9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9–11 (ESV)
The Apostle Paul declared to the Thessalonian believers the Lord was a God of wrath and judgment on account of sin. However, the apostle also shared there is salvation from God the Father’s wrath through the Lord Jesus Christ. What impact should the truth of God’s salvation by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone have on us personally and upon the church?
Paul provided two very important disciplines in which believers are to engage in because of our salvation. We are to encourage and build up one another.
Frequently, new believers in Christ often ask me if it is necessary for them to begin attending a local church. They speculate they can worship the Lord independently of other believers in Christ. In other words, there are those who do not think they need the church. They are mistaken.
Each believer is a member of the church; universally and locally. Our universal church membership occurred at conversion (I Cor. 12). Our local church membership begins with participation in a local church’s worship services, ministries and submission to its elders (Heb. 13:7, 17). God calls us to encourage and build up fellow believers, wherever and whenever we can.
To encourage (παρακαλεῖτε; parakaleite) means to implore, urge and exhort. It may even mean to console a fellow Christian who is hurting. This is a present, active, imperative, plural verb. This means all believers are to presently actively, obediently and collectively encourage each other. This is a command from God.
To build up (οἰκοδομεῖτε; oikodomeite) means to strengthen someone. It also is a present, active, imperative, plural verb. God commands us to actively, obediently, and collectively assist fellow believers in serving the Lord.
What must have encouraged and strengthened Paul was the Thessalonians were already encouraging and building up one another. It always does a pastor’s heart good when God’s people are doing what God commands them to do.
“The relation between 5:10 and 11 is a close parallel to that between 4:17 and 18. Just as in chapter 4 the clause, “And so shall we always be with the Lord” was followed by “Therefore encourage one another with these words,” so here in chapter 5 the clause “In order that … we may live in fellowship with him” is followed by Therefore encourage one another and build up one the other, as in fact you are doing,” states Dr. William Hendriksen.
“That last expression, “as in fact you are doing” has been explained in connection with 4:10. By instructing one another and by encouraging one another with the comfort which is found in the preceding paragraph (such comfort as is contained in assurances like “You are not in darkness,” “You are all sons of day,” “For God did not appoint us for wrath but for the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ … in order that we may live in fellowship with him”), believers at Thessalonica will be doing very valuable personal work: building up one another; for the church and also the individual believer is God’s edifice, God’s temple, 1 Cor. 6:19.”
Who has encouraged and strengthened you in your walk of faith? Who have you encouraged and strengthened in their walk of faith?
May the Lord’s truth hand grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
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