Jesus Is Coming Soon – Part 4

Introduction:   In this section of 1 Thessalonians we have learned that being a Christian means that there will be a deliverance from destruction. We have also seen that being a Christian means that there will be a difference in our deportment and how we live our lives. Here we find that there is a divine dedication at work in our lives.

I don’t see the kind of commitment among professing Christians that I would like to see. You may not be very committed to Him this morning, but may I say that He is committed to you. What does it mean to have commitment?  (Illus: “Making breakfast for the farmer is a good idea. However, you are just getting involved, but I would have to make a total commitment!”)

May I say that the Lord Jesus has made a total commitment to us and in these verses we see how the Lord is…

I.          COMMITTED TO OUR RESCUE (V.9)

            A.        The Destiny Of Judgment Has Been Changed “God hath not appointed us to wrath.” The idea is that God has not placed us in harm’s way.

·         The most sobering truth in Scripture is that God will judge the wicked and sentence them to eternal hell.

·         On the other hand, the blessed truth for believers is that God has not destined us for wrath.

Believers will not experience the wrath God will pour out on unbelievers on the Day of the Lord, and for eternity in hell. The word “wrath” (Orgē) does not refer to a momentary outburst of rage, but to “an abiding and settled habit of mind” It is a general reference to the final judgment, when God’s wrath will be poured out on the wicked

·         Will the Christian Church go through tribulation?

Believers do not have to fear future judgment because it is not part of God’s appointed plan for us. (1Co 10:32) “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:” Christians have always gone through tribulation, since this is a part of dedicated Christian living (John 15:18-27; 16:33). But, they will not go through the Tribulation that is appointed for the godless world.

            B.        The Deliverance Of Jesus Has Been Confirmed “to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ”

It is impossible to stir God’s wrath against one of His own. God’s wrath, so far as His own are concerned, has been completely burned out at Calvary. Nothing is left but ashes.

II.        THE LORD IS COMMITTED TO OUR REDEMPTION (V.10)

Paul moves us from the salvation that is associated with the rapture in verse 9 to the salvation that is associated with our redemption in verse 10. And here we are pointed to…

            A.        The Cross Of The Savior (“Who died”)

·         Romans 5:8 expresses the sole basis for believers’ salvation.

God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. The glorious message of the gospel is that Christ’s substitutionary death paid in full the penalty for believers’ sins and therefore believers will not face God’s judgment.

·         John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

·         Nor will they face His condemnation, because “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

            B.        The Company Of The Saved (“for us”)

We are the beneficiaries of the fact of Christ’s dying.  And note the word “us.” Paul includes himself but he also includes the Thessalonian believers. And we include ourselves in that company as well! (Romans 5:8) “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

III.       THE LORD IS COMMITTED TO OUR RESIDENCE (v.10)

How all-inclusive the passage is! The whole of that grand purpose for which the Bible was written is contained in these few lines. What have you not in this verse?

You have Christ, His death, His substitutionary work, His resurrection, the fact of His present life, the assurance of His return, the saints’ salvation, and the saints’ eternal glory. This text is also a window through which we look into the heart of Christ, and behold the Savior’s great desire that all His people should live together with Him.

            A.        The Options Of Arrival At This Residence “whether we wake or sleep”

Here Paul cleverly uses two terms which he had been using to speak of alertness but which at this point he transposes to mean “alive/dead.” Whether we are alive or dead when He comes, that will not make any difference.” I’m a winner either way!

            B.        The Occupants’ Arrangements At This Residence “we should live together with him.”

This refers to those who are alive and those who are dead - meaning that they would be “together” or would be with the Lord “at the same time;” there would be no priority or precedence.

·         We shall live together - or, in one company - with him.

To those who were mourning over their deceased friends he says that at the advent of the rapture there will be no difference between those who are then alive and those who sleep - both will live together with the Lord. That will be a glad reunion day.

Conclusion:     The Bible is such a wonderful treasury of truth, but it is also abounding with illustrative stories and accounts. And one such account is found in 2 Samuel 9 where we find the story of Mephibosheth, the lame son of Jonathan who was shown kindness by King David for Jonathan’s sake (expound). The King sent for him down in Lodebar (which means “pastureless”) and brought him to his own house and declared that he would eat at the king’s table for the rest of his life. The king could have shown Mephibosheth wrath as a grandson of old king Saul, but instead Mephibosheth obtained salvation through Jonathan. This is a magnificent picture of our salvation in Christ; how the sovereign God shows us mercy and kindness for Jesus’ sake. But this is also a great picture of how the God who rules over all things will one day call us up to His house where we will have the privilege of dining with Him forever.

The Lord Jesus has shown His commitment to those who have trusted Him as Savior. Have you committed yourself to Him?