Our Lord gave up his life that we might have life everlasting

“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as other who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who sleep in Jesus.

“For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words.” – I Thessalonians 4:13-18

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aul had established a congregation of believers in Thessalonica but had to leave after a short while with the new believers. He had to leave Thessalonica because of persecution from the Jews. Consequently, aware that persecution still existed in the church at Thessalonica, he sent Timothy back to see how the church was getting along.

Timothy, having made the assessment of the believers in Thessalonica, returned with his report to Paul who was in Corinth. The report dealt with several issues, one being the return of the Lord for the saints.

These new believers had come from a pagan world, which did not believe in life after death. Therefore, they wanted to believe that there was hope for their loves who had died in the faith.

The believers in the early church were expecting the Lord to return during their lifetime.

Consequently, the believers at Thessalonica were somewhat confused about the coming of the Lord and the fate of their loved ones who had come to faith and had died.

This issue is even troubling to Christians in our world today. What happens to our loved ones who die in Christ?

What will happen to them when our Lord returns for his church?

We know that outside of the Christian community, the world has no assurance or concern of death after life. I know of people who blatantly say there is nothing after death.

Paul wrote this letter or epistle to the church at Thessalonica to explain their matters of concern. In this chapter, he particularly addresses the return or the coming of the Lord.

The apostle gives hope and comfort to the believers and the church today about the return of our Lord and the blessed resurrection. The church does not need to live without hope about those who die in Christ. We do not have to grieve for them as those without hope do.

Even so, we do grieve, mostly because of this earthly separation. Death is unfamiliar to us. Notwithstanding that, the doctrine of the resurrection is a good reason for us in the church to take comfort.

Christ our Lord came to earth and gave up his life that we might have life everlasting. Therefore, if we believe in his death and resurrection and live in faith, we and our loved ones who die in faith with rise to everlasting life.

The apostle assures the church that the Lord, when he returns, will not come alone. He will bring with him all those who have died in the faith.

Yes, our Lord returned from the grave to give us that assurance. He is the only one who can make that claim. Many other religions make many claims, but their prophets and redeemers are still lying in their graves. They are without power and must also wait for our Lord’s return.

In that great getting up morning, all the saints will be reunited and will be gathered in the heavens to everlasting life. Therefore, when our loved ones pass from this life into death, we can comfort the survivors with the joy of the resurrection. Amen.

• Rev. Samuel M. Boodle, pastor at the Lutheran Church of Nassau, 119 John F. Kennedy Drive, can be reached at P.O. Box N 4794, Nassau, Bahamas; or telephone: 426-9084; E-mail: lutheranchurch@coralwave.com; website: www.nassaulutheranchurch.org.  

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