Logos: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

 

May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.  (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

These two verses follow a passage in Thessalonians which is probably familiar to many:  

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (verses 16-18).  

I'm not sure we often bring verses 23 and 24 to mind, but today they struck me. 

Verses 16-18 tell us how to live - these are some of the means of grace - rejoice (maybe worship?), pray, give thanks.  By doing these, we draw closer to God. These actions are gifts from God than help us to know grace better.  And yet, when you read verses 23 and 24, I think we are reminded that grace - for that is what sanctification is - is a gift from God.  It isn't something WE do; sanctification - making us holy - is something that God does for us.  Entirely.  It isn't the actions we do - the rejoicing and praying and thanksgiving - that purifies us, and makes us more like God.  It is God who does that. 

And I don't believe that God sanctifies us because we have rejoiced or prayed or offered gratitude.  We don't earn grace by our actions.  I believe God is sanctifying us WHETHER WE DO THOSE THINGS OR NOT.  Christ died for our sins.  God has forgiven us.  God has forgiven us even for the sins we have not yet committed, I think.  We are a forgiven people.  The problem is that we don't remember it.  We don't live like we are.  And so, here are means of grace.  If we practice them, then perhaps we will be made more aware of the action of God in our lives and in the lives of those around us.  If we practice them, then maybe the choices we make will reflect the work of God in our lives. 

The truth is that God is faithful, and God will do this.  The grace is that God's actions don't depend on our faithfulness.  That's love.  Unconditional love.  Perhaps when we remember it, we will change how we live.