Saved From Wrath - 1Thess 5

"God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him (1 Thess. 5:9-10). 

Though we have sinned and are due the wrath of God (Rom. 1:17-18), God in His mercy has forgiven us through Jesus. God doesn’t desire that ANY should perish (2Pet. 3:9) and has provided all that is needed for Him to be able to forgive our sins AND yet remain holy and righteous. Paul had earlier stated that they had "turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1:9-10). 

Yet, we are still warned concerning our behavior and attitude toward God and sin. Having written concerning sexually immorality, covetousness, and idolatry, Paul adds "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience” (Eph. 5:6).

The difficulty here is simply balance. Some ignore the righteousness and holiness of God and plunge into sin thinking that all is well as God will be merciful. They turn the grace of God into an occasion of lasciviousness. These (and other such) warnings to Christians should remind us that God will not be mocked in such a fashion but we will reap what we sow. The other unbalanced thought is that God will not be merciful unto us. We doubt the depth and breadth of His love for us. Such an attitude kills OUR love for Him and causes us to become discouraged. John wrote that “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9).

This assurance of the love and mercy of God, when balanced correctly with God’s holiness and righteous judgment to come, should cause us live soberly, righteously, and godly before Him. Thus Paul admonishes us to “encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing” (5:11).  

Hugh DeLong