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Articles
Imitators of the Churches of God: The Gospel Walk (I Thessalonians 4:1-13)
“For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus…” I Thessalonians 2:14
The fourth chapter of I Thessalonians teaches us some key lessons regarding what it means to live a life of faith. On one hand, these Christians had been commended for their past and present faithfulness, (I Thessalonians 1:3, 6-7; 2:14). Yet at the same time, Paul wrote that he wanted to come to Thessalonica to “complete what is lacking in your faith” (I Thessalonians 3:10). I Thessalonians 4:1 says, “Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.” They were already faithful, yet they still needed to grow in their faith. The gospel walk includes a continual effort to excel more and more in faith.
Excelling in your faith involves sanctification. Sanctification means “the process of becoming holy.” It’s not about being perfect, but it is about making progress. You might come as you are, but you better not stay as you are. Rather than acting impulsively or giving place to our current feelings, sanctification demands self-control as we learn to make righteous decisions. II Thessalonians 2:13 tells us that sanctification comes through “the Spirit and faith in the truth,” and that the outcome of our sanctification is “salvation.”
Excelling in your faith includes abounding in love. This is about learning to love one another as God instructs us to love, (which may require un-learning to love the way the world teaches us to love). The interesting thing about Paul’s instructions to love in I Thessalonians 4:9-10, is he tells the Christians they are already practicing brotherly love! Again, this is very revealing about what our gospel walk should look like. If you are already faithful in any given area, then you must guard against complacency. The way to prevent complacency is “to excel still more,” as Paul writes in verse 10.
Excelling in your faith requires daily diligence. I Thessalonians 4:11-12 says “to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, 12 so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.” Christians have to diligently take care of the business in our own life. Too many people like to stir up drama. Avoid the temptation to meddle in affairs that don’t pertain to you. That’s a lot easier when you are busy minding your own business.
As Christians walking in the light in fellowship with God (I John 1:7), we are always striving to pattern ourselves after our Master. Our faith should always be growing. If growth is our goal, then complacency will have a hard time taking root. Christians must diligently continue to become more holy and increase in love towards our brother - that is what characterizes our gospel walk.
