The Comfort of Christ
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
We can all think of a loved one that has passed away. I think of my grandmothers that have passed away. They were 2 ladies who loved Jesus. I hope the family members that come to your mind are those who loved Jesus. Here in 1 Thessalonians, Paul shares a comfort for the living who has seen death come to a loved one.
Will you join me in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
“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.
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.”
No generation has passed without seeing death in their family. It seems that the family who remains living face the most pain. Today I want to share with you that there is Comfort in Christ. There’s a story about an old preacher who was dying. He sent a message for his banker and his lawyer, both church members, to come to his home.
When they arrived, they were ushered up to his bedroom. As they entered the room, the preacher held out his hands and motioned for them to sit on each side of the bed. The preacher grasped their hands, sighed contentedly, smiled, and stared at the ceiling. For a time, no one said anything.
Both the banker and lawyer were touched and flattered that the preacher would ask them to be with him during his final moments. They were also puzzled; the preacher had never given them any indication that he particularly liked either of them. They both remembered his many long, uncomfortable sermons about greed, covetousness behaviour that made them squirm in their seats.
Finally, the banker said, "Preacher, why did you ask us to come?"
The old preacher mustered up his strength and then said weakly, "Jesus died between two thieves, and that's how I want to go."
The ole preacher found comfort in those two men being there. Those two men did not find comfort. Unlike these two men, there are people that we are close to. For some, a time of death is expected and there will be some that is not expected. Paul shares there is comfort in Christ.
We first see there is comfort in the resurrection of Christ
Comfort in Resurrection (vs 14)
Comfort in Resurrection (vs 14)
If we believe that Jesus died and rose, we can believe also in the resurrection of the Christian dead. The God who raised Jesus will also raise Jesus’ followers. It is Jesus’ resurrection that validates the gospel and guarantees the believers’ resurrection.
Death seems to be the end, when in fact it is the start for the Christian. We experience the death of a person more than the actual individual, because when Christians pass away, they experience true life with Christ. There is comfort in the resurrection.
Paul shares in verse 13 that there are some who have no hope. Those without hope are those without an understanding of life after death. The resurrection of Christ is a completion of the death of Christ. His resurrection is what offers us true life after this short second on earth.
The Bible doesn’t say that we avoid grieving, but teaches that we can grieve with hope. As Christians grieving Christians we have hope that tJesus will take those who have already passed away when He returns. The Bible says that Jesus will take them first! We have comfort in the Resurrection!
We also have comfort in the Destination
Comfort in Destination (vs 16-17)
Comfort in Destination (vs 16-17)
The Bible teaches that the dead will be the first to be “caught up in the clouds.” This phrase often refers to being brought in front of the presence of Jesus. All we are waiting on is a Command Cry from the Lord that will trigger a trumpet blast. The dead in Christ will rise first to be in the presence of Jesus.
When we grieve over a loved one that has gone to be with Jesus, you can only find comfort if you know your eternal destination. We don’t all have the same destination but we can. If you repent of your sin and surrender your life to Christ today, you can find comfort in your destination. For those that are in Christ, our final destination will be in Jesus in the clouds.
Comfort in Reunification (vs 17)
Comfort in Reunification (vs 17)
Both groups will experience reunion with the Lord together.The dead and the living will be reunited—a reunion that will know no end. For “we will be with the Lord forever.” Sin caused the first separation from Christ. Death creates a separation from the living. Eternity with Jesus reunifies the living and dead that are in Christ.