In 1 Thessalonians 5:23-28, we find the apostle Paul expressing his hopes for the church's future. His prayers in this passage are anchored in his confidence in God's faithfulness. He states, "The one who calls is faithful and he will do it" (1 Thes. 5:24). Rooted in that confidence, Paul expresses his desires.
1. Paul hopes that God will sanctify believers through and through. What does it mean to be sanctified? A good description is found in Galatians 5:22-23, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Paul's prayer is that God would wholly and completely sanctify the believers.
2. Paul hopes that God will keep them blameless (spirit/soul/body) until the appearing of Jesus. Paul's prayer here is that God would make them fully mature in Christ.
3. Paul hopes they will pray for him.
4. Paul hopes the will live in unity. The holy kiss was symbolic of closeness and family.
5. Paul hopes they will read this letter out loud. Actually, he is commanding the letter to be read before the entire congregation.
6. Paul hopes grace abounds in their lives. When we speak about sanctification, we often fall into one of two errors. We either think it is all about us working hard, or about God doing all the work. Paul reminds us in Philippians 2:12-13 that it is really about working in conjunction with God. We are saved by grace, we grow by grace, and we are kept by grace.
Paul's hopes for the Thessalonian church are my hopes for Monticello. I want to see Christ formed in each member's life, as well as, in my own. May he sanctify you and keep you.
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