In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15 [NKJV], the Apostle Paul writes, 13. But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. This hand-picked by the Lord Apostle to the Gentiles made a point throughout his letters of encouragement to the churches scattered throughout that first century world that Jesus Christ’s triumphant resurrection and victory over sin and Death had removed forever the fear that Death had so long held over mankind. Those who are in Christ need no longer cower in the face of Death. No longer would the curse that had afflicted the entire world throughout the ensuing millennia, ever since sin first entered the world in the Garden of Eden so very long ago, hold sway and power over man. Death had been utterly and completely defeated by the Savior of the world for all of time when He bore our sins at Calvary. You see, we can sleep because Jesus died.
Nowhere in God’s word do we see any reference to Jesus sleeping when He died. Jesus had to suffer completely in order to be the payment and sacrifice for our sins. Paul states, 8. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Romans 5:8-10 [NKJV]). Jesus died. He did not sleep.
Our Lord has made it so very easy for all of us, but unfortunately, the world as a whole still chooses to remain in disobedient defiance of their Creator. God has designed that man still face death, but it is symbolic in that our death of our carnal nature occurs at baptism Paul explains this so very eloquently when he writes in Romans 6:3-11 [NKJV], 3. Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4. Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6. knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7. For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9. knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Praise God Jesus died that we might sleep!
Nowhere in God’s word do we see any reference to Jesus sleeping when He died. Jesus had to suffer completely in order to be the payment and sacrifice for our sins. Paul states, 8. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Romans 5:8-10 [NKJV]). Jesus died. He did not sleep.
Our Lord has made it so very easy for all of us, but unfortunately, the world as a whole still chooses to remain in disobedient defiance of their Creator. God has designed that man still face death, but it is symbolic in that our death of our carnal nature occurs at baptism Paul explains this so very eloquently when he writes in Romans 6:3-11 [NKJV], 3. Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4. Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6. knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7. For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9. knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Praise God Jesus died that we might sleep!
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