The Return Series

• In response, Paul writes to educate the believers in Thessalonica because he doesn't want them "to be uninformed" about death, life after death, and Jesus's return (v. 13).

• Paul's purpose is to inform and "comfort" them with the knowledge of the truth (v. 18).

• We, too, can seek comfort and truth from the Bible concerning all our fears about the future.

• Paul goes on to say that he is sharing this information because he does not want the readers to grieve when death hits them, like the lost who have no hope.

• Let's turn to verses 14-17 together.

1 Thessalonians 4:14–17 (NET 2nd ed.)

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians.

15 For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep.

16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

II. Peace through understanding.

• In verses 14-17, Paul explains why we can experience peace when we lose loved ones in Christ.

• He begins in verse 14; Paul gives us a foundation for our hope.

• Without Jesus, where do you place your hope for eternal life?

• Many people place their hope in their goodness.

• Some people place their hope in their position in life, and others hope that once we die, we die.

• Some people place their hope of eternal life in false religions.

• Our hope is built upon Jesus, whom God raised on the third day!

Acts 4:12 (NET 2nd ed.)

12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.”

• I think folks without Jesus think they have hope, but deep down inside, something tells them they do not have anything to base their hope.

• Our hope is rooted in what has been done and promised in Jesus.

• Our hope is in our confidence in what God will do, rooted in what He has done!

• These elements of the Christian's hope are missing from all other religions.

• Who else defeated death?

• Paul wants us to remember that if you have Jesus, you have a solid foundation for your hope.

• This foundation can give us peace and comfort when we lose a loved one before the return of Jesus.

• Verse 14 tells us that if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we, too, will be a part of the celebration!

• Jesus is going to bring those who died before His return with Him!

• As we move to verse 15, Paul says what he is about to share is the Word of the Lord!

• Then he explains that those who have died and those who are alive at the return are on equal footing!

• Then, in verses 16-17, he explains the chain of events!

• In verse 16, he speaks first of those who have died in Christ.