1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 (September 5, 2025)

The Coming of the Lord

4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord,[a] that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

The Day of the Lord

5:1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers,[b] you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children[c] of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 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 Thessalonians 4:15 Or by the word of the Lord

1 Thessalonians 5:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 4, 12, 14, 25, 26, 27

1 Thessalonians 5:5 Or sons; twice in this verse

Summary

Paul addresses the Thessalonians’ concern about believers who had died before Christ’s return (4:13). He assures them that those who sleep in Christ will rise first when the Lord descends from heaven with a cry of command, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet of God (4:14–16). Then those who are alive will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air, and so they will always be with the Lord (4:17). This truth is meant to comfort and encourage the church (4:18).

In chapter 5, Paul shifts to the “times and seasons.” The day of the Lord will come like a "thief in the night." For many, it will be sudden and unexpected.

Believers, however, are not in darkness but are children of light, called to stay awake and sober (5:4–6). The word for "sober" is used 6 times in the NT, always metaphorically. To be sober is to put on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet of the hope of salvation (5:8). God has not destined His people for wrath, but to obtain salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, who died so that they may live with Him (5:9–10). Once again Paul exhorts them to encourage one another and build one another up with these words (5:11).

Who is God?

He is the Lord of resurrection and salvation. He raises the dead in Christ and reunites His people with the risen Lord (4:14–17). He is also the sovereign God of history, bringing the day of the Lord suddenly and decisively (5:2). Yet He is merciful and covenant-keeping. He does not expose His people to wrath but to eternal life through Christ, who died and rose for them.

What is our Guilt?

Our guilt is that we often live as though this world is our final "home." We grieve like those who have no hope.

We are lulled into spiritual sleep by the comforts and securities of life, seeking “peace and security” apart from God (5:3). We prefer the darkness because it allows us to indulge in sin without watchfulness (5:6–7). Our problem is not simply ignorance of Christ’s return but indifference to its reality.

How does Grace shine?

Grace shines in the gospel of Christ’s death and resurrection. He died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep, we might live together with Him (5:10). This is our unshakable hope: that the dead in Christ will rise, and the living will be gathered with them in His presence forever (4:16–17). By God’s Spirit, we are equipped with faith, love, and hope (5:8) to live soberly, alertly, and courageously in anticipation of the Lord’s coming. We are saved by Grace alone and we are sanctified by Grace as well.

Prayer

Father, we thank You that in Christ we do not grieve without hope. Because He died and rose again, we too will live with Him forever.

Forgive us for living as though this world were our home. Keep us awake and sober, clothed with faith, love, and hope, as we wait for the coming of the Lord. Strengthen us to encourage one another with this living hope until the day we see Christ face to face.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.