FHBC Sermon Notes

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Consider these two clichés.  "Ignorance is Bliss" and "Knowledge is Power"  There are times that are times, that we may rather just not know the details. Additionally, though knowledge can empower us, when it is based on our own incomplete knowledge it may give us over to an undue self confidence. 

In this letter Paul has acknowledged the Thessalonians great faith and endurance through much persecution. However, it has also revealed deficiency.  In these verses Paul addresses that fact that some were waiting passively.  Yet (v.3) it is the will of God is our sanctification. We have been set aside, and Paul reminds of this. Paul is therefore led to address the question that is keeping them passing. It is in regards to the question of what will happen to those that have died.  In this is the larger question, is what is God's larger purpose for our salvation. What have been saved from, and what have we been saved for?

An so in these brief Paul is laying out in short the central message of Christian hope.  This is a knowledge not like we often use the word "hope".  I "hope" it doesn't rain. I "hope" I can eat pizza today.  We "hope" for all the things we have no control over.

Biblical hope is much different.  It isn't an acknowledgement of a lack of certainty, but of the fullness of our certainty. For it is a hope in the promises of God, which means we can live in the certainty of those promises.  For this reason our faith, our obedience, our trust in God inspires HOPE.

*Passage*

>But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 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. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left 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 cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

**The Nature of Christian Hope**

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Because Christ conquered death, he will live forever. Because Christ conquered death, in Him, we will live forever. AMEN.

**2. The substance of Christian hope: Our eternal reunion with Jesus Christ. (4:15-17)**

    We can preach the gospel forever. But Paul does go further. We will be raised, yes, the following question is one of living. We must believe (v.13) first, be we also must live in trust of Christ, so that we are hidden in him.  We abandon our own path and will, and share in his will and path. (1 Corinthian 15:12-19).

    We live in the "already, but not yet" state. It is true that the victory has been won, but we also have not yet been raised ourselves.  In this state, we have not seen the completion of the gospel.  It is this "reunion" in which we live in our lives in hope. Not the worlds "hope", will no control, but the certain "hope" that is only found in Christ.

    We keep this in view for ourselves, but Paul also addresses those who have already died. The people fear that since they are "gone" that they may miss out on the great glory of Jesus' return.  But Paul makes it clear.

    >For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

    We and all those before us will be raised together.  The "dead in Christ will rise first."  They are "asleep".  But what of those that are living at the time.  We also we be raised, "we will be caught up *together* with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."  Just like the gospel makes no distinction between slave and free, rich and poor, male and female, so also there is no disctiontion between the "dead" and the "living".  WE SHALL ALL BE RAISED TOGETHER! How awesome is that!  A people from all nations. Made alive in Jesus Christ! Our trust is in him. Amen.

**3. The necessity of Christian Hope: Our perserverance amidst many hardships.**

    We cannot go 3 days without water, or a few minutes without air. But we cannot go even a second without hope.  This is what unifies us.

    We have so many debates over eschatology, about the "end-times".  As Christians we live so often in fear of the what is to come, of the end.  WHY IS THIS?!  We have a GREAT and GLORIOUS hope in Jesus.  If it is true, we have not reason to grieve.  We are not like the world, which "live as those who have no hope".  Death is the man's greatest enemy.  Look around anywhere as we see this. 

BUT… we trust in one who have conquered death. And so we are to "encourage one another with these words." (v. 18).

Are we doing this? Are we living in the light of this awesome truth?  Are we truly and continually encouraging each other with this knowledge.  For this knowledge, the knowledge of the truth of God, this is power!  It is power for living!

AMEN.