Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev19981206.htm

1 THESSALONIANS: HELPING CONVERTS FROM PAGANISM
Part VI: Comforting Converts From Paganism Over Concerns About Death And Eternal Destiny
(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
  1. Introduction
    1. Physical death is a dreadful, hopeless tragedy to those from a godless, paganistic background. As far back as the time of the ancient Egyptians, we know that pagan man who is without Scripture is preoccupied with the fear of death and a yearning for immortality.
    2. This fear of death and its effects is a power that Satan uses to manipulate people to do his evil will, cf. Hebrews 2:14-15 in light of Bib. Know. Com., N.T., p. 785.
    3. Paul addressed this concern in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 to converts fresh out of paganism, and shows us how to convey God's liberati ng, comforting insight to converts out of similarly godless backgrounds today:
  2. Comforting Converts From Paganism Over Concerns About Death And Eternal Destiny:
    1. As is evidenced by their having turned from idols to serve Christ as is testified in 1 Thessalonians 1:9, a number of people Paul led to Christ at Thessalonica were converts fresh out of godless paganism.
    2. These converts fretted over the destiny of fellow believers who had died, for they thought they would miss Christ's coming Kingdom. Paul addressed this fear with comforting words in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:
      1. Paul told these converts fresh out of paganism that he did not want them to be overcome with sorrow from the death of fellow believers as unsaved pagans grieved, 1 Thess. 4:13a.
      2. The believer, different from paganistic unbelievers, has a great hope when it comes to death, 4:13b.
      3. That hope is based on the bodily death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as follows, 1 Thess. 4:14-17:
        1. The word, "if" in verse 14 of the KJV can actually be translated as "since", for the indicative mood of reality is present in the spelling of the word, "if" and the verb, "we believe", UBS Grk. N.T., p. 710; Dana & Mantey, A Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament, p. 289. For this reason, the NIV translates the phrase simply as, "We believe that Jesus died and rose again . . . "
        2. Well, based on the Gospel that assumes the death and resurrection of Christ (1 Cor. 15:1-4), Paul taught that those who believe in Christ are so positionally united with Him that when they physically die, their souls go to be with Him in heaven, 1 Thess. 4:14b in light of 2 Cor. 5:8.
        3. Thus, one day Jesus will descend, bringing the souls of deceased believers with Him, 1 Thess. 4:14c.
        4. In fact, before any glorification occurs to those of us believers who remain alive on the earth (4:15), Jesus will descend from heaven with a shout of the archangel and the last trumpet call of God, and the souls of these depar ted believers will be reunited with their bodies and raised in glory, 4:16.
        5. From verse 17, we learn that these resurrected believers will ascend to join Jesus up in the clouds.
        6. Then, we believers who have not yet physically died will have our bodies changed into like glorious bodies, and rise to meet Christ and these fellow resurrected Christians in the air, 1 Thess. 4:17a
        7. From this time onwards throughout eternity, all Christians will be united not only together, but with Jesus Christ, and we will all be with Him forever wherever He goes , 1 Thess. 4:17c.
      4. In view of this great event for all in the Church era, Paul encouraged the new converts out of paganism from Thessalonica to comfort each other with these words about this marvelous "rapture," 4:18.
Lesson: We must let converts out of godless, pagan backgrounds who once were manipulated by Satan by their fear of death know that our risen Lord conquers it all: (1) Jesus rose from physical death, framing the future hope of victory over death fo r all true Christians. (2) Thus, physical death does not terminate the believer, for then he goes to heaven to be with Jesus. (3) Finally, the blessed rapture is coming when a wonderful, everlasting reunion between all living and deceased Christians and C hrist will occur. (4) Thus, based upon Christ's victory over death that is central to the very Gospel we believe (1 Cor. 15:1-4), we should not grieve hopelessly when fellow believers die.

Application: The Christian faith pointedly COUNTERS the paganistic dread of DEATH! Christ's death and bodily resurrection FACES what Satan uses to horrify and control godless people, and it emphatically CONQUERS it! We must let new convert s know of this great victory in Jesus Christ!