THE ONENESS OF THE BELIEVER WITH CHRIST

1 Thess. 5:10

Morning Meditation 8/23/2013

"Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him."

. Now let's look at,

OUR ONENESS WITH HIM AT THE RAPTURE

First, chapter four and five continue one subject which began in 4:13. There Paul begins to explain the death of the saints. He says them, "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." (1 Thess 4:13-14). Then he goes on to tell them how it will take place and to take comfort from this. Their minds were unsettled concerning the death of their loved ones. Now they can be comforted in that when we who are alive are caught up, the dead in Christ will also be raised and at that time we will be reunited (1 Thess. 4:17).

This subject continues on in chapter 5 until we come to the text. I will quote verse 9 also with our text: "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him."

The saved in this church age are not appointed to the wrath of God which will be poured out upon the earth during the Great Tribulation. The words "but to obtain salvation" is not speaking of being saved like when one trusts Christ as a personal Saviour. It is speaking of salvation from the wrath to come.. The way one escapes this time Paul says is, "by our Lord Jesus Christ." Some good brethren mistakenly believe that some of the saints of the church age will have to go through the tribulation as a means of cleansing or purifying. This is a mistake.

Our text says, "Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him." The things that we get as a result of His death are without number. But one thing that is in that number of grace benefits is that "we should live together with Him." Our Lord's death and resurrection guarantee our rapture and resurrection.

The rapture and resurrection are integrated into our salvation experience. Ephesians 1:13-14 says, "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." You see we are not just saved as is stated in verse 13 but our destiny is settled. God has given us the "earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory." It is not unto the praise of one's martyrdom, or our good works, or our denomination, but, "unto the praise of His glory." Let's summarize our oneness with Him at His coming:

1. We will live together with Him; 1 Thess. 5:10.

2. We will heirs together; 1 Pet. 3:7.

3. We will be caught up together; 1 Thess. 4:17.

There will be different positions that will be held as a result of rewards, but we will all be together. Next,

THERE WILL BE ONENESS IN FELLOWSHIP

Luke 24:13-14, "And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened."

These disciples "talked together" about the things that had happened concerning the death and burial of Jesus. They did not at this time know of His resurrection. What they did understand they talked together about. There is a very little two Christians agree on today. Christianity has grown to the place where theological differences have splintered believers to the four winds. And every splinter group thinks he is right. Incidentally, that includes me. Amos 3:3 asks, "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" This is a rhetorical question. Amos is saying it is not possible.

The divisions that divide the professing Churches will never be brought together in this life. Someone might say, "We are not right with God if we remain divided." I understand someone feeling like that. However there is Scriptural cause for division. Paul said by inspiration of God in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

For instance, if one does not believe in the Virgin Birth of Christ, he is an unbeliever. If one does not believe in an inspired, inerrant, verbally inspired Bible, he is an unbeliever. When we begin to look at Scripture, we discover division is right when we are divided from those who do not believe in the literal resurrection of Christ. I would be endorsing their heresy if I had fellowship with them.

Separation cannot be avoided in this life. But when Jesus comes, He will settle our differences and all of us will make no argument. I think all of us are going to have some surprises at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Next,

THERE SHOULD BE ONENESS IN PRAYER

Acts 3:1, "Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour."

The time was three 0'clock in the afternoon and Peter and John were on their way to meet to pray. They were together.

Acts 1:14, "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren." We see the expression "with one accord" over and over in Acts.

Acts 4:24, "And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:"

If local churches would get in harmony and pray together so that they are in agreement, no telling what would happen. God is a great God and His power is unlimited.

It would be good if we would find a prayer partner and meet together at a designated time and place and pray for power upon the pastor and church. There is no doubt in my mind that God's power would come upon us, and oh how we need that in this age of the gospel hardened. When I was a boy, and we had our regular summer revival, which was under an arbor made to be used especially for the summer revival, I have seen 75 to over a hundred lined up to be baptized in a little creek called Big Beaver. I was saved at home. My mother led me to the Lord. When I was baptized, there were probably about 75 baptized. I was scared of water and I thought for sure the preacher would let me go and I would drown. Thank the Lord he had a good grip on me and I was relieved when I crawled out on the bank. But I was not just relieved because the preacher didn't drown me, I was also relieved that I had done what the Lord wanted me to do. If any who read this meditation and have been saved but have not been baptized, I recommend that you find a Scriptural New Testament Church where the Word of God is preached and follow your Lord in Scriptural baptism. There are three things necessary for baptism to be Scriptural:

1. One must be saved before baptism. Baptism does not save. It is an ordinance that the Lord put in the church He built and when one is baptized, it is an answer of a good conscience toward God (1 Pet. 3:21).

2. One must be immersed, buried in the likeness of His death, and raised in the likeness of His resurrection. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16). Baptism sets this truth forth in a pictorial ordinance and it is the first step in professing your faith publicly. Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, not to become the Son of God, but because He was the Son of God.

3. One must be immersed by a Scriptural authority. The Lord gave the great commission to His church. I had a man attend our church a few years back. He told me after the service he wanted to talk to me. I took him to my office and he said he wanted to be a member of our church. Of course, I was very happy about that. I ask him what church baptized him. He said, "I baptized myself in a swimming pool in his back yard." Now that was a new one on me. I told him that I would need a letter of recommendation from his swimming pool in order to receive him into the membership of our church!!! Well, I explained to him the three things he would need to qualify him to be a member of our church. He didn't come back.

You know, preachers really do run into some crazy things over the period of his ministry. I will never forget that man and if it were not so serious, I would have rolled on the floor with laughter!!!

There should be oneness in prayer. Jesus said in Matthew 18:19, "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven."

We need to agree and be together in prayer. Prayer is probably the most misused privilege that believers have today.

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White