Title: The Redeemer
The Thessalonians in today's text are the same as the unbelievers in their grief over the death of their loved ones. I am saddened that he died before the Lord came.
Paul wrote this text to convince the dead and the living that all can share in that joy.
When we let someone we love go away first, it will be heartbreaking. However, you can confess, "One day I will meet my loved ones through Christ."
Before we knew Jesus, death was thought of as a scary ghost, but now we know that death is what brings us to Jesus.
1. Death of the redeemed
In Catholicism, the dead go to purgatory, and the remaining members of the family pay a reparation offering and ask the priest to pray so that the dead can enter heaven. Some say that the soul sleeps until the resurrection. Some say death is the end. All of these things are false.
1) Death is sleep
When we die, our soul goes straight to paradise and our body sleeps until the resurrection. And that body will be awakened again when Jesus returns.
2) Death is leaving.
In Philippians 1:23 Paul said, “This is the one who desires to depart and be with Christ.” He also said, "The time of my departure is near." Sleep is the body and the soul goes to the Lord.
When a ship leaves the port, it says "It's on its way" and when it disappears over the horizon, it says "It's gone", but when a ship appears on the horizon, it says "It's coming" and when it is anchored in the port it says "It's here".
Similarly, when we see the death of a loved one, we say, "He's going," "He's gone," but those in Heaven say, "He's coming," and he's finally at home."
3) Death is just a move from place to place.
It is a journey from the world to heaven.
It was a nice new apartment building when the person who was looking for a friend had a new address that he had moved to. A friend proudly showed us the new apartment and shared the joy with them.
The death of a Christian is more joyful than moving from an 18-pyeong apartment to a 50-pyeong apartment.
4) The Christian's death is beneficial.
Paul exclaims in Philippians 1:21, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” If we have lived for Christ, we will get all kinds of good things when we die. Is it detrimental to go into a palace from a shack? Is it detrimental to take off your rags and wear silk?
When a Christian dies, he will lose nothing and will gain all sorts of wonderful things. We overcome sin, Satan, doubt, and sorrow, and gain victory. You will have fellowship with the people you loved and Jesus. You will receive complete knowledge, complete happiness.
There is no need to fear death. Death is what takes you from the world to heaven.
2. The fate of the redeemed
With the Second Coming of Christ, the body in the grave will be resurrected as a glorified body in union with the soul in heaven.
1) Heaven is a dwelling place.
Jesus said, "I am going to prepare a place for you." Heaven has houses, mansions, castles, and streets, and many people live there.
2) Heaven is a perfect place.
There is no place in the world that is forever perfect. But there is nothing wrong and harmful in heaven.
3) Heaven is a beautiful place.
The wall is jasper, the streets are gold, the foundation is twelve jewels, and there are twelve pearl gates.
4) Heaven is a place of rest.
It has a strange and spiritual body that never gets tired.
5) Heaven is a place full of joy.
Revelation 5:12 "And the Lamb who was slain was worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise."
6) Heaven is a place where fellowship and love are shared.
Fellowship and love in the world are fragile. But there is no breaking in heaven.
In Heaven we can recognize each other. 1 Corinthians 13:12 “Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then we will see face to face; now I know in part; then I will know fully, as the Lord has known me.”
It was a spiritual intuition that the disciples recognized that Moses and Elijah had a conversation with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration.
7) Heaven is a place to serve.
We will serve the Lord with complete joy and happiness. Some people say that you can't be happy just by serving, but there is no need to worry about that in Heaven.
3. The Joy of the Redeemed
1) They see the glory of the Savior.
Only Peter, John, and James on the Mount of Transfiguration have seen the glory of the Lord. The people of the world spit on Jesus, beat him with whips, shame and contempt. In heaven, you will see the Lord before you came into the world.
A certain prince disguised himself as a poor man to find a bride who would love only him and fell in love with the farmer's daughter. He said to the surprised bride, "All this glory is yours, because you married me, who is poor."
Those of us who have received Jesus who came in a lowly status will become the bride of the Lord and will be led to the heaven where the Lord is, and everything that the Lord has will become ours.
2) They share in the glory of the Savior.
It is written in Romans 8:17 that he will become “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.”
When the poor son of a poor family died, he was adopted into a rich family. When the rich man died, all the property was inherited to the child.
Jesus is the richest of the rich. He adopts us and inherits all things to us. You will have a glorified body just like the Lord.
3) They receive the Savior's reward.
If we have served the glory of the Lord, our work will shine like gold and silver and precious stones. If we have worked for our own glory, our work will be consumed by fire like grass, wood, or straw.
We must receive not only salvation, but also a reward.
4) They sing praises to the Savior.
We will not talk about our achievements in the world, but we will sing a song of praise to the Lamb that was slain.
5) They serve the Savior in Heaven.
The greatest joy you can find in this world is serving Christ. But service to the Lord in heaven will be a wonderful joy. Revelation 7:15 says, "Therefore they were before the throne of God, and they served God day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will tent over them."
There are those who are dying to say, "I'm sorry. I was a sinner. I was a pagan and an atheist," but no one said, "I'm sorry, I was a Christian." It's just a pity that I couldn't be more loyal.
Dear saints, Do you know Jesus? Then all the joy of glory is yours. If you do not know Jesus, remember the words of the Lord, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."