Concerning Brotherly Love (1 Thess. 4:9-12)

[Sung Psalm: 130]

We have seen throughout this series that Paul is centered on the themes of faith hope and love. We are to keep believing God in our work of faith. We are to keep loving God and neighbor in our labor of love. And all of this because of our steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ!

What is lacking in our faith is endurance. What is lacking in our faith is simply that our faith has not yet persevered to the end!

That is why hope is so important in Paul's letter. Even though he doesn't use the word "hope" in chapter 3, the concept of hope was very much the whole point of verses 11-13:

"...and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints."

Notice the connection that Paul makes between love and holiness. The Lord Jesus makes you increase and abound in love for one another and for all – that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before God...