1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 - The Parousia

11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so 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.

Target Date: Sunday, 6 November 2022

Thoughts on the Passage:

References (inherent) to the Parousia:

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. - Ephesians 4:30

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. - Philippians 1:6

so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and without fault until the day of Christ, - Philippians 1:10

holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to boast because I did not run in vain nor labor in vain. - Philippians 2:16

conformed to His death, 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. - Philippians 3:10-11

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by His working through which He is able to even subject all things to Himself. - Philippians 3:20-21

When Christ, who is our life, is manifested, then you also will be manifested with Him in glory. - Colossians 3:4

On account of these things, the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience - Colossians 3:6

But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who WILL REPAY TO EACH ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and anger. - Romans 2:5-8

on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus. - Romans 2:16

For the anxious longing of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. - Romans 8:19

that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. - Romans 8:21

And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we eagerly wait for it. - Romans 8:23-25

For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. - 2 Timothy 1:12

In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. - 2 Timothy 4:8

instructing us that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ - Titus 2:12-13

And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. - Hebrews 9:27-28

Again the high priest was questioning Him and *said to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE POWER, and COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.” - Mark 14:61-62

Events of the Parousia:

Return of Jesus Christ

Resurrection of the dead

Judgment of all people to eternal reward or punishment

Now while they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. 12 So He said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return. 13 “And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come back.’ 14 “But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ 15 “And it happened that when he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him so that he might know how much they had made in business. 16 “So the first appeared, saying, ‘Master, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 17 “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.’ 18 “Then the second came, saying, ‘Your mina, master, has made five minas.’ 19 “And he said to him also, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ 20 “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I kept put away in a cloth; 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are a strict man; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 “He *said to him, ‘From your own mouth I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am a strict man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? 23 ‘Then why did you not put my money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?’ 24 “Then he said to the bystanders, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ 25 “And they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas already.’ 26 ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 27 ‘But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.’” - Luke 19:11-27

Recreation of the world to purity

Sermon Text:

We come this morning to the last part of verse 13, and I would like to look specifically at what is translated “the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.”

The Greek word used here is “the Parousia” – the appearing or the presence.

It was a common word in the language of the time, used for the arrival of a person of importance, like the emperor.

But it was also used of normal people making a visit.

Paul expressed gratitude for the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus... in 1 Corinthians 16:17. The same word.

He also told the Philippians: So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; - Philippians 2:12

It should in no way bother us that a common word such as this would be used to describe a singular event in all human history;

On the contrary, many such common words are given deep and hopeful meaning when applied to Jesus Christ and His people.

Consider, as I have mentioned before, the word baptizo, from which we get the word “baptize”.

It means, quite simply, to immerse or even to dunk.

A person speaking the First-Century Greek language would have no problem describing the baptizo of their doughnut into their coffee, had doughnuts or coffee been around in the first century.

But just like in the case of baptism, which is given a great importance when we are baptized into Jesus Christ,

The Parousia, the coming, of the Lord Jesus Christ in the future is the fundamental hope into which all our faith points.

Without the Parousia, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. - 1 Corinthians 15:14

Now before we continue, I do want to make clear there is a vast difference between the doctrine of the Return of Jesus Christ, the Parousia, and what we know as eschatology, or the study of the theories of the “end times”.

The Return of Jesus Christ is crystal clear according to the Scriptures;

The same cannot be said for any eschatological system, no matter how well-crafted.

The vast difference is between knowing WHEN Jesus Christ will return (eschatology) and THAT He will return (Parousia).

We see Jesus’s make that very distinction in the so-called Olivet Discourse in Mark 13:32-33:

But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 33 “Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come.

The “day or hour”, including the specific circumstances of His return, would fall under “eschatology”, and Jesus is quite clear that this particular knowledge is reserved to God alone.

It is simply beyond what God has chosen to reveal, even to those who will be principle actors in the event.

But in the same breath, He exhorts His disciples to “keep on the alert” precisely because the time will not be revealed to them (or to anyone).

The FACT of His return IS the important thing.

It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert. 35 Therefore, be on the alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 What I say to you I say to all, ‘Be on the alert!’ ” – Mark 13:34-37

So this morning, I would like to begin to look at the four things the Scripture tells us will accompany the Parousia:

1. The physical, glorified return of Jesus Christ at the end of the age.

2. The resurrection of the dead.

3. The judgment of all people to eternal punishment or reward.

4. The obliteration of the fallen world and the remaking to purity and innocence.

Before we explore these things, I would like to point out that this doctrine – the Parousia of Jesus Christ – was a FUNDAMENTAL teaching of the apostles.

I would offer this as evidence:

We have two great discourses on the subject in the Pauline epistles: pretty much the rest of 1 Thessalonians and 1 Corinthians 15.

But, in almost every other epistle Paul writes, he references the coming of Jesus Christ as a settled matter,

Meaning that he does not introduce the subject of Christ’s Parousia as a NEW teaching,

but assumes the readers have not only a knowledge of the doctrine,

But have a MATURE knowledge of it.

He doesn’t have to explain anything about the day of Christ’s return in the many places he mentions it.

If I may illustrate:

I remember getting my first cellular telephone (what most of you just call your “phone” today).

It weighed 5 pounds, mostly battery, and was carried in a bag.

But to make a call, you had this extra step:

For “normal” landline phones that hung on the wall of your house, you simply picked up the handset and dialed the number of the person you wanted to call.

But in this new cell phone, you had to press the [Send] button to make the call.

So, if I handed my phone to a person who was unfamiliar with this new gadget, I would have to instruct them: Dial the number you want to call, and press [Send].

With the exception of teaching a child to first use a cell phone, do we ever even need to explain the details of HOW to make a call?

Or are we pretty confident that in a pinch, we could toss our phone at someone and simply instruct them to “call 911”?

That is the difference between teaching the doctrine and ASSUMING the doctrine.

Paul didn’t take the Philippians through the doctrine, but he did talk about:

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. - Philippians 1:6

so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and without fault until the day of Christ, - Philippians 1:10

holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to boast because I did not run in vain nor labor in vain. - Philippians 2:16

conformed to His death, 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. - Philippians 3:10-11

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by His working through which He is able to even subject all things to Himself. - Philippians 3:20-21

We find the same assumption of their understanding of this doctrine in almost every epistle Paul wrote.

And not just Paul. Every AUTHOR of the New Testament makes a reference to the Return of Jesus Christ.

Looking at the first item, we find the primary point: The physical, glorified return of Jesus Christ at the end of the age.

I would say little is more attested in the Scripture than this single fact – that Jesus Christ will return in the flesh.

There are some who have tried to “spiritualize” this return of Christ into something not physical, but the teaching of the New Testament is absolutely clear: Jesus will return in the flesh, marking the last day.

Jesus Himself, told His disciples this in John 14:2-3:

I go to prepare a place for you. 3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

We also see the familiar parable of the minas or talents in Matthew 25 and Luke 19.

The point of the parable is not specifically, as is so often preached, to “use your talents for God”;

It is a warning regarding the Return of Christ not to grow weary in waiting, becoming lazy or soft in our anticipation of His Return.

Because He WILL return, and will judge everyone, beginning with his servants.

In the first chapter of Acts, we see at the Ascension of Jesus Christ the promise of His return “in the same manner”:

And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. 11 They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” - Acts 1:9-11

We see this hope spoken about in Colossians 3:4:

When Christ, who is our life, is manifested, then you also will be manifested with Him in glory.

And again in 2 Timothy 4:8:

In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

The hope and expectation of Christ’s Return strengthened and encouraged Paul in his trials:

For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. - 2 Timothy 1:12

The Holy Spirit, in the Book of Hebrews, tells us:

And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. - Hebrews 9:27-28

The Return of Christ, the Parousia, is the common refrain through the New Testament.

And why would it not be?

It is natural and understandable that the bride would long to be with the bridegroom.

Likewise, the church, the bride of Christ, to be with Him.

Indeed, the bride who would not anticipate the return of the groom, preparing herself for his return even if she did not know the hour would prove by that failure that she loved another more than her groom.

O church, our greatest fear and greatest watchfulness should be that we are not led to wander from our love for our Lord, anticipating His return at any time.

Longing for that moment like our greatest thirst, our deepest need.

How cold and faithless and selfish would be the church or the believer that could fail to long for our Lord’s return?

Yet how many seek God’s blessing on them IN THIS LIFE and give no thought to longing for the actual presence of Jesus Christ?

Look to those apostles who walked with Jesus those three years on earth; there was nothing they desired more than to be with Him.

Threats could not slow them;

Death could not cower them.

They desired to be with Him, and to be with Him as faithful servants, whom He even called friends.

To be reunited in the flesh with Christ was more important to them than anything else.

It was to this hope they clung.

Are you hoping in any other thing than the reunion with the Lord Jesus Christ?

Is there any desire you hold above that?