Rewarded by Salvation

First Thessalonians 5:4 begins with "but": "But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief." Paul moves from the fact that unbelievers will be surprised by judgment to the fact that believers will not be surprised when they are rewarded by salvation. Unlike our unbelieving friends who are not prepared, we are prepared—we are ready through our faith and trust in Jesus. As verse 5 points out, "You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness." Turn to the Lord and rely upon His death and resurrection, and you will not be in darkness, as those who are without faith.

How should we then live? "Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation" (vs. 6-8). Because of who you are in Christ, you must "watch and be sober." Be ever watchful, alert, waiting for the Lord's return. Live by that expectant hope. But also be "sober" (v. 6). Live as people "who are of the day" (v. 8) because that is exactly who you are! Unbelievers "sleep at night" and "are drunk at night" (v. 7). They hide under cover of darkness to try and hide their evil deeds. As believers we should have nothing to hide under darkness. Rather, we should live as Christ lived. We are to follow Jesus in our living and be doing what He wants us to be doing when He returns.

"Sleep" (vs. 6-7) is a different word than the one used to refer to death in First Thessalonians 4:13-15. Here in First Thessalonians 5:6-7, sleep means to be asleep spiritually, indifferent toward God, living as if there will be no judgment. Paul is warning us. Do not get caught living the same lifestyle as those who are unprepared for the Lord's return. Be awake, be alert, be watchful, be sober!

That is what verse 8 is all about. "Putting on the breastplate of faith and love" (v. 8b) means to live daily by faith in Christ and show your faith by loving God and allowing God to love others through you. "Putting on… as a helmet the hope of salvation" (v. 8c) refers to our unwavering "hope" (v. 8c) or trust in Christ alone for our salvation. Faith, love, and hope together provide an excellent defense against temptation. Live by faith, love, and hope in Christ and you will find yourself prepared and ready when Christ gathers us together in the air to take us to heaven.

Note the truth Paul adds in verses 9-10: "For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him." Perhaps the most sobering truth of Scripture is that God will judge the wicked and send them to eternal hell. I would be remiss if I avoided this truth from the pulpit. In Matthew 13:41-42, Jesus said, "The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." But, the truth of First Thessalonians 5:9-10 is that "God did not appoint us to wrath" (v. 9a). Rather, He has destined those of us who have received the Lord by faith "to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us" (vs. 9b-10a).

"Who died for us" (v. 10a) gives us the sole basis for our salvation. Christ "died for us" (v. 10a). Christ died on our behalf. Christ died in our place as our substitute. Because of our sin, Christ had to die in our place as our substitute to gain for us forgiveness and eternal life. Amen!

The great truth for all who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus by faith is that whether we are "awake" (meaning alive), or "asleep" (meaning dead) "we will live together with Him" (v. 10b, NASB). As Paul says in verse 11: "Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing." Encourage each other and build each other up with these words—words that speak volumes as to how we ought to live in Christ.

Remember, it is unbelievers who will be taken by surprise by the Day of the Lord and sudden judgment. We who believe, on the other hand, will be rewarded by salvation in that Day. Amen.