What does it mean that He who has called you is faithful (1 Thessalonians 5:24)?

In as far as we are really set apart for God, in spirit, in soul and in body we shall be preserved blameless. At the coming of the Lord Jesus we shall be removed altogether from the scene of defilement and we shall no longer have the flesh within us. But how cheering is verse 24! In spite of all the breakdowns and defections upon our side God has called us to this blameless condition in glory and He will not fail to achieve His purpose with us. He will do it!

(V. 23). In closing, the Apostle turns to God on behalf of these saints, desiring that “the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly”; that the whole man, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. God would have every part of the man - his mind, his affections, and his body - set apart from this world for Christ, that at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to reign, we may be found blameless and receive a full reward.

(V. 24). The One who has called us to glory is faithful and will carry out the purpose for which He has called us.

Yet the apostle's hope is in Him whose purpose as to His people cannot fail. "Faithful is He who calleth you, who also will do it." We are upon the shoulders of the Good Shepherd; and if there were final failure, it would be His strength that failed. That would be as impossible for Him, as for us without Him success would be impossible.

Verse 24 is very encouraging; it gives the answer to the prayer, "Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it." It is by the power of the indwelling Spirit alone that we can "cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit," and present our bodies "a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God." The whole person must be given up to Him. "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ." In 1 Thess. 5:24 we get the added assurance "Who also will do it." Surely it is the Father's desire that all His people should be holy as He is holy. Israel was set apart, and failed, but there is little excuse for us if we are not a holy people practically and really. We have the position and standing of a holy people, but we must walk as such. God grant us a deeper aspiration after true holiness of walk and life, truer likeness of mind and will to our Lord and Master, yea, a practical giving-up of our entire being to Him! He is going to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. "That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing." The spots are moral defects, sins — in plainer language; wrinkles are brought on through the cares and sorrows of this life. But all the spots and wrinkles will disappear. We shall hardly know ourselves when we come to that. "To find each hope of glory gained, Fulfilled each precious word, And fully all to have attained The image of our Lord."

This brief but full exhortation is followed by a beautifully suited prayer. "Now the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit, and soul, and body be preserved entire without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful [is] He that calleth, who will also do [it]" (ver. 23, 24). Thus does the apostle commend his beloved children in the faith to the God of peace Himself, after so comprehensively urging their own responsibility; and this both generally and in detail. This is the reason of distinguishing the spirit, the soul, and the body, the entire man inner and outer, and even the inner divided into spirit and soul, that they might look for God to set them apart wholly, and every whit within as well as without to be preserved entire without blame at Christ's coming.

It may be well to add that "the soul" is the seat of personality, "the spirit" is rather the expression of capacity. Hence the soul, with its affections, is the responsible "I;" as the spirit is that higher faculty capable of knowing God, but also of unutterable woe in the rejection of Him. The God of peace Himself claims and sanctifies us wholly. For this should we pray, as the apostle for the saints in Thessalonica, that they might be preserved entire blamelessly, and in every respect, at the coming of our Lord. And for our comfort he adds that, as He who calls us is faithful, so also He will accomplish His purpose. Peace with God, the peace of God, the God of peace; such is the order of the soul's entrance into and experience of the blessing through our Lord Jesus, as the Holy Ghost is the person who effectuates this wonderful purpose of our Father whether now in measure, or absolutely and perfectly at Christ's coming, a hope never separated in Scripture from any part of Christian life.

The conclusion of the Epistle begins with a prayer. "Now the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is faithful that calls you, who will also do it." God is for all who have believed in Christ the God of peace. Peace was made in the blood of the cross; believers are both reconciled and sanctified through the peace that God has made for us in the work of His Son. We stand therefore in a blessed relationship with the God of peace, have communion with Him, and from this flows practical devotedness of life and walk to God. Believers are sanctified by the three persons of the Godhead; by God the Father, by the blood of Jesus Christ, the offering of His body, and by the Holy Spirit.

The Apostle knew all the evil which was among them as an assembly (and more so did the Holy Spirit know), but before he uncovers their condition, he gives a most precious assurance. He speaks of the faithfulness of God, who had called them into that wonderful fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ. God is faithful! He reckons on God's faithfulness to do in the end all for them which He had promised, so that they would be blameless in the day of the lord Jesus Christ. God does not repent of His gifts and calling. The same assurance is found in other epistles. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly, and your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it" (1 Thessalonians 5:23--24). Such a loving and gracious assurance to those who are called according to His purpose, that He is faithful and will bring it about that His people shall be blameless in that coming day of Christ, leads to self-judgment and repentance.

We have seen that this refreshing letter is best understood when one takes into account the background of the recipients: young converts, surrounded by an immoral world, faced with persecution and deprived, for a time, of any visits of the apostle who had been instrumental in their conversion. In the light of this, the depth of the work in their souls and the exemplary nature of their Christian lives become a great challenge to those of us who have been Christians for many years. How do we measure up? Could the same commendations be given about us? How good to know: ‘Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it’ (5:24).

And then He gives this as the desire of His own spirit, and the desire of the Holy Ghost also. "The very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." Here it is a very strong word, and a very simple word, and a very blessed word. The thoughts of the Spirit of God and the thoughts of the apostle were not that I should be brought to know the things of heaven, of God, and of Christ, and then mar my walk by intercourse with the things of Sodom and Gomorrah. But this was His thought: "May your spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; and faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it."

aman, πιστός. This word in both the O.T. and the N.T. is from the same root as 'faith.' It is being true to oneself, to one's nature, to any promise given, and to any trust committed. It is in various connections often applied to God Himself. Deut. 7:9; Isa. 49:7; 1 Cor. 1:9 1 Cor. 10:13; 1 Thess. 5:24; 2 Tim. 2:13; Heb. 10:23; 1 Peter 4:19; 1 John 1:9. The Lord Jesus also is faithful. He is 'a faithful high priest' and 'a faithful and true witness.' 2 Thess. 3:3; Heb. 2:17; Rev. 1:5; Rev. 3:14; Rev. 19:11. The commandments and testimonies of God are called faithful. Ps. 119:86, 138. The words of the gospel are also faithful: the promises attached thereto will unquestionably be fulfilled. 1 Tim. 1:15; 1 Tim. 4:9; 2 Tim. 2:11; Titus 3:8; Rev. 21:5. Christians are exhorted to be faithful as stewards to any trust committed to them, and faithful as witnesses to an absent Lord. "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." Rev. 2:10.