+I. The highest object of man's existence is to hold communion with
his God.+
+II. Rightly to believe in Christ is to know and feel this
communion.+
+III. The unalterable faithfulness of God is a fidelity to His own
gracious engagement.+
+IV. The prominent character of God is unshaken stability.+
+V. God is faithful to his warnings as He is to His
promises.+--_A. Butler._
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.--Verses_ 25-28.
_Closing Words._
+I. An important request.+--"Brethren, pray for us" (ver. 25). The
most gifted saints have need of the prayers of God's people. The
great apostle, much as he prayed for himself, did not himself feel
independent of the intercessions of others. His large experience of
the power of prayer made him only the more anxious to strengthen his
personal interest at the throne of grace. The least gifted saint in
other respects may be mighty in prayer. Believers are so bound
together as to be dependent on one another, and all on the great Head
of the Church. The richest inheritance of the anxious minister are
the prayers of his people. A praying Church will never have to
complain of an insipid and fruitless ministry.
+II. A Christian salutation.+--"Greet all the brethren with an holy
kiss" (ver. 26). The "kiss of charity" in those days was a token of
friendship and goodwill, something equivalent to the shaking of hands
in modern times. In the Syrian Church, before communion, each takes
his neighbour's right hand, and gives the salutation, "Peace!" The
greeting was "a holy kiss"--pure and chaste, such as one Christian
may give to another, and not sin. Christianity is the soul of
courtesy. "Forms may change; but the same spirit of brotherly love
and cordial recognition of one another, under whatever diversities of
temporal circumstances, should ever characterise those who know the
love of a common Saviour, and have entered into the communion of
saints" (_Lillie_). Let the love of the heart toward all the brethren
be practically manifested in becoming acts of courtesy and goodwill.
+III. A solemn direction.+--"I charge you by the Lord that this
epistle be read unto all the holy brethren" (ver. 27). The first
epistle to the Thessalonians is, in point of time, the earliest of
all the canonical books of the New Testament; and here is a solemn
injunction that it be publicly read to all the people. The Romish
Church, if she does not deny, very unwillingly allows the reading of
Scripture by the laity. "What Rome forbids under an anathema," says
Bengel, "St. Paul enjoins with an adjuration." None should be
debarred from reading or hearing the Word of God. "Women and children
are not to be excluded" (Deut. xxxi. 12; Josh. viii. 34, 35). Lois
and Eunice knew the Bible and taught it to the child Timothy. The
Berœans had free access to the sacred volume, and searched it at
their pleasure. The public reading of the Holy Scriptures is an
important means of edifying the Church; it is enforced by apostolic
authority; it familiarises the mind with the greatest truths; it
keeps alive the enthusiasm of the Church for aggressive purposes.
+IV. A gracious benediction.+--"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be
with you. Amen" (ver. 28). The epistle closes, as it began, with
blessing. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is the fountain of all
the good that has flowed in upon and enriched the human race. The
three great features of that grace--pardon, peace, holiness--are
clearly elucidated in this epistle. The fountain is inexhaustible.
Its streams of blessing are ever available for needy, perishing man.
+Lessons.+--1. _Prayer is an ever-present duty._ 2. _Christianity
hallows all the true courtesies of life._ 3. _The Word of God should
be constantly read and studied._ 4. _The best blessings issue from
the inexhaustible grace of our Lord Jesus Christ._
_GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES._