What is the Christian’s Hope?
Dearly beloved of God, the right way of believing comes by hearing, by hearing the Word of God. Tradition, denominational doctrine, philosophy, or experiences do not qualify as the basis for the truth. What was does the Word say?
I Thessalonians 4:13-18 ESV
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
Paul, by revelation knowledge from God, is addressing the condition of those who are asleep. “Asleep” is the use of the figure of speech, euphemy, by which a harsh expression is changed for a gentler one. It softens the stark reality of death by using the softer word “asleep.”
The literal truth is that the dead are presently dead; it is stated five times in verses 13-17, but because of our hope in Christ we do not need to sorrow as the others which have no hope.
14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
The comparison is between Jesus’ death and resurrection and the Christian’s. As Jesus died and rose again, even so, we believe that God by means of Jesus will bring those who have fallen asleep to be with him.
15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
In the first place, this is “the Word of the Lord,” not my opinion or yours. This is not based on what a philosopher says, or on denominational doctrine, or on someone’s experience in a seance; this is “the Word of the Lord.”
The “dead in Christ” will be the first to rise when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to gather them up to meet him in the air. None of the dead shall rise except at his coming and by his command.
Next, the living will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and from then on, we will be with the Lord. We are to encourage one another with these words, beloved of God.
I Peter 1:3-5 ESV
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
God has given us the victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our hope is a living hope. We have the Word of the Lord regarding it, not worthless words that come out of the mind of man.
Ephesians 2:7 ESV
so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
From the moment of our redemption and salvation and throughout the coming ages, God our Father will show us the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
This is translated in various versions as, “the incomparable riches of his grace,” or “the boundless riches of His grace,” or “the exceeding riches of his grace,” or “the incredible wealth of his grace,” etc. There simply aren’t words capable of conveying the magnitude of the greatness of His divine favor to us in Christ Jesus.
Not only that, but God will display these “exceeding riches of His grace” to us in Christ Jesus in kindness; the kindness that a loving Father shows His beloved children.
Beloved, you can be confident of this very thing, that He Which has begun a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Rejoice!
I Corinthians 15:51-54
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Death will be swallowed up in victory for the Church on the day that Christ Jesus our Lord returns for us.
Beloved, Jesus Christ is the Lord both of the dead and living.
We don’t need a false hope to comfort us; we need the truth that God our Father reveals to us in His Word. He reveals the true reality. The truth provides us with true comfort.
Come quickly Lord Jesus Christ.