Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Thief in the Night

1 Thes. 5:1-3 (ESV)
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. [2] For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. [3] While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. Notice it isn’t said here, that the Lord will come like a thief, though the Lord himself says he will come this way in Revelation. What is said is the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. And this destroys the idea of a secret rapture. What the Lord is saying is not that he will come secretly, but he will come when least expected. When people are saying “there is peace and security.” They will not be expecting him when he comes. As a result destruction will come upon them.
Upon them. Christians don’t worry about the coming of Christ. We are prepared for him to come. Our sins have been forgiven. The Holy Spirit has prepared us when he called us by the gospel, and sanctified us in Baptism, gave us faith. The Holy Spirit keeps us prepared us he feeds us with the Gospel, and sustains our faith with Holy Communion. We are ready. Indeed, we look forward to this day knowing that our tribulation in this world will finally be put to an end.
But for those who aren’t ready, are not prepared it is not a day to look forward to. Destruction will come upon them, and they will not escape. I can’t imagine. I can’t imagine living through this cesspool of sin and suffering, only to wake up after death to more pain and suffering amplified. It isn’t that God wants this for any of the people whom He created in His image. It is that they choose that over forgiveness of sins, and eternal life with Jesus.

5 comments:

Nancy said...

"It is that they choose that over forgiveness of sins, and eternal life with Jesus."

Hmmm...is this side stepping double predestination? You don't have to answer...I just couldn't help myself...*; )

Brigitte said...

Sorry, maybe Bror would like to answer himself. :)
Nancy, we don't have "double predestination". We don't have a whole bunch of people destined to be "reprobate". God wants all to be saved. The Gospel is true for every single one. It is "for you". When we hear it we should all know that it is for us.

"Why are not all saved then?" That's a whole different question. It also comes down to God's mercy. Mercy is everything, nothing of your own. He will have mercy on whom he has mercy. (Romans) In some ways it does not make sense. But that's ok for right now.

It is God who has mercy and it is we who reject.

Bror Erickson said...

Nancy,
I don't sidestep anything, I just go with what the Bible says. God wants all to be saved. If that is true then he hasn't predestined anyone to hell, they can blame themselves for hell.
Double predestination at the bottom is the inability of Calvinists to understand that God is outside of time, and yet operates in time. They cannot conceive of the idea that God is not bound to the laws of nature and time. They cannot conceive of the fact that eternity is not time going on forever, but a realm completely outside of time. Once you figure that stuff out then you realize what it is that God uses means to reach the lost in this world the Gospel, Baptism, and the Lord's Supper. You understand that election is God operating from eternity reaching into time and picking us up like soda cans on the side of the road. God grabs us, using the gospel like one of those sticks trash collectors use in a park to pick up those roadside cans. He does something with the Gospel. It isn't dead word, but active. It isn't just communicating a reality that was determined at the "beginning of time." No he is shaping the reality with the gospel.

Nancy said...

"You understand that election is God operating from eternity reaching into time and picking us up like soda cans on the side of the road. God grabs us, using the gospel like one of those sticks trash collectors use in a park to pick up those roadside cans. He does something with the Gospel. It isn't dead word, but active. It isn't just communicating a reality that was determined at the "beginning of time." No he is shaping the reality with the gospel."

AMEN...The gospel will always shape reality!

Nancy said...

Calvinists...we're kinda like Lutherans...we come in lots of colors...*: )