“Comforting Words to Conquer Sorrow”
(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
Rev. Todd A. Linn, PhD
Henderson’s First Baptist Church, Henderson
Take your Bibles and join me in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 (page 795; YV).
Last week we looked at 1 Thessalonians 4 as a helpful text to begin a new year, this passage calling for a life that pleases God. We read about living in such a way as to become more like Jesus, growing in our sanctification—that process of improving spiritually as the days go by.
I really thought it helpful for us to pick up where we left off in the study—which would be to pick up right at verse 13—especially in our preparing for the ordinance of the Lord’s supper. One of the statements we recall when we eat the bread and drink the cup during the supper is that place where the Bible says, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes again (1 Corinthians 11:26).”
There is an evangelistic proclamation or preaching of the Gospel in the taking of the bread and the cup. We proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes again. So the Lord’s Supper is both a looking back and a looking forward. We look back to the cross where Jesus died as our substitute for sin, and we look forward to His second coming, His coming again, we He comes—according to the writer of Hebrews in Hebrews 9:28—He will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to [fully] save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”
So this passage teaches us a bit about our Lord’s second coming. And Paul writes this section to encourage the Christians in Thessalonica who have lost loved ones—Christian loved ones who have died. He writes to comfort them and in providing this comfort, Paul instructs us, as well.
• Please stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word.
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Pray: “With the psalmist we pray, ‘Open our eyes that we may behold wondrous things in Thy Law (Psalm 119:18).’”
When Paul writes about the second coming of Christ he writes about how Christians are to live in light of that coming. How we are to live in light of the Lord’s soon return.
This passage is similar to another passage Paul gives us in 1 Corinthians 15. That is where we read that wonderful teaching about how our physical bodies—buried in a state of corruption—will be one day raised in a state of incorruption. Our mortal bodies will one day be changed into a glorious body of immortality. So you can understand why that passage is often read at gravesides. Here we are burying a mortal body that one day will be raised in immortality.
I have shared with some of you before about this funeral book I have. It’s called, Standard Funeral Manual. I bought it some years ago at a bookstore in Louisville. Marked down. Good price. Figured I’d need it one day.
So I’m conducting a graveside service in Louisville and I’m reading from the manual this passage of Scripture about the mortal putting on immortality and, as I’m reading, literally as I am attempting to bring comfort to those in sorrow, I notice typographical errors throughout the passage. There are typos in the words “mortal” and “immortality.” Specifically, the typo is that the letter “T” is missing, which changes the meaning drastically! So reading it as it appears printed in the manual it suggests that we are to live a life of immorality. So it reads:
For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immorality (in other words, we’ll live like immoral pagans!)…the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the moral with immorality…
Can you believe it?! Fortunately, by God’s grace, He allowed me to see the typos just before reading them and so I was able to supply the correct words without embarrassing myself and bringing shame upon the entire serve. And I’ve actually gone back through the verses and added the letter “T” to the words, changing “immorality” to “immortality” and “moral” to “mortal.”
So I nearly always remember that when I come to passages like this about Christ’s return. And I wonder now if that wrong printing in the funeral manual is not something of a modern parable for the way many of us actually live in light of the Lord’s coming.
Does not the devil tempt us to live totally oblivious to our Lord’s second coming? Would he not rather we live in a state of immorality? Are we not tempted every single day to compromise our personal holiness?
So we’re back to last week’s message. We live our lives to please God, daily looking to our personal holiness—verse 3—“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality.”
I hope last week went well for you as you grew in your love for Jesus, not giving-in to—verse 5—“passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God.” I hope you were able to grow in your love for the One who created you for meaningful relationship and satisfaction in Him through Christ Jesus. Jesus is the superior satisfaction of our souls.
This truth about the Lord Jesus Christ and our life in Him continues as the main theme in this passage of Scripture, this passage we read in verses 13 and following, where we read about Christ’s coming—His second coming—and the comfort we may have in light of His coming and how the truth of His coming shapes the way we live and think.
We’re actually told by the Apostle that the words we read in verses 13 and following are provided for our comfort. He says in the concluding verse of the chapter, verse 18, “Therefore comfort one another with these words.” So the biblical teaching here in this paragraph is with a view to comfort Christians. There are here in the passage:
**Christian helps to conquer sorrow:
And that is really what this passage is about. It certainly is about Christ’s second coming. But Paul never gives us theology without practical application. In this case, theology is for our comfort.
The Christians in Thessalonica were in need of comfort. Many of them had lost loved ones in the Lord. They had Christian friends and family members who had died. And they were uncertain about the condition of their loved ones—is it all over for them because they died before Christ’s second coming? Do they somehow miss out on the Lord’s return or miss out on salvation entirely? This was their concern.
So Paul writes these words here as a means to help them and to comfort them. So we may apply the passage in the same way. This is a passage written to Christians—it is only a help to Christians. So here are some Christian helps to conquer sorrow. Specifically, here are three things to remember. First, remember:
Your Identity in the Lord (13)
Your Christian identity. Who you are as a child of God. Before you were saved, you had a different identity. Now, you have an identity in the Lord. Now I want you to see and feel this truth that comes from verse 13, but first I want you to see first what Paul teaches about the death of Christians 13.
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
Now Paul is saying, “Look, Thessalonians, I don’t want you to think wrongly about those Christians who have already died. I don’t want you to think that it is all over for them.” I do not want you to be ignorant “concerning those who have fallen asleep.”
Sleep is a New Testament euphemism for death. The metaphor is suggested by the way dead people appear to be, they look as though asleep. It is a metaphor describing the body, not the soul. The soul is very much alive.
Remember that Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:8 “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”
And in Philippians 1:23, “I have a desire to depart and to be with Christ.”
When the Christian dies, his or her soul goes immediately to be with Christ. Absent from the body here, is to be present with the Lord there. At the moment of death, our soul goes to be with our Lord in heaven.
To those of us left behind, we observe our loved ones as those who appear to be asleep. In fact, the way some of us sleep, it would almost appear as we would never awake! That is helpful. In the physical realm we understand that a sleeping person’s soul is very much alive. Only their body is still, they do not move, they are asleep. They will get up later.
So the Christian loved one who has died is now in conscious fellowship with God. Their bodies will rise. They will get up later.
This is what Paul is teaching here. Those “who have fallen asleep,” those who have died are still alive. Their souls are alive. They are in conscious fellowship with God. It is only their bodies that remain. And one day those bodies—as we read earlier—through “buried in morTality, will be raised in immorTality!”
More about that in a moment. Paul goes on to say in verse 13 that he has given this truth for a reason. He says, “lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.” I am writing this to you so that—when you grieve and when you are sorrowful—that you do not sorrow as others, those who have not hope.
Who are the “others who have no hope?” They are those who are not Christians. Unbelievers. An unbeliever has no hope at death. A non-Christian who dies does not go to heaven. He or she goes to hell—which is what we all deserve for our sin. There is no hope for the unbeliever. But Paul is saying, “You are not as the others.”
There is an epitaph on a gravestone. It reads:
“Pause, stranger, when you pass me by;
As you are now, so once was as I.
As I am now, so you will be;
So prepare for death and follow me.”
Someone came along and added the words:
“To follow you I am not content,
Until I know which way you went.”
You have an identity in Christ. You are in the Lord. You have hope.
Biblical hope is not the same as popular notions of hope. We often use the word hope today to convey something we really want to happen, but may not happen. That’s not biblical hope. Biblical hope, Christian hope, is certainty, confidence, assurance. Christians are not like others who have no hope. We grieve differently.
He doesn’t say, “I don’t want you to grieve,” though he probably wishes no one had to grieve. Grief is expected in our fallen world. But note it, he doesn’t say, “Don’t grieve.” Nor does he say that it is wrong for Christians to grieve. Like, “What’s the matter with you?! Why are you grieving? Don’t you trust God, don’t you know the Bible, stop crying!” No, what he says is, “I don’t want you to grieve “as others who have no hope.”
Grieving as those who have hope is a grief—a real grief with tears and all,
So theology helps you in times of sorrow. Without theology you may sorrow “as others who have not hope,’ but you don’t! Theology is for our comfort.
So remember your identity in the Lord!
You used to be among “others who have no hope.” Apart from salvation in Christ, we are hopeless. But now you are hopeful. You think differently. You grieve differently. You process information differently—because you’re different!
Think about other ways you may grieve or sorrow as others who have no hope. Consider other ways you may unnecessarily sorrow as others, sorrowing as those who have no hope.
When you face a health problem, a financial difficulty, how do you process the information? Is your default mechanism to think like an unbeliever? Do you find yourself immediately falling into despair? You’re not that way! Remember your identity! You are “in the Lord.”
You have a capacity for joy in the midst of grief. You may sorrow in this fallen world—but you will not sorrow “as others who have no hope.” Never forget it!!
Remember your identity in the Lord. Secondly, consider:
Your Expectancy of the Lord (14-16)
Are you really looking forward to Christ’s return? Verses 14 and following are about the return of Jesus Christ, His second coming.
The truth of Christ’s coming is more certainly known than the timing of Christ’s coming. We might say the truth of Christ’s coming is a major doctrine; the timing of Christ’s coming a minor doctrine. Or, the truth of Christ’s coming is a primary matter, the timing a secondary consideration.
But He IS coming again! Verse 14:
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
Remember that Paul’s aim here is to provide comfort. So he’s like, “Hey Jesus is going to return and when He does He’s going to return with those who are already with Him. He’s going to come again with the souls of those who have already died in the Lord—your Christian loved ones who are now with Him in heaven. When He returns, He’s bringing them with Him!” Verse 15:
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
In other words, we who have not yet died—we who are still living—when the Lord returns, we will not—Paul says, “will by no means precede those who are asleep.” Precede in what manner? What does he mean by precede, or going first? Well, he means that we will not rise to meet Jesus before the others do. Verse 16:
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
When Christ returns with the souls of those who have already died, He will raise up all believers. This is often referred to as the rapture of the church. Jesus will rase up all believers. When Christ returns, He will return with the souls of those who have already died, and it is their physical bodies that will rise first. They will rise before we do, we who are alive and remain,” will “by no means precede” or go first, “we will by no means precede those who are asleep,” those who have already died.
And this will all happen when the Lord Himself descends from heaven “with a shout,” like it’s a loud event. With the voice of an archangel. There is only one archangel mentioned by name in the Bible, mentioned in Jude 9, Michael the archangel.
Trumpet blasts in the Old Testament signified the presence of the Lord (Exodus 19:16, for example).
Your identity in the Lord, your expectancy of the Lord. Thirdly:
Your Destiny with the Lord (17-18)
Our ultimate destiny is to be with the Lord forever. Verse 17:
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus (or and hereafter; or from this point on) we shall always be with the Lord.
Again, Paul is describing what is often called “the rapture,” the rapture of Christians, the seizing up into the air, in the clouds, the believers in Christ to meet the Lord.
These are probably not the usual kinds of clouds we see in the sky, weather clouds, but more likely the clouds of glory that are so often mentioned in association with the Lord’s presence. Throughout Exodus, for example, the Lord leading His people by day in a pillar of cloud that went before them. Or at the Mount of Transfiguration when a bright cloud overshadowed Peter, James, and John and God said of Jesus, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well pleased (Matthew 17:5).” Or at the heavenly ascension mentioned in Acts 1:9 where the disciples are looking up and a cloud took Jesus away from them.
The word translated “to meet” the Lord is a word often used with reference to the welcoming of an important person to the city—a dignitary of some kind. People of the city would go out to the city gate and outside the city to meet, to welcome, this important person outside. This was an honorable reception, indicating the inhabitants of the city could hardly wait for the arrival of this person. So they honored the dignitary by going outside the city, meeting him outside, welcoming their honored guest, receiving him in this way, and then coming back through the city gate and into the city.
It’s the same word used by Jesus in the parable of the bridegroom in Matthew 25. Jesus says, “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him (Matthew 25:6)!’ Meet him. Welcome him. Receive him. Then bring him back inside.
Acts 28, remember when Paul was on his way to Rome and he said that word got out about his coming and some people came up to meet him some 30-40 miles outside the city. They met Paul and he rejoiced to see them as he made his way into the city (Acts 28:15-16).
So Christians rise up into the air to meet Christ, to welcome Him, to receive Him. And then we come back with Him, to reign with Him on earth. It’s a glorious thing! This is our ultimate destiny!
Do you live with this destiny in mind? Do you live in light of our Lord’s return? Everything you do? Decisions you make today, this week, remembering He is coming again and we live ultimately for Him and to reign with Him. He is coming to right all the wrongs! What comfort!
So Paul says in verse 18:
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
For the Christian, teaching about the Lord’s second coming is meant to be a comfort. Comfort one another with these words.
I heard a preacher (Alistair Begg) say recently that he loved to back into a parking space. I can relate to this. If there’s no one behind me and I’m not causing others to be inconvenienced, I like to back into a parking space, as well—because, as my preacher friend said, “I’m thinking about exiting when I’m arriving.” This is the way we are to live our lives. With each day’s arrival we’re thinking about exiting. Identity, expectancy, destiny with the Lord.
I heard this statement recently. Someone said, “Until we deal with the death and resurrection of Jesus we’re not prepared to deal with his return.” That is true.
To be ready for Christ’s return means we must first receive Christ as Lord. This is the most important thing any one of us will do. We must turn from our sins and turn to Jesus as Savior—believing He has lived a perfect life for us, keeping all the rules and laws of the Bible perfectly for us. We believe that He died a death of substitution for us, died in our place, taking our sins upon Himself and then rising from the dead that we may be declared righteous—not guilty of all sin. Have you trusted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? This is the most important thing you will ever do in your life. Trusting Him and living for Him along with and through the church, the body of Christ.
If you have not been saved from your sin, turn to Jesus today. Trust Him. If I am speaking to you specifically, and you know you are not saved, but would like more information about following Jesus, stop by the Connection Center today—the Connection Center in the education building—stop by and ask for, First Steps, and this devotional booklet will help you take your first steps in following Jesus.
Until we deal with the death and resurrection of Christ we’re not prepared to deal with the return of Christ.
In our observance of the Lord’s Supper, we deal with both—we recall the death, burial, and resurrection—and, we look forward to His return. “As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes again.”
We gather together as a community of faith to both remember and proclaim Christ’s work on our behalf. The Lord’s Supper is a family meal. We are reminded of our unity as the body of Christ.
The Lord’s Supper is for Christians. If you are not a Christian, again, we invite you to turn to Christ as Savior. Trust Him as Lord.
The physical act of eating and drinking corresponds to the mental act of remembering the Lord’s work—remembering Jesus lived a life of righteousness, died a substitutionary death in payment for our sins, and conquered death by rising from the grave. We remember these things and we proclaim these things during the supper “till He comes again,” looking forward to His soon return.
We’re going to do something a little different this morning as we partake of the Supper. I’m going to pray in a moment and then we’re going to sing a song that encourages examination and remembrance. While our deacons serve you, serve you the bread and the cup, we’ll all sing, thinking about how our hope is found in Jesus Christ. Preparing to eat the bread—the symbol of Christ’s body, and preparing to drink of the cup—the symbol of Christ’s blood.
We’ll sing the first three verses of this great hymn, “In Christ Alone,” and then I’ll lead you in taking the elements, eating the bread, drinking the cup. Let’s pray.
Pray: “Father, we thank you for Jesus Christ, the one who died for us. The one who is coming back to us. We thank you for our identity in the Lord, our expectancy of the Lord, and our destiny with the Lord. Forgive us for our sins. We repent. We love you and we thank you for the hope we have in Christ. In His name we pray, amen.”
While the deacons serve you, remain seated, and sing this great hymn.
1
“In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
2
In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev’ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.
3
There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
(Alan plays here on the piano to fill in)
“The Bible says that on the same night in which Jesus was betrayed, that He took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:23-24).
[Eat bread]
“Then the Bible says that in the same manner, Jesus also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:25-26).
[Drink cup]
Amen. Stand now and let’s sing the final verse, no guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me! Let’s sing.
4
No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow’r of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand.”
Amen and amen!
Well, it’s been good to be in the house of the Lord. We’ve enjoyed big group, corporate worship. Now we’re going to small group, Sunday school. Thank you for coming! Come back tonight for worship at six o’clock.
Here’s the benediction from that great hymn we just sang:
“Till He returns or calls you home, go now in the power of Christ! God bless you. I’ll see you tonight.”
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