Comfort One Another with These Words May 13, 2012

I. Introduction
a. Text - 1 Thess. 4:13-18
v.18-"Wherefore comfort one another with these words." b. Why we need comfort - world, sin, failures, hardships, persecutions, assaults from within, attacks from Satan, constant barrage of evil-news, speeches, radio, TV, etc. c. Sources of comfort -God's word, Christ, Holy Spirit, fellowship with God and the saints. d. Text v.18 commands us to comfort one another with these words." Commanded to take comfort in Christ's Second Coming and the Resurrection. Ten Comforts 1. Meet our Lord, 2. Be like our Lord, 3. Be with our Lord Forever, 4. Receive Glorified Bodies, 5. Delivered from this Body of Sin, 6. Imminent Return, 7. Our Labour is not in Vain, 8. Victory in Christ, 9. Points to the Resurrection of Christ 10. Hope in Persecution

II. Ten Comforts to Take in Christ's Return and The Resurrection from the Dead.
a. Meet our Lord
Php_3:7-11, "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead." Paul counts all his material gains as loss for Christ. Before his conversion, Paul was highly esteemed for his zeal in the Jewish religion; he had for his teacher, Gamaliel, one of the well-respected Jewish teachers. Paul was blameless in the law, outwardly he was clean and lived a righteous life; his associates or even his enemies could not point out any gross sin in his life. He was well respected in the Jewish community. He counts all this esteem as loss for Christ and the knowledge of him. The former things that he gloried in, he now counts as dung. Paul is now comforted in the knowledge of Christ and being found in him, this he esteems higher than all that the world and religion can offer. The "excellency of the knowledge" that Paul speaks of in v. 8 is the knowledge that is obtained in this present evil world, he has not yet looked forward to the glory and excellency that shall be at Christ's coming and the resurrection. Paul sets the Resurrection as a goal (v. 10-11). His goal was to fully know Christ and experience the power of his

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resurrection-to fellowship and be conformable to him in this life in order to obtain the Resurrection. The Resurrection was his goal for in the Resurrection he would meet the Lord bodily. 1Th_4:17, "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." Paul will meet his Lord in the air! Meeting the Lord bodily has ever been the hope of the saints; Job looked to this great day, "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me." Job_19:25-27. Ever since Christ ascended from Mount Olivet, his people have "stood gazing up into heaven" (Act_1:10-11) desiring to meet their Lord Jesus. It is a great comfort and encouragement that one day at his Second Coming, we will meet our Lord!

b. Be Like our Lord

1Jn_3:1-3, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." 1Co_15:45-49, "And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly." Our hope is more than meeting the Lord; it is that we will be like him. This thought is beyond the grasp of our finite understanding. John says that "it doth not yet appear what we shall be," This is one of the mysteries that are not revealed to us in God's word. The secret things are the Lord's. We don't know the extent and all the details of what we shall be, but we know one thing that should comfort and lift our spirits-that we shall be like our Lord. This is our hope, to be like Christ. Not everyone has this hope, but only those that purifieth themselves (v.3). This truth of being like our Lord should be especially encouraging to those whose conscience is pricked and burdened by the deep realization of their sinfulness; those who know themselves to be earthy. 1Co_15:45-49, The sinner is earthy. Adam was of the earth-he was made from the dust, but more than physically an earthy man, he was carnally minded. He sought worldly, earthy things and through his carnal desires he fell. We all, being the sons of Adam, are naturally carnally minded (Rom_8:5)-we seek the things of the flesh and bear the image of the earthy. The saved bore the image of the earthy when we walked in the lust of the flesh, seeking to please ourselves with no thought or regard for God and his ways. But praise God, "we shall also bear the image of the heavenly" (v.49). The "image of the heavenly" is that of the last Adam, the one who brought salvation, the quickening Spirit (v.45), Jesus Christ. As sin cam through one-the earthy, and death by sin, so righteousness and the gift of eternal life come by onethe heavenly. Rom_5:18-19, "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." What comfort to know assuredly that we "shall bear the image of the heavenly", i.e. be like our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Comfort One Another with These Words May 13, 2012

c. Be with our Lord Forever

1Th_4:17 , "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Lovers grow love sick when they are apart. Example- Aundrea and my long distance relationship for couple years. The saints, even though they meet Christ and bare his image, would be love-sick, if they were to be apart from him. Are we sick of love and do we fervently desire to be with Christ- to be with him where he is? Sadly, I fear that often we are content where we are. The bride in the Song of Solomon was not content apart from her love. She diligently sought him and desired to be with him where he was. Son_3:1-4, "By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me." She would not let him go! God's people cannot casually meet Christ and then let him go. If it is he that our souls love, we will hold him and not ever let go. Christ loves his people and it is his prayer that his loved ones be with him where he is, Joh_17:24, "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." Christ has promised that he will come back for his people, Joh_14:1-3, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." This is a great comfort to us, even in this present world, v.1"Let not your heart be troubled". This was a troubling time for the apostles, Christ is about to leave them and be sacrificed; Jesus encourages them by speaking of his return for them and that they would be with him forever. We will be with God forever dwelling in the new heaven and new earth, Rev_21:3-4, "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." How encouraging to know that God will dwell with man and that we will spend eternity with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. What future glory awaits those who love God and trust in Christ.

d. Glorified Bodies
Php_3:20-21,"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." 1Co_15:51-52, "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

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Comfort One Another with These Words May 13, 2012

We are often plagued with infirmities of the body; we have sickness, disease, fatigue, all sorts of afflictions beset our mortal frames. We have weakness and lust of the flesh. Paul calls our current bodies vile. This certainly is the truth, if we know our own bodies and self at all we know this to be the case. Our body is corruptible, mortal, subject to faults and failures, and ultimately will succumb to death. No one can avoid death, it is the wages of sin and all men are appointed once to die. It is a great source of comfort to compare our present bodies with the glorified bodies we will receive at Christ's coming. Our new body will "be fashioned like unto his [Christ's] glorious body". No longer vile, but glorious! 1Co_15:51-54, Paul refers to this change from vile to glorious as a "mystery". This is not a progressive change, but instantaneous, "in the twinkling of an eye", in a moment we shall shed these corruptible mortal garments and be clothed in immortal incorruptible bodies. These new bodies will not be subject to death. This change will be the fulfillment of the prophecy and promise that "death is swallowed up in victory" (v.54-55) cp. Hos_13:14, "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes." This victory is obtained by and through our Lord Jesus Christ. As he was victorious over death, hell, and the grave so shall we be through him. A glorified body fashioned after our Lord's which is not subject to death- what an encouraging comforting promise to look for at Christ's return.

e. Delivered from this Body of Sin.

Rom_7:23-24, "But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" This is very closely related to the previous point as our glorified bodies will be free from sin, but since we are currently so easily beset with sin, I wanted to place special emphasis on this hope of being delivered from sin in our person and from the presence of sin in our surroundings. Pauls well known compliant in the seventh chapter of Romans is "who shall deliver me from the body of this death". He desired to be delivered from his body not because of his body, but because of sin. He was oppressed by sin and it caused him to cry out, "O! wretched man that I am." Again Job expressed a similar sentiment when, he cried, "I abhor myself..." (Job_42:6). A child of God hates sin, but he especially hates the sin in his own heart. The process of deliverance form the power and bondage of sin is progressive in this life. This process is sanctification. Sanctification is ongoing in this life. There is no truth in the false doctrine of sinless perfection. We do not reach a state of sinlessness in this present life. The Holy Spirit will in this life give you power to overcome sin and progress in holiness; but any that say they have no sin, deceive themselves. The child of God does desire sinlessness though. And this is our hope, that the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead will, because he has quickened our souls in regeneration, also quicken our mortal bodies, delivering us from our present mortal bodies which are afflicted and tainted by sin. In the seventh chapter of Romans, Paul speaks of this ongoing battle in the believer's life. But praise God that at Christ's return this battle will be over. We will have the final victory through Christ when he transforms

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our mortal bodies into immortal bodies. Rom_8:18-23 describes this as the hope of all creation, v.19 "for the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God", v.23 explains that this is also what the saints groan for, "the adoption-to wit, [that is] the redemption of the body." This is not speaking of salvation-for Paul is speaking of the "glory that shall be revealed in us (those that are already saved)." v.18. He is speaking of the redemption of the body from the very presence and experience of sin. Isn't this what we yearn for-to be free from actual sin and thereby to glorify God? What comfort and encouragement to know that when Christ returns, he will deliver us from this body of sin!

f. Imminent Return
Php_4:5, Heb_10:37, Rev_1:1, Rev_22:20 Jas_5:8-9, "Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door." Many scoffers since Christ's day have ridiculed those who wait for the Lord's return. They mock saying where is the promise of his coming, all things continue s they have from the beginning. (2Pe_3:2-4). Even this week, I read an article where the author mocked those who believe in the "wacky Rapture". But do let this mocking world discourage you, because our "Lord is not slack concerning his promise..." God has promised and his word is sure. James tells us that "the coming of the Lord draweth nigh". Not only James, but the Scriptures are full of instances of the same- we read that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and that the time is at hand, etc. v.9 explains what is meant by "the coming of the Lord draweth nigh", we read "behold, the judge standeth before the door." All that remains is for the Lord to open the door and come in. This is what we mean when we speak of the Lord's return as being imminent. Def. Imminent-"Literally, shooting over, hence hanging over, impending, threatening; near appearing as if about to fall on." (Webster, 1820) Shooting over gives a good picture, look up into the clear night sky, as quickly as you see a shooting star, the Lord can return. Many nights we may look up and not see any shooting stars, but this does not mean that at the next moment we will not see one. Christ's return is similar, because he has not yet come, does not mean that his return will be delayed, he could come at the next moment, "at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrow, or in the morning." Mar_13:35-37. That Christ can come at any moment, that he is standing at the door, should encourage and comfort those who watch for his coming. At any second we may be with the Lord, in the twinkling of an eye we may leave this world and its miseries behind and forever be with the Lord.

g. Our Labour is Not in Vain

1Co_15:58, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." Mat_16:27, "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works."

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Comfort One Another with These Words May 13, 2012

Many in this world toil in vain. They serve their bell, they serve their lusts and they serve the flesh. Their masters are insatiable. As the Preacher says, this is all vanity. In Mar_8:36, we read, "For what shall it profit a man that shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul." Men rush at a break-neck speed both to outdo one another and to gather more and more unto themselves; they do this though at the cost of their family, health, sanity, and spirit. They've amassed great fortunes and have wrecked lives in the process; sometimes God does not give them power to eat of their fortune and who knows whether their heirs will be wise or foolish. Truly this is vanity and what profit do they have? They labour in vain. But with the child of God it is otherwise. Our labour is not in vain. God's word is full of promises to those that overcome. The fifth chapter of Matthew describes the blessings and rewards of the faithful. We already mention several of the rewards and hopes of the elect this morning. Knowing that our labour in the Lord is not in vain, we should be encouraged to be always abounding in the Lord's work, 1Co_15:58. We should labour more to store up treasures in heaven than to fill our coffers here. It is a great comfort to have meaningful work and there is nothing more meaningful than to labour for eternal things. "Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven"-men are restless and unhappy in this world because they labour for transitory things. At Christ's return it will be fully manifested that our labour has not been in vain.

h. Victory in Christ
1Co_15:57, "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1Jn_5:4-5, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" We have victory through Christ now, our faith is this victory. It's assured that through Christ we will overcome. We overcome through the gift of faith, in believing that Jesus Christ is the son of God. Even though our victory is assured because Christ obtained it through his sacrificial atoning death, it has not yet been realized. At Christ's coming our victory will be fully realized. Now we live by faith..."Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen", Heb_11:1. We didn't see Christ die, we can't see that Christ is the son of God, we didn't see that God made the world through his Eternal Word, but we believe these through faith. "We are saved by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope" Rom_8:24-25. At Christ's return our hope will be realized, we will literally see Christ, we will touch and feel him- we will handle the substance, and fully realize the victory that is in Christ. At his return hope will give way to realization. 2Co_5:1-7, "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)"

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Comfort One Another with These Words May 13, 2012

In this world we walk by faith, not by sight, "For now we see through a glass, darkly, but then face to face: now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known." 1Co_13:12. "God hath appointed in this life faith for our great duty, and in the next, vision for our reward" (Jamieson, Fausset, & Brown). There is an old song, "Palms of Victory", what a great comfort and encouragement that we can sing "Then palms of victory, crowns of glory, Palms of victory I shall wear"!

i. Points to the Resurrection of Christ

1Th_4:14, "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." 1Co_15:12-23, Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming." The Second Coming and the Resurrection from the dead point backwards to the Resurrection of Christ. In 1 Cor. here, Paul makes the Resurrection of Christ the center point of Christianity. If Christ did not rise then there is no Christianity, if "Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain" v.14. "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain' ye are yet in your sins." v.17. Paul goes on to give the saints hope, he argues for a blessed future, because Christ did rise. He argues that if there isn't a resurrection and it's "only in this life that we have hope, we are of all men most miserable" v.19. The Christian's life in this world is difficult and we suffer may trials and tribulations, the object of our hope is not fully realized in this world. Paul is saying that if all there is is this life, then Christians are short-changed; they suffer but do not obtain the reward. But thankfully, this is not the case; there is more than just this life. The Christian does have a blessed hope, because Christ rose from the dead. Sin and death came through man (the first Adam), so also resurrection from the dead came by man-the man Christ Jesus. v.20, "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept." Gill commenting on the v.23 says that Christ rose first in order of time, dignity, causality and influence". Afterwards they that are Christ's shall rise at his coming (v.23). What comfort and encouragement to meditate on the resurrection of Christ, his position as firstfruits, and then our own resurrection unto immortal life at his coming!

j. Our Hope in Persecution

1Co_15:29-32, Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ

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Comfort One Another with These Words May 13, 2012

Jesus our Lord, I die daily. If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. 1Th_3:3-4, That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. In 1Th_3:3-4, Paul clearly foretells that the Thessalonian saints will suffer persecutions. This however is not just their lot, but "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution", 2Ti_3:12. In our country today we don't suffer the persecution that saints have in days past, or that saints do even today in other countries. No one wants to suffer persecution, but it is to our shame that we do not suffer more. We may need to ask ourselves-are we "living godly n Christ Jesus?" The saints that Paul speaks of in 1 Cor. 15:29-32, were certainly living godly in Christ, for they were overwhelmed with persecution. Paul alludes to their persecutions as being a baptism. Compare Mat_20:22, "But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" Christ was baptized with death and so were most of the apostles and the saints to which Paul refers here. They were fully plunged under persecution. Baptize- to dip, these saints were covered-over and dipped in persecution. Paul argues that if there is no resurrection, then what profit do the saints that were "baptized for the dead" have. Paul himself suffered much persecution. He asks if there is no resurrection then "why stand we in jeopardy [of our life, our health, etc] every hour?" He even goes as far to say that "if the dead rise not, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." If there is no resurrection then live a sensual, epicurean life indulging in eating, drinking and merry-making. But there is a resurrection and we do suffer much in this life, so we should take comfort and encouragement and "reckon [with the Apostle Paul] that the sufferings of this present time are not to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Romans 8:18. In your persecutions take comfort that in comparison they are nothing to the future glory that will be revealed in us at Christ's Second coming.

III. Conclusion
a. These are just a few of the reasons to take comfort in Christ's return and the resurrection. two others for thought is: Marriage of the Lamb, Precursor to the Eternal Sabbath.

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