Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 30

Paul Reminds them How Christ 2nd Coming will Occur Part 3

1 Thessalonians 5:4-5 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. KJV

Paul again turns back his discourse, his discussion, and his doctrine to these newly 'born again' believers in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ reminding them of what their perspective and their position is regarding the suddenness of Christ 2nd Coming to the earth by first saying this to them, "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief." (1 Thessalonians 5:4) (KJV). Paul declares to them that just like the man or woman (in the natural world) that has received a tip that their home is on a list of targets that a criminal organization plans to rob or burglarize would then fortify or beef up their home security, such is the case spiritually or in a spiritual manner for every believer in Jesus Christ, for they/we have been given inside information (literally and figuratively).

Literally because our Lord Jesus Christ has forewarned us in His Word of His 2nd Coming and the suddenness of said coming as with these words, "But of that day or that hour not a [single] person knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on your guard [constantly alert], and watch {and pray;} for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man [already] going on a journey; when he leaves home, he puts his servants in charge, each with his particular task, and he gives orders to the doorkeeper to be constantly alert {and} on the watch. Therefore watch (give strict attention, be cautious and alert), for you do not know when the Master of the house is coming--in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrowing, or in the morning--[Watch, I say] lest He come suddenly {and} unexpectedly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to everybody: Watch (give strict attention, be cautious, active, and alert)!" (Mark 13:32-37) (Amplified Bible).

Figuratively because we have the witness in ourselves just as the Apostle John declared with these words, "He who believes in the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] has the testimony [possesses this divine attestation] within himself. He who does not believe God [in this way] has made Him out to be {and} represented Him as a liar, because he has not believed (put his faith in, adhered to, and relied on) the evidence (the testimony) that God has borne regarding His Son. And this is that testimony (that evidence): God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who possesses the Son has that life; he who does not possess the Son of God does not have that life. I write this to you who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) the name of the Son of God [in the peculiar services and blessings conferred by Him on men], so that you may know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that you [already] have life, yes, eternal life." (1 John 5:10-13) (Amplified Bible).

With this as our evidence from the Word of God, then we clearly see why the Apostle Paul declares to these Thessalonian believers that they 'are not in darkness', for to be in darkness one would doubt or disbelieve all together that Jesus Christ will return to the earth to Judge. However, this same Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossian believers informing them of the great love and compassion shown to them and everyone of us who have put our faith in Jesus Christ alone for our salvation when he said this, "[The Father] has delivered {and} drawn us to Himself out of the control {and} the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, In Whom we have our redemption {through His Blood,} [which means] the forgiveness of our sins." (Colossians 1:13-14) (Amplified Bible).

Note: "In the natural, when a man walks in darkness he cannot see where he is going and is in constant danger of serious injury or death by falling into a pit or off a cliff, etc., likewise in the spiritual, when a man walks in darkness he cannot or does not here the promptings of God the Holy Spirit steering him clear from sin that will sooner or later render to him devastating consequences, i.e. how having many female sexual partners could lead to sexually transmitted diseases like herpes, syphilis, and the worst of them all HIV/AIDS which can lead to physical death." Jesus Christ is the light that illuminates life here on the earth for every born sinner (which all human beings are) just as the Apostle John wrote with these words, "In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it]." (John 1:4-5) (Amplified Bible).

Paul declares to these believers in Thessalonica that, "Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness." (1 Thessalonians 5:5) (KJV). They were all 'children of light' and 'children of the day' by virtue of them hearing the Gospel of Christ and being convicted of their sin by God the Holy Spirit and being born again by Him just as our Lord Jesus Christ explained to Nicodemus must happen to every person in order to be with Him in Heaven forever, "Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother's womb again and be born? Jesus answered, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a man is born of water and [even] the Spirit, he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God. What is born of [from] the flesh is flesh [of the physical is physical]; and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not [do not be surprised, astonished] at My telling you, You must all be born anew (from above). The wind blows (breathes) where it wills; and though you hear its sound, yet you neither know where it comes from nor where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:3-8) (Amplified Bible).

"They were favoured with the divine revelation of things that are unseen and eternal, particularly concerning the coming of Christ, and the consequences thereof. They were the children of the day, for the day-star had risen upon them; yea, the Sun of righteousness had arisen on them with healing under His wings." Matthew Henry

"All who are Christians. The phrase 'children of light' is a Hebraism, meaning that they were the enlightened children of God. Who live as if light always shone round about them. The meaning is, that in reference to the coming of the Lord they are as people would be in reference to the coming of a thief, if there were no night and no necessity of slumber. They would always be wakeful and active, and it would be impossible to come upon them by surprise. Christians are always to be wakeful and vigilant; they are so to expect the coming of the Redeemer, that He will not find them off their guard, and will not come upon them by surprise." Albert Barnes

"It is simple really, Christians are not any longer of the darkness, but we are now of the 'Light' because we now belong to Jesus Christ by virtue of His Blood washing us continually clean from all our sins (not ceremonially, but literally a spiritual bathing takes place within our souls 'when we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all our unrighteousness' (1 John 1:9), for as Christ Jesus our Lord said concerning Himself and we His followers with these words, 'Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the Light which is Life.' (John 8:12) (Amplified Bible)" Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…