What does it mean to be "In Christ?" Pt. 8 The Death of His children is precious in His sight
Greetings to our many Dear Readers. You are all a great encouragement to us as we labor for the Lord. May Christ find us all rejoicing more and more as we think about God becoming a man to save us from our sins.
We enjoyed a beautiful sunny day yesterday and it seems as though my hope for 6-8 inches of snow will not happen this year. However, I am content with whatever weather our Father chooses to give us.
1 Corinthians 15:16-22 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Chapter 15 in 1st Corinthians has a sharp focus upon the importance of the resurrection of Christ from the dead. Paul tells us that the resurrected Christ was seen by more than 500 witnesses, most of whom were still alive.
Paul makes the point that if Christ did not rise from the dead then those who profess faith in Him have no hope. He speaks about the death of born again Christians as falling asleep in Christ. This paints a beautiful picture of God our Savior going through this life all the way with us and taking us to Himself in the next life.
Paul spoke of the more than 500 witnesses of Christ's resurrection and some had died. Paul said "some are fallen asleep" 1 Corinthians 15:6.
When the martyr Stephen was stoned to death the scripture tells us "he fell asleep" Acts 7:60. When Jesus is preparing to go to see Lazarus who died, he told His disciples that Lazarus "sleepeth" and that He was going to go "awaken" him John 11:11-12.
When Jesus was going to go to a certain ruler's home to heal his daughter who had died, He said "the maid is not dead but sleepeth" Matthew 9:24.
When speaking of the death of King David as he was preaching, Paul said David "fell on sleep" Acts 13:36.
When Christ arose on resurrection morning the Bible says that the graves were opened and "many bodies of the saints which slept arose" Matthew 27:52.
Falling asleep is the beautiful picture of a Christian dying. Falling asleep at the end of this earthly life and awaking to being in glory with Christ.
1 Thessalonians 4:13- 18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Paul uses this term extensively in writing to the Thessalonians. They had expressed sorrow and grief over Christians who had died. Paul wrote to dispel their ignorance about those who "are asleep" in Christ.
The apostle stated that Jesus will bring all those who "sleep" in Christ with Him at His return to this world. We are not to sorrow, for the believer asleep in Christ has all the hope of resurrection that Jesus had when He rose from the grave. "In Christ", we shall all be made alive.
Death for the born again Christian is not some hideous, terrible thing that will happen to us. It is falling asleep and being received by the Lord. It is a peaceful, calm state for us to enjoy. It is entering into a rest from our worldly labors for the Lord. It is victorious rather than a defeat.
1 Corinthians 15:55-58 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul sums it all up by saying "in Christ shall all be made alive." 1 Corinthians 15:22. He is referring to those who are born again. Those people who die without Christ have no hope and will suffer the eternal consequences of rejecting Christ.
Points to Ponder...
Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
This is the tender heart of Jehovah toward each believer that passes away. Our death is precious in His sight. He is watching over us and cares for us. Will you put your faith in Jesus Christ today and be saved from your sins? I pray that you will.
Bob
We enjoyed a beautiful sunny day yesterday and it seems as though my hope for 6-8 inches of snow will not happen this year. However, I am content with whatever weather our Father chooses to give us.
1 Corinthians 15:16-22 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Chapter 15 in 1st Corinthians has a sharp focus upon the importance of the resurrection of Christ from the dead. Paul tells us that the resurrected Christ was seen by more than 500 witnesses, most of whom were still alive.
Paul makes the point that if Christ did not rise from the dead then those who profess faith in Him have no hope. He speaks about the death of born again Christians as falling asleep in Christ. This paints a beautiful picture of God our Savior going through this life all the way with us and taking us to Himself in the next life.
Paul spoke of the more than 500 witnesses of Christ's resurrection and some had died. Paul said "some are fallen asleep" 1 Corinthians 15:6.
When the martyr Stephen was stoned to death the scripture tells us "he fell asleep" Acts 7:60. When Jesus is preparing to go to see Lazarus who died, he told His disciples that Lazarus "sleepeth" and that He was going to go "awaken" him John 11:11-12.
When Jesus was going to go to a certain ruler's home to heal his daughter who had died, He said "the maid is not dead but sleepeth" Matthew 9:24.
When speaking of the death of King David as he was preaching, Paul said David "fell on sleep" Acts 13:36.
When Christ arose on resurrection morning the Bible says that the graves were opened and "many bodies of the saints which slept arose" Matthew 27:52.
Falling asleep is the beautiful picture of a Christian dying. Falling asleep at the end of this earthly life and awaking to being in glory with Christ.
1 Thessalonians 4:13- 18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Paul uses this term extensively in writing to the Thessalonians. They had expressed sorrow and grief over Christians who had died. Paul wrote to dispel their ignorance about those who "are asleep" in Christ.
The apostle stated that Jesus will bring all those who "sleep" in Christ with Him at His return to this world. We are not to sorrow, for the believer asleep in Christ has all the hope of resurrection that Jesus had when He rose from the grave. "In Christ", we shall all be made alive.
Death for the born again Christian is not some hideous, terrible thing that will happen to us. It is falling asleep and being received by the Lord. It is a peaceful, calm state for us to enjoy. It is entering into a rest from our worldly labors for the Lord. It is victorious rather than a defeat.
1 Corinthians 15:55-58 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul sums it all up by saying "in Christ shall all be made alive." 1 Corinthians 15:22. He is referring to those who are born again. Those people who die without Christ have no hope and will suffer the eternal consequences of rejecting Christ.
Points to Ponder...
- The death of a believer is described as falling asleep.
- It is a picture of a peaceful conclusion to this life as the believer enters into eternal rest and joy.
- Our Great Shepherd cares about each one of His sheep and He has great compassion for us when we die.
- Our Great Shepherd will carry us through this life and into the next.
Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
This is the tender heart of Jehovah toward each believer that passes away. Our death is precious in His sight. He is watching over us and cares for us. Will you put your faith in Jesus Christ today and be saved from your sins? I pray that you will.
Bob
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