L 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Lesson 6 Good Grief 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 July 11, 2010 Paul’s Epistles to the Thessalonians

I.Introduction to Lesson 6 A.“Good Grief” probably brings Charlie Brown to mind. 1.Grief can be good, not only for us, but for others: a.John 11:35 (“Jesus wept.”) b.2 Samuel 3:31-39 (Abner’s death) 2.Sometimes grief is not good a.Samuel’s grief over Saul (1 Sam. 15:35- 16:1) b.David’s grief over the death of Absalom (2 Samuel 18:31— 19:8) 3.Apparently some Thessalonian saints were grieving improperly, and this may have had an adverse impact on others.

B.The unity of 1 Thessalonians 4:13—5:11 1.The common theme: the coming of Christ a.As it relates to the salvation of believers (sleeping and alive) – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 b.As it relates to the Day of the Lord (implications for both unbelievers and believers) – 1 Thessalonians 5: Points of continuity a.Brothers and sisters – 4:13; 5:1 b.The coming of the Lord c.Encourage one another – 4:18; 5:11 d.Sleep/awake

3.Points of distinction a.Paul’s previous teaching 1)Teaching needed – 4:13 2)No need for teaching; they already know – 5:1 b.Purpose of Christ’s coming 1)Gathering of saints – 4:13ff 2)Day of the Lord/judgement – 5:1-11 c.Use of the term “sleep” 1)Believers who have died – 4:13 2)Unbelievers – 5:5-7 3)Believers – 5:10

II.The problem Paul is addressing – 4:13 A.Instruction needed which was not previously given B.Improper grieving over saints who have died C.What was improper about the unbelieving Thessalonians’ understanding regarding those who died? 1.Pagans of that day had no hope of bodily resurrection – see 1 Corinthians 15:32. 2.No certainty of life beyond death 3.No hope of future fellowship/relationship 4.A predisposition to a life of indulgence 5.No relief from the fear of death – Hebrews 2:14-15

D.What was wrong with the Thessalonian believers’ belief and practice regarding Christians who had died? E.My understanding of the problem: 1.The (intermediate?) state of the sleeping believer is inferior to that of the living believer, at the coming of Christ. 2.It is better to be alive than dead at the coming of Christ. 3.Example: Peter in John 21:18-23

III.The solution – 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 A.The resurrection of Christ (vs. 14) 1.“If” = “since” 2.The literal, bodily, resurrection of Jesus is the basis for our literal, bodily resurrection. B.This is a “word from the Lord” (vs. 15a) C.Those saints living at the time Christ comes will not have priority over those “sleeping” (15b). No superior status for the living D.The Lord’s coming will be public (well announced) and the dead in Christ will rise first (vs. 16). E.Then those alive at His coming will be taken up with the others, and be with the Lord and each other forever (vs. 17)

IV.Conclusion and application A.Why did I feel short-changed? 1.What Paul doesn’t say here 2.Seeking to squeeze more out of the text 3.This is the foundation for further teaching. 4.Christ is the core; the essence of our hope. B.How, then, should we grieve? Look at present sorrow in the light of eternity (2 Cor. 4:16-18). C.“Encourage one another,” not just “Be encouraged” (see 2 Corinthians 1:3-7). D.Our hope is the gospel; we give hope by proclaiming the gospel. E.This is one side of the gospel message – don’t forget the other side of the coin (2 Thes. 1:8-9; Dan. 12:2; Luke 16:19-31; Rev. 20:13-15).

Copyright © 2010 by Robert L. Deffinbaugh. This is the edited PowerPoint presentation of Lesson 6 in the series, Paul’s Epistles to the Thessalonians, prepared by Robert L. Deffinbaugh for July 11, Anyone is at liberty to use this lesson for educational purposes only, with or without credit.