Lesson 5Slide 1

1
Lesson 5 Remaining Watchful

• Key Questions for Chapter 56-11
• What is the difference between those in light
  and those in darkness?
• What is the difference between daytime and
  nighttime behavior?
• What is Gods desired end for us?
• What is involved in being watchful for the
  Second Coming?

2
What is the difference between those in light
and those in darkness?

• What is light?
• (1 Th 52 NKJV) For you yourselves know
  perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a
  thief in the night.
• (1 Th 54 NKJV) But you, brethren, are not in
  darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as
  a thief.
• (1 Th 55 NKJV) You are all sons of light and
  sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of
  darkness.

3
What is the difference between those in light
and those in darkness?Contd

• About what have the Thessalonians been
  enlightened?
• (1 Th 52 NKJV) For you yourselves know
  perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a
  thief in the night.
• (1 Th 54 NKJV) But you, brethren, are not in
  darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as
  a thief.

4
What is the difference between those in light
and those in darkness?Contd

• How should the knowledge the Thessalonians had
  about the resurrection have affected the way they
  lived?
• (1 Th 55 NKJV) You are all sons of light and
  sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of
  darkness.
• (1 Th 56 NKJV) Therefore let us not sleep, as
  others do, but let us watch and be sober.

Those of the light should exhibit daytime
behaviors.
5
What is the difference between daytime and
nighttime behavior?

• What characterizes those of the day?
• What characterizes those of the night?
• (1 Th 55 NKJV) You are all sons of light and
  sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of
  darkness.
• (1 Th 56 NKJV) Therefore let us not sleep, as
  others do, but let us watch and be sober.
• (1 Th 57 NKJV) For those who sleep, sleep at
  night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.

6
What is the difference between daytime and
nighttime behavior?Contd

• How sober is sober?
• Two views
• View 1 D-E-G-R-E-E-S O-F S-O-B-E-R DRUNK
• View 2 SOBER D-E-G-R-E-E-S O-F D-R-U-N-K

7
What is the difference between daytime and
nighttime behavior?Contd

• The Greek word for sober in I Thess. 56, 8 is
  from nhvfw, which is frequently defined as
  requiring abstention
• to abstain from wine thus, to be sober
• G. V. Wigram and J. P. Green,
• to be sober, drink no wine
• H. G. Liddell and R. Scott.
• to abstain from wine (keep sober)
• J. Strong, Strongs Exhaustive Concordance.
• to abstain to be sober
• J. Gall
• to be free from the influence of intoxicants
• J. H. Moulton and G. Milligan

Here is a strong case that anything other than
abstention is beyond sober and is to some
degree drunk. SOBER D-E-G-R-E-E-S O-F
D-R-U-N-K
8
What is Gods desired end for us?

• Unto what did God appoint or destine us?
• (1 Th 59 NKJV) For God did not appoint has
  not destined, NASB us to wrath, but to obtain
  salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
• (1 Th 510 NKJV) who died for us, that whether
  we wake or sleep, we should live together with
  Him.
• What is the wrath?
• What is the means of our salvation?
• Note We live together with Him.

9
What is involved in being watchful for the
Second Coming?

• What do we do for ourselves to be prepared for
  the Second Coming?
• (1 Th 58 NKJV) But let us who are of the day
  be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and
  love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
• What do we do for others?
• (1 Th 511 NKJV) Therefore comfort each other
  and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

10
What to Remember

• From Chapter 56-11
• The light (enlightenment) of the knowledge of
  the Second Coming should enable and motivate us
  to be prepared.
• Those of the light should exhibit daytime
  behaviors.
• God intends for us to live together with Him, not
  to suffer the separation of His wrath.
• Being watchful (and sober) means living the
  prepared, sanctified life (faith, love, and hope)
  and edifying others.