Title: My Hope of Resurrection
Contents
♡♥♡ My Hope of Resurrection / 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
*** Introduction
As we celebrate the morning of the resurrection of our Lord, we are really happy people who believe and hope for the resurrection of the Lord as our own. Do you think so too? Hallelujah! We praise God for giving us this great hope.
There is probably no one in the world we live in who hates glory. If there is a life that goes one step further and enjoys that glory for eternity, there will be many people who will struggle to get it. Strangely, though, there is a way to a life in which we can enjoy this glory for eternity, but few struggle to attain it. Moreover, even Christians who know and believe in this fact do not struggle to obtain it. Do you know why?
There is one reason. For this path of glory is beyond the hill of suffering. Without death there is no resurrection. Even if you don't die, you can't live again, can you? People hate and refuse to die, but they want to occupy the glory of the resurrection, and while they hate and avoid the path of suffering, they want to receive the crown of glory. The way of death and suffering is to take up one's cross, as Jesus said, and to deny oneself.
On this morning to commemorate the Lord's Resurrection in 2004, I will look for ways in which the glory of the Lord's Resurrection can become my hope of resurrection. The text of the text shows a little bit of what the process of the resurrection will be like. This is the greatest treasure and truth that no other religion in this world possesses and cannot imitate. I earnestly pray that all of the saints who have come here will be able to have this glorious life of resurrection.
First, in order to make the glory of the Lord's resurrection our own, we must know what the glory of the resurrection is and how we obtained it. Let's look at verse 14. “If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also those who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” Here, the expression “Jesus died and rose again” refers to “the path of suffering that Jesus went through and the glory of the resurrection that came through that path.” And the connection “in this way” indicates who can enjoy the glory of the resurrection accomplished by Jesus. He says that those who can enjoy the glory of the resurrection accomplished by Jesus are “those who sleep in Jesus.”
We need to figure out what "Jesus died and rose again" specifically means now. The whole Bible is contained in this short phrase. In other words, this is the core truth of what we believe in Christianity. Because of this, we believe in Jesus, and we go forward by enduring suffering and pain. Without it, our faith is nothing. This is not something that man can achieve, only God can do it. This is the forgiveness of sins and resurrection. The forgiveness of sins and the resurrection are only available to God, the Sovereign of the universe.
What did Jesus' death mean?
From Adam to today, no human being has been able to achieve the forgiveness of sins. Because they themselves were sinners. Acts 4:12 says, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This means that no human being can become an offering to atone for sins. So God sent the Son Jesus into the world. And he made this sinless body a sacrifice to wash away the sins of mankind. Therefore, the death of Jesus means the forgiveness of sins.
There is another meaning. This is true for those who believe and follow Jesus as their Savior. First, let's look at Romans 6:4. “Therefore we were buried with him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.” In other words, when a person believes in Jesus as Savior and becomes His people, it means that he died with Jesus.
Does any of you not know what death is? Confess with your lips during this time. What is the state of death? So, more easily, assuming I'm crucified now, what can I do? There is nothing I can do. Only waiting for death.
To live for the Lord like this, how is it to live? Are you turning your back on the world and serving, serving, and living only for the church? no. It's not about escaping from the world, it's about living as a witness of Christ in your daily life. It is to carry out the work entrusted to you now with more sincerity, honesty and sincerity. Do not try to do what is not given to me now. If God had considered it necessary, he would have given it. Be grateful for what you have been given and do your best. Previously, you worked to earn money, live a richer and more comfortable life, succeed, and gain fame. Now, you are working honestly with a sense of calling to please God. No matter what kind of work I am doing, what circumstances I am in, and what kind of hard work it is, I do my best, remembering that it is a work that God has called me to do, and that it is for the glory of the Lord. Even if it is different from my will, I think of the Lord's will first. This is living for the Lord. / Gospel Song - Life or Death
What does Jesus' resurrection mean?
The reason why I thought of Jesus' death first is because without death there is no resurrection. There is no glory that is easily given in the world. At the very least, in order to win a gold medal in athletics, you have to work hard while breaking the desires of the body. But what we hope for is the glory of the resurrection and the life of eternal glory. Can we sit still and get it? The glory of the resurrection of Jesus was accomplished by crossing the river of suffering, contempt and death.
Those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior have already resurrected their spirits. The spirit that died after Adam's sin was brought to life through Jesus Christ. This life came through the resurrection of Jesus. Therefore, the spiritual life of a Christian cannot take anything from the world. Do you firmly believe this?
Then what about the physical life? The life of the body is not yet dead, so there is no resurrection. The text teaches us about this fact. Verse 13 says, “As regards the dead.” This is to refer to the resurrection. There will be saints alive in the flesh on the day Jesus returns. They will have the fortune of ascending to the kingdom of God without suffering physical death. However, the people who will meet the Lord before these are the saints who lived by faith and died. Their bodies will be resurrected and placed in the arms of the Lord, and after that, the saints with living bodies will be embraced by the Lord.
What is important is the last part of verse 17, “So we will always be with the Lord.” This is the most important meaning of Jesus' resurrection. In other words, those who have accepted the Lord and become His children will enjoy eternal life in the kingdom of God. Revelation 22:5 says, “There will be no more night, and there is no need for lamps and sunlight, for the Lord God shines on them. They will reign forever and ever.” Therefore, what the resurrection of Jesus means is 'my resurrection' and 'everlasting life as a child of God'. That is why the Lord became the first fruits of the resurrection.
Finally, there is something we must strive for until the resurrection of Jesus becomes the hope of my resurrection and is fully realized. Until I reach the kingdom of God, I live a life of constant devotion while looking at the Lord.
Strive to work with your hands. In some cases, we humbly seek help, but we should be self-reliant whenever possible. We should try not to be a burden on our brothers and work hard at the opportunity. You should also be a person who gives and helps even with little things. Don't always live poorly because it's difficult. Take a small part, share, and help. Like the widow who donated two lepton, like the woman of Zarephath, even if you are in need, you must have the determination to give if God wants you to. And I know that noble work, hospitality, and not getting dust on my feet are comfortable and good, but believers who have the hope of resurrection must lead by example and dedicate themselves.
Sometimes hardships will come, and there will be times when life's failures and setbacks will come. There will be times when you will suffer losses, there will be times when you will be beaten unfairly, and there will be times when you will be despised and humiliated. In the worst case, you may be martyred. Even if such a situation arises, we can continue to dedicate ourselves to the Lord because there is a reward of God that cannot be exchanged for anything in the world. The difficulties we face in this world are not worthy to be compared with the glory we will receive in the eternal kingdom of God, so we are able to make any sacrifices. We must live with this determination and determination. This is the way of life of believers who hope for resurrection.
To Pastor George Whitefield, a famous preacher, the members asked, “If the Lord came tomorrow, what would you do?” At that time, the pastor said, “I will visit and preach according to the plan I have set up.”
Let us do our best in the work entrusted to us in this given position. I pray that you will live a life that hopes for the resurrection so that you can proudly say “Lord, come” whenever the Lord comes.