Wholly Affections

The Second Coming of Christ was a major emphasis of Paul’s teaching to the Thessalonians (in fact, Paul references it no less than 8 times in this epistle) as well as a major theme in Scripture. As Christians, we are to have an eschatological bent to our outlook such that in all things we are anticipating the return of our Lord- that is THE Christian hope (Rom. 5:2; Col. 1:27; Tit. 2:13)!

Combining the language here, at the end of this age there is going to be a Cosmic Worship Service in which we, God’s people, will be presented to God as a holy sacrifice acceptable to the Lord. As such, Paul’s passion for the Thessalonians was that in and through all things they guard their hearts such that they remain an “undefiled offering” of Christ’s to His Father!