1 Thessalonians: Real Faith in a Returning KingSýnishorn

The Hope of Christ’s Return

In this section, Paul turns his attention to the worry and anxiety the Thessalonian believers felt towards those who had died (fallen asleep). Would they miss out on Jesus’ return? Paul reminds them not to grieve like those without hope, because everyone in Jesus will take part in his new creation when he returns.

Paul encourages them that, however Christ's return happens, everyone - whether dead or alive - will see God’s glory and those in Christ will be welcomed into his new Kingdom.

In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul writes that if Christ has been raised from the dead, our hope is not in vain. In other words, Christianity is not about feel-good mythology. It’s true or it isn’t. If Christ didn’t rise from the dead, then we are wasting our time. If he did, it changes everything.

No one has more hope than a follower of Christ. We know that this life, and the pain and suffering we endure in it, is not the end. Hope is also important because it also leads to an increase in holiness, which is one of Paul’s main aims in this letter.

Knowing God’s Kingdom awaits us encourages us to live in a way that reflects that reality. It also leads us to want to love others well in the hope that they too will experience God’s love and join his Kingdom.

However it happens, Paul tells us that just as Christ’s physical body was transformed after his resurrection, so will ours be at his second coming. We will have physical bodies transformed and fit for God’s re-creation at his return.

Unfortunately, verses 15-17 have caused a lot of confusion and incorrect teaching. Paul’s point is not that believers will float into the sky when Christ returns. Rather, “clouds” here is imagery to describe the presence of God’s glory. In other words, when Christ returns, everyone will experience it once. We won’t float up to the rain clouds. Instead, everyone in Christ will be in the presence of his glory at his return.

Which means that only Jesus gives us true hope. Nothing else we hope in can give us what we want. Money, sex, and status may make us feel good temporarily, but will never last. Jesus gives us something we could never get on our own, and he will never leave or forsake us

Today’s reflection:

How does knowing Jesus will return encourage you to live faithfully today?