Day 594: 1 Thessalonians 4- Grieve With Hope

Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
The Coming of the Lord13 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.
 
Meditation
“Death is dead. Love has won. Christ has conquered.” These triumphant words are from the Ghetty Easter hymn, “See what a morning!”  Jesus died. Jesus rose from the grave. Jesus will return! God’s Spirit empowers Christians to look into the grave and grieve with great hope.
 
After detailing what a life pleasing to God looks like (1-12) Paul takes time to detail why Christians must hope in death (13-18). As Christians we grieve because we value the life lost. As Christians we hope because we know our resurrected King will return in glory.
 
The promised return of Christ is a catalyst of hope. Those who die in the Lord are asleep, to awaken with Christ in glory! Paul admonishes the church to “encourage one another” (18) with the truths of Christ’s return.
 
Specifically:
 
Jesus will descend and bring those who have fallen asleep with Him (16).  This aligns with Jesus teaching in Matthew 24:30 as well as Acts 1:11 and Daniel 7:13-14.
 
There will be a “cry of command” (16), worship of the Lamb (Revelation 19:6-10).
 
There will be a sound of victory, the voice of an archangel and trumpet will sound (16; Revelation 12:7; 11:15; 1 Corinthians 15:52).  
 
The dead in Christ will rise first (16; Isaiah 26:19) then those who are alive will be caught up together with the Lord (17; 1 Corinthians 15:51).
 
Jesus Christ will return to the earth with all believers of all time, those who have fallen asleep throughout history will awaken with grace (2 Corinthians 2:14) to experience God’s glory all over the place (Habakkuk 2:14).
 
Richly Dwelling
-Do you believe Christians grieve death differently than the world?
 
-Do you grieve with hope? Why or why not?
 
-How does the finished work of Christ and the promise of His return resurrect your hope? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
13 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.