Amen. If you read in the book of
Judges, there's a woman in the Bible, her name was AXA, and she
come to her father-in-law and she said, give me a blessing and
we can come to our heavenly Father and we can say the same
thing to him. And then he'd remind us that
he's already blessed us with many wonderful blessings in
Christ. Our Bible reading is taken from
First Thessalonians chapter 5, and we're going to read from the
verse 9 right through to verse 15.
First Thessalonians chapter 5, verse 9.
Let's hear the Word of God for those online.
The words will come up on screen.
We're reading, of course, from the King James Bible, a most
faithful and reliable translation of the Holy
Scriptures. First Thessalonians, chapter 5,
verse 9. Let's hear the word of God.
Follow with me. For God have not appointed us to
wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who
died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live
together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves
together, and edify one another, even as also you do.
And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among
you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you, and to
esteem them very highly, and love for their work's sake, and
be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort your brethren,
warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble minded,
support the weak, be patient toward all men, See that none
render evil for evil unto any man, but ever follow that which
is good both among yourselves and to all men.
Amen. We know that God will stamp with
his own approval and blessing, this reading of His own precious
and infallible Word. Amen.
Now this morning I am continuing with our expository studies in
the book of First Thessalonians, and today again we're at chapter
5, and my text today is found in First Thessalonians chapter 5,
verses 9 through to 11. For God hath not appointed us to
wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who
died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live
together with Him. Wherefore comfort yourselves
together and edify one another, even as also ye do.
They have entitled this message the Christian certainty on
Christ's return. Now you're well aware, beloved,
we are living in uncertain times.
The drum beat and the clouds of war over Iran have brought
tremendous upheaval into our world.
Many are living in fear. Fear of economic upheaval, the
fear of the unknown. Maybe it's a fear of illness, a
fear of death. Maybe it's even a fear of the
judgement of God. Let me ask this morning, is that
a picture of you? Is that a picture of the state
of your heart and mind today in the House of God?
You see, in the context of First Thessalonians chapter 5, the
apostle Paul had been addressing the subject of the Day of the
Lord and the sudden judgement that is coming upon the world of
ungodly men. And in light of all this, true
believers are exhorted to watch, be sober, and put on the
breastplate of faith and love and the helmet called the hope
of salvation. Now these Thessalonian
believers, like us, they face trials and troubles.
They faced opposition, they experienced persecution.
They were living in days of uncertainty, days of doubt and
fear. And here in First Thessalonians
chapter 5 verses 9 to 11, the apostle Paul issues a powerful
word of great assurance to them. Listen to verse 9.
For God had not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation
by our Lord Jesus Christ. All true believers who are saved
by the grace of God alone, through faith in Christ alone,
they're not only saved, but they're also secure and in
Christ. They're satisfied now with
manifold blessings, and of course, they'll be satisfied in
the day of Christ's return when he comes back in power and
glory. All true believers, therefore,
should be spiritually awaiting Christ's return.
All true believers should be spiritually anticipating that
day. See, God's people are not
destined for wrath. They're not destined for fear
and judgement. They're destined for the throne
room. They're destined to be welcomed
into heaven. Why?
How? Because the Lord Jesus has died.
Because the Lord Jesus has rose again, and Christ's atoning work
in Calvary, his finished work in the cross, is the guarantee of
our acceptance, the ground of our assurance, and of course,
the glory of our anticipation. And that's the teaching of First
Thessalonians chapter 5, verses 9:00 to 11:00.
That's why I've called it the Christian certainty on Christ's
return. Now three things about this
certainty. Very quickly, there's a
foundational certainty. You see verses 9 to 11 bring to
a penultimate close Paul's teaching on the doctrine of our
Lord's return to earth in power and glory.
And as Paul closes this major theme, this is what he says, For
God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation
by our Lord Jesus Christ. You see, Paul is aware that as
he closes this theme about the second coming of Christ, that
this theme has got on a practical application.
There is a practical application of this important doctrine.
The doctrine of Christ, personal, visible, bodily return
to this earth, is so designed to have a very big impact upon our
lives as the people of God. The doctrine of the Second
Advent, rightly believed and rightly understood, prompts us,
directs us, urges us to pursue a life of true holiness unto the
Lord. It instils within us a hatred
for sin. It instils within us a longing
for a deeper and a greater and a better knowledge of who God is.
Creates within us that pursuit after holiness.
Where? Why?
We die unto sin more and more, and live more and more unto
righteousness. You see, every true Christian
should be aiming for striving to live a holy life in the sure
expectation of our Lord's Second Advent.
That's what John taught. Listen to these words first,
John 3 and 1. Beloved.
Now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we
shall be, but when 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 impure. Now that day, when it comes,
will not and should not surprise us.
Why? Because we're children of the
light. We're children of the day.
We remember should be awake to His coming.
We should be alert to His coming.
We should be armed in light of His coming, armed with the
breastplate of faith and love and the helmet of salvation.
The breastplate, remember, covers the heart, and the helmet
protects the mind. Both the heart and the mind of
the true believer needs to be protected in a day of trial.
And a day of trouble needs to be defended at all costs.
And remember, we're to live a life of complete dependence on
the Lord. Think of the hymn My faith looks
up to Thee were to live a life of delight in the Lord.
Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he'll give thee the
desires of thine heart and God and Christ must be the chief
object of her love. We must love Him first and
foremost. And added to this life of
dependence and a life of delight is a life of desire.
We have got the hope of salvation.
We thought about this last week, how that that hope was sure and
steadfast. And the hope of salvation is the
guarantee of a future blessing. Heaven.
And I want you to notice that the Christians hope rests on a
great foundational truth. And here's the foundational
truth. God has made a divine
appointment for his people. God has a plan for his people,
and God's plan for his people is salvation.
Notice the words here verse 9. For God has not appointed us.
The word appointed means to set, to establish.
And what has he not set us to or established us?
For He has not appointed us to wrath.
Now wrath is what we deserve because of sin.
Every man in his natural state deserves wrath.
Wrath refers to God's righteous judgement upon sin.
You know that the world of ungodly men is moving on towards
the great day of God's wrath upon the world, but true
believers are not appointed to wrath.
Yes, we all deserve God's holy, righteous punishment for sin,
but God's plan for the children of day, the children of light,
is not wrath, but to obtain salvation.
Remember, the wrath is God's settled anger and opposition
upon all sin. The word salvation here has a
very wide meaning. It includes being born again.
It includes a full, free and forever justification.
It includes A pardon from all known, secret and presumptuous
sin. It includes peace with God.
It includes deliverance from sin's penalty and sin's power.
The power of sin is broken in the life.
It includes a a life of acceptance by a holy God.
It includes being indwelt by the Spirit, whereby we're led and
prompted by the Holy Spirit. It includes growing in grace and
in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It also includes assurance of a home in heaven.
It includes the anticipation of heaven.
I wonder, are you excited about heaven?
You can't wait. You know your life is moving
quickly, and you know one day your life will end.
And God has woven a wonderful plan for your life.
But the plan doesn't end when you die, because whenever you
die, you enter into heaven. Sadly, many of God's people are
not anticipating that day. They're not assured of that day.
They're anxious about that day. They're worried Here's here's
what they think. What if my life doesn't measure
up? What if my love for Christ is
weak? What if I have weak faith?
What about my coldness and my carelessness?
What about the missed opportunities?
What about the things that God told me to do that I didn't do
because I was stubborn and rebellious and wanted my way?
What about my sins and my shortcomings?
Now, is that how you feel this morning?
Is that a picture of you? You see, on the one hand, we're
meant to anticipate heaven because heaven is assured and
guaranteed. But the truth is, we're often
anxious about going into heaven because we don't feel worthy or
feel deserving. But let me ask this question.
What is the basis of your salvation?
What is the foundation? Is it based on Christ's
atonement? Is it rooted in Christ's
accomplishment on the tree? How can a true believer
anticipate and expect, get excited about entering heaven?
There's only one answer, salvation by the Lord Jesus
Christ. Look at first night, for God has
not appointed us to wrap, but to obtain salvation by our Lord
Jesus Christ who died for us. Did you notice that in 1st 10?
We'll pause there. You see, the foundational truth
of our certainty is the fact of Christ's accomplishment,
Christ's atoning once and for all sacrifice for sin.
But this man, after he'd offered one sacrifice for sins forever
sat down on the right hand of God.
What secures our readiness for heaven, Our rightness for
heaven? It's Christ's atoning sacrifice
on Mount Calvary. Here's what we're not appointed
to. We're not appointed to wrath.
We're not destined, set and established for wrath.
This appointment is a reference here to God's sovereign
determination and plan of someone for his own particular
purpose. You see, it's often known as the
doctrine of election or the doctrine of predestination.
And sadly, many Christian professing Christians stumbling
over this. They reject this.
But this is a Bible doctrine. And remember what we read there
in Ephesians chapter 1, I'd say as there blessed be the God and
Father for Lord Jesus Christ. He has blessed us with all
spiritual blessings and heavenly places in Christ, according as
He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and without playing before Him in
love. God hasn't programmed us like
robots. Doesn't mean that we're not able
to make real choices for which we are responsible.
No, it means that God is a plan. God has had a plan from all
eternity. God has a purpose and God has
the power to carry out His plan. And remember what we read there
in the Gospel of Isaiah. In Isaiah chapter 46 and verse
10, God says, my counsel shall stand and I will do all my good
pleasure. He tells us in chapter 14 and
verse 24 the Lord of hosts have sworn, saying, surely as I have
thought, so shall it come to pass, and as I have purposed, so
shall it stand. And over there in Psalm 33 and
in the verse 11, the counsel of the Lord standeth forever the
thoughts of His heart to all generations.
God has a plan, and God has the power to carry out that plan.
And that plan is nothing to do with human optimism, nothing to
do with human ingenuity. No, it's the plan of God rooted
in God's sovereign determination.
And if anyone's going to be saved, it happens because God
has predestinated that and God has caused it to happen.
And that's exactly what Paul taught in the book of Romans, in
Romans chapter 8, Remember in verse 29 he says for whom he did
for No, he also did predestinate, to be conformed to
the image of a son, that he might be the first born among
many brethren. Moreover, whom He did
predestinate them he also called, and whom he called them
he also justified, and whom he justified them He also
glorified. God's wonderful plan is all
about salvation, and salvation's all of God, and it's all of
grace, and it's all for the glory of God, and all glory goes
to the Lord. Now let that sink in this
morning. Let that impact upon your
thoughts and your mind. God and Christ set His love on
you from before the foundation of the world.
God prepared a most glorious future for you.
God sent His Son to pay the price for your salvation.
And your salvation is that you have not been appointed to
wrath. You've been saved from wrath.
And your salvation is secure and sure, not because you feebly lay
hold on the Lord, but because the Lord planned it all.
And the Lord has laid hold on you by His Spirit and give you
the gift of faith. Now let me ask this question.
Are you aware of this truth? Have you laid hold upon this
fact that your assurance of heaven, your anticipation of
being there, is founded upon Christ and Christ's death alone?
Christ bore the wrath of God for you.
Christ satisfied divine justice. Christ kept the law of God
perfectly. So I'm asking, are you excited
this morning? Are you stirred up?
Are you awake and alert to this truth?
Have you armed yourself in your heart and mind?
See, many are not. Many professing Christians are
focused on the things of the world, things of time and sense
spiritually. They're drowsy, they're cold and
they're careless. And that impacts upon them.
When it comes to the prayer meeting, they're absent from the
prayer meeting. They don't read the Word of God
Day and daily they don't really come to the House of God and the
Day of God to worship the Christ of God.
They profess to love him, but it's it's very weak and it's
it's a waning love. They're not living in
expectation of heaven. They're not excited about
heaven. They're not assured of heaven.
They're not expecting a full and final salvation when Christ
returns. The foundation of this certainty
very quickly. It's a focused sermon, focused
certainty. Go back to our text.
Notice what it says in verse 10. That whether we wake or sleep,
we should live together with him.
You see, the ultimate aim and purpose and promise of the
gospel is that we live together with Christ forever.
The phrase wake or sleep in the context is not whether we're
spiritually awake or alert and expecting Christ coming or
spiritually asleep and insensitive and careless about
his coming. It's that's not the meaning.
It's not that all of us together, the excited and the
non excited will live with him when he comes.
That's not the teaching of the Bible.
That's not the proper context. It's, it's ludicrous to suggest
that Paul means whether you live like a child of darkness or
whether you're a child of the light.
It will make little difference in that day.
It'll not really matter. It'll be all OK in the end.
We'll all be brought into heaven.
No, that's not the teaching. The word wake here is those who
are alive when Christ comes. The word sleep here is those who
have died in Christ. Their bodies have been buried,
but they were died in Christ. Remember 2nd Corinthians 517 If
any man be in Christ, he's a new creature.
Old things have passed away and all things have become new and
all things are have gone. And what is the evidence of
God's salvation that you profess?
Is it not a changed and transformed life?
And you see, if if God in Christ has changed you, you have the
nature of God within you, you'll not live comfortably in sin.
I'm gutted about those that tell me that they love the Lord Jesus
but deliberately violate the commands of Christ.
Remember we read this in first John chapter 2 verse 3.
And hereby we do know that we know him if we keep his
commandments. He that saith I know Him, and
keepeth not his commandments as a liar, and the truth is not in
Him, but who shall keepeth His word?
And Him verily, as the love of God perfected, hereby know we
that we are in Him. In the context here, living or
dead, we'll be granted eternal resurrection.
Our bodies will be raised from the dead when Jesus returns and
we will be with him and we will live with him forever.
That is God's promise to all who believe in the Lord Jesus
Christ. So the focus is a focus,
certainty, and the focus is, of course, an eternal life with
Christ. And that eternal life is certain
because of our union with Christ, being in Him, being with
him forever. He is all the glory.
Remember, in Emmanuel's land it is the continuity and the
certainty of life in Christ. In Christ were spiritual men and
spiritual women, and in Christ, because we're spiritual, we live
spiritually unto the Lord, and death cannot break the promise,
the grave cannot cancel the hope.
We are safe and secure and we are satisfied with all that we
have in Christ. You and I remember, have a
wonderful inheritance in Christ. In Psalm 16 and in the verse 15,
the psalmist made this tremendous statement.
Psalm 16 and verse five rather than 15.
The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup.
Thou maintainest, my Lord you in Christ we have a glorious
portion. In Christ we have a glorious
promise in Christ with a glorious perfection.
Not only are we in him and going to be with Him, but we're going
to be like him. We're going to have a body like
unto his glorious body. And if our bodies is going to be
His, then surely we should see to it to protect our heart and
protect our mind. We should be careful with the
use of our tongue. We should be careful with our
hands. We should be careful with our
our money and and not only is there glorious portion and
promise and perfection here, but we're going to a glorious place.
Where's Jesus this morning? He's he's in the heavens, the
3rd heaven forever. That is where heaven where Jesus
is, there's heaven there, the hymn writer said.
And that's the glorious place that we're going to.
It's a focus certainty. One final thing.
It's a fruitful certainty. Look at verse 11.
It says where for comfort yourselves together and edify
one another as also ye do. The word wherefore means in
light of this. You see, God's people are to
encourage, build up one another with this wonderful truth.
The truth of anticipating heaven, the truth of being with
Christ, which is far better, The truth of being like Christ in
the glory, a full and free and final salvation, a forever
salvation. And this truth in the Scriptures
is not merely theoretical, it's to produce spiritual
fruitfulness. Notice the feature of the
encouragement, he says, Wherefore comfort yourselves
together. This assurance, this
anticipation of salvation should produce encouragement among true
believers. We live in a troubled world.
We've been shocked with what's happening in Iran.
The world is full of uncertainty this morning, and we're to
strengthen one another. How do we do that?
The feature of encouragement by our words and by our actions.
We speak to each other about the glorious portion that we have in
Christ, the glorious promise, the glorious perfection, the
glorious place that we're bound to, the glorious promise of
Christ's return. Brothers and sisters, I know
this morning that many of you need a wee word of
encouragement. I know that for you, life is
tough. I know that there's trials and
troubles in your lives individually and and in your
families. And think of the comforter.
What did he do? He comes alongside to help.
And you can sense the Lord drawing near to you.
And here we are in an ungodly world, a World of Darkness and
depravity, a world of difficulty.
And when we think of the future, you think of what awaits us in
glory in Christ. I've got a glorious portion in
Christ. I've got a glorious promise, The
Father's house in Christ. I'm going to be like him, not
only with him. That's a glorious perfection in
Christ. I'm bound to a glorious place.
I can be assured and anticipate heaven.
This morning. Think of what awaits you in
glory. Notice the feature of edifying
one another. Not when he says word for
comfort yourselves together. He also adds and edify one
another. That's a deeper meaning.
The word edify means to build up.
Think of a an architect and a builder building a house.
We're to build up one another and that involves a plan that
involves a priority, that involves a purpose.
The Bible says do good to all men, especially there who are
the household of faith. And again this involves our
words. This involves our actions and
we're to bless and help one another.
We're certainly not to hurt one another.
I want to tell you that. And if anybody feels hurt by
another believer, come and speak to me.
I had a dear lady who phoned me yesterday and tell me about her
hurts in the House of God. And I was shocked.
I was saddened and, and and it's not right.
I'm not here to be a bully. I'm here to bless the people of
God, to help the people of God. We're not to act out of hate and
spite. 1 to one another. We'll certainly not speak rotten
and bad words one with another. We'll finish this morning.
Turn over there to the book of Job.
Jude, In the little epistle of Jude, just before you come to
Revelation, listen to verse 20. It says this.
But ye beloved, building up yourselves in your most holy
faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keeping yourselves in the
love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ
unto eternal life, that's connected to the second coming
of the Lord Jesus Christ. Build up one another in the most
holy faith with, with gospel truth, with gospel night, with,
with gospel grace. That's our responsibility.
Notice this as we finish, even as also you do.
In other words, this was the practise of the believers in
Thessalonica. They were already doing this.
They were involved in this feature of encouragement with
words and actions. They were involved in this
edifying of the believers by by building them up.
They were already doing this. And Paul's just saying keep on
doing it even as also you do. Many are having a hard time.
Maybe they need a wee phone call and a word of encouragement.
Maybe they need a wee ladder or a wee card.
Think of those who've lost loved ones that we've prayed for so
often. Think of those who are suffering
illness and sickness. See, Paul had a pastor's heart
and Paul had a pastoral concern. And Paul points them to God's
plan and purpose and salvation. And he reminds us them that that
plan of salvation was founded on the death of Christ and that
that plan of salvation is forever finalised in the second
coming of Christ. Those that are living a night of
His coming are anticipating it. They're excited about it.
Even so, come Lord Jesus. Now, many are not living like
this. Many are not thinking about
Christ. They're not anticipating heaven
and home. They're certainly not praying in
the Holy Ghost. They're not laying hold of the
Lord. There's certainly no passion and
power in their prayers. You see, the aim of God's people
should be this. My brother, I want to help you.
My brother, I want to encourage you.
My brother, I want to or sister, I want to edify you and the
Lord. You see, if we say we're going
to heaven and it needs to be seen.
If we say we're going to heaven and it needs to be shown.
If we say we're going to heaven and we need to be shown.
If we say we're going to heaven and we need to be sanctified, is
that true of you? I pray the Lord will bless these
few thoughts to your heart. The smile.