LIVE AS CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT

Passage: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11

Key verse: 5:8

NIV

Believers Who Have Died

13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed(A) about those who sleep in death,(B) so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.(C) 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again,(D) and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.(E) 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,(F) will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.(G) 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,(H) with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel(I) and with the trumpet call of God,(J) and the dead in Christ will rise first.(K) 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left(L) will be caught up together with them in the clouds(M) to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord(N) forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another(O) with these words.

The Day of the Lord

5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates(P) we do not need to write to you,(Q) 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord(R) will come like a thief in the night.(S) 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,”(T) destruction will come on them suddenly,(U) as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.(V)

4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness(W) so that this day should surprise you like a thief.(X) 5 You are all children of the light(Y) and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep,(Z) but let us be awake(AA) and sober.(AB) 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.(AC) 8 But since we belong to the day,(AD) let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate,(AE) and the hope of salvation(AF) as a helmet.(AG) 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath(AH) but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.(AI) 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.(AJ) 11 Therefore encourage one another(AK) and build each other up,(AL) just as in fact you are doing.

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Coming of the Lord

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, (A)that you may not grieve as others do (B)who have no hope. 14 For (C)since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him (D)those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you (E)by a word from the Lord,[a] that (F)we who are alive, who are left until (G)the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For (H)the Lord himself will descend (I)from heaven (J)with a cry of command, with the voice of (K)an archangel, and (L)with the sound of the trumpet of God. And (M)the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be (N)caught up together with them (O)in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so (P)we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

The Day of the Lord

5 Now concerning (Q)the times and the seasons, brothers,[b] (R)you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that (S)the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then (T)sudden destruction will come upon them (U)as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you (V)are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all (W)children[c] of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then (X)let us not sleep, as others do, but let us (Y)keep awake and (Z)be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, (AA)are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, (AB)having put on the breastplate of (AC)faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for (AD)wrath, but (AE)to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 (AF)who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Footnotes
  1. 1 Thessalonians 4:15 Or by the word of the Lord
  2. 1 Thessalonians 5:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 4, 12, 14, 25, 26, 27
  3. 1 Thessalonians 5:5 Or sons; twice in this verse
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

The believers expected Jesus to return in their generation. Yet while waiting some had died, maybe from persecution, and the Thessalonians were confused as to what would happen to them. Doubts arose. Some grew tired of waiting, were sleeping spiritually, and were engaging in the darkness. Particularly, they were getting drunk since wine from their region is world famous.

Paul teaches them that those who had fallen asleep (died) would rise to meet the Lord first, then those who were alive. He gave them a glorious hope in Jesus’ victorious trumpet call to overcome their doubts, encourage their faith, and build them up.

Next, he warned them that the Day will come like a thief in the night and to live as children of the light. Darkness easily overcomes us when we fall in despair. We need to live with faith and love to guard our hearts and the hope of salvation to protect our minds. This is basic gospel faith to believe in Jesus’ Second Coming. But we often lose our vision and become petty and sinful, sliding into the darkness. Let’s wake up! Examine our hearts soberly and repent living in the darkness. Let’s live in the light!

Prayer: Father, thank you for giving us the promise of Jesus’ return. Help us to wake up and live with faith, love, and hope as children of the light.

One Word: Live as children of the light, listening for Jesus’ trumpet call!