Transcript Sermon Notes - University Chapel

Living Finally
(or Why the End Matters)
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
(p. 1094)
Heaven on Earth?
• NY Times (Nov 1997): The most overrated ideas
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Intelligence testing
Post-modernism
…
Eternal life
• Historically: some truth to it
• Clearly:
 Our ideas shape our actions
 Our world-view shapes our actions
 Our hope shapes our actions
Our Text (1)
1. Many ways to speak about the same reality
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Jesus: “Kingdom of God”
John: “eternal life”
Paul: “being in Christ”, life given by the Spirit
Here: being children of the light (v.2)
2. Paul several analogies:
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Thief in the middle of the night (v.2)
People deluding themselves (v.3)
Labour pains of a pregnant woman (v.3)
Darkness of the night; light of the day (vv.4-5)
Putting on armour (v.8)
The Day of the Lord
begun
(already)
Heaven Coming
to Earth
consummated
(not yet)
New Creation
The Fall
Creation
Punishment
Jesus
Day of the LORD
The Thief in the Night (1)
• ETA for Day of the LORD – “anytime”
• Repeats Jesus’ warning
 “Keep watch, because you do not know on what day your
Lord will come.” (Matt 24:42-43)
 Parable of the Ten Virgin (Matt 25:1-13)
• Therefore: “be awake and sober” (v.6)
 Lord’s Prayer: “Your Kingdom come” (Matt 6:10)
 Revelation: “Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev 22:20)
The Thief in the Night (2)
• Why is it taking so long?
 “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?” (2Pet 3:4)
 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise…
Instead he is patient with you.” (2Pet 3:9)
• Not a cheap trick to keep us on our toes,
but an expression of the grace and mercy of God.
People Deluding Themselves
• “Peace and safety” – reference to the Pax Romana
• Don’t trust …
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the imperial propaganda
the marketing machine
your gut feelings
bad theology (cf. 2Thess 2:2)
• God will achieve his purposes for us (vv.9-10)
 not to suffer wrath
 but to receive salvation
 so that we may live with him
Night and Day
• Night
• previously: “night” came with the thief
• here: description of the present age (corrupt)
• Day
• here: description of the future age (restored)
• We are either … (v.5)
 children [sons] of darkness
 children [sons] of light
• “Sons of XYZ” are people characterized by XYZ
Children of Light (1)
• Future has come into the present
• Therefore…
• we can be children of the light (day)
• we can belong to a new creation
• we can experience a foretaste of the things to come
• Day-time people should live like day-time people!
• Night-time behaviour needs to go (v.7)
• sleepiness, drunkenness (v.7)
• debauchery, sexual immorality (Rom 13:13)
• dissension, jealousy
Children of Light (2)
• Tom Wright:“a people called to live in the present in
the light of the future”
• Tony Campolo, Who Switched the Price Tags?
• How can we do know which one is which?
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receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ (v.9)
the Holy Spirit will enable us (next week)
put faith and love as a breastplate (v.8)
put hope of salvation as a helmet (v.8)
encourage one another (v.11)
worship, communion, …
Conclusion
• Paul got right; NY Times got it wrong:
Eternal life is NOT one of the most overrated ideas.
• Do you want to live this life?