Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Thessalonians 5:24
Faithful [is] he that calleth you, who also will do [it.]
24. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it] who will also to it (R. V.). The Apostle often appeals to the faithfulness of God, as of One pledged to carry out what He promises in the Gospel; see 1Co 1:9; 2Ti 2:13, &c. The Thessalonians were conscious that God was calling them (ch. 1Th 2:12, see note) to a life of consecration to Himself, a consecration that claimed every power of their nature. This call was itself a proof of the possibility of their entire sanctification, which probably appeared to some of them a thing out of the question.
will do (the object is unexpressed), as well as call. God will carry out His own purpose. His “calling” declared His intention toward the Thessalonians, which the Apostle declares He “will execute.” In the like emphatic sense “do” is frequently used of God in the O.T.: “Hath He said, and shall He not do? ” (Num 23:19; comp. Psa 22:31, Isa 44:23; &c.). God is the great Doer in the work of man’s salvation, in deed true to His word; “no word from God shall be powerless” (Luk 1:37; comp. Php 2:13).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Faithful is he that calleth you – That is, your sanctification after all depends on him, and as he has begun a work of grace in your hearts, you may depend on his faithfulness to complete it; see the 1Th 4:3 note; Phi 1:6 note; 1Co 1:9 note.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
1Th 5:24
Faithful is He that calleth you
The faith of man and the faithfulness of God
1.
The highest object of mans existence is to hold communion with God. For this his nature was framed, and in this alone will it find repose.
2. But the vital tie that connected us with heaven is broken. We are as a limb of the body separated by paralysis, or any other internal cause, from the benefits of the general circulation. God is the heart: we have insulated ourselves from God, and deadened the nerve that conducted his influences. We have a name to live but are dead.
3. This is a state of things deeply to be lamented; but no one ever lamented that the brute creation was shut out from the converse of angels–because there are no faculties in brutes that point to a higher destiny; no traces of a fall, nothing about them which makes it a practical contradiction that they should be as they are and yet what they are. But even in the natural man there are faint gleams of a something over and beyond his present state, a perpetual unhappiness, proving his designation for a different state of things originally.
4. Now without some notion of the extent of the loss, you can never estimate the value or nature of the restoration. It is by the length of the dark shadow that you compute the height of the elevation beyond it. It is by summing up the long catalogue of woe that you will be able to conceive the importance of that manifestation of mercy, whose object is, by the descent of God, to bind once more the broken links of communion.
5. The nature of this restoration. Man is separated from God as a criminal, and as unholy; the communion is restored by free pardon on Gods part for Christs sake, and the acceptance of that pardon upon mans, and by the process of sanctification which makes a lost and ruined soul at length meet for the inheritance of the saints.
6. Of this union with God the first great characteristic must be one which concerns both intellect and heart. It must behold Gods holiness, justice, and mercy, and must love the holiness, dread the justice, desire the mercy. This complex act of knowledge and affection is faith.
7. But in every perfect union there must be mutual confidence, and a strict fulfilment of enjoyments on both sides. If man be trustful, God must be faithful. This is the affirmation of the apostle. Thus faith in man and faithfulness in God are the two members of our spiritual harmony.
I. The Divine faithfulness is gloriously characteristic of the spiritual system to which we belong. No words can go beyond the confidence of David in the faithfulness of God, and no doubt high and spiritual meanings belong to his expressions of such confidence. Holiness was to be the foundation of all, but yet a holiness triumphant in visible majesty and regal pomp. But the faithfulness of our text has exclusive reference to sanctification. It was no relief from temporal evils that Paul promised; the mercy of God might send them to the lions; it was still His mercy, if it but kept them unspotted from the world. How many are content with such faithfulness as this? Is this the tenor of your prayers? Is your heart busy in pleading with God His own eternal faithfulness in behalf of your sanctification and spiritual safety?
II. The Divine faithfulness extends to the whole man. The entire, if feeble humanity, is sheltered under this canopy of Divine protection. The body is subdued into its place as minister to the soul; the soul is guarded from its own special corruptions; and the spirit is preserved undecayed amid an hostile world. Of a surety the sacred Trinity that occupies the throne of heaven will not forget this humble image of Their ineffable mystery. Surely the soul will be pre served by that creative Deity who first infused it into the frame; the body by that Eternal Son who was pleased to assume it; and the spirit, by that ever blessed Spirit who bestows it and may well guard His own inestimable gift.
III. This faithfulness is of Him that calleth you. It is a fidelity to His own gracious engagement. He without destroying human freedom or responsibility, of His free grace commences, continues and ends the whole Christian work. Yet so faithful is His compassion that He represents Himself as bound and tied to the impulses of His own unconstrained mercy. There is no bond but His own love, yet that bond is stronger than iron; and He, whom the universe cannot compel, commands Him self.
IV. With such a God, such promises and faithfulness, why is there a delay in appropriating so great salvation? If we believe that these things are true where is the earnest active faith, and where the life that answers to it? (W. Archer Butler, M. A.)
Gods faithfulness–Grandly did the old Scottish believer, of whom Dr. Brown tells us in his Horae Subsecivae, respond to the challenge of her pastor regarding the ground of her confidence. Janet, said the minister, what would you say, if after all He has done for you, God should let you drop into hell? Eens (even as) He likes, answered Janet. If He does, Hell lose mair than Ill do. At first sight Janets reply looks irreverent, if not something worse. As we contemplate it, however, its sublimity grows upon us. Like the Psalmist she could say, I on Thy Word rely (Psa 119:114, metrical version). If His Word were broken, if His faithfulness should fail, if that foundation could be destroyed, truly He would lose more than His trusting child. But that could never be. Forever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations. Well then might Janet encourage herself in the Lord her God, and say, God hath spoken in His holiness; I will rejoice. Assurance of victory–I can never conceive that it dispirits the soldier, when he is fighting, to tell him that he must win the victory. This is what Cromwells ironsides said when they saw the great general riding along the ranks, Tis he! they said, tis he! they felt the victory was sure where Cromwell was, and like thunderbolts they dashed upon their enemies, until as thin clouds before the tempest the foemen flew apace. The certainty of victory gives strength to the arm that wields the sword. To say to the Christian you shall persevere till you get to the journeys end–will that make him sit down on the next milestone? No; he will climb the mountain, wiping the sweat from his brow; and as he looks upon the plain, he will descend with surer and more cautious footsteps, because he knows he shall reach the journeys end. God Will speed the ship over the waves into the desired haven; will the conviction of that on the part of the captain make him neglect the vessel? Yes, if he be a fool; but if he be a man in his wits, the very certainty that he shall cross the deep will only strengthen him in time of storm to do what he would not have dreamt of doing if he had been afraid the vessel would be cast away. Brethren, let this doctrine impel us to a holy ardency of watchfulness, and may the Lord bless us and enable us to persevere to the end. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 24. Faithful is he that calleth you] In a great variety of places in his word God has promised to sanctify his followers, and his faithfulness binds him to fulfil his promises; therefore he will do it. He who can believe will find this thing also possible to him.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
We had in the former verse the apostles prayer, here his faith; and he speaks it by way of consolation to them, that what he had prayed for God would effect. What need he then have prayed? Because Gods decrees and promises, though immutable and infallible, yet are to be accomplished in a way of prayer. Prayer is our duty, and Gods decrees and promises are no dispensation from our duty: besides, duties are more known to us than Gods decrees; and God decree the means as well as the end. But what is it he saith God will do? It is not here expressed, and the word it is not in the original, but only God will do, God will effect. He had prayed God would sanctify them wholly, and preserve them blameless, &c.; and this he would do or effect. And he grounds his confidence partly upon Gods calling them. For the apostle knew that Gods gifts and calling are without repentance; and whom he called, them he justified, and glorified, Rom 8:30; 11:29. And this the apostle saw in these Thessalonians, by that efficacy of the gospel upon their hearts, that they were effectually called and chosen, as 1Th 1:4; whence he concluded they should be at last wholly sanctified and finally preserved, which is a strong argument against final apostacy from a state of grace; though many that are outwardly called are never sanctified, much less wholly. But of this call the apostle speaks not here, at least not only. And partly also upon Gods faithfulness, who had called them. He doth not say, God is able to do it, though that is true, but he is
faithful, and will do it. Those that are effectually called are brought into Gods covenant, where perfection and perseverance are promised, and Gods faithfulness obligeth him to make good his covenant. It is an act of grace and mercy to call men; but when called, Gods faithfulness is engaged to preserve them, and perfect the work begun: as, 1Co 1:8, the apostle tells the Corinthians, God will confirm them, to the end they might be blameless in the day of Christ; and his argument is, for God is faithful, by whom ye were called, & c., 1Th 5:9.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
24. Faithfulto His covenantpromises (Joh 10:27-29;1Co 1:9; 1Co 10:23;Phi 1:6).
he that calleth youGod,the caller of His people, will cause His calling not to fall short ofits designed end.
do itpreserve andpresent you blameless at the coming of Christ (1Th 5:23;Rom 8:30; 1Pe 5:10).You must not look at the foes before and behind, on the right handand on the left, but to God’s faithfulness to His promises, God’szeal for His honor, and God’s love for those whom He calls.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Faithful is he that calleth you,…. Into the fellowship of his Son, and to his kingdom and glory, and who continues to do so, not only externally by his word, but internally by his Spirit and grace.
Who also will do it. Two things the apostle mentions as the ground of confidence that the above petition, would be heard and answered; that is, that God would wholly sanctify them, and preserve the whole of them blameless to the coming of Christ; and they are the faithfulness of God, and the effectual calling of his saints. God is faithful to his word, his covenant and promises; he has promised to sanctify and cleanse his people from all their sins, and to preserve them safe to his kingdom and glory; agreeably the Arabic version renders this last clause, “and will execute his promise”: and the effectual calling is a sure pledge of glorification; whom God calls he justifies and glorifies; as sure as he gives grace, he will give glory; and whom he calls to his eternal glory, he will make perfect, stablish, strengthen, and settle. The Complutensian edition reads, “who also will make your hope firm”; that is, with respect to the above things.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Faithful (). God, he means, who calls and will carry through (Php 1:6).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Faithful [] . Comp. 2Ti 2:13, and see on 1Jo 1:9; Rev 1:5; Rev 3:14.
That calleth [ ] . = the caller. The emphasis is on the person rather than on the act. Comp. Rom 9:11; Gal 1:6, 15; Gal 5:8; 1Th 2:12; 1Pe 5:10; Jas 1:5.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Faithful is he that calleth you” (pistos ho kalon humas) ” Faithful (is) the (one) calling you”, progressively, continually, daily calling you all– to faithful living, obedient service, and watchfulness.
2) “Who also will do it” (hos kai poiesei) “who indeed will do it”, will care for, preserve you, keep you unto the bodily appearance, return of Jesus Christ, Mar 8:34; Joh 6:37; Joh 10:27-30; Php_1:6; Php_2:13.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
24 Faithful is he that hath called you. As he has shewn by his prayer what care he exercised as to the welfare of the Thessalonians, so he now confirms them in an assurance of Divine grace. Observe, however, by what argument he promises them the never-failing aid of God — because he has called them; by which words he means, that when the Lord has once adopted us as his sons, we may expect that his grace will continue to be exercised towards us. For he does not promise to be a Father to us merely for one day, but adopts us with this understanding, that he is to cherish us ever afterwards. Hence our calling ought to be held by us as an evidence of everlasting grace, for he will not leave the work of his hands incomplete. (Psa 138:8) Paul, however, addresses believers, who had not been merely called by outward preaching, but had been effectually brought by Christ to the Father, that they might be of the number of his sons.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Text (1Th. 5:24)
24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it.
Translation and Paraphrase
24.
He who calls you (into his kingdom and glory) is faithful, who will also do (this thing, that is, preserve our spirit, soul, and body blameless).
Notes (1Th. 5:24)
1.
In 1Th. 5:23, Paul prayed that God would sanctify us wholly, and preserve our spirit, soul, and body at the coming of Christ. If God were not faithful and did not help us to be sanctified, it would never be accomplished.
2.
Christians both can and must trust God. We cannot let fear rule our lives. Fear will make us timid and hesitant. Faith in a faithful God will drive out fear.
3.
Many Scriptures tell of the faithfulness of God. He never fails to do what He says He will do. See 1Co. 1:9; 1Co. 10:13; 2Th. 3:3; 1Jn. 1:9; 2Ti. 2:13; Deu. 7:9.
4.
God calls us into His kingdom and glory. 1Th. 2:12. He calls us by the gospel. 2Th. 2:14.
5.
We can be confident in what God can and will do. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think. Eph. 3:20. He will perfect our good work until the day of Christ. Php. 1:6.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(24) Faithful is he.A reason for hoping confidently that they will be blamelessly preserved. God would forfeit His character for keeping His promise, if He called, and did not enable men to obey the call. Of course He can only do it in case they continue willing to have it done. On the present tense, see Note on 1Th. 2:12.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
24. Will do it Not that the prayer would be surely accomplished in every individual; but that its non-fulfilment will be no fault of our faithful God. God will do it, if we will allow it to be done.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Th 5:24 . Paul knows that he does not implore God in vain. For God is faithful; He keeps what He promises; if He has called the Thessalonians to a participation in His kingdom, He will preserve them pure and faultless even to its commencement.
] comp. 2Th 3:3 ; 1Co 1:9 ; 1Co 10:13 . , Theodoret.
] not equivalent to (Koppe and others), but the present participle used as a substantive, and therefore without regard to time: your Caller . See Winer, p. 316 [E. T. 444].
] who also will perform it, sc. .
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
(24) Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. (25) Brethren, pray for us. (26) Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. (27) I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. (28) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
It is hardly necessary to make any observations upon those sweet verses, they are in themselves so plain, but they are also so beautiful and affectionate, that I hardly know how to pass them by unnoticed. I shall only, however, just remark how blessedly the Apostle assures the Church of God’s faithfulness. God’s call is a most decided proof of his faithfulness. For whom he did predestinate, them he also called. And his call looks as sure forward to justify and glorify, as it looks back to his eternal purpose, will, and pleasure in predestinating. Hence, Peter admonisheth the Church to prove their election by their call. Compare Rom 8:29-30 with 2Pe 1:10 .
I pray the Reader not to overlook the Apostle’s desiring an interest in the prayers of the faithful. It is a sweet thought when the whole Church of God be considered as mutually helping each other in prayer. There should be no schism in the body, but the members should have the same care one for another. 1Co 12:25 . And if so great an Apostle thus sought a remembrance by the people before the Lord, how earnest may it be supposed ought all who now minister in holy things, to say continually to the Church, Brethren, pray for us!
And let not the Reader overlook the Apostle’s command, that all the brethren should be greeted, the humblest, the poorest, the least. For, as in the human body there is not a part so inconsiderable but what the whole is concerned for, and cannot but take interest in, both in its pain or pleasure; so, in the mystical body of Christ, all are equally concerned in what belongs to each member, and all, yea, the glorious Head himself Christ Jesus, cannot, (indeed, He would not,) say to the feet, I have no need of you. 1Co 12:21 . Oh! what an argument ariseth therefrom, to all that Christian love and affection, which ought to distinguish the members of Christ’s body! 1Co 12:27 .
One word more. An holy kiss for holy brethren, is a sacred and sanctified description of character for distinguishing the Lord’s brethren. Heb 3:1 ; 1Pe 2:9 . Holiness unto the Lord, was to be upon the bells of the horses in the Gospel day. Zec 14:20 . Jesus wills this holiness in and from himself to his people. Compare Lev 11:44 with 1Pe 1:15-16 . And how needful must it be, that all the holy family should have the Scriptures of our God, which are not of any private interpretation, read to them for their instruction, exhortation, and comfort. 2Pe 1:20-21 . And how blessedly Paul closeth all with his Apostolical benediction, and which is his mark of their being his. 2Th 3:17 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it .
Ver. 24. Faithfid is he, &c. ] Prayer must be founded upon the faithfulness of God in fulfilling his promises. Hereby faith will be strengthened, and affection excited. Prayer is a putting the promises in suit.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
24 .] Assurance from God’s faithfulness, that it will be so .
(reff.) true to His word and calling: , Thdrt.
] not = , but bringing out God’s office, as the Caller of his people: cf. Gal 5:8 .
, viz. that which was specified in the last verse.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
1Th 5:24 . The call implies that God will faithfully carry out the process of and ( cf. Phi 1:6 ), which is the divine side of the human endeavour outlined in the preceding verse.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Faithful. Greek. pistos. App-150. Compare 1Co 1:9; 1Co 10:13. 2Th 3:3. 2Ti 2:13. Heb 10:23; Heb 11:11. 1Pe 4:19. Rev 3:14; Rev 19:11.
also, &c. = will do it also.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
24.] Assurance from Gods faithfulness, that it will be so.
(reff.)-true to His word and calling: , Thdrt.
] not = , but bringing out Gods office, as the Caller of his people: cf. Gal 5:8.
, viz. that which was specified in the last verse.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
1Th 5:24. [34] ) He, who has called you, so that He will not even now change His [purpose of grace in] calling you. This verse exhibits much of a triumphant spirit.-, will do it) will preserve you, 1Th 5:23. So that His calling of you may attain its designed end, Php 1:6; 1Pe 5:10; Rom 8:30.
[34] , faithful) In this short clause the whole summary of consolation is included. If you will enjoy your calling, rejoice in the faithfulness of Him who will do it.-V. g.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
1Th 5:24
Faithful is he that calleth you,-God had called them into the service of the Lord Jesus Christ through the gospel that had been preached unto them. [In making promises God does not lie or repent of them when made (Rom 11:29), but fulfills them all in his own time (1Ti 6:15). Because of his faithfulness believers are encouraged to confess their sins with the promise that he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1Jn 1:9.)]
who will also do it.-He was faithful and would so sanctify and preserve them blameless unto the coming of Jesus Christ. He promised to keep them only as they walked in his ways. When they did it, he was faithful to make good his promise.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Faithful: Deu 7:9, Psa 36:5, Psa 40:10, Psa 86:15, Psa 89:2, Psa 92:2, Psa 100:5, Psa 138:2, Psa 146:6, Isa 25:1, Lam 3:23, Mic 7:20, Joh 1:17, Joh 3:33, 1Co 1:9, 1Co 10:13, 2Th 3:3, 2Ti 2:13, Tit 1:2, Heb 6:17, Heb 6:18
calleth: 1Th 2:12, Rom 8:30, Rom 9:24, Gal 1:15, 2Th 2:14, 2Ti 1:9, 1Pe 5:10, 2Pe 1:3, Rev 17:14
who: Num 23:19, 2Ki 19:31, Isa 9:7, Isa 14:24-26, Isa 37:32, Mat 24:35
Reciprocal: Deu 18:21 – General Jos 21:45 – General Psa 92:15 – To show Psa 138:8 – perfect Mat 13:33 – till Luk 13:21 – till Joh 15:2 – and 1Co 1:8 – confirm Phi 1:6 – will Heb 10:23 – for
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
WHAT GOD DOES
Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it.
1Th 5:24
The reason why most Christians are not so happy as they might be, is this: they are looking for their proofs and encouragements in their own hearts, and not in God. The ultimate appeal, the true logic of the soul, the only resting-place, is here: God is God, and God is true. Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it.
I. The callingwhat is it?Every call of God, when rightly interpreted, means either Come to Me! or, Come nearer to Me! or, Come back to Me! And every one of us has one or another of these calls at this moment. But sometimes a call takes a more definite shape. It is a call to some specific work. Three things should generally combine to make that call. A call from the Holy Ghost within you; a call of Providence; and a call of the Church. If those three unite, the call is real and probably imperative.
II. To what is God faithful?
(a) To you: I will never leave you, or forsake you.
(b) To His own work: He Which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
(c) To His own Word: His Word continueth ever.
(d) To His covenant: My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of My lips.
(e) And that beautiful Nevertheless. Nevertheless My loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer My faithfulness to fail.
(f) And to Himself: I am the Lord, I change not.
III. And what will He do with us?Everything. Everything. He will be to you the very God of peace. And the very God of peace will sanctify you wholly; and your whole spirit and soul and body shall be preserved blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Is not it everything? Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it. Grand words! Too grand for the faithless one to ask; but not too grand for the Faithful One to do.
Rev. James Vaughan.
Illustration
If any one should think that this text is unpractical, and that it might lead to spiritual pride or carelessness, let him remember where it comes; after what a long list of most minute commands and duties. And then let him look into his own heart, and he will find this, that the more confident we are at the beginning that we shall succeed, the better we always do everything. And he will fully feel how rightly it adjusts the whole subject. We are to forgive, to rejoice, to pray, and praise; never to quench, never to despise the Spirits work; to prove, to hold fast, to abstain from all appearance of evil, to be holy, perfect, and blameless. But all the while, when we have done it allwe are laid in the dust, while it is our faithful God, and only He, Who did it all.
(SECOND OUTLINE)
PERSEVERANCE
Do what? It is explained in the verse before: I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. That is, that they may persevere. The Apostle prays that God may preserve them blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it; He will give them the gift of perseverance.
I. It would be absolutely unnecessary for St. Paul to pray that the gift of perseverance might be given to his converts if any such theory were true as that, once saved always saved. It is perfectly obvious that if once saved always saved, if St. Paul had believed that, then he certainly would not have prayed that their salvation might go on, that they might have the gift of perseverance.
II. The gift of perseverance is not the same as perseverance in us; the gift of perseverance is a power given to us by God in order that there may come out in us the fruit of perseverance. They are two distinct things; sometimes the gift of perseverance has been spoken of as passive perseverance; while the result in us is spoken of as active perseverance. We must not analyse too much in that direction. The gift of perseverance is that power given to us by God to enable us to bring out in our lives the power of perseverance.
III. By what means or conditions, by what inner conditions, shall we best keep the gift of perseverance that God gives us?
(a) The first is said to be fidelity to grace; our being faithful to the grace that God gives us.
(b) The next is the following the impulses of grace in our action, in our heart, in our affections; the allowing our heart to play upon those things which Gods grace points out as fit subjects for our regard, our love, our devotion.
And the third thing meant by fidelity to grace is this: the being faithful to the action of the Holy Spirit in our will.
All these things affect our conduct. The first points out what we ought to do; the second what we ought to like; the third what we ought to resolve upon and fulfil.
Rev. R. J. Wilson.
Illustration
We must meditate frequently on the follies of those who began so well and ended so badly. You can think of them in the Bible; think of Balaam the seer, and his miserable end; you can think of Solomon, the wisest man, led into sin through sensuality; you can think of Judas, once an innocent boy, with those gifts and graces and capacities which our Lord saw were such as fitted him to become an Apostle, and yet forfeiting everything through the sin of covetousness; or think of Demas, who endured all the hardships of Pauls missionary life, and then deserted because he loved this present world. There are plenty of subjects through which we can bring home to our minds that however well we may have begun, still there is the risk of losing this precious gift of perseverance.
(THIRD OUTLINE)
THE CALL TO MISSIONARY SERVICE*
The words of praise pass into a demand for servicethe pilgrims psalm into the apostolic counsel. We look upon all that God has done, in spite of our wilfulness and weakness, and we cry, From strength to strength. We look upon all that rises before us incomplete and unattempted, and, in spite of our misgivings and failures, our cry comes back to us, changed and yet the same, Faithful is He that calleth.
I. He that calleth now with a voice never before more articulate and more inspiring.Look at what has been openly effected by Christian teaching in India. But those who are best able to judge assure us that its measurable results are but a small part of its total influence on practice and opinion. Dissatisfaction with the old faiths has been deepened by the recognition of a purer ideal of duty. Something has been done to show that a true religionand man is born religiousmust be a spring of moral energy. The gospel is seen to be more than an exotic creed. The rapid organisation of a native ministry has brought it nearer to the hearts of the people, and proved that it is in no sense a peculiar possession of their conquerors.
II. But the time is short, and cannot return.Never was there an occasion when more seemed to human eyes to be imperilled in the faith, the energy, the devotion of a generation. The conquest of India for Christ is the conquest of Asia for Christ. And the conquest of Asia seems to offer the near vision of the consummation of the Kingdom of God. So God calls us; calls us by the circumstances of national development, calls us by the political conditions of our empire, calls us by our position and character as Englishmen. We must be a missionary people.
III. The experience of the mission field meets, in a word, the necessities of our time of trial.For what we need now, above all things, is the assurance of a voice of God speaking to usthe sense of a living voice. That voice does, I believe, sound about us in our lanes and cities; but it is often lost in the confused cries of the conflict in which we are engaged. From the distant battlefields of the Faith it comes with a clearer message. Let us only pause to listen, and we shall hear how every region of the globe sends the same witness of thoughts revealed out of many hearts, of wants satisfied, of lives ennobled by the old tidingsold and ever newof Jesus and the Resurrection.
Bishop Westcott.
Illustration
We could wish, indeed, that the competition for admission to the apostolic army of missionaries were keener; but what must we feel when we read that at the time when the Church Missionary Society was founded no English clergyman had as yet gone forth as a missionary to either of the continents of Asia or Africa; that for a long period afterwards the hope of a supply [of clergy] for the work from our own Church was abandoned in despair; that only after sixteen years two clergymen were willing to accept the charge; that not long before this departure to the work a distinguished writer could say in the foremost Review, that no man of moderation and good sense could be found to perform it! We have, I admit, even now given scantily; but we have given, and we are giving, of our best to mission work.
(FOURTH OUTLINE)
THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD
Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it.
1Th 5:24
What is the calling here spoken of? Instance some passages appropriate and illustrative of the expression, e.g. Called to be apostles saints with a holy calling to peace to His kingdom and glory to glory and virtue to the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord the calling without repentance the heavenly calling.
I. The call.Observe
(a) The goodness of God in calling.
(b) Our great need of being called.
(c) The gracious persisting patience of Him Who calls.
II. The faithfulness of God.
(a) His faithfulness does not alter its own purpose.
(b) His faithfulness does not forget.
(c) His faithfulness does not grow weary, impatient, or angry, because of our slowness, perverseness, many shortcomings, and many sins.
III. The great result.It is held before our view, as attainable, out of the calling and faithfulness of God, that there shall be complete sanctificationpreserved blameless in spirit and soul and body unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is One, only One, Who can, Who will do this.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
1Th 5:24. We usually think of the term faithful as applying to one who is true and obedient to another unto whom he is obligated. Yet it would not be appropriate to regard the Lord in that light; hence it means that He will make good all of the promises he has made to man. Such promises were made when He called man by the Gospel and promised him spiritual benefits in this life, and endless joys in the life to come. Who also will do it. God not only has always been faithful, but always will be.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
1Th 5:24. Faithful is he that calleth you. He hath called you to holiness (chap. 1Th 4:7), and He will enable you to fulfil His call. He does not mock you; He is in earnest. He abideth faithful; as surely pledged to make you holy as you are commanded to become so. There is a promise implied in His call; and with God to promise is to perform.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Here our apostle comforts the Thessalonians with the assurance that God, who had called them to the knowledge of Christianity, would do what he had prayed for, namely, sanctify them wholly, and preserve them blameless, and this because God is faithful, that is, always the same, true to his word. God will certainly do his part in and towards the work of sanctification and preservation; but in a way of concurrence with our care and industry; he will do nothing without us, as we can do nothing without him; God’s faithfulness is a pledge to us of the performance of all his promises, and will most certainly put him upon the performance of them; but his promise to us always supposes, yea, exacts from us, the use of all means, and particularly the exerting of our own endeavours, in order to our preservation in grace, and perseverance in holiness; Faithful is he that called you, who also will do it.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it. [If God were not thus faithful to sanctify and preserve blameless, it would be useless for him to call us; for it is certain that left to ourselves we can not keep ourselves from sin and evil-doing. This faithfulness is elsewhere noted (1Co 1:8-9; 1Co 10:13; 2Th 3:3; 1Jo 1:9); and is the basis of the glorious and sublime confidence expressed at Rom 8:31-39]
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Verse 24
Will do it; will faithfully fulfil what he has undertaken to perform.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
5:24 {14} {k} Faithful [is] he that calleth you, who also will {l} do [it].
(14) The good will and power of God is a sure strengthening and encouragement against all difficulties, of which we have a sure witness in our calling.
(k) Always one, and ever like himself, who indeed performs whatever he promises. And an effectual calling is nothing else but a right declaring and true setting forth of God’s will: and therefore the salvation of the elect, is safe and sure.
(l) Who will also make you perfect.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Paul was confident God would do this work in the Thessalonians through the Holy Spirit, assuming their proper response to Him (1Th 5:19). The antecedent of "it" seems to be the sanctification and preservation of the Thessalonians, not the return of Christ. [Note: Lightfoot, p. 90.]