Sermon snippet – How Can Christians Be Ignorant?
INTRODUCTION – I Thessalonians 4:13-18 tells us that we can be ignorant of things that really matter. How is this sad state possible? Paul was not angry with the believers in Thessalonica; in fact, he wrote a number of positive things about them. However, he did want them to be comforted by the doctrine of the resurrection and rapture of the Church.
- WE CAN BE IGNORANT IF WE ARE NOT TAUGHT
The Thessalonian believers had been evangelized by Paul. He was able to teach them to a degree. Clearly (and correctly), they knew that Jesus could return anytime. However, some believers had died, and they could not reconcile the two facts. Paul thus clarified that Jesus can come back at any time and that Christians who die will not miss out on that promised return of Jesus. We need biblical teaching in church; we need both the Old and New Testaments, with instruction on a variety of subjects. Paul’s exhortation to all preachers in II Timothy 4:1-5 speaks of being an “evangelist” (presenting the Gospel) and of “ministry” (including teaching sound doctrine). All Christians must also on their own study the Scriptures (Acts 17:11).
- WE CAN BE IGNORANT IF WE CONSIDER SOME BOOKS OF THE BIBLE OR CERTAIN BIBLE VERSES TO BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN OTHERS
The context of I Thessalonians 4:13-18 is instructive on this point. Verse 9 speaks of “brotherly love”; that is really important, as Paul makes clear in verse 10 (“that ye increase more and more”). Verses 11 and 12 are practical and necessary, demonstrating the common sense that is so uncommon today. Verse 13 then begins with “but,” the conjunction of contrast; Paul is telling us that the teaching to come, although it pertains to an indefinite time in the future, is equally crucial. Some dismiss prophecy as relatively unimportant; God’s Word declares otherwise.
- WE CAN BE IGNORANT IF WE CHOOSE TO BE
II Peter 3:1-7, speaking of unbelievers, calls them willfully ignorant (verse 5 “willingly are ignorant of”) in rejecting the reality of God’s righteous judgment. Verse 8 begins with “but”; Paul is telling us not to be like them. He then proceeds with prophetic teaching and personal application (verses 8-14).
CONCLUSION – Returning to I Thessalonians 4:13-18, we see that Jesus is thorough and wants all Christians to enjoy all of the good things He offers, including resurrection and meeting Him in the clouds. Furthermore, He wants us to enjoy these things all together. Moreover, He comes to us again because He so much wants to be with us and wants us to be with Him. Aren’t Christians who have died already in heaven? Yes, for to be absent from this mortal body is “to be present with the Lord” (II Corinthians 5:8). Don’t believers already possess a body in heaven? Yes, for Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration were fully recognizable as who they had always been (Matthew 17:1-8). Among the many purposes of God, some of which we do not now know, we see that God thoroughly enjoys being thorough and including all believers in His goodnesses.
Do you still miss someone? I do; I miss many in a long line of loss. It is the greatest comfort (verse 18) to know that one day we will see, if our faith is in Jesus (verse 16 “in Christ”), all believers all together.