Grieving In Certain Hope

Brett Revlett

Memorial Service Marilyn Bossert • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

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Transcript

Introduction:

It is proper for us to reflect upon Marilyn’s life as an act of thanksgiving to God for her place in the world and how He used her to touch so many lives in so many ways.

You never want to let go of memories because with them we may forget the contribution that those who go before us make upon our lives.

The pleasant memories of the past can be sweet in the midst of grief. And for the Christian they can be a wonderful basis for thanksgiving to God. Certainly we have already experienced that this morning as we have listened to the testimony of family members as they have shared with us about Marilyn.

Just as reflecting on the past is so appropriate, our text from I Thessalonians 4:13-18 tells us that, for the Christian, looking ahead to the future is critical as well.

You see it is not just the past but it is the future that we should focus on because the gospel contextualizes the life of the Christian as being in Christ. It is because of Marilyn’s place in Christ that that the grief that we may feel today is not outside of the eternal hope that the gospel brings.

This means that as believers our grief is distinctly different than what the World offers.

God’s Word reminds us of this distinction as the Apostle Paul encourages the Thessalonian Christians in verse 13*

I. The Distinction of Hope (13).

Christian we have the distinction of hope. This fallen World has no hope to give when it comes to death. Death is here because of the fall. In our experience death is the most unnatural, natural thing in all of life.

Death comes for us but it grieves us to say good bye and we wish we didn’t have to. We wish we could continue on forever.

The Bible explains that death came because of original sin through Adam and it spread to us all.

But the believer has eternal hope because of Christ. And the rest of our text focuses us in that direction. Starting with His atoning work in verse 14*

II. The Death of Christ (14).

The Death of Christ was payment for sin. Christ absorbed sin and it’s penalty on our behalf. And once that payment was made in full death had no more claim upon Him.

Christ satisfied the legal penalty for sin once and for all time. This is why there is no longer any need for the animal sacrifices like in the Old Testament under the Mosaic law.

Those of you who knew Marilyn well are aware that she understood this and she so desired that others might see this truth living in her and through her.

The Death of Christ laid down the foundation for the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to take place.

And Christ, the firstfruits in His life but also for those who have fallen asleep in Him. Yes Paul doesn’t call it death here. He refers to it as “falling asleep.” He uses the concept of sleep to denote the temporal nature of it.

Physical death for the Christian is like going to sleep only to be awakened again. And not just to be awakened but to actually show up again physically with Christ when He returns.

The atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the theological truth that serves to encourage us not only as we reflect on the past but as we look to the future. This is the encouragement declared in verses 15-18*

III. The Declaration of Encouragement (15-18).

Jesus Christ is coming again and the dead in Christ will rise first. Jesus Christ was raised bodily and all the dead will be raised bodily as well. Those believers who have fallen asleep will be raised bodily on that day when the trumpet sounds.

Those who are alive will rise along with them to meat the Lord in the air.

Why is this encouraging? Because it reminds us that, as believers, we are secure in life and in death in anticipation of eternal life with Christ. The end of this world is the beginning of eternity.

Our future hope is not just that we have a reunion with loved ones who have gone before us. That is all secondary. What make it all so sweet is that we will be with the Lord forever.

Do we grieve? Yes we do because death is real in a fallen world but we don’t grieve apart from eternal hope. Christian you will be with Jesus for eternity.

And I also have some more news for you today that is so incredibly fitting , You haven’t seen the last of Marilyn.

Conclusion

Where is your hope rooted today? Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?

Based an everything I know about Marilyn I think she would want that question asked of you today.

May you too believe the gospel and find the security of your hope in Christ for all of eternity.