In 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul gives three statements or truths and one statement of application that we can know about our future hope in the midst of death (and all of human tragedy that we can imagine) and human separation from our loved ones and why it isn’t over for us.
The first reason he gives is that we know our future hope is not limited by death. We can know what comes after death:
“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep” v. 13a
Paul begins to deal with the issue that was affecting the Thessalonians life by saying that he does not want them to be “uninformed”. This is something they can know and should know as believers in Christ. The tone is that of affection.
What is it that they should not be uniformed? It is about “those who are sleep”. This is a euphemism for those who have died in their midst perhaps killed because of their faith. 2 Corinthians 5:1 says that “our tent”, or our body is temporary but once it dies it stays on the ground and turns to dust where it came from. But our spirit, our spiritual being, who we are as an immaterial person goes to be with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). Our bodies are “sleeping”, waiting for the resurrection.
This is why Paul uses the word “sleep” for those who have died.
Paul also affirms that we don’t grieve as those without hope.
“that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.” (v. 13b)
Because we have this hope, we should not “grieve as others do who have no hope”. It is possible that the Thessalonians believed that those who had died were going to miss the coming of Christ somehow. They were taught by Paul that Jesus was coming back soon and it would be great reunion with him. Paul believed it would be in his lifetime and this created a sense of urgency in proclaiming the Gospel. The Thessalonians thought that those that died would not be part of this great marvelous reunion. Paul corrects this.
We grieve when our loved ones die, but not without hope.
Much like today, in those times, many did not believe in life after death. Here is a typical grave marking that reflects that:
I was not
I became
I am not
I care not – (From “Be Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe)
Some had other ideas about what happened after death, from believing in reincarnation to the idea of roaming the world as a disembodied spirit being. As believers we have the hope of the resurrection when the Lord comes for us. I was telling my daughter this week after talking about a song, that I want to have a worship band in my funeral and everyone being happy because it’s not the end. It’s not “goodbye” but “see you in a little while”. Besides this, being absent from the body, means present with the Lord. My life in Christ continues after death. We don’t grieve without hope. We have hope beyond death.
I remember when I was really young I used to think about death. “What happens after death?” I thought. “What’s going to happen to my mom?” I thought to myself. I found it hard to believe that death was the end of our existence. I could not accept this. At the age of thirteen I heard the Gospel and believed in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. My fear was gone. I found hope.
Do you have this hope? Have you trusted in Him as your Savior?
We can say also that we have hope beyond death because we know our future hope is rooted in the resurrection of Christ. The resurrection guarantees our eternal union with Him
“For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again” v. 14a
The basis of our assurance of the hope we have beyond death is rooted in the resurrection of Christ. The resurrection of our Lord according to what Paul taught 1 Corinthians 15 is the essence of the Gospel and it is the foundation of our faith. It is a historical reality as well not some mystical belief without any substance. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose from the grave. He paid our debt that we owed God. When he rose from the dead, and we believed in Him he gave us eternal life. Our life is now united in the resurrected Christ. There can never be a separation from Him.
In Romans 14:8-9 Paul said this way,
“If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.” In other words, once you belong to Jesus, your union with him never ends. It is eternal whether you are in a body or not.
And here is the practical point Paul makes: the resurrection guarantees that if you die before He comes you will come back with Him.
“even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” v. 14b
This is encouraging for those of us who have lost someone who died in Christ. Paul tells the Thessalonians that those who are believers “through Jesus” will be with Him when He comes back. They are not missing this great historical event.
If you die before Christ comes you are guaranteed that you will be part of the great family reunion with Him. You will be already with Him but you will come back with Him. Something else happens which I will talk about in the next post.
