WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.099 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. 00:00:11.259 --> 00:00:20.039 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 00:00:20.039 --> 00:00:31.500 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. 00:00:32.379 --> 00:00:42.439 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. 00:00:42.439 --> 00:00:45.960 And the dead in Christ will rise first. 00:00:45.960 --> 00:00:55.679 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. 00:00:56.740 --> 00:00:59.120 And so we will always be with the Lord. 00:01:00.700 --> 00:01:05.900 Therefore, encourage one another with these words. 00:01:05.900 --> 00:01:19.620 There's a term that the cool kids use these days that I think will help us get a decent grasp on what's happening here in the text. 00:01:20.740 --> 00:01:21.900 Perhaps you've heard it. 00:01:21.980 --> 00:01:23.760 The term is FOMO. 00:01:24.260 --> 00:01:24.980 Do you know that one? 00:01:24.980 --> 00:01:32.460 From what I understand, maybe I'm a little old for these words now, but from what I understand, it's actually an acronym. 00:01:32.659 --> 00:01:34.659 It stands for a fear of missing out. 00:01:35.280 --> 00:01:36.300 A fear of missing out. 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:44.540 For the young church in Thessalonica, there was a serious FOMO situation going on. 00:01:44.540 --> 00:01:47.760 It was causing them, actually, it was very serious. 00:01:47.880 --> 00:01:52.920 It was causing them tremendous sorrow, overwhelming grief. 00:01:53.980 --> 00:02:01.480 And it all had to do with misunderstandings about the nature of Christ's return. 00:02:02.420 --> 00:02:12.439 Some of them were afraid that if they died before Jesus came back, they would miss out on the benefits of his coming. 00:02:12.439 --> 00:02:17.919 So like Stephen Tyler, they didn't want to miss a thing. 00:02:19.740 --> 00:02:21.900 That's the context of what's happening here. 00:02:21.979 --> 00:02:26.939 That's what is in the hearts of these very young Christians in Thessalonica. 00:02:27.460 --> 00:02:33.579 The section of the letter is really flowing out of Paul's prayer in chapter 3 and verse 10. 00:02:34.240 --> 00:02:35.319 We just look at it there. 00:02:36.199 --> 00:02:37.060 Paul says, 00:02:37.060 --> 00:02:50.379 He wanted to supply for them what was lacking in their faith. 00:02:50.479 --> 00:02:57.840 In chapters 4 and 5 in the letter, in the construction of the letter, is his attempt to do that. 00:02:58.199 --> 00:03:01.960 He's isolating some particular needs in the congregation. 00:03:01.960 --> 00:03:13.379 And he is ahead of, hopefully, in his mind, returning to them in person, writing to supply what might be lacking. 00:03:14.100 --> 00:03:20.480 The first 12 verses of chapter 4, he supplied what was lacking for them in some areas of practical obedience. 00:03:20.479 --> 00:03:26.319 But when we come to this verse, in verse 13, all the way through chapter 5 and verse 11, 00:03:27.019 --> 00:03:33.459 he supplies what was lacking for them in some important doctrinal issues. 00:03:33.799 --> 00:03:35.959 It's a very doctrinal teaching at this point. 00:03:37.099 --> 00:03:42.539 Those doctrines center on the events related to Christ's return. 00:03:42.539 --> 00:03:51.500 Now, if we can just address for just a moment the necessity of understanding the purpose of faithful doctrine. 00:03:52.699 --> 00:03:56.519 Not everybody thinks appropriately about the need for doctrine. 00:03:56.519 --> 00:04:01.419 On the one hand, there are some who find it a nuisance, actually. 00:04:02.259 --> 00:04:06.299 A bit unnecessary to genuine Christian experience. 00:04:07.539 --> 00:04:09.039 They avoid doctrinal discussions. 00:04:09.039 --> 00:04:16.019 And may even think, in some scenarios, that it's actually dangerous to engage in them offensive and divisive. 00:04:17.379 --> 00:04:18.279 That's one extreme. 00:04:18.420 --> 00:04:19.459 That's one ditch on this side. 00:04:20.420 --> 00:04:23.539 The ditch on the other side of the road is, of course, the opposite. 00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:28.099 There are people who think of doctrine merely as an intellectual exercise. 00:04:29.500 --> 00:04:33.199 They love to study and develop theological convictions. 00:04:33.199 --> 00:04:38.180 But only so that they might maintain a measure of dogma. 00:04:38.539 --> 00:04:44.740 Or engage in stimulating debate about things that people wonder over. 00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:49.620 The doctrines that they hold never really seem to touch their heart. 00:04:49.719 --> 00:04:52.599 They just kind of fill their brains. 00:04:53.300 --> 00:04:55.079 It really affects them in practical ways. 00:04:55.079 --> 00:05:01.180 And both of these extremes, both of these approaches to biblical doctrine are not only dangerous. 00:05:01.339 --> 00:05:02.539 They're frankly unbiblical. 00:05:02.740 --> 00:05:05.199 They're unchristian in their approach. 00:05:06.779 --> 00:05:10.379 Doctrinal clarity, which is what Paul is getting to here. 00:05:11.240 --> 00:05:17.419 Doctrinal clarity and precision are a means to a greater end. 00:05:17.959 --> 00:05:20.219 They are not an end in and of themselves. 00:05:20.220 --> 00:05:30.600 The end is the application of God's truth so that we may live life to his glory. 00:05:32.180 --> 00:05:34.380 Why do we care about the truths of the Bibles? 00:05:34.760 --> 00:05:38.060 Not just so we can enter into a debate and win. 00:05:39.200 --> 00:05:42.700 No, it's so that it may transform our lives. 00:05:42.699 --> 00:05:51.180 So that God's truth may impact us in ways that we would have never even expected before. 00:05:52.259 --> 00:05:58.800 The fact is, is that your theological convictions really don't matter if they don't affect the way that you live in worship. 00:06:00.079 --> 00:06:03.319 You can have the right gospel and be unsaved. 00:06:07.259 --> 00:06:09.899 Paul shows us this clearly in the text. 00:06:09.899 --> 00:06:23.039 He was concerned to inform them of right doctrine so that they would be encouraged and comforted in their grief. 00:06:23.819 --> 00:06:24.819 That's the aim. 00:06:25.719 --> 00:06:26.620 And he makes it plain. 00:06:27.299 --> 00:06:28.039 Verse 13. 00:06:28.839 --> 00:06:31.819 Brothers, we don't want you to be uninformed. 00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:37.159 So that in your misunderstandings you grieve with great sorrow. 00:06:37.160 --> 00:06:39.980 And by the end, what does he say? 00:06:40.600 --> 00:06:42.000 Now that he has informed them. 00:06:43.080 --> 00:06:43.880 Comfort one another. 00:06:44.860 --> 00:06:45.660 Encourage one another. 00:06:45.860 --> 00:06:46.820 That's his point, isn't it? 00:06:47.220 --> 00:06:49.120 It's not information for information's sake. 00:06:49.260 --> 00:06:50.060 It has a goal. 00:06:50.340 --> 00:06:51.080 What is the goal? 00:06:51.400 --> 00:06:57.700 It is to understand God's truth so that we might live out the glory of God's truth for his pleasure. 00:06:59.180 --> 00:07:04.740 Now, anticipation for this discussion on Christ's return has been building through the letter, hasn't it? 00:07:04.740 --> 00:07:14.400 He's been hinting at it because he knows when he sits down to write chapter 1, verse 1, he knows that he's going to address this as the central focus of the letter. 00:07:15.480 --> 00:07:17.040 And so we start to see it piece through. 00:07:17.139 --> 00:07:19.160 Look in chapter 1 and verse 10. 00:07:19.300 --> 00:07:22.079 He's speaking about their perseverance of faith. 00:07:22.079 --> 00:07:34.279 And he says part of that perseverance is that they are waiting for God's Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come. 00:07:34.539 --> 00:07:35.560 What is that a reference to? 00:07:36.039 --> 00:07:37.539 The second coming of Christ. 00:07:38.519 --> 00:07:42.620 We move to chapter 2 and we look again at verse 19. 00:07:43.779 --> 00:07:49.120 What is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before the Lord Jesus at his coming? 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:51.280 What's in Paul's mind there? 00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:53.519 What's he hinting at even early in the letter? 00:07:54.199 --> 00:08:02.319 The coming of Christ and the reality that both he and the Christians in Thessalonica will experience that coming in its fullness. 00:08:03.540 --> 00:08:08.319 Then we move to chapter 3 and his prayer in verse 13. 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:18.280 He prays that God would establish their hearts blameless in holiness before God and the Father at the coming of the Lord Jesus with all his saints. 00:08:18.279 --> 00:08:19.179 What's he doing? 00:08:19.419 --> 00:08:23.799 Again, he's bringing the lens, the focus back to the second coming. 00:08:24.779 --> 00:08:30.819 And he's acknowledging even there in seed form what he's going to explain here in this part of the passage. 00:08:30.819 --> 00:08:37.720 And that is that those Christians in Thessalonica will be participants in the second coming. 00:08:37.720 --> 00:08:40.639 So he's begun to build this. 00:08:40.720 --> 00:08:41.980 It's anticipating through the letter. 00:08:42.060 --> 00:08:48.899 And now he finally gets to the moment of clarity that they needed so desperately in the church in Thessalonica. 00:08:49.420 --> 00:08:52.399 And he deals with the second coming directly. 00:08:52.399 --> 00:09:00.360 And not only, as I said, is it meant to inform us of right doctrine as it relates to Christ's return, 00:09:00.360 --> 00:09:09.459 but God desires to strengthen our faith so that he might comfort our anxieties about death. 00:09:09.799 --> 00:09:11.179 That's really at the heart of it, isn't it? 00:09:12.179 --> 00:09:14.419 And so I want to work through the passage with you today. 00:09:14.419 --> 00:09:23.719 I want us to be informed as the Thessalonians were informed so that we might be encouraged as the Thessalonians were encouraged. 00:09:24.399 --> 00:09:28.919 First, I want you to notice something of the situation here in verse 13. 00:09:30.679 --> 00:09:31.179 Paul writes, 00:09:31.179 --> 00:09:47.819 Now it's in this opening verse that we learn something about the situation in Thessalonica that needed addressing. 00:09:48.819 --> 00:09:50.179 Three things stick out to us here. 00:09:50.299 --> 00:09:56.479 First, we discover that the situation relates to doctrine that they did not know. 00:09:57.459 --> 00:09:59.740 It's not necessarily confusion here. 00:09:59.740 --> 00:10:01.139 It is ignorance. 00:10:01.960 --> 00:10:03.659 They haven't been taught these things yet. 00:10:05.100 --> 00:10:08.840 Remember, Paul's time in the city was relatively brief. 00:10:09.799 --> 00:10:15.899 We go to Acts 17 and we look strictly at Luke's timeline that he lays out in the narrative. 00:10:16.399 --> 00:10:21.299 It's possible that Paul's stay in Thessalonica was as little as two or three weeks. 00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:25.899 Now, I don't think we actually have to look at Acts 17 with that level of rigidity. 00:10:25.899 --> 00:10:30.259 I think actually it was probably a bit longer than that, but not much longer. 00:10:31.259 --> 00:10:32.980 He was only there for a short time. 00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:40.120 We also know from Acts 17 that the focus of Paul's preaching and teaching as he was in the city 00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:47.620 was an explanation of the gospel of Jesus, his death and his resurrection from the Old Testament scriptures. 00:10:48.659 --> 00:10:54.960 Now, the preaching of the gospel would have naturally included some education about the Lord's return, 00:10:55.740 --> 00:11:00.480 something that we know in the text here that the Thessalonians understood would happen 00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:02.700 and that they were greatly anticipating. 00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:05.320 That's actually what's being understood here fundamentally. 00:11:05.659 --> 00:11:11.320 They know the Lord will return and they want him to return and they're longing for him to return. 00:11:11.940 --> 00:11:13.060 So what's the problem? 00:11:13.800 --> 00:11:18.920 The problem is that there were some gaps in their understanding that needed to be filled. 00:11:19.159 --> 00:11:21.139 And that's what Paul is setting out to do here. 00:11:21.379 --> 00:11:23.500 He's acknowledging something that they already believe, 00:11:23.500 --> 00:11:29.440 but he's helping refine the doctrine so that they might actually apply it appropriately to their real lives. 00:11:29.899 --> 00:11:31.080 That's the first thing we see here. 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:36.639 The second thing we see here in verse 13 is that we learn about the situation 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:40.759 is that they were confused and concerned specifically 00:11:40.759 --> 00:11:46.659 about what happens to Christians who die before Christ's coming. 00:11:46.659 --> 00:11:53.299 What happens to Christians before the Lord's return if they die? 00:11:54.360 --> 00:11:57.360 That's what Paul means here by those who are asleep. 00:11:57.519 --> 00:12:01.759 He doesn't mean those on the back row whose eyes are beginning to glaze over even now. 00:12:02.019 --> 00:12:03.379 That's not what he's referring to. 00:12:03.539 --> 00:12:04.639 He's not talking about sleep. 00:12:04.939 --> 00:12:06.059 He's talking about death. 00:12:07.699 --> 00:12:13.199 Sleep was a common euphemism in Greek culture for death. 00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:19.000 And the biblical authors use it to refer especially to the death of believers. 00:12:20.040 --> 00:12:25.860 The term itself in the Christian context, it actually anticipates resurrection. 00:12:26.780 --> 00:12:27.740 And I want to show that to you. 00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:30.100 I think these passages are actually on the screen for you to see. 00:12:30.620 --> 00:12:33.180 Matthew chapter 9, verses 24 and 25. 00:12:33.780 --> 00:12:37.160 The setting here is a family has come to Jesus. 00:12:37.340 --> 00:12:40.180 Their daughter is very sick, and she's now dead. 00:12:40.259 --> 00:12:41.680 They don't know she's dead at first. 00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:43.399 She dies as they're away. 00:12:44.219 --> 00:12:47.279 Jesus goes with them to the house, and when they arrive at the house, 00:12:47.579 --> 00:12:49.739 the professional mourners have already gathered. 00:12:50.019 --> 00:12:52.500 They are mourning her death because she has now died. 00:12:53.159 --> 00:12:54.679 And here's what Jesus does. 00:12:55.779 --> 00:12:58.839 He tells the professional mourners who were a nuisance to him, he said, 00:12:58.959 --> 00:12:59.519 Go away. 00:13:00.299 --> 00:13:01.620 The girl is not dead. 00:13:02.219 --> 00:13:02.899 She's sleeping. 00:13:03.979 --> 00:13:05.159 And they laughed at him. 00:13:05.319 --> 00:13:06.059 Why'd they laugh? 00:13:06.659 --> 00:13:08.459 Because they knew what death was. 00:13:08.460 --> 00:13:11.160 They knew that she was dead. 00:13:11.580 --> 00:13:15.780 Now, was Jesus lying when he said that she wasn't dead but sleeping? 00:13:15.960 --> 00:13:17.259 No, he's making a point. 00:13:18.680 --> 00:13:21.840 When the crowd had been put outside, he went in and he took her by the hand, 00:13:22.220 --> 00:13:23.160 and the girl arose. 00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:27.900 Here, Jesus is using sleep as a euphemism for the girl's death. 00:13:28.740 --> 00:13:30.040 You say, well, I'm not so sure about that. 00:13:30.120 --> 00:13:32.259 Well, John 11 helps us, okay? 00:13:32.259 --> 00:13:36.539 John 11, the setting here is Jesus' friend Lazarus is dead. 00:13:37.700 --> 00:13:40.000 After saying these things, he said to his disciples, 00:13:40.200 --> 00:13:43.240 Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep. 00:13:43.679 --> 00:13:46.100 There again, he's using sleep as a euphemism for death. 00:13:46.740 --> 00:13:48.399 But I go to awaken him. 00:13:48.659 --> 00:13:50.000 Now, the disciples didn't get it. 00:13:50.059 --> 00:13:53.319 They said to him, Lord, if he's fallen asleep, he'll recover. 00:13:53.460 --> 00:13:55.159 Somebody will wake him up. 00:13:55.200 --> 00:13:56.100 Why don't we got to go do it? 00:13:56.100 --> 00:14:03.259 Now, Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought he meant taking rest and sleep. 00:14:03.379 --> 00:14:10.240 Then Jesus told them plainly, Lazarus has died, and for your sake, I'm glad that I was not there, 00:14:10.600 --> 00:14:12.420 so that you may believe. 00:14:13.540 --> 00:14:14.500 Let us go to him. 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:21.480 All right, so we see, represented in the scripture, sleep is routinely used as a euphemism for death. 00:14:21.660 --> 00:14:24.160 That's how Paul is using it here. 00:14:24.159 --> 00:14:29.879 So the Thessalonians, they were concerned about their Christian friends who had died. 00:14:30.839 --> 00:14:33.860 And based on Paul's teaching that follows in the next few verses, 00:14:34.079 --> 00:14:41.879 their specific concern was that deceased Christians would miss out on Christ's return. 00:14:42.439 --> 00:14:43.659 That's what they're worried about. 00:14:44.379 --> 00:14:47.399 They expect Jesus is coming back soon. 00:14:47.399 --> 00:14:56.559 And they think that the events of his second coming will only be useful to those who are living at the time that he returns. 00:14:57.439 --> 00:15:01.459 But now they're looking around, and they're starting to see, perhaps even in the midst of the persecution, 00:15:01.860 --> 00:15:03.100 their friends are dying. 00:15:04.259 --> 00:15:07.079 They're burying their friends who have trusted in Christ. 00:15:07.080 --> 00:15:09.360 And now they're mourning. 00:15:11.420 --> 00:15:14.200 They're saying, Paul, what are we supposed to think about this? 00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:15.300 They're going to miss out. 00:15:15.820 --> 00:15:17.379 They're going to miss out on the promise. 00:15:18.400 --> 00:15:21.680 That brings us to the third thing that we recognize here in this situation. 00:15:23.340 --> 00:15:27.639 It's that their lack of understanding produced significant grief. 00:15:28.759 --> 00:15:29.680 Isn't that what Paul says? 00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:35.219 He says, I want to inform you about those who are asleep so that you may not grieve, 00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:41.899 particularly as people grieve who have no hope, he says. 00:15:43.299 --> 00:15:45.719 You see, the problem wasn't grief itself. 00:15:47.959 --> 00:15:51.479 Christians sometimes have this habit we do in our American culture. 00:15:51.579 --> 00:15:54.399 We do everything we can to avoid notions of death. 00:15:54.479 --> 00:15:56.279 We don't even like to use the term death. 00:15:56.279 --> 00:15:59.419 We talk about passing on and going on before. 00:16:00.220 --> 00:16:00.459 Why? 00:16:00.579 --> 00:16:05.039 Because we want to do everything we can to avoid the inevitable conclusion that we will 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:06.879 all see as the Lord tarries. 00:16:08.600 --> 00:16:10.319 It's hard to talk about death. 00:16:10.779 --> 00:16:15.379 It's hard to deal with things related to death. 00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:21.779 And sometimes we think that we have to make death some kind of celebration so that we don't 00:16:21.779 --> 00:16:24.419 have to grieve as if grieving is a problem. 00:16:24.419 --> 00:16:26.699 That is not at all what Paul's saying here. 00:16:27.539 --> 00:16:29.879 The problem is not grief itself. 00:16:30.839 --> 00:16:37.639 If you go back to John 11, you find Jesus, knowing that he's actually about to raise Lazarus 00:16:37.639 --> 00:16:40.139 from the dead, grieved. 00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:42.279 He wept. 00:16:43.559 --> 00:16:44.000 Why? 00:16:44.779 --> 00:16:47.000 Because death is worthy of our mourning. 00:16:48.199 --> 00:16:52.120 In fact, if we understand it rightly, Christians must mourn it. 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:53.940 It's a tragedy. 00:16:55.419 --> 00:16:57.419 So what is it that Paul's dealing with here? 00:16:58.060 --> 00:16:59.919 The problem is not grief. 00:17:00.560 --> 00:17:08.339 It's the depth of grief that resembles someone who has no gospel hope. 00:17:08.339 --> 00:17:16.699 That's what this misunderstanding, this lack of information, was leading the Thessalonian Christians to do. 00:17:18.500 --> 00:17:23.259 The world faces death without any confidence in what comes next. 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:27.959 And what does that produce if it's not tremendous despair? 00:17:27.960 --> 00:17:33.980 The Thessalonians' grief over death didn't look much different than that. 00:17:33.980 --> 00:17:44.220 Paul wanted to correct it, recognizing that Christian grief must be intentionally mingled with gospel hope. 00:17:45.299 --> 00:17:46.740 So that's the situation. 00:17:47.120 --> 00:17:53.900 The young church who was confidently awaiting Christ's return didn't know what to think when some of them started to die. 00:17:53.900 --> 00:18:01.920 They needed to be taught more fully so that they might appropriately be comforted in their grief. 00:18:02.259 --> 00:18:03.280 That's the situation. 00:18:03.840 --> 00:18:06.120 Now let's look at the explanation. 00:18:06.900 --> 00:18:08.240 That's what follows here. 00:18:08.340 --> 00:18:12.100 Much of the bulk of this paragraph is Paul's teaching. 00:18:12.300 --> 00:18:20.019 It's explanation that fills in those gaps that the Thessalonians had as it related to the second coming. 00:18:20.019 --> 00:18:24.220 Now the essence of Paul's teaching here, basically it boils down to this. 00:18:24.579 --> 00:18:27.180 He's essentially saying, don't worry brothers. 00:18:28.119 --> 00:18:28.940 Don't worry. 00:18:30.940 --> 00:18:34.420 All who are in Christ will participate. 00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:36.779 You're not going to miss a thing. 00:18:37.900 --> 00:18:41.180 And your friends, they're not going to miss a thing. 00:18:42.759 --> 00:18:45.259 And he says, now let me tell you why I know that. 00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:49.259 And then I'll give you a glimpse into how it's all going to go down. 00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:53.759 So I think we can see here a division of two parts of his teaching. 00:18:54.619 --> 00:18:58.059 First, we have the source of our hope. 00:18:58.940 --> 00:19:00.039 The source of our hope. 00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:08.720 Paul gives two clarifying affirmations, but the emphasis here is on the sources of those affirmations. 00:19:09.539 --> 00:19:13.519 This is not religious hokum that Paul pulled out of nowhere. 00:19:13.639 --> 00:19:14.900 He's not just making things up. 00:19:14.900 --> 00:19:23.220 It includes reasoned, rational conclusions that are based on objective sources of truth. 00:19:24.100 --> 00:19:25.519 The first one is this. 00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:32.900 Our hope of resurrection rests in Jesus' resurrection. 00:19:32.900 --> 00:19:38.080 Our hope of resurrection rests in Jesus' resurrection. 00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:39.080 Look at verse 14. 00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:51.180 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:54.180 Now let's start with the affirmation at the end. 00:19:54.180 --> 00:20:00.140 The event here that's in view, of course, is Christ's return. 00:20:00.360 --> 00:20:01.380 It's the second coming. 00:20:02.320 --> 00:20:08.420 It's the event, same event alluded to earlier in the letter, greatly anticipated by these believers. 00:20:09.560 --> 00:20:19.420 The Father, God the Father will send the Son to redeem his people, to establish the kingdom, and ultimately to judge the earth. 00:20:19.420 --> 00:20:28.900 And Paul clarifies here that when Jesus comes, when he returns, he's not returning alone. 00:20:30.180 --> 00:20:37.940 He will bring with him those who have fallen asleep, those Christians who have died. 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:38.920 Look at the affirmation. 00:20:39.360 --> 00:20:47.500 Even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Jesus those who have died. 00:20:47.500 --> 00:20:54.119 The statement, it touches on the Christian understanding of what we call the intermediate state. 00:20:54.900 --> 00:20:55.980 You don't let the term confuse you. 00:20:56.039 --> 00:21:04.079 It just refers to the condition of the soul between our physical death and Christ's return. 00:21:04.940 --> 00:21:05.640 What happens? 00:21:06.660 --> 00:21:07.539 Where are we? 00:21:08.539 --> 00:21:09.779 Do we exist anymore? 00:21:10.859 --> 00:21:12.839 This affirmation, it touches on that, doesn't it? 00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:16.019 Our souls do not sleep. 00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:19.660 Neither do they cease to exist. 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:27.059 Our material person, our flesh and blood, this body that you inhabit now, 00:21:27.660 --> 00:21:32.740 goes into the ground, dust to dust, and decays. 00:21:34.259 --> 00:21:40.680 Our immaterial person, our souls, it lives on. 00:21:40.680 --> 00:21:46.860 Believing souls go directly into the presence of God. 00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:52.120 To be absent from the body, the scripture tells us, is to be present with the Lord. 00:21:54.759 --> 00:22:00.000 Unbelieving souls immediately awaken in hell. 00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:04.940 Jesus himself affirms it in Luke 15. 00:22:04.940 --> 00:22:18.519 Now, those who come with Jesus at his return are those living souls, believers who died in Christ. 00:22:18.940 --> 00:22:21.460 Look back again at chapter 3 and verse 13. 00:22:21.580 --> 00:22:23.680 Paul has already referred to this. 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:34.740 He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. 00:22:36.440 --> 00:22:37.539 They're coming with him. 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:40.920 So Paul, just right out the gate, he makes clarification. 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:42.580 Don't worry, brothers. 00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:43.680 Don't worry. 00:22:44.560 --> 00:22:45.560 They're with the Lord. 00:22:45.559 --> 00:22:48.740 And when he comes, they're coming with him. 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:52.179 Which immediately leads us to the next question. 00:22:52.899 --> 00:22:54.259 Why are they coming with him? 00:22:55.480 --> 00:23:04.480 Well, they're coming so that they might be reunited with their bodies in resurrection. 00:23:05.359 --> 00:23:10.399 So that their existence in eternity is not a shadowy spirit existence. 00:23:11.059 --> 00:23:12.079 It is real. 00:23:12.980 --> 00:23:13.940 It is physical. 00:23:13.940 --> 00:23:14.100 It is physical. 00:23:15.640 --> 00:23:16.240 Glorious. 00:23:18.039 --> 00:23:19.779 How can Paul be so sure? 00:23:20.080 --> 00:23:21.880 This seems so bizarre. 00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:26.080 Well, he tells us the first part of the verse, doesn't he? 00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:29.799 Where does his confidence in resurrection lie? 00:23:30.860 --> 00:23:31.960 Notice what he says. 00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:37.600 We believe this because we believe that Jesus died and rose again. 00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:43.680 What is going to happen with our loved ones who have died before Christ's return? 00:23:44.600 --> 00:23:49.320 They're going to experience what Christ has experienced in his own death and resurrection. 00:23:49.860 --> 00:23:55.620 Because he died and rose, we know that we will die and rise with him. 00:23:55.619 --> 00:24:03.099 In the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus is where Paul finds his confidence. 00:24:03.619 --> 00:24:05.479 This is our blessed hope. 00:24:05.479 --> 00:24:13.439 For Christians, everything, everything ultimately comes down to the resurrection of Jesus. 00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:15.440 His resurrection. 00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:15.799 His resurrection. 00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:19.799 It affirms his divine identity. 00:24:19.799 --> 00:24:24.680 It vindicates his death as a true atonement for sinners. 00:24:24.680 --> 00:24:35.380 And it is the representative first fruits of the resurrection of all his people that will be experienced when he returns. 00:24:35.380 --> 00:24:39.440 Why can't we have confidence, loved ones? 00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:41.800 Because Jesus lives. 00:24:42.680 --> 00:24:43.920 Because heroes. 00:24:44.900 --> 00:24:46.280 We will rise. 00:24:47.260 --> 00:24:48.620 That's our hope. 00:24:49.900 --> 00:24:51.340 1 Corinthians 15. 00:24:51.339 --> 00:24:54.099 Paul goes into much more detail about it. 00:24:54.980 --> 00:24:55.480 He says, 00:24:55.480 --> 00:24:57.779 In fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. 00:24:58.980 --> 00:25:01.740 The first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 00:25:02.899 --> 00:25:09.119 For as by a man came death, by a man has also come the resurrection of the dead. 00:25:10.119 --> 00:25:16.559 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:18.859 But each in his own order. 00:25:19.899 --> 00:25:21.220 Christ the first fruit. 00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:27.440 Then at his coming, when he returns, those who belong to Christ. 00:25:28.659 --> 00:25:33.119 And then, once he comes, comes the end. 00:25:34.440 --> 00:25:41.319 When he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and every power. 00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:45.619 For he must reign until he's put all his enemies under his feet. 00:25:45.619 --> 00:25:48.439 And the last enemy to be destroyed. 00:25:49.739 --> 00:25:50.239 Death. 00:25:52.659 --> 00:25:55.639 What a joy this must have been for the Thessalonians. 00:25:57.179 --> 00:26:00.799 They're connecting the gospel dots now to their grief. 00:26:01.799 --> 00:26:04.799 That their hope does not only apply to the living. 00:26:05.659 --> 00:26:09.879 Their hope is even found in their death. 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:12.899 What comfort for their grief. 00:26:12.900 --> 00:26:15.780 This gospel. 00:26:17.140 --> 00:26:18.880 This is our only hope. 00:26:21.600 --> 00:26:22.720 Apart from it. 00:26:24.460 --> 00:26:26.860 Death will only bring you grief and despair. 00:26:29.180 --> 00:26:30.759 But there is true hope. 00:26:32.140 --> 00:26:33.700 And it's only in Jesus. 00:26:33.700 --> 00:26:34.259 Second. 00:26:34.259 --> 00:26:41.259 Our hope of resurrection comes directly from God's word. 00:26:42.519 --> 00:26:45.660 Our hope of resurrection comes directly from God's word. 00:26:46.299 --> 00:26:47.160 Look at verse 15. 00:26:47.160 --> 00:26:50.279 For this we declare to you. 00:26:50.980 --> 00:26:52.600 By a word from the Lord. 00:26:53.720 --> 00:26:55.279 That we who are alive. 00:26:55.560 --> 00:26:56.660 Who are left. 00:26:57.100 --> 00:26:58.320 Until the coming of the Lord. 00:26:59.600 --> 00:27:02.400 Will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 00:27:02.940 --> 00:27:05.259 So this is the next step in his explanation, isn't it? 00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:08.300 Again, let's begin with the affirmation. 00:27:08.620 --> 00:27:11.560 That those who are alive at Christ's coming. 00:27:11.940 --> 00:27:14.720 Will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:20.240 It simply means that the living will not have a greater participation. 00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:25.360 Or greater benefit in Christ's return than the dead. 00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:28.100 That's where the confusion lies, isn't it? 00:27:28.819 --> 00:27:34.240 They're concerned that their friends who have died won't participate in the second coming. 00:27:34.339 --> 00:27:35.839 And that's what they've all been longing for. 00:27:36.640 --> 00:27:39.319 Paul sets out and he immediately says, don't worry. 00:27:39.640 --> 00:27:40.880 They're coming with him. 00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:43.579 And then he takes that explanation a step further. 00:27:43.579 --> 00:27:46.539 And he says, look, those of us who are alive when this happens. 00:27:46.740 --> 00:27:48.519 We don't receive a greater benefit. 00:27:48.899 --> 00:27:51.679 We're not going to have a greater participation than them. 00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:52.419 Don't worry. 00:27:53.960 --> 00:27:54.859 Don't worry. 00:27:57.079 --> 00:27:59.539 But on what basis does Paul make this claim? 00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:01.960 Simply? 00:28:02.439 --> 00:28:05.099 He didn't just give his best guess. 00:28:05.179 --> 00:28:08.139 He didn't just make something up to try to get them to stop crying. 00:28:08.140 --> 00:28:09.140 No. 00:28:09.140 --> 00:28:09.440 No. 00:28:11.960 --> 00:28:14.120 He taught them what Jesus said. 00:28:16.060 --> 00:28:18.700 The word of the Lord was the grounds of his teaching. 00:28:19.420 --> 00:28:20.960 And we can see it for ourselves. 00:28:21.180 --> 00:28:22.860 If you were to turn to Matthew 24. 00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:23.560 Don't do it now. 00:28:23.640 --> 00:28:25.060 Do it this afternoon in your study. 00:28:25.059 --> 00:28:28.279 If you were to turn to Matthew 24 on the Olivet Discourse. 00:28:28.279 --> 00:28:31.480 As Jesus himself teaches the details of this. 00:28:31.619 --> 00:28:33.679 You will find 13. 00:28:33.879 --> 00:28:40.139 At least 13 direct parallels between what Jesus says in Matthew 24. 00:28:40.339 --> 00:28:43.200 And what Paul says right here in these two sections. 00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:46.019 What's Paul telling him? 00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:50.500 He's not telling him some kind of mysterious knowledge that he had and nobody else had. 00:28:50.779 --> 00:28:52.220 And he's not making it up. 00:28:52.700 --> 00:28:55.860 He's teaching what Jesus taught. 00:28:56.559 --> 00:28:58.140 He's preaching the word. 00:28:59.620 --> 00:29:00.340 Our hope. 00:29:00.440 --> 00:29:02.700 It does not rest in the thoughts of men. 00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:06.539 It does not rest in the opinions of those who are wise. 00:29:06.539 --> 00:29:07.259 No. 00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:13.559 It rests solely on the eternal word of God that will never fail. 00:29:14.659 --> 00:29:16.399 That's what he rested on. 00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:20.940 Well that's the source of his hope. 00:29:21.220 --> 00:29:23.920 Then we find the next step of the explanation. 00:29:24.759 --> 00:29:27.159 He gives us a bit of a sequence of events. 00:29:27.399 --> 00:29:30.159 A progression of events we might say. 00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:36.519 Now the affirmations rooted in the gospel and in the Bible are wonderfully helpful. 00:29:36.539 --> 00:29:37.940 But the next question is. 00:29:38.460 --> 00:29:40.099 Well we're just a little curious. 00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:44.159 How exactly is this going to unfold in real time? 00:29:46.339 --> 00:29:49.779 And the text doesn't tell us everything that there is to know about it of course. 00:29:50.839 --> 00:29:52.299 It wasn't what Paul was trying to do. 00:29:53.200 --> 00:29:55.879 But he does give us a general progression of events. 00:29:56.920 --> 00:30:00.440 So that we might be encouraged in our grief. 00:30:00.440 --> 00:30:07.820 He does not give us these things so that we might engage in endless debate over exactly how it will unfold. 00:30:08.820 --> 00:30:13.920 But he tells us these things so that we might be informed and comforted. 00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:16.100 Here's how it's going to go. 00:30:16.940 --> 00:30:20.279 First, Jesus will descend from heaven. 00:30:20.279 --> 00:30:23.200 Jesus will descend from heaven. 00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:24.379 Verse 16. 00:30:25.879 --> 00:30:28.200 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven. 00:30:28.940 --> 00:30:30.420 With a cry of command. 00:30:31.500 --> 00:30:33.220 With a voice of an archangel. 00:30:34.259 --> 00:30:36.299 And with the sound of the trumpet of God. 00:30:36.299 --> 00:30:40.960 Now there's a lot of mystery in this, isn't there? 00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:45.940 And there's a lot of this that will be a mystery until the day that it happens. 00:30:47.859 --> 00:30:49.759 But Jesus will come. 00:30:51.159 --> 00:30:56.700 And he's going to come with a commanding descent from heaven. 00:30:57.399 --> 00:30:58.539 We don't know where. 00:30:59.039 --> 00:31:00.500 We don't know how. 00:31:01.180 --> 00:31:02.419 We don't know when. 00:31:03.299 --> 00:31:04.419 But he is coming. 00:31:04.420 --> 00:31:10.680 And when he does, it will be unmistakably clear to everyone. 00:31:13.019 --> 00:31:20.900 Now I don't know whether we are to understand the cry and the voice and the trumpet literally or figuratively. 00:31:21.800 --> 00:31:29.160 What I do know is that when Jesus comes back, everyone will know it's him. 00:31:29.160 --> 00:31:37.860 And for those who are in Christ, it will come as a wonderful, joyful blessing. 00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:47.400 And for those that are not in Christ, it will be a terrifying day of reckoning. 00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:51.700 As they finally meet their judge. 00:31:51.700 --> 00:31:56.519 Jesus will return with a commanding descent from heaven. 00:31:57.180 --> 00:31:58.259 What happens next? 00:31:59.240 --> 00:32:04.880 The dead in Christ, those Christians who have died, will be raised. 00:32:05.480 --> 00:32:07.519 They'll be raised from the dead physically. 00:32:08.559 --> 00:32:10.480 Again, verse 16, it's the last phrase. 00:32:11.420 --> 00:32:13.700 And the dead in Christ will rise first. 00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:18.960 First, that's the central focus of what Paul's getting at with the problem in Thessalonica, isn't it? 00:32:19.180 --> 00:32:21.620 They're worried that their friends won't participate. 00:32:21.860 --> 00:32:26.340 And if they happen to die before Christ comes back, they're grieving that they won't participate. 00:32:26.799 --> 00:32:29.200 And Paul's saying, no, no, Christ is going to come back. 00:32:29.860 --> 00:32:35.000 And the first thing that's going to happen when he does is those who are dead in Christ will be raised. 00:32:35.539 --> 00:32:36.240 They'll be raised. 00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:44.279 The souls of dead believers who return with Christ will be reunited with their bodies before anything else happens. 00:32:44.460 --> 00:32:48.400 It will be visible and it will be dramatic. 00:32:51.519 --> 00:32:57.620 And the best part is that it will not be an ordinary body. 00:32:58.960 --> 00:33:00.839 They will be glorified. 00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:03.019 Eternal bodies. 00:33:03.019 --> 00:33:13.980 Like that of Jesus' own resurrected physical body on that day when he appeared to his disciples in Jerusalem. 00:33:15.039 --> 00:33:16.539 Now let me give you some scripture for this. 00:33:17.359 --> 00:33:20.099 Again, 1 Corinthians 15 is a wonderful help. 00:33:22.059 --> 00:33:24.639 Paul says, so it is with the resurrection of the dead. 00:33:24.639 --> 00:33:32.559 What is sown perishable, that is our physical body that dies, will be raised imperishable. 00:33:32.559 --> 00:33:35.879 That is a physical body that will not die again. 00:33:37.419 --> 00:33:39.940 It is sown in dishonor. 00:33:40.960 --> 00:33:43.139 Subject to disease. 00:33:43.799 --> 00:33:45.220 Subject to failure. 00:33:45.859 --> 00:33:47.000 Subject to aging. 00:33:47.679 --> 00:33:50.079 It will be raised in glory. 00:33:51.139 --> 00:33:52.539 Never to be sick again. 00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:54.700 Never to be broken again. 00:33:55.559 --> 00:33:57.639 Never to be aged again. 00:33:58.740 --> 00:34:00.339 It's sown in weakness. 00:34:00.339 --> 00:34:02.959 It's raised in power. 00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:05.419 What kind of power? 00:34:06.159 --> 00:34:06.839 I don't know. 00:34:08.719 --> 00:34:10.659 But it will be different than what it is now. 00:34:13.299 --> 00:34:15.079 It's sown in natural body. 00:34:16.299 --> 00:34:19.099 It will be raised in spiritual body. 00:34:19.099 --> 00:34:24.519 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, that is Adam. 00:34:25.179 --> 00:34:29.480 Just as we bear Adam's image, the natural man and his sin. 00:34:31.059 --> 00:34:35.440 We shall also bear the image of the man of heaven, that is Jesus. 00:34:35.880 --> 00:34:37.380 What will we be like? 00:34:38.319 --> 00:34:39.719 We will be like him. 00:34:39.719 --> 00:34:45.459 John tells us that plainly in 1 John 3 and verse 2. 00:34:45.539 --> 00:34:47.659 Beloved, we are God's children now. 00:34:48.079 --> 00:34:55.339 What we will be, that is what our existence will be like in the future, it has not yet appeared. 00:34:55.480 --> 00:34:56.480 We don't know all that yet. 00:34:56.519 --> 00:34:57.259 It hasn't happened yet. 00:34:57.260 --> 00:34:58.760 But here's what we do know. 00:34:59.200 --> 00:35:03.700 That when Jesus appears, when he comes back, we're going to be like him. 00:35:04.900 --> 00:35:09.840 Whatever his resurrected body is, loved ones, that's what yours will be. 00:35:10.300 --> 00:35:15.140 I told Ashlyn and Harper at dinner on Friday night, I was basically preaching my sermon to them. 00:35:15.200 --> 00:35:16.600 I said, I hope I can fly. 00:35:16.599 --> 00:35:19.360 I don't know if we can do that. 00:35:19.599 --> 00:35:24.159 What I do know is that Jesus had a physical body after his resurrection that could eat food. 00:35:24.779 --> 00:35:29.099 But that he also had a physical body that could just appear in a room without walking through a door. 00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:31.579 I don't know what that means for us. 00:35:31.799 --> 00:35:35.779 But what John says is that whatever it is that we'll be like, we're going to be like Jesus. 00:35:36.759 --> 00:35:38.199 We're going to be like him. 00:35:39.860 --> 00:35:40.619 How wonderful. 00:35:42.219 --> 00:35:43.360 So what's the sequence? 00:35:43.360 --> 00:35:47.160 Well, first Jesus comes and he's going to come not alone. 00:35:47.260 --> 00:35:53.280 He's coming with all the souls of these Christians who have died between up until that point. 00:35:54.039 --> 00:35:57.539 And then the first thing that's going to happen is he is going to raise them from the dead. 00:35:57.599 --> 00:35:58.720 He's going to transform them. 00:35:58.880 --> 00:36:02.140 And then they will be on earth with those who are living. 00:36:02.640 --> 00:36:02.820 Okay. 00:36:04.460 --> 00:36:06.140 What's the problem in Thessalonica? 00:36:06.940 --> 00:36:07.900 Where are they going to miss out? 00:36:09.420 --> 00:36:10.700 Now Paul's caught them up. 00:36:11.380 --> 00:36:12.320 No, you're going to come. 00:36:12.320 --> 00:36:13.400 You're going to raise. 00:36:13.660 --> 00:36:14.980 And then we're going to be together again. 00:36:15.420 --> 00:36:16.360 All of us together. 00:36:16.480 --> 00:36:17.180 That's a lot of people. 00:36:18.320 --> 00:36:19.380 Here's the third thing. 00:36:20.360 --> 00:36:26.740 All believers, all Christians will be caught up to Christ. 00:36:27.620 --> 00:36:28.580 Caught up to Christ. 00:36:28.800 --> 00:36:29.400 Verse 17. 00:36:30.780 --> 00:36:34.700 Then we who are alive, who are left living, 00:36:35.960 --> 00:36:40.660 we will be caught up together with them. 00:36:40.659 --> 00:36:41.719 Who's the them? 00:36:42.719 --> 00:36:44.079 Those who have fallen asleep. 00:36:44.179 --> 00:36:44.899 Those who were dead. 00:36:45.539 --> 00:36:49.659 We will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 00:36:51.859 --> 00:36:55.980 The resurrected and the living will fully participate in Christ's return. 00:36:57.579 --> 00:36:58.739 Caught up here. 00:36:58.739 --> 00:37:02.839 This is where some Christians have gotten the idea of a rapture. 00:37:03.000 --> 00:37:04.099 That term rapture. 00:37:05.739 --> 00:37:10.299 It means to seize or to snatch up. 00:37:11.159 --> 00:37:16.379 And the idea here that Paul is conveying is that we will all be caught up, 00:37:16.799 --> 00:37:21.439 snatched up together to meet Jesus in the sky. 00:37:21.440 --> 00:37:28.460 And of course, Christians disagree on exactly when that's going to happen. 00:37:29.159 --> 00:37:30.780 Here's what all of us agree about. 00:37:31.200 --> 00:37:33.079 And that's the fourth step in the progression. 00:37:34.460 --> 00:37:38.539 All believers will be with the Lord forever. 00:37:39.800 --> 00:37:40.760 All of us. 00:37:42.220 --> 00:37:42.900 Verse 17. 00:37:42.900 --> 00:37:49.780 And so, we will always be with the Lord. 00:37:51.599 --> 00:37:52.599 Do you see the progression? 00:37:53.800 --> 00:37:55.420 Paul says, let me tell you how it's going to go down. 00:37:56.740 --> 00:37:57.639 Jesus is going to come. 00:37:57.760 --> 00:37:58.760 It's going to be commanding. 00:37:59.500 --> 00:38:02.680 It's going to be reality altering probably. 00:38:02.840 --> 00:38:05.019 There's going to be something crazy that we can't imagine. 00:38:05.180 --> 00:38:07.639 And he's going to have all the souls of Christians with him. 00:38:07.980 --> 00:38:08.820 He's going to raise them. 00:38:08.860 --> 00:38:10.840 And then together, all of those Christians who are living, 00:38:10.840 --> 00:38:12.100 he's going to transform them too. 00:38:12.220 --> 00:38:14.340 And we're all going to be snatched up with him. 00:38:15.120 --> 00:38:17.660 And I think the implication, especially in this word meet, 00:38:17.800 --> 00:38:19.440 is that as soon as we're snatched up, 00:38:19.640 --> 00:38:21.100 we're coming the rest of the way. 00:38:21.940 --> 00:38:22.640 Here's the kingdom. 00:38:23.700 --> 00:38:24.300 It's here. 00:38:25.539 --> 00:38:26.800 No one misses out. 00:38:27.840 --> 00:38:29.620 No one who is in Christ at least. 00:38:30.940 --> 00:38:35.860 No one fails to fulfill the promise. 00:38:35.860 --> 00:38:40.940 Oh, what a relief. 00:38:43.200 --> 00:38:44.220 What a comfort. 00:38:46.559 --> 00:38:51.120 Christ's resurrection leads to the Christian's resurrection, 00:38:51.660 --> 00:38:58.220 which results in forever being with the Lord in his kingdom. 00:38:58.219 --> 00:39:01.639 John 14. 00:39:02.839 --> 00:39:04.179 Jesus tells his disciples, 00:39:05.179 --> 00:39:07.219 don't let your hearts be troubled. 00:39:08.019 --> 00:39:09.079 Isn't that what Paul's saying? 00:39:09.759 --> 00:39:13.980 Hey, we don't want you to be grieving in an inappropriate way. 00:39:14.399 --> 00:39:15.539 Don't let your hearts be troubled. 00:39:16.399 --> 00:39:18.099 You believe in God, believe also in me. 00:39:18.639 --> 00:39:20.799 In my Father's house are many rooms, he says. 00:39:22.719 --> 00:39:26.359 There's room for you there, he means. 00:39:26.360 --> 00:39:30.420 And if it were not so, would I have told you 00:39:30.420 --> 00:39:33.160 that I'm going to prepare a place for you? 00:39:35.440 --> 00:39:37.039 I will come again, 00:39:37.780 --> 00:39:40.000 and I will take you to myself. 00:39:41.099 --> 00:39:41.660 Why? 00:39:42.740 --> 00:39:44.880 So that wherever I am, 00:39:45.960 --> 00:39:47.820 you will be with me. 00:39:48.960 --> 00:39:50.340 You will be with me. 00:39:51.820 --> 00:39:53.039 What's Paul teaching here? 00:39:53.960 --> 00:39:55.480 He's teaching what Jesus taught. 00:39:55.480 --> 00:39:59.199 That's the explanation. 00:39:59.460 --> 00:40:01.360 Finally, we see the application. 00:40:02.199 --> 00:40:02.740 Verse 18. 00:40:04.480 --> 00:40:08.300 Therefore, encourage one another with these words. 00:40:09.940 --> 00:40:11.380 Why is Paul saying all this? 00:40:13.760 --> 00:40:16.539 He probably introduced a lot of questions to their minds, didn't he? 00:40:17.539 --> 00:40:19.179 Do you have any questions about this text? 00:40:19.699 --> 00:40:20.559 I got a few. 00:40:20.559 --> 00:40:25.259 That's not why he tells them. 00:40:26.179 --> 00:40:27.920 Verse 18 is why he tells them this. 00:40:29.820 --> 00:40:31.199 Now comfort one another. 00:40:32.799 --> 00:40:37.000 Therefore, the word, it issues an inference based on his teaching. 00:40:37.940 --> 00:40:41.420 Because this is true, brothers, encourage one another with it. 00:40:41.420 --> 00:40:44.360 And we can't miss this. 00:40:45.300 --> 00:40:48.659 He didn't go over all this teaching merely to fill their heads 00:40:48.659 --> 00:40:51.099 and equip them for theological debate. 00:40:51.440 --> 00:40:54.980 He intended the doctrine to make a difference in their lives. 00:40:55.480 --> 00:40:58.400 For them and for you. 00:40:58.400 --> 00:41:04.119 The paragraph, it begins with hopeless grief. 00:41:04.780 --> 00:41:06.599 It ends with amazing comfort. 00:41:07.619 --> 00:41:13.559 And what is the vehicle that Paul uses to get us from point A, the hopeless grief, 00:41:13.780 --> 00:41:16.320 to point B, the amazing comfort? 00:41:16.320 --> 00:41:23.519 The gospel of Jesus' death and resurrection through the preaching of the word. 00:41:24.539 --> 00:41:25.760 That's how he does it. 00:41:26.180 --> 00:41:28.039 How are we to encourage one another? 00:41:28.320 --> 00:41:29.760 How are we to be encouraged? 00:41:30.019 --> 00:41:30.980 The same way. 00:41:31.280 --> 00:41:32.480 It's the same vehicle. 00:41:32.940 --> 00:41:38.840 It's the gospel of Jesus' death and resurrection through the proclamation of the Bible. 00:41:39.800 --> 00:41:42.440 Where can we find comfort in the face of death? 00:41:42.940 --> 00:41:44.740 Only in the gospel of Jesus. 00:41:44.739 --> 00:41:49.039 How do we encourage one another in grief over death? 00:41:49.519 --> 00:41:52.779 Only with, quote, these words. 00:41:53.799 --> 00:41:55.000 God's word. 00:41:56.159 --> 00:41:57.659 That's the application. 00:41:59.259 --> 00:42:01.259 Now, two considerations as we close. 00:42:03.659 --> 00:42:07.719 First, are you ready for this? 00:42:09.019 --> 00:42:10.439 This is happening. 00:42:12.539 --> 00:42:13.659 It's happening. 00:42:14.739 --> 00:42:17.500 It might be today. 00:42:19.879 --> 00:42:20.979 Are you ready? 00:42:23.859 --> 00:42:30.879 Hope for resurrection and life at Christ's return, it belongs only to those who trust in Christ by faith. 00:42:30.880 --> 00:42:35.260 I mentioned Matthew 24 earlier. 00:42:36.960 --> 00:42:41.140 Jesus does all this teaching on his second coming and on the events related to it. 00:42:41.579 --> 00:42:45.119 The very next thing he does in Matthew 25 is tells a parable. 00:42:46.400 --> 00:42:48.740 We know it as the parable of the ten virgins. 00:42:49.640 --> 00:42:52.000 You can read it later, but here's the basic idea. 00:42:53.360 --> 00:42:54.220 There's ten virgins. 00:42:54.219 --> 00:42:58.379 Half of them are waiting to be summoned by the bridegroom for the feast, the marriage feast. 00:43:00.559 --> 00:43:02.980 Half of them are prepared for the bridegroom to come. 00:43:04.439 --> 00:43:05.519 Half of them are not. 00:43:06.919 --> 00:43:12.719 And when he comes, the ones who are prepared are joyfully taken to the feast by the bridegroom. 00:43:12.719 --> 00:43:16.899 The ones who are not prepared are locked out. 00:43:17.899 --> 00:43:20.699 And he says, I don't even know who you are. 00:43:20.699 --> 00:43:30.259 Now, why does Jesus tell that parable immediately after all of this teaching that Paul is conveying here? 00:43:31.759 --> 00:43:34.859 He's turning to those he's teaching and he's basically asking the question, 00:43:35.719 --> 00:43:36.359 are you ready? 00:43:38.179 --> 00:43:39.539 Because you better be ready. 00:43:39.539 --> 00:43:47.920 Those who are prepared will enter the joy of the Lord. 00:43:49.679 --> 00:43:54.679 Those who are not prepared will suffer his eternal judgment, 00:43:55.500 --> 00:43:59.219 which is what comes next in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5. 00:44:01.759 --> 00:44:04.199 All of us belong to one of these two groups. 00:44:05.840 --> 00:44:07.920 Which one do you belong to? 00:44:08.719 --> 00:44:09.400 Are you prepared? 00:44:09.539 --> 00:44:19.059 I read a passage a moment ago, John 14. 00:44:20.800 --> 00:44:23.880 Jesus says, in my Father's house there are many rooms. 00:44:23.960 --> 00:44:24.860 Why does he say that? 00:44:25.659 --> 00:44:26.880 What does he mean by that? 00:44:28.219 --> 00:44:30.320 He means there's plenty of space there. 00:44:31.639 --> 00:44:33.059 There's plenty of space there. 00:44:33.960 --> 00:44:35.279 You say, I'm not ready. 00:44:36.940 --> 00:44:38.519 Well, why? 00:44:38.519 --> 00:44:43.000 You can be ready now. 00:44:44.840 --> 00:44:46.320 In fact, he invites you to be. 00:44:47.840 --> 00:44:48.840 He says, come. 00:44:50.119 --> 00:44:51.219 Come to me. 00:44:51.219 --> 00:44:54.139 All who are weary and heavy laden. 00:44:54.139 --> 00:44:54.179 All who are weary and heavy laden. 00:44:54.899 --> 00:44:56.139 Burdened with grief. 00:44:56.879 --> 00:44:58.939 Over the prospect of what is to come. 00:44:59.339 --> 00:45:02.239 And he says, I will give you rest. 00:45:03.239 --> 00:45:04.379 Rest for your soul. 00:45:04.380 --> 00:45:07.860 Here's the second consideration. 00:45:07.860 --> 00:45:07.860 00:45:07.860 --> 00:45:09.780 And this is for those of you who are ready. 00:45:11.340 --> 00:45:16.099 I said at the beginning that the Thessalonians had a FOMO problem. 00:45:16.099 --> 00:45:18.179 They were afraid they were going to miss out. 00:45:19.519 --> 00:45:22.299 Now, why were they so afraid of this? 00:45:24.500 --> 00:45:26.519 Because they longed for this moment. 00:45:26.519 --> 00:45:35.579 Their hearts, their minds, they were focused on the promise of Christ's return. 00:45:37.440 --> 00:45:40.360 Just zoom out a little bit in your understanding of the New Testament. 00:45:41.179 --> 00:45:45.960 And what you'll find is this is the driving force of everything in the gospel. 00:45:45.960 --> 00:45:48.179 It's all going somewhere. 00:45:49.480 --> 00:45:51.559 The Thessalonians knew that much. 00:45:52.800 --> 00:45:55.860 And as they look back to the death and resurrection of Christ. 00:45:56.599 --> 00:45:58.500 Trusting in that for their salvation. 00:45:58.960 --> 00:46:00.659 They looked ahead to his return. 00:46:02.039 --> 00:46:02.760 Anticipating. 00:46:03.179 --> 00:46:03.940 Expecting. 00:46:04.559 --> 00:46:05.220 Longing for. 00:46:05.340 --> 00:46:06.980 It was controlling their lives. 00:46:07.340 --> 00:46:08.240 The thought of it. 00:46:08.800 --> 00:46:10.400 Was always on their mind. 00:46:11.820 --> 00:46:15.720 Now, I don't think we have quite the same problem as they did. 00:46:15.960 --> 00:46:20.420 For most of us, the fear is not of missing out. 00:46:20.800 --> 00:46:22.880 I just don't think we ever think about this. 00:46:26.220 --> 00:46:30.360 We aren't really living with Christ's return in mind at all. 00:46:30.940 --> 00:46:33.059 Much less being afraid to miss it. 00:46:35.960 --> 00:46:39.559 They expected and anticipated Christ's return at any moment. 00:46:39.740 --> 00:46:40.699 As did Paul. 00:46:41.079 --> 00:46:43.820 And they longed for that moment to take place. 00:46:43.820 --> 00:46:47.960 And that the Lord has tarried his coming this long. 00:46:49.360 --> 00:46:53.440 Doesn't make his return any less imminent today than what it was then. 00:46:54.820 --> 00:46:57.460 Yet many Christians give little thought to the matter. 00:46:59.240 --> 00:47:00.620 You know what we end up doing? 00:47:01.500 --> 00:47:03.420 We live for this life. 00:47:03.420 --> 00:47:08.039 All our thoughts are focused on. 00:47:08.840 --> 00:47:10.639 What can I enjoy now? 00:47:11.579 --> 00:47:13.680 What can I get out of this life? 00:47:14.260 --> 00:47:16.420 The whole you only live once thing. 00:47:17.200 --> 00:47:18.920 That is not a biblical idea. 00:47:22.200 --> 00:47:23.720 We all live for this life. 00:47:23.719 --> 00:47:28.480 Do you long for his return? 00:47:30.359 --> 00:47:32.099 Do you love his return? 00:47:33.179 --> 00:47:36.159 Are you praying that he will return? 00:47:38.000 --> 00:47:40.659 This is what our lives should be consumed with. 00:47:41.559 --> 00:47:43.219 The promise of the gospel. 00:47:44.359 --> 00:47:45.639 Of Christ's return. 00:47:46.219 --> 00:47:47.299 And our resurrection. 00:47:47.300 --> 00:47:52.100 The fact is that we are far more blessed than the Thessalonian church. 00:47:52.100 --> 00:47:53.760 As far as information is concerned. 00:47:54.600 --> 00:47:55.660 They didn't have a Bible. 00:47:58.140 --> 00:47:59.460 We have the whole Bible. 00:48:01.640 --> 00:48:04.300 And we have a lot of information about this that they didn't have. 00:48:04.840 --> 00:48:06.220 At least as far as we can tell. 00:48:07.680 --> 00:48:12.280 We really don't have an excuse to be less expectant of Christ's return. 00:48:12.480 --> 00:48:13.320 Than they were. 00:48:13.320 --> 00:48:17.539 So let's long for his coming. 00:48:19.240 --> 00:48:20.260 Let's pray for it. 00:48:20.960 --> 00:48:22.900 And let's make sure we're prepared for it.