Today’s Scripture Reading

Colossians 3:4

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

‘When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.’

Colossians 3:4

What ever it is you’re carrying today, no matter how heavy it is, I pray that the Scripture verses in this post provide you comfort, courage and strength to overcome.

The Key Passage for this post is Colossians 3:4.

Let’s examine the Colossians 3:4:

Colossians 3:4a

‘When Christ who is our life,…’

It is Christ who saved us from the bondage of sin and the law and given us our new life (2 Corinthians 5:17). Christ is now our life, God the Holy Spirit indwells believers as a guarantee that whatever happens to you while on earth or in death we are with the Lord.

So in this new life, Christians’ should have NO FEAR and lets look at Romans 8:14-15, to find out why? 

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Romans 8:14

Because we believed the gospel, we are now children of God, indwelled with the Holy Spirit. Verse 15 explains why we should have ‘no fear’ at all.

‘For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” ‘

Romans 8:15

We have no fear because the finished work of the cross severed the chains of bondage by which Satan had us as his slaves. Ultimately, it is what Christ did on our behalf that freed us from sin, the law, Satan and death itself. And that same Spirit and power that was victorious over sin, the law, Satan and death lives in us and we cry out to “Abba, Father”.

That’s enough to make anyone jump for joy.

It keeps getting better, now the last part of verse four.

Colossians 3:4b

…appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

This is what all Christians’ should be looking for, this is our greatest hope. 

‘looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ‘

Titus 2:13

What an amazing prospect we have in spite of the turmoil and persecution we face here on earth. The glorious appearing of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

‘For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. ‘

I Thessalonians 4:16-17

Again, this is the believers greatest hope, to be in the presence of the Lord, and Scripture teaches us that those who believed the gospel (1 Thessalonians 4:13) will be with the Lord forever.

Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

I Corinthians 15:51-52

This is a promise from God, to the children of God and we have the Holy Spirit living inside us as a guarantee that we’re His and we will be glorified with Him in our new glorified bodies at the trumpet call (1 Corinthians 15:51-54). 

But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

I Thessalonians 4:13-17

The future is a glorious one, and the prospect of spending eternity with our Lord and Savior should give us the courage and strength to make it through any temporary tribulation we face while on earth.

‘For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. ‘

Romans 8:18

My hope is that this post may be encouraging and edifying. Please consider sharing.

All the glory to God.

Thank you for reading. 

Mesa Bible Study

Faith, Sine Qua Non