Daily Scripture Reading 1Thessalonians 3:11 - 4:18
Why is sadness such a dominant emotion when people die? Suppose a 40 year old bed-ridden person who has been sick since childhood dies. That person’s family is still sad at the funeral even though the deceased has been delivered from much suffering. Why is that?
There is a finality to death that causes sadness. It is no longer possible to ever meet that person here on earth. Furthermore, humans cannot see whether or not there is existence after death; therefore, death raises many questions about life after death that most people cannot answer.
When Paul wrote his letter to the Thessalonians, he addressed the topic of death so that the Thessalonians would not grieve, but have hope instead. His words give hope to all Christians regarding this topic.
At the beginning of chapter 3, Paul wrote about sending Timothy to the Thessalonians in order to strengthen and encourage them. Then when Timothy returned to Paul and reported good news regarding the faith and love of the Thessalonians, Paul was comforted.
1Th. 3:11 ¶ Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you,
1Th. 3:12 and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you,
1Th. 3:13 so that He may strengthen your hearts blameless in holiness, before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.
1Th. 4:1 ¶ Finally then, brothers, we ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.
1Th. 4:2 For you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
1Th. 4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;
The word “sanctification” means to be free from sin.
Notice the term “sexual immorality”. In the next several verses Paul explained the proper exercise of sexuality.
1Th. 4:4 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
The term “vessel” refers to spouse. This is how Christians should be sexual. Sexual behavior is to be done only with our spouse, without sin, and with honor.
This is a very different mindset from that which is prevalent in western society today. Modern culture is a sexual free-for-all, in which there are very few sexual taboos. It is common for people to have numerous sexual partners before marriage, and many even have no objection to multiple sexual partners after marriage.
1Th. 4:5 not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;
Christians should avoid lustful passions. Again, this is the opposite of the modern mentality. Our culture encourages and indulges in lust, whether it be through pornography or the approval of having multiple sexual partners and experiences. In the area of sexuality, Christians must be different. We must not encourage or indulge in lust.
1Th. 4:6 and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you.
Adultery is actually transgressing against and defrauding a brother. Furthermore, the Lord is the One who avenges adultery.
1Th. 4:7 For God did not call us to impurity, but in sanctification.
1Th. 4:8 Consequently, he who sets this aside is not setting aside man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.
One of the arguments used to justify sexual immorality is that if no human cares or is hurt, then it is okay. However, anyone who is sexually immoral is not setting aside man, he is setting aside God Himself.
1Th. 4:9 ¶ Now concerning love of the brothers, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another,
1Th. 4:10 for indeed you do practice it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to excel still more,
1Th. 4:11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you,
1Th. 4:12 so that you will walk properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.
1Th. 4:13 ¶ But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.
The word “asleep” is a synonym for death.
Humans naturally grieve and are sad when family and friends die. Those who are not religious are especially sad because they go through life without hope. Death is a tragic event for them.
Paul was about to give the Thessalonians information that would give them comfort and hope in the face of death.
1Th. 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
If Jesus rose from the dead, then humans can also rise from the dead.
1Th. 4:15 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 not precede those who have fallen asleep.
Apparently, some Thessalonians believers had died, and those that remained were afraid that the dead believers would miss out on the coming of the Lord. Paul assured them that was not the case.
1Th. 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
1Th. 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
The dead in Christ will also arise when Jesus returns. This is why Christians do not need to fear death or feel hopeless in the face of death. When Jesus returns, all believers, dead or alive, will meet Jesus in the air and be with Him forever.
1Th. 4:18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Someday, the Lord will descend from heaven, the dead in Christ will rise first, then living believers will meet them in the air, and we will all be with the Lord forever.
In light of the reality that all believers will spend eternity with Jesus, what are the proper emotions Christians should feel when people die?
How should a Christians attitude toward death be different than a non-Christians attitude toward death?
How can we use death as an evangelistic tool?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”