Conviction Keeps Us Spirituality Alert

CONVICTION REGARDING GOD'S PROGRAM FOR THE FUTURE KEEPS US SPIRITUALLY ALERT

A. (:1-3) Two Different Convictions Regarding God's Program for the Future (especially: the coming of the Day of the Lord)

1. The Conviction of Believers Regarding the Coming Day of the Lord

a. Aware of the signs of the times

1) Previous oral instruction

2) Precise knowledge on the subject

b. Convinced regarding:

1) Its reality

2) Its certainty

3) Its unpredictability and imminence

4) Its devastation upon the unprepared

"the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night"

2. The Conviction of Unbelievers

a. Totally unprepared with false sense of security

b. Blind regarding:

1) Its reality

2) Its certainty

3) Its unpredictability and imminence

4) Its devastation upon the unprepared

B. (:4-5) Two Different Spheres of Existence

1. The Sphere of Believers

a. Sons of Light

b. Sons of Day

Result: the day of the Lord should not overtake us like a thief

2. The Sphere of Unbelievers

a. Sons of Night

b. Sons of Darkness

Result: the day of the Lord will overtake them like a thief

C. (:6-8) Two Different Mental States

1. Mental State of Believers

a) Alert

b) Sober (consistent with the day)

c) Clothed in spiritual armor

2. Mental State of Unbelievers

a) Sleeping

b) Drunk (consistent with the night)

c) Naked and defenseless

D. (:9-10) Two Different Destinies

1. Unbelievers -- Wrath

2. Believers -- Obtaining salvation through our Lord

Jesus Christ

a) How was this salvation accomplished?

b) What is the intended result?

Conclusion to 4:13 - 5:11:

Use your conviction regarding God's program for the future to

1) encourage one another -- giving hope to the bereaved

2) build each other up -- keep each other spiritually alert