Christians and Death: Part 1 - 1 Thes Lesson 28

Call To Worship – 1 Corinthians 15:35-58

What Happens to Christians at Death?

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 – Part 1

 Please stand together with me as we read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 together to begin our time of study in God’s Word. Read the passage.

 We know from our study of the previous verses in Chapter 4 that Paul has written to exhort and instruct the Thessalonians regarding some areas of concern about their faith. Timothy returned from a visit to Thessalonica. Paul had sent his young protégé back to the city to strengthen and encourage these new believers in the faith. Paul had not been able to stay as long as he would have wanted. He was understandably concerned. So Timothy went back and spent some time with the Thessalonians. We don’t know how long he was there. But the writing of this letter was so that Paul could address some concerns related to the information Timothy brought back about things these young Christians needed to understand.

 There was some evidence that these new Christians, who had come to Christ out of a culture of rampant immorality, were struggling with a clean and complete break from the culture. So Paul teaches that the will of God is their sanctification, including abstinence from sexual immorality. We saw that from verses 3-8. There were some lifestyle practices that Paul addressed in verses 9-12. He was concerned that their love for one another, which they did practice toward all the brethren in Macedonia excel still more. He exhorts them to lead a quiet life, mind their own business, work with their hands, and behave properly toward outsiders. As we saw last week, their error in regard to all these issues was likely the result of a lack of understanding of the way to live in light of the return of Christ. Some of them had gone beyond living expectantly to living presumptuously. By living presumptuously they were not living responsibly and their testimony as followers of Christ was being damaged.

 There were not only lifestyle issues. Timothy evidently returned with information about some doctrinal concerns. There were things the Thessalonians did not understand regarding the death of believers and the return of Christ. Specifically, some must have had questions about what happens to the brethren in the church who die before the Lord comes back. Perhaps these new believers were worried that those who died before the Lord came back would miss out on some blessing, or not be allowed to participate in the rewards of experiencing such an event. Maybe there was a lack of confidence in the victory of the believer over death. We don’t know exactly what their concerns are because Paul doesn’t tell us exactly why he gives this doctrinal information. We know his purpose is to correct a problem. They were uninformed. We benefit greatly from the information he does give.

 A lot of people have questions about what happens to people when they die. The Bible does not leave us in the dark regarding this question. The Thessalonians did not have the full revelation of Scripture as we have it. In fact, some of what Paul tells them here he tells them is “by the word of the Lord” or direct revelation. As an Apostle of Jesus Christ he was among those to whom, and through whom the word of God was directly spoken. So this is helpful stuff. It will take us a couple weeks to work through it. But let me give you the outline of this text.

 We will see first the problem in verse 13. The problem was confusion regarding those who are asleep, or dead. They were uninformed. The lack of information was causing them to grieve as those who have no hope. To address the problem Paul gives next the promise in verses 14. The promise is that God will bring with Him those who have died in Christ. In fact, those who are dead are the first beneficiaries. Those who are alive and remain will not precede those who have fallen asleep. We will do well to cover those two points today. Next week we will come back to this text and see the process by which the promise will be fulfilled. This we will see in verses 15-17. Finally, we will see the product of this instruction. In verse 18 we find that this instruction properly understood will produce comfort. The problem, the promise, the process, and the product. This is a very insightful and important passage.

 Let’s begin with the problem. Verse 13 says, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.” The problem was a lack of understanding of the truth of God’s word regarding those who had died. This is usually the case when there is a problem among God’s people. Most problems can be tied to a lack of understanding of God’s word. In defense of the Thessalonians, they didn’t have the benefit of the full and final canon of Scripture we have today. In fact, most of what I will be sharing with you from the Scriptures about what happens after death had not been written. So the Thessalonians were uninformed. They weren’t completely in the dark, as we will see, but they didn’t have all the information.

 The lack of information was not the only issue. There was the influence of the culture. We know that there is always some influence that shapes our thinking. Our thinking is shaped by the word of God, or other influences. The Greek culture had some strong beliefs about death that would naturally lead the Thessalonians to despair if they didn’t know the truth.

 As we saw when we looked at the issue of sexual immorality, we know the culture of the Thessalonians was thoroughly pagan. Chapter 1, verse 9 tells us that these Christians in Thessalonica had turned from idols to serve a living and true God. So these new converts were surrounded by a pagan culture that offered no real hope after death. An inscription found in the city reads, “after death, no reviving, after the grave, no meeting again.” A common belief was that once life was over that was it. There was nothing else.

 We have some biblical evidence of that culture’s attitude toward life after death. Look back at Acts 17. When Paul left Thessalonica he went to Berea, and then to Athens. As Paul preached on Mars Hill to those who spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new (Acts 17:21) he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection (v. 18).  As he brought his sermon on Mars Hill to a conclusion he said that God “has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” (v. 31) Then verse 32 says, “Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but other said, ‘We shall hear you again concerning this.’”

 Some of the Greeks sneered at the idea of a resurrection because the idea of a resurrection is illogical. To the Greeks, the idea of a resurrection was foolish because they knew that after death, the body decomposed in the earth. It would be impossible for a decomposed body to rise to life again. The attitude of many was not too much different from today. A popular inscription on Latin tombstones says, “I was not; I became; I am not; I care not.” 

The Thessalonians were not completely ignorant about all things related to the resurrection and return of Christ. Paul had taught these believers to live in expectation of the Lord’s return. Paul fully expected Jesus to return in his lifetime. If you look ahead to verse 15 and 17 he says, “we who are alive and remain …” Paul expected to be among the “we.” We know from chapter 1:10 that they were waiting for Jesus to return from heaven. In Chapter 2 Paul called the Thessalonians his hope, joy, and crown of exultation in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming. He says in chapter 5 that these believers knew full well certain things about the day of the Lord.

 So Paul had taught them. He even acknowledged the steadfastness of their hope in chapter 1, verse 3. They were not completely uninformed regarding the return of Christ. But they had questions about their fellow believers who had died, either as a result of persecution, or by natural causes. There may have been some who thought that any Christian who died before the Lord returned would miss out on the work of salvation altogether. To be uninformed in regards to what happens to the believer at death leaves the door open for despair, hopelessness, and unnecessary grief.

 So Paul is addressing the problem with truth about those who are asleep. His choice of words is important. Sleep is a beautiful and perfectly appropriate euphemism for death for the Christian. Sleep is not an appropriate euphemism for the death of the unregenerate and is never used of those who are outside of Christ. But for the true follower of Christ, for those who are “in Christ,” this is the perfect picture of what has happened. Jesus said of Lazarus that he had fallen asleep, even though he was deceased and had been buried in a tomb. Acts 7:60, describing Stephen’s death says, “Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them!’ Having said this, he fell asleep.”

 This is the perfect analogy because it describes the appearance of the body in death, after the soul has departed. There are some parallels between actual sleep and the sleep of the dead Christian that are helpful to understand. Physical sleep while we are alive is good for us. No harm results from sleeping. In the same way, death does no real harm to the true child of God. Jesus promised that even though we die, we live. John 11:25-26 records these words from Jesus. “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.” Even in death, the true child of God is not dead. His body sleeps.

 As his body sleeps, his soul is in the presence of the Lord. This is why Paul said in Philippians 1:21-23, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better.” Paul knew he might die before Jesus returned. And he knew that if he did, his body would sleep, but he would be with Christ, something that is very much better.

 Just as physical sleep for the living is beneficial, the sleep of the Christian in death is also beneficial. When we are sick, sleep restores the body. When we die and enter into the sleep of death, we are transformed into glory. Every vestige of sin and corruption is removed. The Puritan John Owen writes, “When, at death, the soul departs from the body, it is immediately freed from all weakness, disability, darkness, doubts and fears…and being freed their souls flourish and expand to their fullest extent.” This is what Paul understood. This is why he said that to die is gain. In fact, when a Christian dies suddenly, we should probably refer to it not as a sudden death, but as a sudden glorification, a sudden translation, a sudden exaltation.

 This is why the Christian does not need to grieve as do the rest who have no hope. This does not mean that grief is inappropriate at the passing of a Christian loved one. Even as Jesus stood at the tomb of His friend Lazarus, and knowing that He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead, Jesus wept. The sorrow associated with the departure of a loved on is understandable, and perfectly appropriate. We should not dismiss the grief of the remaining family and friends. We saw from Abraham’s loss of Sarah this morning that grief is going to come with loss.

 The difference is that those who grieve as unbelievers do so because all hope is gone. Once the unregenerate has died, all hope of salvation is gone. Jesus illustrated this vividly in the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31. Let’s turn there and read this story. If we are answering the question about what happens at death, this passage gives tremendous insight.

 I don’t believe this is a parable because Jesus never gave the name of an individual in any other parable. Here He gives the name of the poor man. His name is Lazarus. This story would have caused a collective gasp of unbelief as Jesus shared it. The Jews believed that the rich man would have been blessed of God because of his wealth and that Lazarus would have been in disfavor with God because he was poor and sick and a beggar.

 This story illustrates two destinies, one that is characterized by torment, the other by comfort. It also tells us that these two destinies are forever fixed. A great chasm is fixed so that those who wish to cross either direction will not be able to do so. All hope was lost for the rich man. His eternal fate was sealed. But it also explains the regret the rich man felt. He wanted his brothers to avoid the awful fate. This story also contains gospel truth. Moses and the Prophets reveal the way of salvation and the favorable eternal destiny. Moses reveals just how sinful we are, and the Prophets foretold of the Messiah who would come as the Savior and Redeemer. Those who fail to hear them are without hope. Those who die without Christ have no hope.

 Having discussed the problem, Paul moves on to the promise. We find this promise in verses 14. “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.”

 Notice that Paul writes, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again…” This use of “if” is a first class conditional clause. It could have been translated “since.” There is not a question about the death and resurrection of Jesus. Paul uses this because he assumes they know already this is a statement of fact. If they had not understood and believed in these pillars of the faith, they would not have been redeemed.

There is something very important to point out in verse 14. When Paul speaks of the death of Jesus he does not refer to His death as “sleep.” This is because Jesus did not simply sleep when He died. Jesus died. Jesus died the death of the sinner. Jesus bore the full fury of the wrath of God as punishment for our sin. The wages of sin is death. This means eternal death. Only the infinite God-Man could endure the full fury of a just and holy God and endure eternal wrath of God in the place of condemned sinners, but that is exactly what Jesus did. Jesus experienced the fullness of death in every dimension. He “bore our sins in His body on the Cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness,” we are told in 1 Peter 2:24. Because of what Christ endured, death has been changed into sleep for everyone who is transformed by the work of salvation. To believe this is to have the promise of life after death.

It is not enough to just believe in the death of Christ. There is the work accomplished through His resurrection from the dead. We are rapidly approaching the time of year when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. It is the most important Christian celebration of all. This is because Christ has conquered death by His own resurrection. He has guaranteed the resurrection of all who confess and repent and trust in Him. The resurrection is proof that our Savior lives and reigns with the power to complete our salvation. Paul states in 1 Cor. 15:20, “But Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.” Verse 22 continues, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.”

The conclusion is the wonderful promise. “Even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.” The weight of the full revelation of Scripture gives us the impact of this promise. Jesus was raised from the dead by the power of God. His resurrection was proof positive that God was fully satisfied with His atoning work. He was not raised simply as an individual but as the public head of the church. If the Head is raised, will not the body be raised with it? If the Head returns, will not the body return with it? Jesus will not come alone. He will bring with Him all His elect who sleep in Him.

There is some debate over the last words of verse 14. The NASB says “in Christ.” Some translations translate it “through Christ.” If “through Christ” is the intended meaning then this may be spoken of those who had died as a result of following Christ. This would be the ones who had been persecuted to the point of death. Whatever Paul’s precise intent is, it is clear. Those who are asleep in Christ will be those who return with Him. 

Jesus said in John 14:19, “Because I live, you will live also.” 1 Cor. 6:14 tells us, “Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will raise us up through His power. 2 Cor. 4:14 Paul wrote, “He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus.”

In 1899 two prominent men died. One was Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll. He was a brilliant mind, but he devoted his intellect to the refutation of Christianity. His is known as “the great agnostic.” He died suddenly leaving his family unprepared and devastated. His wife was so grief stricken that she did not allow the body removed from her home until the decomposing body posed a health risk to the rest of the family. His funeral service was a scene of dismay and despair. His family grieved as those who have no hope.

The other man who died that year was Dwight L. Moody. He was a great Christian evangelist.  He had been declining for some time and his family had gathered around his death bed. On his last morning his son heard him exclaim, “Earth is receding; heaven is opening; God is calling.” His son asked him if he was dreaming. His reply was, “No, Will, this is no dream. I have been within the gates. I have seen the children’s faces.” As life was slipping away he was heard to say, “Is this death?” “This is not bad; there is no valley. This is bliss. This is glorious.” As his daughter Emma came to his side to pray for his recovery he said, “Don’t pray for that. God is calling. This is my coronation day. I have been looking forward to it.”

Moody’s funeral was the scene of triumph and joy. They sang hymns of praise to God. “Where, o death, is your victory,” they exclaimed through faith in Jesus Christ. “Where, o death, is your sting?” (1 Cor. 15:55) The Moody family could grieve in hope.

We have talked about the problem and the promise. The problem for the Thessalonians was that they were uninformed. Paul corrected that problem with the truth of God’s word. They had believed that Jesus died and rose again so they would be among those who benefited from the promise. They would be brought back with Jesus when He comes.

Those who are not the beneficiaries of this promise have a bigger problem than just ignorance. To fail to believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus is to not be included. Those who are unredeemed will not be brought with Him. They are not in Him. They are forever lost. Only those who are asleep in Christ will He bring with Him. Those who are not His are not asleep, they are dead. The dead are without hope. 

Every person here today, and every person who may hear this message at some point in the future is either dead or alive in Christ. If you die without being made alive in Christ you are forever dead. If you are made alive in Christ, and you die, you simply sleep. You body lies in the grave, but your spirit and soul will forever be with the Lord. You will be with Him in glory and when He leaves glory and returns to earth, you will come with Him. We will learn next week what happens if He returns while we are still alive.

I want to close with the reading of Ephesians 2:1-10. This passage describes the work of God to bring us from death to life in Christ.