If you did not read part 1 of this article, I would encourage you to read yesterday’s posting before continuing on with today’s.
Why did Paul use the word “asleep” in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 to speak of believers who had already died? This was a term used by Paul, Peter and Jesus. The term is used to speak of the body, never the soul. It was used to show the temporary state of the body at death. In fact, it is from this Greek word that we get our English word "cemetery." The souls of those who have died are not literally asleep. They are in a temporary state of separation from their body…if saved, than they are with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8 clearly teaches that for the believer, to be absent from the body (that is what death is…the separation of the soul from the body) is to be present with the Lord. This is seen in Jesus words to the repentant thief on the cross, “Today” you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).
This confusion on the part of the Thessalonican believers regarding their loved ones who had already died resulted in their being in a constant state of mourning seeing no hope for their loved ones who had passed away. Even the promise of Christ’s return lacked complete hope if it could not be shared with those loved ones who had already died. Paul addresses this as he describes the security of the dead in Christ in verse 14 by saying,
“If we believe that that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.”
The preposition “if” signifies a conditional clause showing reality, not possibility. It could be translated “if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and we do” or “since we believe…” The guarantee to this fact is the resurrection of Christ. In John 14:19 Jesus said, “Because I live, you will live also.” In 1 Corinthians 15:23, Paul called Christ the “first fruits” of resurrection. 1 Corinthians 6:14 teaches that, “God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.” But Paul not only shows the security of the dead in Christ, He also teaches the significance of the dead in Christ in verse 15 when he writes,
“For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.”
Not only will the dead in Christ be part of a future resurrection, according to Paul they will have priority over those who are still alive at the time of Christ’s return for His church. In fact, this is written in a form of Greek emphatic negation and can be translated that we “will not by any means precede those who have fallen asleep.” And how do we know this to be true? The guarantee of this is the very word of a God who can not lie. I guess you could very easily describe those loved ones who knew Christ who have already died as, “The Grateful Dead!”
Why did Paul use the word “asleep” in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 to speak of believers who had already died? This was a term used by Paul, Peter and Jesus. The term is used to speak of the body, never the soul. It was used to show the temporary state of the body at death. In fact, it is from this Greek word that we get our English word "cemetery." The souls of those who have died are not literally asleep. They are in a temporary state of separation from their body…if saved, than they are with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8 clearly teaches that for the believer, to be absent from the body (that is what death is…the separation of the soul from the body) is to be present with the Lord. This is seen in Jesus words to the repentant thief on the cross, “Today” you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).
This confusion on the part of the Thessalonican believers regarding their loved ones who had already died resulted in their being in a constant state of mourning seeing no hope for their loved ones who had passed away. Even the promise of Christ’s return lacked complete hope if it could not be shared with those loved ones who had already died. Paul addresses this as he describes the security of the dead in Christ in verse 14 by saying,
“If we believe that that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.”
The preposition “if” signifies a conditional clause showing reality, not possibility. It could be translated “if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and we do” or “since we believe…” The guarantee to this fact is the resurrection of Christ. In John 14:19 Jesus said, “Because I live, you will live also.” In 1 Corinthians 15:23, Paul called Christ the “first fruits” of resurrection. 1 Corinthians 6:14 teaches that, “God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.” But Paul not only shows the security of the dead in Christ, He also teaches the significance of the dead in Christ in verse 15 when he writes,
“For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.”
Not only will the dead in Christ be part of a future resurrection, according to Paul they will have priority over those who are still alive at the time of Christ’s return for His church. In fact, this is written in a form of Greek emphatic negation and can be translated that we “will not by any means precede those who have fallen asleep.” And how do we know this to be true? The guarantee of this is the very word of a God who can not lie. I guess you could very easily describe those loved ones who knew Christ who have already died as, “The Grateful Dead!”
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