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1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

INTRODUCTION: Our message series is called “Lessons from a Growing Church” and today’s lesson has to do with being ready for Christ’s return. Ready or not, here he comes! Last week we looked at the return of Christ in relation to the resurrection of the dead and our reunion with our loved ones who have passed away. But today’s passage focuses not on those believers who have already died but on those of us who are still alive. As believers, how should we live in light of the fact that Christ is returning? (Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4 and pray.)

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Christ is coming again. The entire Old Testament looked forward to Christ’s first coming. The entire New Testament looks forward to his second coming. As surely as Christ came the first time, he will come again.

The doctrine of Christ’s second coming is essential teaching for any new believer. The doctrines of Christ’s death and resurrection teach us the foundation for our salvation. But the doctrine of Christ’s return teaches us the foundation for godly living.

Knowing that Christ is coming should profoundly affect your behavior. How should you live knowing that Christ could return at any moment? The Bible says, “We should be alert and self-controlled.” And in our passage today, Paul gives us three reasons why we should be alert and self-controlled while we wait for Christ’s return.

I. We should be alert and self-controlled because the day of the Lord will catch those in darkness by surprise (1-3)

The first reason is found in verses 1-3. We should be alert and self-controlled because the day of the Lord will catch those in darkness by surprise. Let’s look at verses 1-3 together:

Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3)

   A. The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night (1-2)
      – unexpected; unwelcome

Paul gives us two analogies here to describe various aspects of Christ’s return. The first is the analogy of the thief in the night. Paul doesn’t need to write to them about times and dates, not because they already know when Christ will return but because nobody knows when Christ will return – except for God the Father (Matthew 24:36). And if nobody knows the time, that means Christ could return at any time. When you least expect it, expect it!

Verse two speaks of the day of the Lord. This was a familiar phrase to Israel from the Old Testament. It spoke of the time when God would come to judge the world and deliver his people. The New Testament also speaks of the day of the Lord but equates it with the return of Christ. It is no longer just the day of the Lord. It is the day of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ comes in power to judge the earth and to deliver his people.

Paul says that this day “will come like a thief in the night.” The main idea behind this image is the unexpectedness of Christ’s return. I like the way Eugene Peterson translates it: “He won’t call ahead and make an appointment any more than a burglar would.” (The Message) There will be no reminder card like you might get from the dentist. The day comes suddenly, unexpectedly like a thief.

A thief’s arrival is not only unexpected. It is also unwelcome. The thief does damage when he comes. In the same way Christ’s return will not be welcome for those who are unprepared. It will be a day of great mourning and trouble and judgment. So, that’s the first analogy Paul uses – the thief in the night.

   B. The day of the Lord will come as labor pains on a pregnant woman (3)
      – sudden; painful; inescapable

The second analogy is that of a pregnant woman. We see this in verse 3: “While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” “Peace and safety” was a well-known catchphrase in the Roman Empire. The Romans often boasted how they had established peace and safety, pax et securitas, the Pax Romana, throughout the empire.

We hear a lot about security nowadays: social security, financial security, homeland security. Now I’m all for security, and it’s important to have a good security plan in place. But we must also realize that no security plan will prevail without God’s protection and blessing. Prayer is the most important element of any security plan. We must look to God for protection.

What Paul is talking about here is an attitude of arrogance. He is talking about people who ignore God, and yet still feel that they are safe and secure. They are so sure of themselves that they cry out “Peace and safety” even as God’s judgment descends upon them. It’s like the people drinking and dancing on the Titanic as it bears down on the massive iceberg in its path.

Paul says that “while people are saying ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly.” The word for destruction here means “disaster or ruin, a total and complete loss.” Paul speaks in the present tense here. It is almost as though he is narrating these events as he watches them happen live. The destruction comes suddenly, unexpectedly, without warning. Those who felt so safe and secure moments before are left reeling in shock.

And this brings us to the analogy of the pregnant woman, because Paul says the destruction comes suddenly like labor pains. Have you ever seen a sitcom where the woman goes into labor when they’re not expecting it? Probably my favorite is the old “I Love Lucy” episode where Lucy suddenly goes into labor while they are practicing their routine for bringing her to the hospital. Ricky, Fred and Ethel are calm, collected and orderly as they go through the routine. They are thinking “peace and safety” when all of a sudden the moment arrives, and it throws them all into a panic. They are running every which way, grabbing suitcases, bumping into each other until they finally run out the door – leaving poor Lucy behind!

Labor pains are an appropriate image here for a number of reasons. First of all, they come suddenly, without warning. Secondly, they are painful, and this will be a day of pain and sorrow for those who are not prepared. Finally, labor pains are an appropriate image because they signal the inevitable. When labor pains come, ready or not, the baby is coming. Paul brings out this aspect of inevitability with his final phrase in verse 3: “and they will not escape.” Once God’s judgment begins, there is no reversing it. God’s judgment is sudden, painful, inescapable.

So, here’s a question for you. If the day of the Lord comes suddenly and unexpectedly, then how do you prepare for it? If you knew what hour the thief was coming, you would be prepared. But no one knows when Christ will come. The answer, therefore, is that we must always be prepared. We must live in a constant state of ready alert, so that we will not be caught off guard by his coming.

So, that’s the first reason we should be alert and self-controlled while we wait for Christ’s return: because the day of the Lord will catch those in darkness by surprise.

II. We should be alert and self-controlled because we belong to the light, not the darkness (4-8)

We find a second reason in verses 4-8. We should be alert and self-controlled because we belong to the light, not the darkness. Let’s look at verses 4-8 together now:

But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. (1 Thessalonians 5:4-8)

   A. We should not live like those who belong to the night (4-7)

We belong to the light, not the darkness. Therefore, we should not live like those who belong to the night. Notice verse four begins: “But you, brothers.” Paul changes the subject here. He is no longer talking about unbelievers but addressing believers. God comes not only to judge those in darkness. He comes also to save those who are in the light. As a believer, you are not in darkness so that this day will surprise you or overtake you like a thief. And so, you have nothing to fear concerning the coming day of the Lord.

Verse 5 says: “You are all sons of the light and sons of the day.” The expression “son of” means someone one who is characterized by something. For example, if I call you a “son of a slippery snake,” I’m not talking about your parents so much as about you and your own character. Those who are sons of the light and sons of the day then are those who are characterized by the light and the day. And as such Paul says: “We do not belong to the night or the darkness.” Notice the change in pronoun here. Paul says “we.” He includes himself in the characterization, because he is about to include himself in the commands that follow.

He goes on in verse 6: “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.” Now, the word for “sleep” here is a different word than what we saw last week in chapter four (4:13ff). In chapter four Paul used a word which was commonly used for someone who had died. But the word for sleep here in chapter five is a word used for regular sleep. It was often used in contrast to those who are awake or alert. In fact, the command “Be alert!” in this verse is literally the command to “Keep awake! Keep watch!” It is the same word Jesus used in Matthew 24 when he said, “Keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” (Matthew 24:42)

As Christians who belong to the light we should be alert and self-controlled. In other words, God expects us to live differently than who belong to the night. We see this in verse 7: “For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.” Night is the natural time for people who sleep or get drunk. But our behavior should be the opposite of those in darkness. The opposite of sleeping is being alert. The opposite of getting drunk is exercising self-control.

Christian singer Keith Green wrote a song back in the 1980’s called “Asleep in the Light.” In the song he made this compelling charge: “The world is sleeping in the dark, that the church just can’t fight, because it’s asleep in the light.” What a terrible indictment! That’s what 1 Thessalonians 5 is saying. Let those in the darkness sleep, but not the church. We belong to the light, not the darkness. Therefore, we should not live like those who belong to the night.

   B. We are at war with the darkness (8)

And it’s not only that we do not belong to the darkness. We are actually at war with the darkness. The light stands for all that is God’s and all that is good. The darkness stands for all that is opposed to God and his ways. The spiritual forces of darkness wage war against the light of God.

That’s why Paul tells us to get dressed for battle. Look at verse 8: “But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” (1 Thessalonians 5:8) Paul uses this image of spiritual armor several times in his letters, although he often switches the details around (cf. Romans 13:12-14 and Ephesians 6:13-18). Here he organizes the armor imagery around the common trilogy of faith, love and hope.

Hope is particularly significant because hope has been a major theme throughout this letter. Hope is what sustains us in the face of persecution. Hope is what sustains those who have lost loved ones in Christ. And now Paul offers hope as a motivation to godly living as well.

Paul tells us to put on the hope of salvation as a helmet, that is, the knowledge, the assurance that because we are in Christ, we will be delivered on the day of judgment. That day will not take us by surprise, for we do not belong to the darkness. But in the meantime, we are involved in a spiritual war, and so we need to put on our spiritual armor.

And so, that is the second reason we should be alert and self-controlled while we wait for Christ’s return: We should be alert and self-controlled because we belong to the light, not the darkness.

III. We should be alert and self-controlled because God has promised to save us on that day (9-11)

And that leads us to our third reason why we should be alert and self-controlled while we wait for Christ’s return. We should be alert and self-controlled because God has promised to save us on that day. Look at verses 9-11 with me now:

For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11)

If your faith is in Christ today, then you are already saved. But when Christ returns, your salvation will be complete. You will be completely delivered from sin, death and judgment. God has promised to save you on that day, and therefore your hope is secure. And why is your hope secure? Paul gives us two reasons here: 1) God appointed you, and 2) Jesus died for you.

   A. God appointed us to salvation (9)

First of all, God appointed you. Look at verse 9: “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Back 1 Thessalonians 1:4 Paul spoke of believers as chosen by God. Here he speaks of believers as appointed to salvation. If you are a Christian, then you are chosen and appointed by God. Your destiny is not judgment or wrath, but salvation. God appointed you to receive salvation.

Notice you “receive” your salvation. The word translated “receive” in this verse is a word which means “a purchased possession, one’s personal property.” Paul used the same word in the book of Ephesians to speak of Christians as “God’s possession.” (Ephesians 1:14) We find the same word in the book of 1 Peter describing Christians as “a people belonging to God.” (1 Peter 2:9) We are God’s possession. We are the property of Jesus. And we have been given salvation as our own personal possession. We have not been appointed unto wrath, but to the purchased possession of salvation.

Notice this salvation is “through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Yes, salvation is a purchased possession, but we didn’t purchase it ourselves. We couldn’t afford it, so Jesus purchased it for us.

   B. Jesus died for us so that we may live with him (10-11)
      – 1 Peter 1:13

And how did he do that? Look at verse 10. “He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.” “He died for us.” It’s as simple as that. Jesus died in your place. He paid the penalty for your sin. It’s history. The transaction has already taken place. When you put your faith in Christ, he gives you the Holy Spirit as a deposit guaranteeing your final redemption. Jesus died for us so that when he returns, we may live together with him.

Notice Paul says this is true whether we are awake or asleep when he returns. Now this is tricky phrase: “whether we are awake or asleep.” What does Paul mean by it? He certainly does not mean believers and unbelievers, because in this verse both those who are awake and those who are asleep are saved when Christ returns. So, we know Paul is talking about believers here.

It is also unlikely that he is talking about physical waking or sleeping here. That would be a true statement, whether you are awake or sleeping when Christ returns, you will still be saved, but surely Paul means something deeper than that.

Some people relate it back to chapter four where sleeping meant those who had died. So, those who are awake are those who are still alive when Christ returns, and those who are sleeping are those who have already died. That’s a possibility and would also be a true statement, but remember Paul uses a different word for sleep here in chapter five. He doesn’t use a word that means someone who has died but simply means the opposite of being awake.

And the word “awake” here is the same word he has been using throughout this passage for “being alert or keeping watch.” You can see this better if you translate verse 10 this way: “whether we watch or sleep, we will live together with him.” This would indicate that Paul is not talking about whether we are alive or dead when he returns but rather whether or not we are watching for his return and living our lives accordingly.

And so, Paul says here that when Christ returns, whether we watch or sleep, if we are in Christ, we will live together with him. This is a beautiful example of God’s grace. God motivates us to godly living not through fear but through hope in God’s grace. Paul does not say, “Christ is coming; you better shape up or you won’t be saved.” But rather, “Christ is coming, and if your faith is in Christ, you will be saved either way. Therefore, because of God’s wonderful grace, live a life that is pleasing to God.”

In other words, salvation is by grace, not works. We find a similar thought in 1 Peter 1:13 where Peter writes: “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:13)

When your faith is in Christ, you do not need to fear the return of Christ. Your salvation does not depend on what you are doing the moment Jesus arrives, but rather on what you do now! Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ now? Then you are perfectly safe – unlike those who cry out “peace and safety” and yet do not believe.

Some might say that approach sounds awfully risky. If we will be saved when Christ comes regardless of our behavior, then where is the motivation for godly living? Yes, it’s risky, but it is also necessary. Fear can never be the true motivation for godly living. It doesn’t work, because godly living comes from the heart. Fear can only motivate external behavior. Grace alone can motivate the kind of life that truly pleases God – a life characterized by faith, love and hope.

Jesus died for us so that we may live with him. “Therefore,” Paul says in verse 11, “encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” “Encourage one another” is the same phrase we saw last week in 4:18. “Build each other up” is a little more individualized. It means to strengthen or edify each other, one-on-one.

And then Paul gives them this final word: “just as in fact you are doing,” which is a word of encouragement in itself. We should encourage each other to stand strong because of the hope of salvation we have been given through Jesus Christ. This is every believer’s responsibility as we watch for Christ’s return together.

Why should we be alert and self-controlled while we wait for Christ’s return? We should be alert and self-controlled because God has promised to save us on that day.

CONCLUSION: When will Christ return? Anytime. Some people have taught that Christ will return at night, because of the verse which speaks about Christ coming like a thief in the night. Of course, that is just an analogy as we have seen. Besides, when Christ comes it will be night for one half of the world, and day for the other half anyways. So, when Christ comes, it will be both night and day.

But let’s play with that image for a moment. When Christ comes it will be both night and day spiritually as well. Some will be in darkness; others will be in the light. There is no middle ground. Christ could come at anytime, so the time to prepare is now. Which leads us to a final question: are you in the darkness or in the light?

If you are in darkness, then let me encourage you to come into the light. Christ is coming. And if you are still in darkness when Christ returns, then that day will surprise you like a thief. Destruction will come upon you like labor pains, and it will be too late to do anything about it. Now is the time to choose Christ. Come out of the darkness and into God’s wonderful light.

If you are already in the light, then let me ask you: are you watching or sleeping? Are you asleep in the light? If you have been sleeping, then let me encourage you to wake up! Sleep is for those who are in the dark! Be alert! Be self-controlled! Don’t sleepwalk your way through life but walk in God’s marvelous light. There is a war going on. So, get out of your pajamas and put on the armor of God! Your salvation doesn’t depend on it, but someone else’s may!

Ready or not, here he comes! Christ is coming. So, watch out! Be ready! Jesus died for you so that whether you watch or sleep you may live together with him. This is God’s grace, and God’s grace should motivate you to godly living. It makes sense that those in the darkness will sleep, but as Christians we should be wide-awake. We belong to the light and the day. So then, let us be alert and self-controlled as we watch and wait for the day of Christ’s return.

© Ray Fowler

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