Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
Christ died for us so that whether we are awake and alive or asleep in death when He comes, we will live together with Him. That togetherness is salvation and not wrath, living forever with Him in God's kingdom both now and in the future. This hope is given to comfort believers and build them up, so they are to comfort one another and edify one another. It calls them to stay constantly ready as children of light and of the day, watching and being sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate and hope of salvation as a helmet. Because He died for every brother and sister, each one is precious to God, so those who hope in Him are to draw near to God in kindness, forbearance, and love toward brethren, leaving no place for evil speaking, accusing, and faultfinding.
Death Secures Life Together
Christ died for us so that, whether awake and alive or asleep and dead when He comes, we should live together with Him. Whether a believer stays alive or sleeps in death in Jesus, that person lives together with Him, and His death secures this salvation and shared life and makes it possible. This hope comforts and strengthens believers and grounds assurance of salvation in His death.
That shared life together with Him is living forever with Him in God's kingdom. It is a togetherness that holds both now and for the future.
God has not appointed believers to wrath but to obtain salvation by Jesus Christ, who died for them so that whether they wake or sleep they should live together with Him. The verse gives assurance of salvation through Christ's death. He does not want them where His wrath comes, but wants them where beauty and loveliness of character reflect His divine image.
A living connection with Him brings peace and joy, and the living Christ joins His power to the efforts of those striving to overcome. Because He died for us, honor and praise belong to Him.
As free moral agents, people through His given life may repent of sins and be converted, have transgressions blotted out and His righteousness imputed, and be prepared to dwell among His redeemed. They do this by turning from evil work and defiled taste, keeping from idols, leaving empty talk, hilarity, sports and glee where God is not present, and following His example. The verse is joined to the hope of salvation and carries counsel to allow time for sleep and bodily repair.
Comfort, Readiness, and Brotherly Love
Christ died for us so that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with Him, and His death makes that shared life possible and gives assurance of salvation through Him. This hope comforts and strengthens believers and is given to comfort and build them up, so they are to comfort one another and edify one another. They do this by working on the principles of the Bible, and this togetherness holds both now and for the future. God has not appointed believers to wrath but to obtain salvation by Jesus Christ, and does not want them where wrath comes but where beauty and loveliness of character reflect His divine image.
The verse grounds the call to be constantly prepared for the day of the Lord as children of light and of the day, to watch and be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love and for a helmet the hope of salvation. God has furnished everyone with full armor, but each one must put it on for himself. Carried into practice, this Scripture brings a great change from the spirit that works in disobedience, and it is to be read and heeded in every church, especially in seasons of prayer. Watching does not mean watching the defects, haltings, and errors of those around to judge them from the judgment seat, for that is not their proper place. Watching means watching for the prosperity of souls as those who must give an account, so as to speak a word in season and out of season for their good.
If one is seen in error, believers are to go kindly to that one and tell them about the matter, and by every means possible present the truth in contrast with error, because there is always a truth with which to meet error. They are to remove difficulties between brethren in the name of the Lord and in the spirit of Christ, clearing the rubbish from the door of the heart, because time is short and precious. Because Christ died for every brother and sister, each one is precious, loved by God as He loves us and a delight to Him in whom He takes as much pleasure as He does in us. Therefore those who hope in His mercy must show the most tender interest for them, fear to sin against God by injustice to them, offending His children, wounding and bruising His heritage, or handling a brother's reputation in a way that offends God. Obeying the verse means eating and practicing it by drawing near to God in kindness, forbearance, and love toward brethren.
The verse points out Christian duty to cultivate kindness and forbearance and love and to represent Christ in character. It leaves no place in a Christian's life for evil speaking, accusing, faultfinding, and misrepresenting brethren when personal ideas are not valued most highly. Conduct shows what a person's influence and principles are worth, for if self is the center self will be seen in all that is done, and if Christ is the center His likeness will be borne. Because He died for them, Christians must make every effort in their power to help others for whom He gave His life, being sure they are trying to do His will so they shall be acceptable to Him. They are to set before younger ones an example that helps them press forward in the upward way, since words and acts influence them for good or for evil, and for His sake bright young men and women should be encouraged, not flattered, to make every effort to present the truth acceptably to those who do not know it, with assurance the Lord will bless them as they make straight paths for their feet.
Knowing that whether living or sleeping in Jesus one lives together with Him, and belonging to Jesus by creation and by redemption, a believer can be content to live or to die even in affliction, sickness, weakness, and wakeful painful nights. Such a one praises God with joy and trust and confidence and increased consolation, knowing all things work together for good to those who love God, wanting to do all for God in order to lay the crown at His feet, having learned the sweetness of perfect trust in Him. Believers are to know and esteem very highly in love those who labor among them and are over them and admonish them in the Lord, and to be at peace among themselves. They are to live together as brethren and sisters.
Christ died for us so that whether we are awake and alive or asleep in death when He comes, we will live together with Him. That togetherness is salvation and not wrath, living forever with Him in God's kingdom both now and in the future. This hope is given to comfort believers and build them up, so they are to comfort one another and edify one another. It calls them to stay constantly ready as children of light and of the day, watching and being sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate and hope of salvation as a helmet. Because He died for every brother and sister, each one is precious to God, so those who hope in Him are to draw near to God in kindness, forbearance, and love toward brethren, leaving no place for evil speaking, accusing, and faultfinding.
Death Secures Life Together
Christ died for us so that, whether awake and alive or asleep and dead when He comes, we should live together with Him. Whether a believer stays alive or sleeps in death in Jesus, that person lives together with Him, and His death secures this salvation and shared life and makes it possible. This hope comforts and strengthens believers and grounds assurance of salvation in His death.
That shared life together with Him is living forever with Him in God's kingdom. It is a togetherness that holds both now and for the future.
God has not appointed believers to wrath but to obtain salvation by Jesus Christ, who died for them so that whether they wake or sleep they should live together with Him. The verse gives assurance of salvation through Christ's death. He does not want them where His wrath comes, but wants them where beauty and loveliness of character reflect His divine image.
A living connection with Him brings peace and joy, and the living Christ joins His power to the efforts of those striving to overcome. Because He died for us, honor and praise belong to Him.
As free moral agents, people through His given life may repent of sins and be converted, have transgressions blotted out and His righteousness imputed, and be prepared to dwell among His redeemed. They do this by turning from evil work and defiled taste, keeping from idols, leaving empty talk, hilarity, sports and glee where God is not present, and following His example. The verse is joined to the hope of salvation and carries counsel to allow time for sleep and bodily repair.
Comfort, Readiness, and Brotherly Love
Christ died for us so that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with Him, and His death makes that shared life possible and gives assurance of salvation through Him. This hope comforts and strengthens believers and is given to comfort and build them up, so they are to comfort one another and edify one another. They do this by working on the principles of the Bible, and this togetherness holds both now and for the future. God has not appointed believers to wrath but to obtain salvation by Jesus Christ, and does not want them where wrath comes but where beauty and loveliness of character reflect His divine image.
The verse grounds the call to be constantly prepared for the day of the Lord as children of light and of the day, to watch and be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love and for a helmet the hope of salvation. God has furnished everyone with full armor, but each one must put it on for himself. Carried into practice, this Scripture brings a great change from the spirit that works in disobedience, and it is to be read and heeded in every church, especially in seasons of prayer. Watching does not mean watching the defects, haltings, and errors of those around to judge them from the judgment seat, for that is not their proper place. Watching means watching for the prosperity of souls as those who must give an account, so as to speak a word in season and out of season for their good.
If one is seen in error, believers are to go kindly to that one and tell them about the matter, and by every means possible present the truth in contrast with error, because there is always a truth with which to meet error. They are to remove difficulties between brethren in the name of the Lord and in the spirit of Christ, clearing the rubbish from the door of the heart, because time is short and precious. Because Christ died for every brother and sister, each one is precious, loved by God as He loves us and a delight to Him in whom He takes as much pleasure as He does in us. Therefore those who hope in His mercy must show the most tender interest for them, fear to sin against God by injustice to them, offending His children, wounding and bruising His heritage, or handling a brother's reputation in a way that offends God. Obeying the verse means eating and practicing it by drawing near to God in kindness, forbearance, and love toward brethren.
The verse points out Christian duty to cultivate kindness and forbearance and love and to represent Christ in character. It leaves no place in a Christian's life for evil speaking, accusing, faultfinding, and misrepresenting brethren when personal ideas are not valued most highly. Conduct shows what a person's influence and principles are worth, for if self is the center self will be seen in all that is done, and if Christ is the center His likeness will be borne. Because He died for them, Christians must make every effort in their power to help others for whom He gave His life, being sure they are trying to do His will so they shall be acceptable to Him. They are to set before younger ones an example that helps them press forward in the upward way, since words and acts influence them for good or for evil, and for His sake bright young men and women should be encouraged, not flattered, to make every effort to present the truth acceptably to those who do not know it, with assurance the Lord will bless them as they make straight paths for their feet.
Knowing that whether living or sleeping in Jesus one lives together with Him, and belonging to Jesus by creation and by redemption, a believer can be content to live or to die even in affliction, sickness, weakness, and wakeful painful nights. Such a one praises God with joy and trust and confidence and increased consolation, knowing all things work together for good to those who love God, wanting to do all for God in order to lay the crown at His feet, having learned the sweetness of perfect trust in Him. Believers are to know and esteem very highly in love those who labor among them and are over them and admonish them in the Lord, and to be at peace among themselves. They are to live together as brethren and sisters.