1Thessalonians 5:6-8 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
‘Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.’ Conditions of escape: Since we are children of the light and the day, and God has not appointed us to wrath but to obtain deliverance from this day by rapture, let us meet the conditions of escape from that day of wrath and the sudden destruction of 1Thessalonians 5:6-11.
Four conditions of escape: [1] Not sleep (5:6-7) [Greek: katheudo] to repose one’s self in sleep. Used of the sleeping, indifferent, careless, and unfaithful virgins (Matt. 25:5); of the sleeping disciples who could not watch with Christ one hour (Matt. 26:45); and of indifferent and backsliding men (5:6-8; Eph. 5:14;). The warning here is that we do not go back into sin. [2] Watch (5:6). Be always alert and live godly in Christ; do not permit yourself to be overthrown by temptation (Matt. 24:42-51). [3] Be sober (5:6-8) [Greek: nepho] to drink no intoxicants; live soberly and righteously (Tit. 2:11-12). Translated as be sober (5:6, 8; 1Pet. 1:13; 5:8) and watch (2Tim. 4:5; 1Pet. 4:7). It was counted a disgrace even among the heathen to be drunk in the day, hence the admonition to live as children of light and the day (5:5-8). Put on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet – the hope of salvation (5:8; Eph. 6:10-18). We are not only to be sober and watch but we are called to fight the fight of faith and lay hold of eternal life (1Tim. 6:12; 1Cor. 9:24-27).
‘The hope of salvation.’ Salvation is a hope and not an unforfeitable possession until the next life (5:8; Rom. 8:20-25; 2Thess. 2:16; 1Pet. 1:5, 9, 13). Eternal life is also our hope now, even though we possess it (Tit. 1:2; 3:7; Heb. 3:6; 6:11, 11, 18-19; 1Pet. 1:3, 13). It will not be an unforfeitable and eternal possession until the next life and at the end of a life of sowing to the Spirit (Matt. 7:13-14; 18:8-9; 19:28-29; Mark 10:29-30; Luke 18:29-30; Rom. 2:7; 6:21-23; Gal. 6:7-8; 1Tim. 1:16; 4:8; 6:12, 19; 1Pet. 1:5, 9, 13; 3:7; 1Jn. 2:25; Jude 1:20-24; Dan. 12:2; John 5:28-29).
Living the Word 