The Church’s Hope
in the Resurrection

The Hope in the Resurrection

(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

Jesus rose from the dead because God the Father raised Him. Why did God raise Him? It was because God was pleased with the sacrifice Jesus offered. The resurrection of Jesus testifies that God accepted Him.

1. The Power of Death Was Broken
By rising from the dead, Jesus broke the power of death. Now, those who belong to Him no longer experience the death He experienced. Of course, those who belong to Christ still face the day when their physical bodies cease to function. However, this is not to fall under the power of death—it is only to fall asleep for a time.

2. The Day the Lord Returns
Those who have fallen asleep will one day awaken. When will that be? It will be when Christ returns. When the Lord descends in the air, the believers who are living on this earth will be caught up to where the Lord is. At that time, their bodies—no longer made of dust—will be transformed into glorified bodies. Then what about those who have fallen asleep—that is, those who died in Christ? They will, in fact, meet the Lord clothed in glorified bodies, even before the saints who remain on the earth.

3. A Path Full of Hope
We may leave this world before the Lord returns, or we may live to see the day He comes again. In either case, for those without the hope of the resurrection, that day will be a day of despair. But for us, it is not so. Of course, we may weep because of the pain of being separated from those we love, but ours is not a cry of despair. When the Lord returns, all who belong to Him will meet again. Therefore, let us walk the path of life the Lord desires, with our hearts set on that day, full of hope.

Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim