By: Robert Serreyn
Question? I have been trying to explain to a relative 1 Thessalonians 4:13 can you kindly give your input?
1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
Answer: Yes, Absolutely.
The Back Story…
While Paul was in the city of Thessalonica (believed to be only a month or so), he had preached about the the 2nd coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, this is evidenced by the fact that in EVERY chapter of the book (titled after the name of the city) he mentions it.
After the Apostle Paul had left Thessalonica, over the course of time many of those christians had died LOOKING & WAITING for Christ to return as Paul had preached, So, when Christ DID NOT return there arose SERIOUS DOUBTS in the minds of those Thessalonican believers that were still living concerning the resurrection.
Therefore the situation obviously prompted an explanation.
In Verse 13 Paul starts out…
I would not have you to be ignorant.
The word Ignorant simply means One without knowledge, Paul DID NOT want any of them to… Not Know or be Without Knowledge of the Promised Return of Christ.
Paul continues…
Concerning them which are asleep.
The word ASLEEP in the Greek is KOIMAO and it means DECEASED, or DEAD, in other words To have died.
Paul was MAKING SURE that those believers that were Still Living were NOT IGNORANT or One without knowledge concerning those that had died waiting for their promised Messiah to return, that they Sorrow Not.
Why?, the answer is simple… They Now as well as WE WILL one day In Heaven will be reunited with all of them that had died in Christ.
1 Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
This is why it is of MOST IMPORTANCE that we SHARE CLEARLY and to MAKE SIMPLE the Gospel to ALL of those around us and our loved ones especially.
1 Corinthians 14:8-9 states…
For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? (9) So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
Paul concludes…
Even as others which have no hope.
Even though we do sorrow and are brought to tears over the loss of a good friend, a godly mother or dad or any other relative, the GOOD NEWS is… If they had Trusted Christ as their personal saviour and as the ONLY payment for their sins we are assured that we will again one day see them again.
Its not goodbye, it just so long for a while.
But to those that are NOT SAVED they have has Paul concludes NO HOPE outside of the saving grace of Jesus Christ, they will NEVER AGAIN see their loved one’s for they and themselves will be IN HELL for eternity.
What a horror of a reality it will be one second after you die.
2 Thessalonians 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.
In Conclusion:
We the christian are not to be One without knowledge, We are called to be alert (1 Peter 5:8) redeeming the time (Colossians 4:5) and taking full advantage of every opportunity (Proverbs 11:30) to share Christ and his complete payment on the cross for all of mankinds sins changing their NO HOPE (of not going to heaven) to the BLESSED HOPE of everlasting life (Acts 16:31) if they just simply believe.
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as YOUR savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved – Acts 16:31
The moment that you do YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.
-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24
-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH