Growing in Holiness, Loving Others, and Living With Hope
Following Jesus is not only about what we believe; it changes the way we live. In 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul moves from encouragement into practical instruction. These believers were already following Christ, and Paul does not speak to them as failures. Instead, he challenges them to “do so more and more.” Christian maturity is not arriving at a place where we no longer need to grow. It is continually allowing God to shape our character, relationships, priorities, and hope.
“We ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:1
Paul’s message is both encouraging and challenging: You are walking with God—keep growing. Chapter 4 shows us what that growth looks like in several very practical areas of life.
Pursuing a Life That Pleases God
1 Thessalonians 4:1–8
Paul begins with a clear statement about God’s desire for His people:
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:3
We often ask, “What is God’s will for my life?” We may be thinking about a job, a relationship, a decision, or what comes next. Paul begins somewhere more foundational: God’s will is that we become increasingly holy—set apart for Him.
Sanctification is the continuing work of God in which our lives increasingly reflect Christ. Paul specifically applies this to sexual purity, an important issue in the culture surrounding Thessalonica.
“That each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:4–5
Paul’s instruction goes deeper than simply avoiding certain behaviors. He connects our choices with holiness, honor, and self-control.
Following Christ means we no longer allow every desire to determine our behavior. Our bodies, sexuality, thoughts, and relationships all come under the lordship of Jesus.
Paul also makes clear that sexual sin does not affect only the individual. Our choices can harm spouses, families, friendships, and other people. Holiness therefore isn’t merely about personal morality—it is also about loving and honoring others.
“For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:7
God’s call to holiness is not intended to rob us of something good. He is calling us away from what damages us and others and toward the life He created us to live.
When you think about God’s will for your life, do you think more about what God wants you to do or about who God wants you to become?
Are there areas of your life where you know what honors God, but self-control remains difficult?
Love Others and Live Faithfully
1 Thessalonians 4:9–12
Paul then moves from personal holiness to the way believers treat one another.
“Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:9
Once again, Paul acknowledges that they are already doing well and then says:
“But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:10
There is that phrase again: more and more.
We never graduate from loving people.
But Paul connects love with something we may not immediately expect:
“Aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:11
There is great wisdom here for men.
Paul describes a life that doesn’t constantly need attention, drama, influence, or involvement in everyone else’s affairs. Instead, we faithfully handle the responsibilities God has placed in front of us.
Work honestly. Take care of your responsibilities. Treat people well. Avoid unnecessary interference in the affairs of others. Live in a way that earns respect.
There is something deeply Christian about quiet faithfulness.
Not every meaningful life is highly visible.
Is there an area where God may be calling you to spend less energy on other people’s affairs and more energy faithfully tending to your own responsibilities?
What would “quiet faithfulness” look like in your home, work, relationships, or ministry?
Grieving With Hope
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
The final portion of the chapter addresses a concern troubling the Thessalonian believers. Some Christians had died, and those remaining wondered what would happen to them when Jesus returned.
Paul does not tell them that Christians shouldn’t grieve.
He tells them that Christians grieve differently.
“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:13
The difference is hope.
And that hope rests on a historical reality:
“For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:14
Our confidence about the future rests upon what Jesus has already accomplished.
Christ died.
Christ rose.
Christ will return.
Paul describes a future day when Christ will return and believers, both those who have died and those still living, will be gathered to Him.
“And so we will always be with the Lord.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:17
That may be the most important sentence in this entire passage.
Paul’s emphasis isn’t primarily about developing a timeline of end-times events. His great encouragement is the destination:
We will always be with the Lord.
Then Paul tells us what to do with this truth:
“Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:18
Biblical teaching about Christ’s return should produce hope, encouragement, and faithful living, not fear or endless speculation.
How does knowing that Christ will return change the way we should view the difficulties and losses of this life?
Why do you think Paul tells believers to encourage one another with Christ’s return rather than simply study or debate it?
Life Application
More and More
A phrase quietly runs through this chapter:
“More and more.”
Paul isn’t writing to men who have abandoned their faith. He is writing to believers who are already following Jesus and telling them, Don’t stop growing.
That gives us three practical areas to examine this week:
Grow in holiness. Identify one area where desire, habit, or temptation needs to come more fully under the lordship of Christ.
Practice quiet faithfulness. Take care of what God has entrusted to you—your responsibilities, relationships, work, commitments, and character—without needing recognition.
Live with eternal hope. Remember that today’s circumstances are not the end of the story. Jesus Christ is risen, Jesus Christ will return, and those who belong to Him will forever be with Him.
Perhaps the question for this chapter is not simply:
Am I following Jesus?
But:
Am I following Jesus more faithfully today than I was a year ago?
God is not finished with us. There is always another area where He can deepen our faith, strengthen our character, increase our love, and make us more like Christ.
Closing Encouragement
Keep Growing
There can be a temptation as we grow older in our faith to believe we should have everything figured out by now. Paul gives us a healthier picture of Christian maturity.
Keep growing.
Keep pursuing holiness.
Keep loving people.
Keep faithfully handling what God has entrusted to you.
And keep your eyes on Jesus.
Our hope is not that we will eventually become strong enough to manage life on our own. Our hope is that the Christ who died and rose again is coming back—and we will always be with Him.
Until then, may we continue becoming the men God has called us to be.
More and more.
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You that You have not only saved us but are continuing to change us. Show us the areas of our lives that still need to come under Your authority. Give us self-control where we are tempted, integrity in our relationships, and a growing desire for holiness.
Teach us to love others well, live quietly, handle our responsibilities faithfully, and serve without needing recognition. When we experience loss or uncertainty, remind us that our hope is secure because Jesus died, rose again, and will return.
Help us not become comfortable or stagnant in our faith. Continue Your work in us so that we may walk in a way that pleases You—more and more.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.