What Does It Mean That “The Dead in Christ Will Rise First”?

What is it mean in first Thessalonians 4 that the dead in Christ will rise first. That is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will hi, I'm Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel centrist.

We pretty you had a great weekend.

This is a radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. Would love to hear from you, and you can call us right now with your question.

At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 always post your question on one of our social media sites and of course you can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today. Here's a voicemail from one of our listeners named Naomi on what you are in a marriage where you are motivated and wanting to grow closer to God. Even after he had been just like maybe a prayer on my marriage as well.

Let's open up with a prayer for Naomi and for her marriage. Dear heavenly father to pray for Naomi right now, Lord, and ask that one you would help her to draw near to you Lord to be faithful to you in in her pursuit of you Lord for your word to involvement in the church and also Lord and in loving and caring for her husband is why pray that you would draw them closer together and that for her husband, Lord, who seems to be distant from you at this time, Lord, that you would be at work in his heart as well that he would see what you're calling them to as as a husband in in loving you in serving his wife and sacrificing for her in seeking to to draw near to you as well together, Lord. So would you please be with them, which you bless their marriage and would you draw them closer to you. I pray in Jesus name, amen Naomi. I know I've spoken with many people in a similar situation as I really want to draw near to Jesus, I'm I married him with someone who either is in a believer maybe they are a believer in in this case you so your husband is a believer, but he's just not really interested right now in the things of the Lord, and of course I think it is important for you to be able to communicate with him clearly to talk with your husband and and as a Christian me even going to him approaching him as as his wife but also as a sister in Christ and say look there there something wrong with this situation. With this picture there's there's an issue here, spiritually, and because you care about Mr. husband but also as as a Christian, you want him to be in a good place spiritually speaking in a in a healthy place. But I also think of what Peter said in first Peter chapter 3 verse one and I think that this is one passage you can go to Naomi. Peter said likewise wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be one without a word by the conduct of their wives when they see your respectful and pure conduct.

Do not let your adoring be external to rating of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing that you wear, but let your adoring be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. In other words, as you seek to honor the Lord to be faithful to your husband to conduct yourself in in always in a manner that is pleasing in the sight of Jesus. You are your Savior that that in and of itself is as sure their living in peace with your husband is is a powerful way in which God works inside his eyes will encourage you to continue to be faithful to the Lord in in the things you know he's called you to do as you pursue Jesus in loving your husband and serving your see your husband as well and I believe that God oftentimes and that's what Peter is getting at here in first Peter three uses that so so so you know that the conduct there, but also the clarity and communication. That doesn't mean you know making him feel bad or beating them over the head with the Bible and think you're doing that but but honestly communicating with your husband and saying look I I want us to pursue the Lord together this this is to be a central part of our marriage of our family and something's missing right now and trying to get to the roof of what the issue is and maybe even getting some outside encouragement may be a Christian counselor, even a pastor. I hope that you guys are are plugged into a church somewhere. Maybe that's part of the issue.

Maybe he's not interested in going to church but getting some outside help the encouragement of love may be a wiser older brother in the Lord for for your husband are certainly your pastor.

If you have a pastor and so Naomi may God bless you and bless your marriage as well. Thank you for reaching out to us some great counsel. Thank you for that. Israel you're listening to core Christianity with Pastor Gabriel Sanchez would love to hear from you. If you have a question about the Bible, the Christian life doctrine or theology, maybe how your Christian walk is supposed to intersect with what's going on in our culture today because it can often be a real challenge to be a believer in today's world. Here's the number to call if you have a question for Israel. It's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Cella in Oklahoma City Oklahoma seller what your question for atrial today Bible is how to interact with negative people, adults mainly that I live with more focus now, and I heard the previous color that did help a lot.

It might be like to be the creation want to change my my way vacantly I think I'm going back a special counter live with very negative I landed Stanley previous color without being gentle heart fight you. I feel I agreeing with negative thing that I don't doubt it say something. I have a late answer that I am feeling well.

Being gentle and pointing out the negative thing that I asked yeah okay thank you sister for for that question.

How do we interact with people around us, who may be very negative, divisive, even with regard to the truth with the things of the face in how to interact with them as is with were not just just sort of approving of what they do well at the same time not being disrespectful or communicating in a way that would dishonor the Lord's a couple of passages come to mind. The first one that I was thinking about was in Titus chapter 3 verse nine it says avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.

As for a person who stirs up division after warning him once and then twice have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful.

He is self condemned their politics as he's writing to Titus is say look that there are some people who come in and we had conversations that you had conversations.

I'm sure with people like this right have no interest actually and in the discussion in a conversation and growing together and learning from each other. They just want to want to kind of be divisive and cause problems and and maybe be insulting well in situations like that, I think you can you can just say look I'm knocking to put up with that. If you're interested in having a conversation and talking about Jesus. Great and and I hope that you are because there's nothing more important than Jesus and what is done for us, but if all you want to do is argue and be divisive, then I'm not gonna waste my time so I think that there there are instances where we have conversations like that, but in other cases, write your your maybe the people that you live with were it's not easy to just avoid that individual.

How do you how do you communicate may be a disagreement without without it becoming you know an explosive argument or an explosive fight.

Well, I think that the advice that Paul gave to Timothy in second Timothy chapter 2 is very helpful here. He says in second Timothy chapter 2 verse 24 the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone. Notice who he says we should be kind to their everyone, able to teach patiently enduring evil correcting his opponents with gentleness God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil after being captured by him to do his will, and so were called as Christians in our communication to be kind right to everyone to communicate with gentleness, with respect why because we believe that God can work in an individual's heart, and you know what he says their sister correcting those who disagree with that gentleness. In other words, is not just saying okay you know believe whatever you want, that's fine.

You can disagree and you can correct those with whom you disagree on the basis of what God's word says we should and in in that situation that we require the boldness of the Holy Spirit gives in that something we could all use and so I think praying that the Lord would give you boldness and wisdom to speak the truth of his word in love in a way that's gentle and respectful and praying that the Lord would ultimately bring people to repentance that he would do the work that he can only do changing an individual's heart and so we don't want to. We don't want to communicate the truth in a way that's, you know, abrasive and rude and mean that that just thirsted further drive people away. I think I think we need to do what the apostle Paul is telling Timothy to do here but we also don't want to just stay quiet and be ashamed of the truth because we know. Like Paul says in Romans chapter 1 verse 16 that that that the truth of the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. That's the hope that you can have as you communicate with these people where there some disagreement. Just knowing God is able to use his word to to transform an individual's life and so I'm in a correct with gentleness, with respect with love, praying that the Spirit would be at work in. In this individual's life. God bless you.

You're listening to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and one of the most difficult issues for Christians to navigate in today's culture is homosexuality. So we have prepared an excellent resource would like to offer you on that topic today. That's right, Bill is called 10 things you need to know about the Bible and homosexuality. It's free when you sign up for a weekly newsletter that this is going back to you.

Having these discussions where where we can disagree with one another and we want to be able to engage with each other. With that gentleness and respect that Paul mentioned to Timothy there in second Timothy chapter 2 want to help you do that in order to do that you need to be well-informed and so we we created this resource type to help you understand what the Bible has to say about this topic again. It's called 10 things you need to know about the Bible and homosexuality. You can get it over it. Core, Christianity.com/offers course you can also call us for that resource or any one of our resources and you can call us right now. If you have a question for a drill about the Bible or the Christian life.

Our phone lines will be open for the next 10 minutes or so, so hop on your phone right now, here's the number to call its 833-843-2673. That's 833 the core and we would love to hear from you will. Here's a voicemail we received from one of our listeners.

This is from Patricia hi Olivier, first Thessalonians 418. Basically it is the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangels voice and with the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are still alive. Twyla 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. Therefore encourage one another. Now I thought I'm a little confused fear that people who have Christ and died went to be with him immediately. Yet, it says here that the dead in Christ will rise first. All the dead in Christ we who are Christians and pass away. I thought we went directly to be with the Lord. Thank you yeah will, you're absolutely right. When we die as believers we do go to be with the Lord immediately in his presence. Our souls are made perfect in holiness. Our bodies go down the rest in the grave. They're still united to Jesus Christ in a very real sense, but there there in the grave and were in the spirit perfected in the presence of the Lord worshiping God around his throne.

And that's not our final destination.

This is where a lot of people get confused and so it looked friends if if you've been told hate you need asked Jesus into your heart so you can go to heaven when you die and then you imagine that heaven is the final destination for all the bees are floating around in this disembodied state because our bodies are due no boy there were messed up. Anyway, thank God were spared of those bodies, we just be in heaven flying around on Angel's wings.

That kind of thing that that's not what the Bible teaches a yes we are going to be in heaven for a period of time.

It's what theologians call the intermediate state and its intermediate because it's in between our death and the final resurrection which is our hope. Working at work and arise again with perfected, glorified bodies. This is why Jesus Christ himself rose again from the dead, so that we would have the hope of the resurrection, and of the life of the world to come.

It's it's God restoring this created world. This physical world that we live in. That's what were looking forward to as believers and that is what the apostle Paul is talking about there in first Thessalonians chapter 4 again he says that the Lord himself or 16 will descend from heaven with the cry of command, with the voice of an archangel with the sound of the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ will rise first. Not that they that they were in the presence of the Lord worshiping him already, but that they're going to rise again be resurrected and anything that resurrection is in in in one sense could proceed hours then we who are alive, that is, those who were on the earth at the final judgment at the resurrection 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. Therefore encourage one another with these words is meant to be a comfort for the church. The fact we have this hope that that work in arise again bodily physically just like Jesus Christ himself rose again so the focus here is not on going to heaven in this disembodied state. The focus there in first Thessalonians 4 and five is the day of the Lord that the final judgment and the resurrection of the dead, and so that's what Paul is speaking about God bless thank so much for your call Patricia.

Appreciate your listing to core Christianity. Let's go back to the phones. Paul is on the line from Nashville, Tennessee. Paul what your question for a drill hi, thanks so much for you. I really show any I love the world believe many years raised by kids you Lord Bible study every morning will be on the no devotion every night. This type of thing almost 30 years I was married and my life ended up divorcing me and she divorced. I kind of, I still love the Lord and I still look at his word. It's and I'm amazed that you know you still chosen to be part of my life but I picked up the alcohol, which was a problem go back up and is really becoming an issue and I love God and I want to obey him struggle is killing me what to do you like I've tried celebrate recovery. I tried AA you know. But it all seems so, generic unit here you'll like people are. I don't know. It just doesn't work for me and I would just like some prayer and maybe some direction on just I really don't want to do this anymore. You know it it's a couple early in the day for cocktails at night. You know it doesn't seem like a big deal but to me it is and I want you more for them and it's just a real struggle.

Let's pray for our brother Paul right now. Dear Lord, we come before you.

Thank you for Paul for this this question and also this just request for preparing for help, Lord, I pray that you would be with him. I pray Lord that you would help them to find comfort and life in you that he wouldn't feel like he needs to run to these other things to alcohol Lord to give him peace, but that he would be able to rest Jesus at your feet experiencing your grace experiencing your mercy and being filled Lord with your Holy Spirit so that he might live and walk in a manner that is pleasing to you and honoring to you in all respects. Lord be with our brother. Give him strength. Give him the accountability that he needs as well, and give him your grace, Lord, in this moment I pray in Jesus name, amen. You know Paul, I think that a lot of times you know we've gone through difficulties. There's a temptation to find refuge in any number of things for some people, you know, they turn to relationships. For some people. Maybe it's food for other people. It can be alcohol in it it it's can be. I think a coping mechanism, a way of putting Band-Aids on that the pain that we feel on the wounds that we've experienced on the guilt and the shame I don't know if that's what it is for you, but I know that it can be that for many, many people and I want you to be able to experience the love and the grace and the peace that is in Jesus Christ, not needing to run to to those things in it and when you find yourself beginning to become dependent upon. This is like an everyday thing you have to have five drinks six drinks of starting early in the day, it's it it it becomes a sort of coping mechanism. If the say Lord help me not to lean on those things as as a crutch for myself but help me to lean upon you, and to heed your word Jesus. I think about what what Paul told the Ephesians in in Ephesians chapter 5 verse 15 I want to say this to you as well.

Brother Paul look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is and do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the spirit addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. One I want you to know when you go to Jesus with the struggle I want to love you and I'm failing in this area. When you go to him confessing your sin. Paul he forgives you he washes your sin away. Even when you fail again and again we go to him. Sincerely, in repentance, he forgives us and you need to rest in and receive that word of forgiveness. But then you also need to get the accountability and the support that you need from brothers in Christ from a pastor. I hope that you have a church that you're a part of where you can be honest about these things in your to be supported by the Fellowship there. Thereby, the pastors asking to be accountability and care for your soul. I think that's very important in in.

Maybe you've tried some of these other kind of accountability type groups or twelve-step programs. And you know it, you found that that that hasn't been help different things work for. I think different people, but certainly getting outside support, accountability, beginning with the church.

I think that's really important in in your local church where you are but then also consider the sort of realizing this pattern of behavior and ask yourself the question, what is it that I'm running to when I'm feeling pain and shame in my my running to Christ or am I just trying to numb those feelings through distraction and so often that's what we try to do is a different suite.

We don't want to deal with the deeper issues whether there sin issues, whether their past hurts in our lives.

We don't want to deal with them and so we we tried to distract ourselves like with work with alcohol in any number of things, and Jesus says come to me come to me and let me work on those deeper issues areas in your heart in your life where there needs to be healing where there needs to be forgiveness where there needs to be grace come to me. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, I am gentle and lowly in heart and soul by just want to say men keep going to Jesus experience his grace by faith and get that accountability that you need delight. If you want to add anything there in terms of other support systems for Paul. You know, I think the fact that Paul has tried AA and he's tried celebrate recovery and hasn't found any hope there. One thing you said that so critical as it is plugged into a local church in your you and I both know sometimes and people go through divorces one or the other ends up leaving the church that they're plugged into. So, so Paul needs to find a church of peace had to leave the church or felt he had to leave the church or his wife attends that he needs to find a place where he can get that support. On the other thing is this. Maybe it's time for some kind of an inpatient program because he's tried these outpatient approaches the support groups and they haven't worked for him. So I think Christian inpatient program where he's in a receiving support 24 hours a day might be the way to go, and it sounds like he's just about to the point where he's ready to take more drastic action. So that's that's the other thing I would encourage it of something I've thought about before. Paul there's an article that I wrote over@corechristianity.com why you should stop trying to numb your pain you've been through a lot hit sounds like with witching family and life and in and ministry.

All these things in it in you been through a lot brother go to Christ and let him bring the healing that only he can bring in your life and get those encouragements from the outside that you need as well. God bless. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer.

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