IF WE BELIEVE NOT

Sunday Morning: March 19, 2000

Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 "For if we believe [present active] 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 [parousia, presence] of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16. . . . 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 (the ones that continued to believe) ever be with the Lord."

IF WE BELIEVE NOT

2 Timothy 2:10-13 "Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal [agelasting] glory.

11. It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead (self) with him, we shall also live with him: 12. If we suffer [endure], we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 13. If we believe [present active] not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself."

Hebrews 12:28 "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:"

THE WORK OF GOD

John 6:29 "Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe [present active] on him whom he hath sent."

BELIEVING HE DIED AND ROSE

1 Thessalonians 4:14 "For if we believe [present active] that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION

Romans 4:25 "Who was delivered for our offences (sins), and was raised again for our justification."

DIED, YEA RATHER IS RISEN

Romans 8:33-34 "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth [present active].

HIS RESURRECTION

34. Who is he that condemneth [present active]? It is Christ that died (for our sins), yea rather, that is risen again (for our justification), who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession [present active] for us."

THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD

1 Thessalonians 4:15 "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming [parousia, presence] of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep."

NOT A SURE THING

1 Thessalonians 2:19 "For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence [before] of our Lord Jesus at [in] His coming [presence]?"

BLAMELESSNESS REQUIRED

1 Thessalonians 5:23 "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming [parousia, presence] of our Lord Jesus Christ."

HOLINESS REQUIRED

1 Thessalonians 3:13 "so that He may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before our God and Father at the coming [parousia, presence] of our Lord Jesus with all His saints."

BELIEVING REQUIRED

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 "For if we believe [present active] that Jesus died and rose again. . ."

WHEN IS THE PRESENCE

Matthew 24:3 "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when . . . shall be the sign of thy coming [parousia, presence], and of the end of the world?"

AT HIS EXCELLENT GLORY

2 Peter 1:16-17 "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming [parousia, presence] of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

TRANSFIGURATION

Matthew 17:1-4 "And after six days Jesus taketh (select group) Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart (from the other nine),

2. And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

TWO PROPHETS

3. And, behold, there appeared unto them (in heaven) Moses and Elias talking with him.

MOSES AND ELIJAH

Revelation 11:10, 12 ". . . these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth."

12. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; . . ."

GOOD FOR US TO BE HERE!

4. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: . . ." (where were the nine?)

SHARED AFTER HIS RESURRECTION

Matthew 17:9 ". . . Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead."

BEFORE THE WRATH

Matthew 24:27 "For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming [parousia, presence] of the Son of man be."

KINGDOMS RECEIVED

Revelation 11:15 "And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord. . ."

LIGHTNINGS IN HEAVEN

Revelation 11:19 "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail."

 WHEN THE FAITHFUL ARE REWARDED

Revelation 11:18 "And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead (in Christ), that they should be judged (rewarded), and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets (teachers), and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth (the wrath of the tribulation)."

WHAT IF WE BELIEVE NOT?

Romans 10:11 "For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth [present active] on him shall not be ashamed."

SHAME

1 Peter 2:6 "Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth [present active] on him shall not be confounded [ashamed]."

1 John 2:28 "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed [ek, out from] before him at his coming [parousia, presence]."

SEEK LIFE FOR THE COMING AGE

Romans 2:6-7 "Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7. [eternal, agelasting life, occurs here] To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality [incorruption], eternal life:"

John 6:47 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth [present active] on me hath everlasting [agelasting] life."

1 John 5:13 "These things have I written unto you that believe [present active] on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have [present active, esteem] eternal life, and that ye may believe [present active] on the name of the Son of God."