For this is the will of God, your sanctification

Good morning. Finally then – no, this is not Paul’s third and final closing 😊: we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instructions as to how you are to walk and please God, that you excel still more. For this is the will of God, your sanctification (in this case in regards to immorality). God did not save us so that we could do anything that we wanted. We need to lead a pure life. Apparently there was some confusion among the Thessalonians as to what would happen to Christians after they died. We do not want you to be uninformed about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do those who have no hope. My Bible says that indications are that first century pagans viewed death with horror, as the end of everything. Christians, however, have a hope that goes beyond the grave. If you had no hope beyond the grave, then you would not care about the consequences; you would do anything that you wanted to do. And that is the way that many non-Christians live their lives today. Father thank You that we have a hope beyond the grave – that it is just the beginning!

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