I cannot say that I have ever been amongst a portion of the Lord's little flock when I have experienced the epistle of 1st Thessalonians read from beginning to end as Paul is clearly exhorting in this passage. The New Testament wasn't complete at the initial reading of this letter from the Apostle Paul. Now, today we have what we call the Holy Scriptures. The Old Testament was what Paul refers to when he refers to the Holy Scripture in Romans and Timothy. Now, today when the church of the living God refers to the Holy Scriptures they invariably are calling our attention to the 66 books of the Old and New Testament combined in what is known as the Holy King James Bible.

Back in the days when this exhortation was in practical application, notice to whom this epistle was to be read. It was to be read to the "holy brethren". This is in perfect harmony with the introduction of the epistle where Paul says "unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." The church endeavors to know what manner of persons they ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness. The Old Church is constituted of those whom present their bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is their reasonable service. The Old Church is made up of those that God hath saved, and called with an holy calling. This holy calling is not just the calling to life, for many have been delivered from the power of darkness that have not seen or entered into the kingdom. It is those that have been drawn and followed the lead to walk in newness of life. The holy calling speaks of those whom God hath translated into the kingdom of his dear Son on earth. These are those that are partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light (Col.1: 12&13). It is in the Lord's Church that the gospel is preached and where the most holy faith is practiced (Jude 20). It is the Lord's Church and only the Lord's Church, that is found earnestly contending for the faith that was once delivered to the saints.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which Paul tells us, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal 5:19-21) . How could one living in such things be called a holy brother? How could one engaging in variance with the holy faith by endeavoring to bring something new to the Old Church believe that he is walking worthy of the vocation wherein he was called? The Old Church shall continue as obedient children, not fashioning herself according to the former lusts. As He which hath called is holy, so shall His Church be holy in all manner of conversation. -- Marty Hoogasian 8/8/2003