Christ: Our Blessed Hope

Welcome

Welcome to church. We’re so glad you all were able to join us. I know that I told you last week as we were finishing our series on Colossians that we wouldn’t have another series until the new year. However, it occurred to me that I was still on time to get a series on Advent in before Christmas. I’ve always wanted to preach for advent, because the coming of Christ is the entire point of the Gospel message.

We use the word “advent” at Christmas-time when we thing of the arrival of Christ. The Latin word advent is defined as “coming” or “arrival” and is celebrated more often by churches in the liturgical tradition than most Baptist churches. However, I believe that there are many things that we can learn from the practice of the liturgical calendar. Every year, liturgical churches have defined readings and seasons that allow them to recall the life of Christ throughout the year. Advent is the season that includes the four weeks leading up to Christmas. It is a season of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.

There is an an anticipation and an expectant waiting for Christmas to come, bringing the birth of Jesus Christ.

So here we are, just a few short weeks before Christmas, and we’re thinking this week about Hope, the Blessed Hope of Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 CSB

13 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

[pray]

I can remember the great joy and anticipation that I had as a young boy for Christmas. It all started with the Sears Christmas catalog and the anticipation built from there with the toys, the lights, the Christmas tree, the festive atmosphere and all the peace and goodwill that we experienced.

It could be that when many think of Christmas it is this magical and emotional response that takes them back to the carefree days of their childhood.

Hope - a feeling of anticipation for some desire fulfilled.

However, in the biblical sense, hope can be defined in this way...

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Hope

HOPE The confidence that, by integrating God’s redemptive acts in the past with trusting human responses in the present, the faithful will experience the fullness of God’s goodness both in the present and in the future.

You might think that our focus verse is an odd choice for a Christmas series on Advent. However, I believe that we share and anticipatory hope for Christ’s return just as the Jews did in anticipation of the coming of the Messiah at the time of Jesus’ birth.

I. Revealed: We Have God’s Truth

1 Thessalonians 4:13 CSB

13 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.

Paul’s entire ministry was based on revealing the truth of God’s message of hope. Paul used this truth to combat unfounded or false spiritual beliefs.

In the case of the Thessalonian church he was answering life and death questions. Specifically, there was some confusion about Christ’s return and about what had happened to those believers that had died since Christ’s return.

We can look to this passage with a clarification provided to us by the apostles that we have been provided a truth in scripture and this truth can give us hope for the future and specifically, a hope for our own future.

In verse 15 Paul says this...

1 Thessalonians 4:15 CSB

15 For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.

Paul is making it clear that we don’t have to wonder about what happens to the believer after death. We have the word of the Lord on the matter. It is the revelation of God’s word, not merely opinion that those who are in Christ will rise up in the resurrection to join Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:51–54 CSB

51 Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. 53 For this corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality. 54 When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory.

The Truth that Paul taught is the same truth that Jesus taught...

John 5:24–29 CSB

24 “Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life. 25 “Truly I tell you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he has granted to the Son to have life in himself. 27 And he has granted him the right to pass judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done good things, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked things, to the resurrection of condemnation.

We can be assured that there is no need for fear of death.

II. Returned: Christ Came and He Will Return

Furthermore, Paul assures of that the resurrection is not just for Christ, but for those of us who have accepted him as our Lord and for those of us who have died.

Paul uses the word sleep here as an expression representing those who died. Paul is not referring to the soul, but the body that rests to be resurrected anew at Christ’s return.

1 Thessalonians 4:14–15 CSB

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.

The hope-filled promise here is that Christ will return to us. That he will bring the dead in Christ with him is a blessing to us as we mourn those who have left us.

III. Resurrected: The Dead in Christ Will Rise Again

Not only will those that died in Christ return with him when he comes, but the dead in Christ will rise again.

When Paul preached on resurrection in Athens, those who heard him mocked him. The Greeks held to a philosophy that the body was evil but that which was spiritual could be considered holy. Yet Paul was telling them that the body would be resurrected.

1 Thessalonians 4:15–16 CSB

15 For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

Interestingly enough Paul did not teach that the body would be reconstructed, but a resurrected body. Paul says in his first letter to the Corinthians that it will be a spiritual body...

1 Corinthians 15:39–44 CSB

39 Not all flesh is the same flesh; there is one flesh for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 40 There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is different from that of the earthly ones. 41 There is a splendor of the sun, another of the moon, and another of the stars; in fact, one star differs from another star in splendor. 42 So it is with the resurrection of the dead: Sown in corruption, raised in incorruption; 43 sown in dishonor, raised in glory; sown in weakness, raised in power; 44 sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

IV. Raptured: Those Who Live in Christ Will Be Caught Up

1 Thessalonians 4:17 CSB

17 Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

Paul continues explaining that we will be ‘caught up together with them in the clouds’. This is the rapture event that we anticipate at Christ’s return.

The word rapture does not occur in scripture, but the Latin translation of the Greek text used a Latin word, meaning ‘to sieze or carry off.’

We use this word to describe this idea of joining Christ in the air on his return.

This promise gives us hope.

While it may be a scary time for the world, when millions disappear simultaneously, for those who experience it, it will be a time of great hope and rejoicing.

V. Reunited: All in Christ Will Be Reunited Forever With Our Lord

The great hope that we have is that when we join Christ, it will be forever.

1 Thessalonians 4:17–18 CSB

17 Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Our meeting with Christ will be glorious. We will have glorified bodies, that will no longer have pain. We will take on the full glory of Christ...

John 17:22–24 CSB

22 I have given them the glory you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me, so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they will see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the world’s foundation.

Conclusion

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The Lord’s Table

We now move to the Lord’s Table as we remember the sacrifice and the salvific work that Christ completed on the cross. As we do regularly, we come to the table reflecting upon his sacrifice and we remember the reason that He made that sacrifice.

This is an appropriate time to reflect on your readiness and upon your personal condition before God.

[pause]

I know that a few of you come from a tradition of closed communion, which means that only members of the church are allowed to participate in communion. But here at FBC Pharr, we practice open communion. That means that we leave the decision to participate or not participate up to you.

If you are a Christian, who believes in Jesus Christ, and have taken him as your Savior and your Lord, we invite you to participate with us, if you feel it is appropriate.

Scripture teaches us that if there is any sin in your life or conflict with your brother or sister that might keep you from participating in this meal, then do not participate. If this is the case with you or if you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please allow the bread and the cup to pass and do not participate.

If this is you, please do not feel guilty or compelled to participate. There is no judgment or condemnation here. However, if this is you, please seek one of us out to get answers to questions that you might have or to correct some things in your life. We are here to serve you.

[pause]

Jesus came to this world to open the doors of Heaven to us by taking our say sin upon Himself and provide a way that we might enter into the presence of Almighty God.

[distribute the elements / pray / send out the deacons]

You’ll notice that you have two cups, one inside the other. The bread is in the bottom cup. You can gently separate the two cups.

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 CSB

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

This is the body of our Lord, Jesus Christ, take it and eat in remembrance of His body broken for for us.

1 Corinthians 11:25–26 CSB

25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

This is the blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Take it and drink in remembrance of His blood poured out for us.

For by eating this bread and drinking this cup, we join together in proclaiming the Lord’s life, death, and resurrection until His return to us.

Doxology

Praise God from Whom

All blessings flow

Praise Him all

Creatures here below

Praise Him above

Ye heavenly host

Praise Father Son

and Holy Ghost,

Amen

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