Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks
Walking in Sanctification
4 Finally then, brothers and sisters, we ask you and appeal in the Lord Yeshua—just as you received from us the way you ought to walk and please God (as in fact you are walking)—that you keep progressing more and more. [a] 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Yeshua. 3 For this is the will of God—your sanctification:[b]
to abstain from sexual immorality;
4 to know, each of you, how to gain control over his own body[c] in holiness and honor— 5 not in the passion of lust like the pagans who do not know God;
6 and not to overstep his brother and take advantage of him in this matter—
because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, as we told you before and solemnly warned you. 7 For God did not call us to impurity, but in holiness. 8 Consequently, the one who rejects this is not rejecting man, but God, who gives His Ruach ha-Kodesh to you.
9 Now concerning brotherly love, you have no need for anyone to write you—for you yourselves are taught by God[d] to love one another. 10 In fact, you even practice it toward all your brothers and sisters throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to keep progressing more and more 11 and aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, just as we directed you— 12 so you may behave properly toward outsiders and not have need of anything.
The Shofar Call of Messiah’s Return
13 Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Yeshua died and rose again, so with Him God will also bring those who have fallen asleep in Yeshua. [e] 15 For this we tell you, by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall in no way precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself shall come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the blast of God’s shofar,[f] and the dead in Messiah shall rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left behind, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air—and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Keep Watch for the Day of the Lord
5 Now concerning the times and seasons,[g] brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord[h] comes like a thief in the night. 3 When they are saying, “Shalom and safety,”[i] sudden destruction comes upon them like a woman having birth pains in the womb—there is no way they will escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, so that the Day might overtake you like a thief. [j] 5 For you all are sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night or of darkness— 6 so then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain on the alert and sober-minded. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night; and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober-minded—putting on the breastplate of faithfulness and love, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. [k] 9 For God did not destine us for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. 10 He died for us so that, whether we may be awake or asleep,[l] we may live together with Him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up—just as you in fact are doing.
Instructions for Community Life
12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to recognize those who work hard among you and are over you in the Lord and correct[m] you, 13 and to esteem them beyond all measure in love because of their work. Keep shalom among yourselves.
14 We urge you, brothers and sisters, correct the unruly, comfort the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 See that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray constantly,
18 in everything give thanks;
for this is God’s will for you in Messiah Yeshua.
19 Do not quench the Spirit,
20 do not despise prophetic messages,
21 but test all things, hold fast to what is good,
22 keep away from every kind of evil.
23 Now may the God of shalom Himself make you completely holy; and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept complete, blameless at the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. 24 Faithful is the One who calls you—and He will make it happen!
Closing Greetings
25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you under oath, by the Lord, that this letter be read to all the brothers and sisters.
28 The grace of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah be with you.[n]
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.