The Hope of Salvation: The Cause of the Believer’s Confidence

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 KJV 1900

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Many through the past century have gone to the extreme when teaching on this passage. When earthquakes or floods occurred they would encourage the flock to fear the circumstances and say “Well folks, lets get ready because Jesus is coming soon.” Everytime something happened in the Middle East, another conference would be called that would teach elaborately on Russia, Iraq, and Iran, and that Christ is coming back. “Get ready folks, it looks like he’s gonna come get us soon.”

This type of teaching produced excitement and fear. Anticipation because we want to see Jesus return, but fear because it was based on the recent news report and attempted to figure out how the situation tied into Christ’s second coming.

In 1990 during the first Gulf Way, John Walvoord wrote a book titled Armageddon, Oil and the Middle East Crisis. Here is the description of the book:

1 & 2 Thessalonians—The Hope of Salvation Chapter 13: The Second Advent of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11)

Never before in history has there been such a chain of events signaling the approach of Armageddon: war in the Middle East; nuclear technology in the hands of rogue states; instability in oil markets; terrorist attacks on U.S. soil; threats to wipe Israel “off the map”; and alliances between Russia and Middle Eastern nations.… These troubling world events confirm the forecasts made by Dr. John F. Walvoord, widely recognized as the “father of modern biblical prophecy.” His predictions once seemed beyond the realm of possibility—until they began to happen. John Walvoord correctly predicted Israel’s establishment as a nation. He foresaw that the Iron Curtain would fall. He warned us that oil would make the Middle East the center of world conflict.

Most who come out of this realm of Christendom often go to the other spectrum. Not thinking about Jesus’ second coming.

Paul helps us understand that the promise of Jesus’ coming again is not to get us glued to the News media or even obsess about current events. We are told that He is coming again to give us…

Assurance of Salvation

Understanding the work of Christ on the cross

Galatians 3:12–13 KJV 1900

And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Trusting the finished work of salvation

Romans 8:32–39 KJV 1900

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Knowing that eternal life is guaranteed

Romans 10:13 KJV 1900

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 KJV 1900

Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

Romans 8:1 KJV 1900

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Hope in the Resurrection

Believing in the resurrection of Jesus

1 Corinthians 15:13–20 KJV 1900

But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

Anticipating the future resurrection of believers

1 Corinthians 15:55–58 KJV 1900

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Recognizing death as a gateway to eternal life

Philippians 1:21 KJV 1900

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Galatians 2:19–20 KJV 1900

For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Trust in God’s Promises

Resting in the assurance of God’s faithfulness

Acts 20:24 KJV 1900

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Clinging to the promises of eternal security

John 3:16 KJV 1900

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Ephesians 1:13–14 KJV 1900

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Finding comfort in the presence of God in times of trouble

Hebrews 13:5 KJV 1900

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.