructs them to put on the HOPE of SALVATION as a helmet for the protection of their minds.  To protect their thoughts from any attacks from Satan, who would love nothing more than to plant DOUBT and HOPELESSNESS in the minds of each believer concerning their SALVATION.   However, the TRUE BELIEVER should have a SURE HOPE because they are NOT like those who have NO HOPE.

 

Another reason for the TRUE BELIEVERS meeting their OBLIGATIONS is that it will keep them away from the WRATH of God which will be poured out on earth, on the Day of the Lord.  In other words, the TRUE BELIEVER will escape TRIBULATION, and the finalization of their SALVATION will take place. 

 

Christ died for us so that whether we are SPIRITUALLY ALERT or SPIRITUALLY LETHARGIC, we will live together with Him in Heaven for ALL of ETERNITY.  Verse six says, “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.”  The same Greek words for awake and asleep are used in verse six and verse ten, which indicated being SPIRITUALLY ALERT or SPIRITUALLY LETHARGIC.  So whether we are SPIRITUALLY WATCHFUL or NOT, we will live together with Christ.  Christ DIED in our place, He took our PUNISHMENT, this SHOULD make us WANT to be SPIRITUALLY WATCHFUL and ALERT. 

It is our OBLIGATION, also to ENCOURAGE others to be SPIRITUALLY WATCHFUL and ALERT, for the Day of the Lord is coming SOON, and we NEED to be READY. 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God, then you are living in DARKNESS, with NO HOPE for an ETERNITY in Heaven with Christ. But you are facing an ETERNITY in HELL, the place of ETERNAL torment, torture, heartache, pain, agony, and despair.  But God is offering you an opportunity to come to Him with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, CONFESSING your sins to Him and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and ESCAPE the WRATH of God, and RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE in Heaven with Jesus Christ.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!