Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 25

Paul Encourages & Comforts them with the Certainty of Christ 2nd Coming Part 1

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. KJV

Paul now turns his attention and focus to many in the Church who had concerns for those loved ones of theirs who had already died before the Lord Jesus Christ return. The exact reason for Paul going into this discourse here is not made known here in Paul's letter, but it is perhaps that some of them were being mis-led or mis-guided into thinking that the 2nd coming of Christ had already taken place and that they had missed it and were left behind here on the earth (2 Thessalonians 2:1-5) and if this were true they had developed concerns about what happened to their loved ones who died already. Paul was always teaching the truth concerning our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ as much as he was preaching the Gospel of Christ, for Paul knew that in order for these new believers in Thessalonica to flourish or grow vigorously spiritually, then they must be taught the deep truths of Christ and the Word of God, so here he declares to them these words to comfort them in their time of confusion and concern, "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope." (1 Thessalonians 4:13) (KJV). Paul wanted them fully informed of the truth concerning the 2nd coming of Christ and how it concerns their loved ones who have died already, so here he uses the little English phrase 'to be ignorant' which is translated by one Greek word agnoeo meaning not to know (through lack of information or intelligence); by implication to ignore (through disinclination): - not understand.

The somewhat lengthy English phrase 'them which are asleep' is translated by one Greek word koimao which means figuratively to decease: - to be dead. The little English phrase 'ye sorrow' is translated by one Greek word lupeo which means to distress; reflexively or passively to be sad: - cause grief, grieve, be in heaviness, be sorrowful. In other words, Paul writes to them to inform them that despite the false information they had been given by others trying to shake their faith or to cause them pain and anguish over the state of their loved ones who had died, he wants them to know or to have super knowledge of the true state or condition of their loved ones who have died in Christ. Paul declares that it is those who have no personal relationship with Jesus Christ and no certainty that all their sins (past, present, and future) are forgiven who have no hope, that is, no confident expectation of what will happen to them at their death and what has happened to their loved ones who have already died. This is the very reason many then and today seek out mediums to try and get a word of knowledge from their dead relatives, but this is not possible as declared by the Scripture, "For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; and they have no more reward [here], for the memory of them is forgotten." (Ecclesiastes 9:5) (Amplified Bible) and futher proof that no 'so called' medium ever calls up a person from the grave as declared by these words from Scripture, "As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he who goes down to Sheol (the place of the dead) shall come up no more." (Job 7:9) (Amplified Bible).

It is Paul's desire that these Thessalonian believers then and we believers 'in Christ' today and of every generation and era be assured that our pilgramage and sojourn here on the earth is but a short journey on our way home to heaven to be forever/eternally with our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and that we never be moved away from our confident expectation/hope of this truth as the Apostle Paul declared to the Corinthian Church with these words of wisdom, "Now He Who has fashioned us [preparing and making us fit] for this very thing is God, Who also has given us the [Holy] Spirit as a guarantee [of the fulfillment of His promise]. So then, we are always full of good {and} hopeful {and} confident courage; we know that while we are at home in the body, we are abroad from the home with the Lord [that is promised us]. For we walk by faith [we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk] not by sight {or} appearance. [Yes] we have confident {and} hopeful courage and are pleased rather to be away from home out of the body and be at home with the Lord. Therefore, whether we are at home [on earth away from Him] or away from home [and with Him], we are constantly ambitious {and} strive earnestly to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear {and} be revealed as we are before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive [his pay] according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil [considering what his purpose and motive have been, and what he has achieved, been busy with, and given himself and his attention to accomplishing]. Therefore, being conscious of fearing the Lord with respect {and} reverence, we seek to win people over [to persuade them]. But what sort of persons we are is plainly recognized {and} thoroughly understood by God, and I hope that it is plainly recognized {and} thoroughly understood also by your consciences (your inborn discernment)." (2 Corinthians 5:5-11) (Amplified Bible).

Therefore, Paul makes it easy and clear for them to understand where their focus should be and that is not on the words of high minded fallible men who think themselves to be something or someone of great wisdom and knowlegde, but instead to always keep their/our focus on the infinite, infallible, and incredible One True God (who cannot lie) as Paul so says it here with these words, "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him." (1 Thessalonians 4:14) (KJV). This these Thessalonian believers most certainly believed and everyone of us (true believers) today and of every generation and era believe this, for this must be so for anyone to ever be saved by Christ as the Apostle Paul wrote with these words to the believers in Rome, "Because if you acknowledge {and} confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9) (Amplified Bible). If we believe that God the Father raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, then surely we must trust that He will raise every true believer 'in Christ' from the dead and bring them with Him at His 2nd coming to the earth to set up His Eternal Kingdom.

"Death affects the mere individual; but the coming of Jesus the whole Church; at death our souls are invisibly and individually with the Lord; at Christ’s coming the whole Church, with all its members, in body and soul, shall be visibly and collectively with Him. As this is offered as a consolation to mourning relatives, the mutual recognition of the saints at Christ’s coming is hereby implied." JFB Commentary

"These disciples anticipated the speedy return of the Lord and feared lest those who had died would be worse off than they: The Apostle bade them dismiss such fears, because they who remained alive until the coming of the Lord would have no precedence over others who had died. Paul assures them that they who had fallen asleep were with Jesus, and that they would accompany Him when He came again; To those who needed to be raised, Jesus would be 'the Resurrection'; to those who were living, He would be 'the Life.' They that believed in Him, though they had died, yet would they live; and they who lived till He came would never die." F. B. Meyer

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…