Children in the Light of Day

Paul encourages grieving believers.

Believers don’t grieve as others do.

We have hope that Jesus will return and bring with him those who have died.

If God comes from heaven with a loud command and trumpets, We Will Hear It!

We will meet the Lord and those who are now dead.

We will be with them forever.

Paul instructs about the Day of the Lord. (When Jesus Returns)

John Wesley says that believers can and need to know that Jesus will return and what is needed to know to be prepared for that day.

On that day, believers will experience rapture.

Rapture does not simply mean to be taken up to heaven.

Rapture means ecstatic joy or delight; joyful ecstasy.

Vs. 17 - “caught up together with them in the clouds” is ambiguous, does not mean to heaven.

The Kingdom of God is made real on Earth, and the Earth is renewed on that day.

Who is the renewed Earth for, if we just leave it?

Paul does not bother to define a place & time of the Lord’s return.

The Day of the Lord will come suddenly, but it can be expected.

Like a pregnant mother who can expect to have labor pains.

Those living in darkness or asleep will be caught off guard, not knowing what will happen.

They have need to fear.

The Children of Light/ of the Day know the truth revealed by God by the Word and Spirit.

Children of the Light act openly without a need to fear.

Those who are asleep pay no attention, those who are awakened are alert with open eyes.

Children of the Light are:

Sober - physically, mentally & spiritually

Faithful - trusting in the grace & power of God to make lasting change

Loving - making every effort to do good, no intentional harm or neglect, and loving God with our whole selves.

Hopeful of our Salvation - that God is continually cleansing us from & faith that God sanctifies us.

Live without fear, in the Light, in the Day of the Lord!