Hope for the Day of Judgement

Good morning

If you’re just joining us, we are on our second last week of working through 1 Thessalonians. A letter to a new church which was vibrant, growing and holding steady in the face of adversity and persecution. If you were here last week, Pastor Brad spoke through the previous 6 verses in chapter 4. He spoke about encouraging one another in the midst of seeing christians brothers and sisters pass away, being assured that they’ll recieve the promises of eternal life and the forgiveness of sins in Christ.

If you were here, or have read those previous verses, you may be asking the same question as me- is Paul just saying the same thing but in a different way?

The short answer is no. Paul uses very similar language, to answer two questions which we can see the Thessalonains asking. We know, God’s word is inspired through His spirit but by human hands. And I wonder, total speculation, if Paul just found a little metaphor he loved and he convinced God if he could use it twice. Maybe God just wanted us to wrestle with the text. But that metaphor, the ideas of being “awake”. He uses it chapter 4 as a way of describing christians who have passed away. In our text today he uses it in a contrasting way between belivers and non-believers, alonside outher contrasting describers like day/night, sober/drunk.

But these two questions it seems the Thessalonian church are:

What happens to Christians who have died before the Day?

When is Christ coming again?

4:13-18 and 5:1-11 both questions around the “Day of the Lord”. Colloquially called judgement day.

Christ’s judgement.

As an overview, Paul urges them to not be so concerned about the when and how, but instead be concerned for the journey there. Don’t be so concerned, you end up being a deer in headlights and do nothing with the time God has called you to.

Either way, Judgement is coming. We can have hope in our salvation secured in Christ. When is it coming? No one knows, but false teachers will claim to. How? We know there will be significant trials and tribulations but God hasn’t left us on our own.

The other thing that makes these passages feel like a m irror is Paul’s encouragement to encourge at the end.

This word for encourgement is the greek word “parakaleō”. Now even if you’re a novice NT greek, you’d likely notice it’s familiarity to the greek word “paraklete” which, famously, Jesus used to describe the Holy Spirit. Paraklete is the noun, parakaleo is the verb. What does it mean? To come alongside, to aid and to advocate for someone else.

In the context of discussing end times or the apocolypse- the word for us is to come alonside, to help and to exhort one another toward the goal- the fullness of the life God is calling us to. This is backed up by the root word in the greek, Kaleo, being the same root which we get the word “ekklesia” from. Which is the Church (big C), God’s people, those in Christ. Who are we that are in Christ? Helpers, Advocates and Encouragers.

With that said, Paul’s text today is full of teaching on how we do that well in light of a coming Judgement.

Firstly, we are to aware that a Day of judgement is coming.

1. You are to be aware of the Day of the LORD v1-3

1 Thessalonians 5:1–2 “Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.”

Already aware of Paul’s response to the question, so he emphasises- “you have no need for me to write for you, as you already know.”

What do they know? That the day Christ returns will be like a thief in the night. It’ll be sudden- like how labour comes upon a pregnant woman. Paul is leaning heavily on Jesus’ recorded words.

Matthew 24:3–8 ESV

As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

Jesus tells us not to be led astray when considering the “end times” or signs of it. We will hear rumours of wars, famines and earthquakes. They may be signs of the end but they also may not. Either way, they’re not His emphasis. Consider also His words recorded in Luke-

Luke 12:35–40 ESV

“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

What’s Jesus saying here? Be prepared. Be dressed, ready for action. Don’t let your light go out. Don’t be caught napping when the Master comes home.The Master of the House has set a task for you, you ought to be found doing it.

We really want to know when that day will be, however, I just don’t think it’ll be helpful. Christ’s second coming isn’t a project with a deadline and as we said at the top- we don’t have anything to be concerned about. Jesus has set as a task to do- to make disciples of all nations, baptise them and teach them all Christ has commanded us- the great comissioning. Paul goes on in verse 3

1 Thessalonians 5:3 “While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”

Great segway. Yes, Hayley, my wife is pregnant. Public apology, I thought I put a notice in our news letter but after the tenth person said “I never saw it”, I started to doubted myself. Apologies, we are due in January. But, like a labour comes on sudden- not as sudden as the poorly educated hollywood directors depict it- a long awaited moment comes- and it is painful.

The idea of pregnancy also alludes to the signs that come with it. Obviously the belly, but it’s the aching hips, the nausea, the saw feet and sometimes complications.

Paul describes people who are complacent in their comfort, saying “there is peace an security”. Paul is likely speaking about non-believers, one of my commentaries describes it is spiritual indifference to the signs of Jesus’ imminent return. These signs are the labour pains of a spiritual ravaged world.

What is our response? Paul describes our response using that metaphor of being awake- and it seems like a synthesis of Jesus’ words from Luke and is also used by Peter and John in their letters.

So you are to aware of a coming judgement, be prepared for that but also be spiritually awake. When you’re asleep you are unaware of what is happening around you, so you could hear this as a warning to not sleep on spiritual matters.

2. You are to be spiritually awake v4-10

1 Thessalonians 5:4–7 ESV

But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.

Same metaphor chap 4.: asleep/awake, two different applications. A contrast between believers/non-believers.

Paul offers 3 contrasting examples. Night vs Day, Asleep vs Awake, Drunk vs Sober.

Contrast:

Night vs Day

The darkness of night limits your vision- where the light ends so does your ability to see. This in turn forces you to only be concerned with your immediate surroundings, examples of this are only seeing what can be lit by a campfire or being lost in the woods at night, unaware of direction and stumbling over roots and rocks.

Day time in contrast you have great vision and clarity. You can see the horizon and distant things. You can clearly see the path and where you ought to be heading and how to get there.

Asleep vs Awake

When you’re asleep you’re again unaware of your surroundings. Unaware of dangers or intruders into your home. This is the metaphor of a “thief in the night”. Unaware that an intruder is in your home, ravishing and plundering it.

To be awake, Paul and others talk about being on watch or on guard. Jesus said in the Luke passage about “going about your masters business” while he is away- not sleeping on the job. Another great example is like the garden of gethsemane where Jesus asked Peter, Jame and John to keep watch and pray with him- but they fell asleep and were unaware of the distress of Jesus or the approaching guards.

Drunk vs Sober

Drunk. This ones kind of obvious. When you’re drunk, you’re useless. You can’t stand up straight, walk straight, can’t drive, slur your words, recall simple things or remember where you are. You act weird and out of character and lose your judgement. These are physical signs of drunkenness but they have spiritual connotations too. So far in this letter, Paul has urged us to continue to set an example of faith, love and hope, to live a holy life pleasing to God and to be loving to one another. To be “spiritually drunk” simply means you’re unable to do that, unable to live out God’s calling on your life. What’s worse, you’re choosing lifestyles and habits that are hindering you from living out that calling. If you aren’t fulfilling God’s spiritual calling in your life, you made decisions and habits to get there.

Spiritually sobriety, then, is a focus and a clarity of purpose. An awareness of God’s calling and a preparedness to obediently fulfill it.

Paul offers us a Truth of our new nature as Christians and a “therefore” charge. This Truth is: if you believe in Jesus Christ and trust Him as your Saviour, you are “children of light, children of the Day”. And I want to make a little connection, not sure if Paul is implying it, but we just spoke about “that Day” (judgement) and now we are being called children of the day. Almost as if, “that Day” the day of judgement belongs to us. Christ has won the victory, we are secure in Him- what have we to fear?

So, you’re in Christ which means you’re a child of light and then Paul has this “therefore” urge in verse 8

1 Thessalonians 5:8 “But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.”

You’re a child of light, you’re a child of the day therefore in your spiritual sobriety- ARM YOURSELF! You are aware of the spiritual matters, you should know that even if you’re a child of light there is still the darkness that exists. The darkness t still encrouches around the light, waiting for it to waiver. There’s a fight to be had- arm yourself for the fight lest you be overcome by the night.

What are we to arm ourselves with?

Paul says: the breastplate of faith & love and a helmet the hope of salvation. Faith, hope and love. We’ve heard this before- 1 Thessalonians 1:2–3 “We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

We talked about Paul exhorting the church to labour in love for one another, working in faith and standing steadfast in hope on the work of Jesus Christ. These three will protect you in the fight. Paul talks about this idea of armour elsewhere:

Ephesians 6:14–17 ESV

Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

He adds some extras here, this is written later, but let’s focus on the breastplate and helmet.

The breastplate, here, Paul says is the breastplate of righteousness. Now, he has ascribed faith to being like a shield but it is still involved in the breastplate. Let me show you-

Righteousness- “adherence to what is required according to a standard, for example; a moral standard, though not always.” We did not adhere to the standard. God, being the highest being, has the moral right, to set the standard. We not only failed to meet it- we rejected it and set our own standard in place. We rebelled and have became immoral. Righteousness means in one sense to be justified. If I was justified in an action or decision you could say I acted “righteously”.

So, the just thing for rebellion against the King of Kings, the crime of treason, is the punishment of death. For our rebellion we deserve death. Jesus, however, then offers himself up for us in our place to pay that penalty. Now, those of us who trust in Jesus are said to be forgiven, justified, and now receiving His righteousness. This righteousness, Paul says, is like a breastplate. It protects your heart. The “evil one” may come to accuse you but the finished work of Christ on the cross is your righteousness and defence.

Paul then, again, says put of the helmet of salvation. So in a sense: Let the hope of salvation, won for you in Christ, protect you mind. What is this hope?

1 Thessalonians 5:9–10 “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.”

Paul uses the asleep/awake metaphor once again as he did in chapter 4. For we have been destined through faith to obtain salvation in Jesus Christ, whether we are asleep or awake, whether you have passed away or alive when he returns, we shall receive what’s promised. And God is justified to do so.

The invitation fo you, if you would not consider yourself a Christian, or a follow of Jesus, is that this is available to you. Jesus says “come to me all who are weary burdened, and I will give you rest. We are all weary of the darkness in this world, Jesus invites us into the light of His truth. He offered himself up for you that you might live and have eternal life. What’s required? Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is LORD of your life- and you will be destined to receive that salvation.

If that’s you, we’d love to continue the conversation after the service. He will come to judge the world- don’t be caught sleeping on these words.

The Day is coming when Christ will judge the world, we know it. Yet, he has prepared us who believe, armed us for the fight until that day. As he finished the previous passage, Paul once again encourages us at the end of this one, with these words.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

3. You are to Build One Another Up v11

In light of everything that Paul teaches, he says therefore encourage one another. Parakaleo. Come along side one another. The christian journey is not meant to be done on your own, this is a great argument for those who feel they don’t need to “do church”. Yet, more importantly, it’s an admonishment on how we are to conduct our christian life.

Encourage here though is probably misunderstood or misinterpreted in the church. We often here people’s hardships, panic, compare them to our own sturggles and try to make them feel better- end up diminishing thier hardship and offer unsolicited advice at how to resolve said issues in some simple, quick and easy steps.

Unfortunately, buying someone a coffee mug which states “let go and let God”, who is suffering through a 4 year cancer journey just isn’t quite what Paul is calling us to do.

What’s better, is that the true meaning- coming alongside one another, is an invitation to wade into the muck and mess of life and is also an invitation into the most beautiful moments of this christian life.

It’s a beautiful picture of our God, who moved toward the mess of a broken, sinful and rebellious world to save it.

Afterall, how many times, you Christians, have you sinned since being filled with the Holy Spirit? Has He abandoned you? Let that example of love set ther standard we ought to follow.

We are not like the world- we are not allowed to hold spiritual indifference toward one another. That’d be the opposite to Paul’ and Christ’s call upon our lives who says;

John 13:35 “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.””

If.

Former generations of Jesus’ followers have failed one another. There is such a thing as lost generations of disciples. We cannot be complacent or indifferent in our calling to love one another.

As we continue to consider, “how can we have hope for uncertain times?” We can rest assured of Paul’s words that we have been destined to receive salvation and live with Him.

Let us also hold it with his “therefore charge”. We have been destined, therefore let us stay awake, and not be spirituall indifference, numbed by the comfort and security of our western lives, lest the thief breaks in and ravishes the father’s house.

Stay Awake. Zealous in Spirit. Protect your Father’s House till He sends the Master home.

Pray.

If you need encouragement/prayer/care, come to the front.