Lesson 24 A Prayer For Their Sanctification and Preservation - Page 2 (series: Lessons on 1 Thessalonians)

by John Lowe
(Woodruff, S.C.)

God calls the unbeliever to salvation through the Holy Spirit and His Word. No man can come to God except the Father draw him, and God draws through the power of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-11). The Spirit applies the Word, and faith results when the believer hears the Word (Rom. 10:17). Then, when the unbeliever exercises faith in God, that unbeliever will call on God for salvation (Rom 10:13-17). The God who calls us will also do (in us and for us) everything He has promised―if we are willing. God wants to give unto us His best. “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless” (Psalm 84:11); but, “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy” (Prov. 28:13).


Special notes and Scripture
1 “Sanctify” as used here means “separate to Himself (sometimes for service).”
2 The “spirit” is the highest and most unique part of man that enables man to perceive the divine. Through this component, he can know and communicate with God. This higher element, though damaged by the fall of Adam is sufficiently intact to provide each individual with a consciousness of God.

The “soul” is the sphere of man’s will and emotions; it is his true center of personality. It must be confessed that much-unresolved mystery remains regarding the interrelationships between man’s different parts, including the “body.”

The “body,” of course, is the physical part through which the inner part expresses himself and by which he is immediately recognized.

How one part affects the other is fully understood only by Him who is the creator. Paul uses the three words to indicate the whole being of a person, whether on its immortal, personal or bodily side.
3 “The God of peace” (peace in His nature and giving peace.) is a characteristic Pauline title of God (Rom. 15:33; 16:20). He alone bestows peace.
4 “Through and through” (wholly, in other translations) implies that no part is lacking; Paul prays that the whole person may be kept from Judgment at (unto) Christ’s coming.
5 “Blameless” as used here means with no legitimate grounds for accusation (2:10).
6 "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24).