1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, God's Promises Makes a Difference

Pastor Greg Stenzel

End Time • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

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When one is perplexed about the possibility that death may rule out any participation in the joy of hte second coming of Christ, that perplexity adds more grief to the sorrow ordinarily experienced. But thanks be to God, that the Word has been spoken. In Jesus, who died for our sins and rose again for our justification, we have forgiveness of sins and assurance of life eternal.

Notes

Transcript

The Promise of Christ’s Return Brings Comfort

Christ’s death and resurrection assure those who die in Him. 1 Thess 4:14

1 Thessalonians 4:14 ESV

14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

NKJV and other translations use the word “IF” instead of “Since”. The Greek grammar does not imply doubt, which is why “Since” is a better use of the text. The point is, they do believe that Jesus died and rose again.

This confidence has further ramification that those who die in the faith will be broght together by God with Christ at His Coming.

God’s Word gives some details on Christ’s return.

Gospel Reading — Matthew 25:1-13 — Parable of the 10 Virgins.

The Lord will descend from Heaven — v. 16.

There will be a cry of command, the Archangel will call, and the sound of a trumpet with blast.

Emphasis is on the Lord Himself. He is the One who died, was buried, rose again, ascended into heaven, and has promised to return in the way in which we departed. See Acts 1:11; 1 Thess 1:10. He is the focus of our attention and the object of our worship.

The Dead in Christ will rise First — Paul received this as a special revelation from the Lord 0 (v. 15)

Those alive will rise to meet the Lord in the air.

V 17 - Therefore, our loved ones and us, who fall asleep in Jesus, have a special place in the Lord’s plan to return.

Christ’s Return is Sometimes Misunderstood

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers… (1 Thess 4:13a).

Ignorance, superstition, misunderstanding, guided the people.

Misunderstandings abound when God’s Word is not taken seriously.

Don’t grieve as those without hope.

Misunderstandings that if Christians died before Christ’s return that they would miss out.

They saw the dire affects of sin and death, but were not able to appreciate the healing effects of the Gospel.

We sometimes live in fear of death.

We have never experienced it.

We don’t want to suffer

Christ is coming, and we must be ready

He’s coming either at our death or on the last day

Some will be ready, Some not.

We Share Christ’s Return with One Another, for our Comfort.

The Word of God gives comfort to Christians (v. 18)

It is to be shared among the “Community of Saints”

“Comfort One another with these words.

When the bottom line reads death, we need more than speculations to reassure us. At that hour what we need is a Word from God. It doesn’t matter that death is the “falling asleep” of a loved one or the moment of our own death.

Thanks be to God, His Word has been spoken. In Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose again for our justification, we have forgiveness and assurance of life eternal. All this is given to you through the Word and Sacraments.