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and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
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On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.
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You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness.
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You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.
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encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
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And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.
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who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone
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For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?
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We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,
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Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
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Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.
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It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;
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that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable,
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not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God;
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and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before.
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Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
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Believers Who Have Died
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.
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For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
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According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
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For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
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After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
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So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.
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For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.
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He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
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Final Instructions
Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.
