Untitled Sermon (9)
I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die forever. Do you believe this?”
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, thus also God will bring those who have fallen asleep through Jesus together with him. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who remain until the Lord’s coming, will not possibly precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who remain, will be snatched away at the same time together with them in the clouds for a meeting with the Lord in the air, and thus we will be together with the Lord always. Therefore comfort one another with these words
Redeemer
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
1. We are reminded constantly of the nearness of death
2. Death has different meaning to different people
I. Think About the Redeemed of God
A. All mankind has been sold into sin
1. Because of Adam, the human race is under the power of sin—Rom. 5:12
B. Jesus came and bought us back—1 Peter 1:18
1. God made a deal (covenant) with His Son
II. Think About the Death of the Redeemed
A. Death is compared to sleep
1. Sleep is an interval between activities
B. It is referred to as “departing”—Phil. 1:23
C. It is thought of as a change of residence—John 14
D. It is considered a gain—Phil. 1:21
III. Think About the Destiny of the Redeemed
A. What happens to the body of the redeemed?
1. It is buried to await resurrection
B. What happens to the soul of the redeemed?
1. Jesus’ promise to the thief—Luke 23:43
2. “Absent from body … present with the Lord—2 Cor. 5:8
C. Eventually body and soul will be reunited
IV. Think About Us Here Today
A. Some of us are the redeemed
1. The hope expressed is our hope
B. Some of us are not redeemed
1. We can have a place among the redeemed
2. The invitation has gone out—“Come”
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