Jesus Is Coming Soon – Part 3

Introduction:   We’ve been preaching the fact that JESUS IS COMING SOON, and so far we have considered that There Is A Coming of the Lord Jesus And A Catching Away of the saints (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18) and that There Is A Cataclysm of future judgment for the un-saved (1 Thessalonians 5:1–3). Now I want to look at verses 4 thru 8 of 1 Thessalonians 5 and see the fact that There Is A Contrast distinguishing the saved from the un-saved. This passage teaches that being a Christian means that there will be a deliverance from destruction. But also shows us that being a Christian means that there will be a difference in our deportment and how we live our lives. Being a Christian makes a difference in a person’s life. This fact is revealed in these verses as…

I.          THE POSITIONAL ASSURANCE OF THE CHRISTIAN (VV.4-5)

            A.        We Are Not Overtaken By The Destruction (v.l4)

“Overtake”…The word is used in the sense of “laying hold of so as to make one’s own;” hence, “to take possession of.” Having mentioned “the Day of the Lord” in the preceding verses, Paul begins now to show how the truth of this coming judgment is applicable to believers. Their sphere of life was not in the darkness, but in the light (Col 1:12-13) “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: (13) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:” Christians should not be surprised by the dawning of this day of the Lord; they have been told it is coming. It will not take believers by surprise because they will by then be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

            B.        We Are Not Obscured By The Darkness (v.5)

Our world is a diverse mixture of ethnic groups, cultures, languages, religions, and political systems. Yet, there are only two kinds of people in the world. There are believers and unbelievers; the redeemed and the unredeemed; the saved and the lost.

·         In this passage Paul contrasts night people (unbelievers) with day people (believers).

Night people are associated with darkness, sleep, and drunkenness; day people with light, alertness, and soberness. The phrase “but you” (personal pronoun) introduces a contrast with verse 3, where Paul used the pronouns “they” and “them” to refer to unbelievers who will not escape the Day of the Lord. As God’s children, the Thessalonians would not experience the Day of the Lord.

·         The spiritual night that engulfs unbelievers includes both intellectual and moral darkness.

It is the intellectual darkness of ignorance on the one hand, and the moral darkness of sin on the other; of not knowing what is true, and of not doing what is right. God invaded the sin-darkened world in the Person of Jesus Christ (John 1:4, 9). Tragically, most people choose to remain in darkness; though “the Light shines in the darkness … the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:5). As Jesus explained to Nicodemus, (Jn 3:19-20) “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (20) For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”

II.        THE PREFERRED ACTIONS OF THE CHRISTIAN (VV.6-7)

            A.        Sleep Is Avoided (v.6a)

“Let us not sleep,” From a few feet away, a sleeping person cannot be distinguished from a dead person. We are not to be like those who are dead in trespasses and sins. We are to be very much alive. We are not to sleep as Jonah did when the storm was raging and the mariners were in peril of their lives. We must be sober, in contrast with Lot, who was both drunk and dishonored even when the very world about him was a smoking ruin (Jonah 1:5-6; Genesis 19:30-38).

·         This is a clear call for pre-Rapture alertness.

Now is no time to be careless and lethargic about spiritual things. The truth of the Lord’s coming is intended to keep us alert and watchful.

            B.        Sobriety Is Advocated (vv.6b-7)

·         watch – be vigilant, wake, (be) watch (-ful).

·         be sober – be discreet:--be serious, watch.

Here not to be taken in a metaphorical sense, but a simple statement of. The night is the season in which sleep and drunkenness usually occur; whereas the day is the season of watchfulness, sobriety, and work. Both heathen and Jews considered it as eminently disgraceful for a man to be seen drunken in the day-time. Hence, when the Jews accused the believers on the day of Pentecost with being drunk, Peter answered (Acts 2:15). When a person is drunk, their senses are impaired. Their thinking is not clear. Intoxication is set forth in the context of the “night life,” or those who walk in darkness, the darkness of sin.

Do you remember Foster Brooks in the 1970’s and 80’s who could imitate a drunk man so well? A lot of Christians are doing that. Those who should be sober and clear thinking about their lives in Christ have become intoxicated on the things of this world.

III.       THE PROTECTIVE ARMOR OF THE CHRISTIAN (V.8)

            A.        Armor That Protects Our Hearts

·         It Involves Our Faith And Our Affection

Putting on the breastplate of faith and love preserve the heart of a Christian against the assaults and influences of evil, as the breastplate guards the heart of the earthly warrior.

            B.        Armor That Protects Our Heads

·         It Involves Our Future And Our Anticipation

Note the “hope” of salvation. The idea is that a well-founded hope of salvation will preserve us in the day of spiritual conflict, and will guard us from the blows which an enemy would strike. The helmet defended the head, a vital part; and so the hope of salvation will defend the soul, and keep it from the blows of the enemy. A soldier would not fight well without a hope of victory. A Christian could not contend with his foes, without the hope of final salvation; but, sustained by it, what has he to dread?

The breastplate protects the heart; the helmet protects the head. Our affections and our thoughts are to be kept protected from the enemy.

Conclusion:     You know, Solomon in his view of life “under the sun” asked the question in Ecclesiastes 2:16, “how dieth the wise man?” And his answer was that the wise man dies the same way “as the fool.” But for those wise ones who have experienced life through the SON, there is a difference between us and the foolish ones who have rejected Christ both in how we live and in how we die. “It’s different now!” The darkness of sin no longer engulfs us. Jesus makes us see. The drunkenness of sin no longer inebriates us. Jesus makes us sober. The defeat of sin no longer encompasses us. Jesus makes us safe. Is it different in your life?