"And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints." 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

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1 Thessalonians 3 

Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
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"The apostle's desire for them is that the Lord may make them increase and abound in love, and puts in, "as we do toward you." This power of love maintains the heart in the presence of God, and to find its joy there in light and desires it for all saints, that they may be kept sensibly in communion in their hearts. This is the development of the divine nature in us. Love is the bond of perfectness (Col. 3:14), the true means of holiness.

The heart is kept from the thoughts and ways of the flesh, as long as the soul is enjoying the pure light of the presence of God. And the apostle prays that the Lord may make them to increase and abound in love, in order to establish their hearts unblameable in holiness before God our Father, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, with all His saints.

This is our actual and present hope. We are awaiting for that appearing or manifestation, where all His saints will come with Him, unblameable in holiness. We taste the love, and enjoy the sense of His holiness in us now, but then we will be in all His perfection. It will be the accomplishment of Phil. 1:6."
["Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ"]
Scripture Study: 1 Thessalonians 3
From: Young Christian, Volume 19, 1929

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I'm a Christian saved by God, by His Sovereign grace. I want to encourage all to read, to hear, to believe, and to feed upon the only Words in all the world that are truly spirit and life, living and active; to know the One True God: God the Father, His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit; Who has graciously given us the Holy Scriptures
“All Scripture is God-breathed..."
2 Timothy 3:16–17; cf., John 3:31-36; John 6:63; John 14:26; John 17:3, 17; Romans 1:1-6, 16-17; 1 Corinthians 2:1-16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; 2 Peter 1:20–21; Hebrews 4:12-13. As for the commentaries I post and refer to; with much gratitude, as they have done for me, it is my hope and prayer that they serve to edify all who read them.

Shalom, beccaj
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