Do You See the Comfort In These Words?

Text

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 NASB95

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

To appreciate what is being said here one must understand the setting for our Thessalonian brethren.

The country was prosperous but the Christians were persecuted Acts 17:6-8; 1 Thess 2:14; 2 Thes 1:4

Every religious group had a voice except theirs Acts 17:7

Sometimes it gets weary in the midst of “well doing”. Sometimes you’re going but not sure where, or how.

Death may have come to their brethren. Acts 17:6-7, They dragged Jason and others before the authorities.

Political stability was at stake. Economical gains were at stake. It was the fault of the christian.

Paul has to encourage this group. He addresses their immediate situation and their concerns, but encouragement is interwoven.

Paul answers a question regarding those who died in Christ. He is not just theological in his response but exhorts them to “comfort one another with these words”.

Somewhere in “these words” lie comfort.

The Reality and Certainty of Death

The Reality and Certainty of Hope

Jesus Rose

Jesus Returns

The Reality and Certainty of Eternity

2 Peter 1:10–11 “10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.”

1 John 5:13 “13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

John 11:25–26 “25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?””