Gospel Grief in Light of the End
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Main Idea: The gospel provides us hope in the midst of grief and death in light of the finished work of Christ and His promised return.
I. Gospel Grief (v. 13-14)
Paul reintroduces the problem facing the Thessalonians in verse 13, namely that many in Thessaloniki were “uninformed” about the return of Christ and about those “who were asleep”
“Uninformed” or in some translations “ignorant” implies something in their faith was lacking and that knowledge could affect their understanding and thus drive down into their hearts and transform their actions and attitudes as a whole.
Asleep was a common analogy for those who had died. This was a known expression and would not have caused much confusion on what Paul was talking about. There were debates about the end times and what would happen to those who had already died. Would they miss out on the return of Christ?
“Grieve as others do who have no hope” (v.13)
Paul gives a double negative which is essentially telling us he wants us to grieve hopefully. Balance of these extremes is key to proper Gospel Grief. Two potential extreme pitfalls:
Detached stoicism
Complete despair
Detached stoicism
Lazarus died and “Jesus wept” (John 11:35) and “snorted with rage” (John 11:38) and this was still knowing that he would resurrect him. How could the creator of all things weep and be angry over something in His created world unless it was an intruder distorting the original good design He had envisioned. So if Jesus wept over this we ought to weep as well.
“Grieving over someone’s death is biblical, Christ-like (John 11:35). We often say, “Death is a natural part of life.” It’s actually the opposite-death is entirely unnatural. We weren’t created to die, and we aren’t destined to stay dead.”
~ J. Medders + Brandon Smith (Rooted: Theology for Growing Christians)
Complete despair
We often hold that grief and hope are two mutually exclusive things and cannot coexist. Paul is encouraging us that they can, but only in a uniquely Christian way. Our despair is seasoned with hope. Again Jesus is our perfect example. Jesus did not just weep over Lazarus but pointed us to our ultimate hope… himself.
Jesus knew raising him from the grave would be the final straw that would push the Pharisees to condemn him. Yet, he raised him knowing in a short while he would be going to the tomb on his behalf.
“There is a difference between sorrow and despair. Sorrow is pain for which there are sources of consolation. Sorrow comes from losing one good thing among others, so that, if you experience a career reversal, you can find comfort in your family to get you through it. Despair, however, is inconsolable, because it comes from losing an ultimate thing. When you lose the ultimate source of your meaning or hope, there are no alternative sources to turn to. It breaks your spirit.”
~ Tim Keller (Counterfeit Gods)
“For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” (V. 14)
What is the Gospel? The good news that Jesus Christ, the son of God incarnate, came to earth in human flesh lived a sinless perfect life and died a substitutionary sacrificial death on the cross to atone for our sins and wrong doings, and then three days later He rose up out of that grave and ascended into heaven and is sitting at the right hand of the father ruling and reigning over the whole world. Our assurance then comes from this finished work.
II. Gospel Promise (v. 15-17)
4 eschatological events which John Stott has helpfully identified as four R’s.
Return - “coming of the Lord” (v. 15)
Resurrection - “the dead in Christ will rise first” (v. 16)
Rapture - “we who are alive … will be caught up together … meet the Lord in the air” (v.17)
Reunion - “together with them … we will always be with the Lord” (v.17)
Return of Christ is assured even if all the details are unknown … Revelation 6:14 refers to the end of the present cosmos as “a scroll that has been split and each of the two halves is rolled up.”
The resurrection is a transformation of not just our world but our bodies rising from the grave but creating bodies designed and perfected to inhabit this new world.
“Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him. - Romans 6:8
“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” - Romans 8:1
Rapture comes from the Latin word rapere meaning to seize and the Greek word harpazo. It’s emphasis here is on a suddenness as we will not know the day or time that it will happen (1 Thessalonians 5), but what is certain is that we will be together with the Lord. That believers will experience a corporate continuity.
The ultimate goal of the resurrection and the final return is that we will be with the Lord forever.
“We must resist temptations to embroider, dismiss, or take total literalism.” ~ John Stott
Gospel Encouragement (v.18)
Paul’s concluding argument is our concluding argument as well: “Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (V. 18)
Paul’s plea was pastoral in nature. He didn’t pen this letter to cause debates and disagreement on the end times and when final tribulation was coming. Paul wrote this letter to provide counsel for a hurting and grieving church. To provide hope and encouragement found only in the gospel for those who had lost loved ones and were in pain.
In this context, hope in the face of death will enhance the witness of the Christian community.
