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"THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS"
Preparing For Christ's Coming (5:1-11)
INTRODUCTION
1. In our previous study we saw where Paul discussed "The Comfort Of
Christ's Coming"...
a. How we ought to be comforted by the facts and events of His coming
b. Especially as it relates to loved ones who have died in the Lord
- cf. 1 Th 4:13-18
2. Of course, "The Comfort Of Christ's coming" presumes that we are
prepared for it...
a. Whether we are among those who have died prior to that great event
b. Or we are among those who will be alive when He comes
3. Are we prepared?
a. Will He find us ready when He comes?
b. Will we be ready should we die before He comes?
[As we come to the final chapter in Paul's first epistle to the
Thessalonians, we find him telling how Christians can be "Preparing For
Christ's Coming" (1 Th 5:1-11). Proper preparation for the coming of
Jesus takes into account that...]
I. HE SHALL COME AS A THIEF IN THE NIGHT (1-4)
A. FOR SOME, BUT NOT FOR OTHERS...
1. The Lord's coming will be a surprise for many, as the "thief in
the night" motif clearly indicates - 1 Th 5:2; cf. 2 Pe 3:10
2. But for those who heed the warnings of Scripture, the "Day"
will not overtake them as a thief - 1 Th 5:1-2,4
a. Because they will be ready for His coming, though we don't
know when it will be
b. Because they will have taken to heart the admonitions we
shall consider momentarily
B. FOR SOME, AN INESCAPABLE DESTRUCTION...
1. He will come when people are saying "Peace and safety!" - 1 Th
5:3
a. Not in troublesome times, but in peaceful times
b. Yet many Christians seem to think He is coming whenever
there is tribulation
2. When He comes, it will be with "sudden destruction" - 1 Th 5:3
a. Just as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman
b. There will be no time nor way to escape this destruction,
described in more detail in the second epistle to the
Thessalonians - cf. 2 Th 1:7-10
3. This "Day" will be one of glory for those who are ready - cf.
2 Th 1:10
a. For those who now "sleep in Jesus" - cf. 1 Th 4:13-16
b. For those prepared for His coming when He does descend - cf.
1 Th 4:17-18
[What will this "Day" mean for us, when the Lord comes "as a thief in
the night"? A day of destruction, or a day of delight? It depends upon
whether we are prepared for His coming, and proper preparation means...]
II. WE SHOULD LIVE AS SONS OF THE DAY (5-11)
A. WATCHFUL AND SOBER...
1. We are "children of light" and "children of the day" - 1 Th 5:5
a. Because we follow Jesus, the "light of the world" - Jn 8:12;
12:35-36
b. Because we are now in Jesus, and walk in the light - Ep 5:8;
1 Jn 1:5-7
c. Because we cast off works of darkness, and seek to walk
properly - Ro 13:11-14
2. We are to be watchful for His coming - 1 Th 5:6
a. For no one knows the day nor hour - cf. 1 Th 5:2; Mt 24:36,
42
b. Watchfulness includes prayer - cf. 1 Pe 4:7
c. Watchfulness includes repentance, and strengthening what we
have - cf. Re 3:2-3
-- On the other hand, "sleep" in our text refers to spiritual
laxity - 1 Th 5:6-7
3. We are to be sober - 1 Th 5:6-8a
a. The word "sober" means to be temperate or abstinent,
especially in regards to wine
b. It usually used in a more general sense to be sober-minded,
watchful, circumspect - Barnes
c. Note how Jesus relates this to watching for His coming in
Lk 21:34-36
-- We should certainly take the promise of Jesus' coming
seriously, not frivolously
B. ARMED AND WAITING...
1. In all soberness (seriousness), putting on "the armor of God"
- 1 Th 5:8
a. Such as the breastplate of faith and love
1) Faith and love protect our hearts from much evil
2) Faith comes from the word of God, and love comes from Him
who is the Word - Ro 10:17; 1 Jn 3:16
b. Such as the hope of salvation as a helmet
1) Our hope of salvation protects our mind from much fear
and doubt
2) Hope also comes from the word of God - cf. Ro 15:4
-- Compare this description of "armor" with one more detailed
- Ep 6:11-18
2. Encouraged to wait because God has appointed us to salvation
- 1 Th 5:9-10
a. He has not appointed us to wrath
1) A day of wrath is coming - cf. Ro 2:4-11
2) Yet Jesus has come to deliver us from that wrath - 1 Th
1:10
b. He has appointed us to salvation
1) Through the blood of His Son - Ro 5:8-10
2) So that whether we "wake or sleep" (live or die), we live
together with Christ! - cf. 1 Th 4:14,17; Ph 1:21-23
C. COMFORTED AND EDIFIED...
1. We are to comfort one another - 1 Th 5:11
a. With the comfort we each receive from God - cf. 2 Co 1:3-4
b. With the comfort of our hope we have in Christ - cf. 1 Th
4:18
2. We are to edify (build up) one another - 1 Th 5:11
a. A goal we are to pursue - Ro 14:19; 15:2
b. The primary work of the church is edification - Ep 4:11-12,
15-16
CONCLUSION
1. Will we be prepared when Christ comes? It all depends...
a. Are we watchful? Are we serious about His coming?
b. Are we putting on the armor of God?
1) With faith and love as a breastplate protecting our hearts?
2) With the hope of salvation as a helmet protecting our minds?
c. Are we actively engaged in comforting and edifying our brethren?
-- If so, then we are truly "sons of light and sons of the day"!
2. Note what is absolutely necessary for us to be doing these things...
a. The Word of God
1) Which builds faith and hope
2) Which provides comfort
b. The Church of God
1) Where love is to be expressed among members
2) Where comfort and edification is to be experienced by members
"Preparing For Christ's Coming" cannot happen without diligent
application of God's Word and active participation in the Lord's church.
Have you been added by the Lord to His church (cf. Ac 2:41,47)? Are you
continuing steadfastly in fellowship with a local church (cf. Ac 2:42)?
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© Mark A. Copeland, 2001
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