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Rejoice always; pray without ceasing.

  Rejoice always; pray without ceasing.   1 Thessalonians 5:15: "Be patient with everyone. See to it that no one repays evil for evil; instead, always pursue what is good, both toward one another and toward all people." The term translated as "evil" — *kakon* ( κακ ὸ ν ) or *kakou* ( κακο ῦ ) — derives from the root *kakos* ( κακ ός ), which signifies something devoid of value. For instance, debates within the church — such as whether one must strictly observe the Ten Commandments or whether such observance is unnecessary — are, in essence, discussions lacking any true value. The instruction not to repay evil for evil means that one should not respond to such valueless discourse with equally valueless rhetoric. To those who insist on the necessity of keeping the Ten Commandments, the call is to look beyond the compulsion to adhere to the letter of the law and instead perceive the underlying will of God through the perspective of the Holy Spirit. Consider the...
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The Day of the Lord Will Come Like a Thief in the Night

  The Day of the Lord Will Come Like a Thief in the Night   1 Thessalonians 5:1 – 3: "Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, 'Peace and safety,' destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." "Times and dates" refer to the end times — hence the term "the Day of the Lord." The Day of the Lord entails judgment following the Second Coming of Christ, marking the end of the material world. For the saints, however, this day arrives like a thief; it comes at a time when no one else expects it. Yet, only those who have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit will recognize the Lord ’ s return. Those who are born again of water and the Spirit — having received the baptism of the Holy Spirit — experience the presence of the *Ho Logos* (the Word) wi...
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(6) One must have the image of God restored to enter into Christ.

  (6) One must have the image of God restored to enter into Christ. Colossians 1:15 states, "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation."   The first man, Adam, and the last man, Adam, are the image of God. Regarding the relationship between the first man, Adam, and the last man, Colossians 1:15 states, "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation." Translating the Greek Bible, it becomes, "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation." This means that the first man is a representation of the last Adam. Image signifies a likeness. Christ is the one born into the world in the image of God. Christ is the one born for the atoning death. The first Christian, the first man, was born to give the body of sin to the people of the world, and Christ, the last Adam, is the one born to die to the body of sin. Romans 6:6 states, "And we know that our old self was crucified with Jesus...
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Until the Lord’s Coming

  Until the Lord ’ s Coming   1 Thessalonians 4:13 – 14: “ Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. ” The term *koim ō men ō n* ( κοιμωμ έ νων ) refers to those who are “ lying down ” [sleeping]. The *loipoi* ( λοιπο ὶ — those who are saved) stand in contrast to those who are “ lying down. ” Those who “ sleep in Jesus ” are those who sleep *through* Jesus (in Greek, *dia tou I ē sou* [ δι ὰ το ῦ Ἰ ησο ῦ ]). This refers to those who died while engaged in ministry through Jesus Christ. It means that they enter the Kingdom of God. The verb used here does not mean “ to come, ” but rather “ to bring along ” [or “ to take along ” ]. 1 Thessalonians 4:15: “ According to the Lord ’ s word, we tell you that we who are still...
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