1 Thessalonians 5:22-28
1 Th 5:22 (KJB)
Abstain from all appearance of evil.
 
Not only is the Christian to avoid all evil and sinful situations in their life but they are to abstain or keep themselves from even the appearance of evil. The reason is simple because the world is out to neutralize the testimony of Christians and if someone sees us in a situation where sin is present, then even if we are innocent, we will be proclaimed as guilty. For example, you need to make a phone call because your cell phone died. There is a bar in front of you that has a phone and there is a phone booth across the street. If you choose the bar and someone sees you coming out of it, you will be accused and found guilty of drinking and maybe carousing if you are married. The wise Christian would avoid that situation and cross the street and use the phone booth. We must always use discernment in each situation to make sure that we are not giving any appearance of evil.
 
1 Th 5:23 (KJB)
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Wholly - Complete to the end, perfect, or undamaged
Preserved - Kept
 
Here Paul ends with a prayer that God would continue to give them peace in all the situations they face in being witnesses for the Gospel. Peace is also the cessation of hostilities between two parties. (Rom 5:1 KJV) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: When we became saved, the hostilities between God and us ceased and we are at peace with God. So God of peace is also a title denoting the God of salvation. Paul prays that God will sanctify or set apart the Thessalonian Christians wholly, that is, they will be completed to the end. Paul also prays that they will be kept blameless in their entire essence which is body, soul, and spirit until the Lord returns. In the previous verse Paul tells them that they need to avoid every appearance of evil and here he prays they are preserved blameless. Now in their soul existence, they are blameless because they are saved and Christ has removed every bit of sin from their souls. Paul is praying that they remain stedfast upon the Lord and that they will not be diverted from their strong Christian testimony unto even an appearance of evil.
 
1 Th 5:24 (KJB)
Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
 
Here Paul is confirming to the Thessalonians that God is faithful and if He calls you, He will preserve you and keep you sanctified. (1 Pet 1:5 KJV) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Every true believer is kept by the power of God and that is not just a one time thing, it is continual until the return of the Lord. This verse also has a second meaning. If God calls a person, then He will effect salvation in their life. This is not a general calling, this is God specifically calling one He named before the foundation of the world. No matter what God calls the believer to, He is faithful to see the believer through that particular project or ministry.
 
1 Th 5:25 (KJB)
Brethren, pray for us.
 
Paul asks that these brethren pray for him and those who accompany him because as they evangelize, they run into many different situations which could cause them to lose faith. Paul wants them to remain strong in the Lord’s work and prayer under girds them with power from the Lord. This principle is for any time in history that we pray for each other so the power of God remains strong in the life of those we pray for.
 
1 Th 5:26 (KJB)
Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
 
In the Middle East, it was customary for men to greet each other with a holy kiss in contrast to a worldly kiss. This custom is still in vogue today. It is akin to a hand shake in the west. Unfortunately, the handshake was developed many years ago for the purpose of both parties who shook hands to confirm the other one did not have a knife in their hand. Then the handshake caught on as a gesture of initial friendship.
 
1 Th 5:27 (KJB)
I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
 
Charge - Implore or adjure
 
Here Paul implores them to read this epistle to all the brethren, not only those who are members of the church, but even to those they witness to and become saved. In fact, Paul’s prayer is still being answered today. Whoever is saved and has a Bible, is reading or will read 1 Thessalonians. Paul’s prayer is going to be answered until the last day.
 
1 Th 5:28 (KJB)
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
 
In many of Paul’s writings he ends up with a mention of God’s grace. Probably because of the grace bestowed upon him when he knew that he should have been a recipient of the wrath of God. He wishes the blessings of grace in Christ to be upon all the Saints and for the unsaved, that they would receive Christ as savior and be under grace.
 
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