The Day of our Lord Jesus

Jesus will arrive on the Day of the Lord at which time the dead will be raised, the wicked judged, and death will cease forever.

The coming of Jesus is an important major part of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. He touches on several aspects of the event, including its identification as the “Day of the Lord,” the consummation of God’s kingdom, the resurrection of the righteous dead, the judgment of the wicked, and the cessation of death.

He begins his first letter by thanking God for His grace and putting the proper perspective on spiritual gifts by pointing to the expectation of Christ’s return.

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• (1 Corinthians 1:4-9) - “I am giving thanks to my God at all times concerning you… That you come short in no gift of grace, ardently awaiting the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who will also confirm you unto the end, unimpeachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is God through whom you have been called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Rather than overvalue spiritual gifts, believers must remember they are still waiting for the much fuller glories to be dispensed at his “revelation” on the “Day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The term translated as “revelation” is the Greek noun apokalupsis, meaning “revelation, disclosure, unveiling” - (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, Luke 17:30, 1 Peter 1:13, 1 Peter 4:13).

The English word “unimpeachable” represents a Greek legal term applied to someone against whom legal charges could no longer be leveled (anegklétos, Strong’s - #G410). On the “Day of Christ,” no one will bring charges against the Elect in God’s court since He has “confirmed” them.

In Paul’s writings, the “Day of our Lord Jesus Christ” becomes synonymous with the “Day of the Lord” in the Hebrew Bible when Yahweh would deliver His people and judge His enemies. By adding “Jesus Christ” to the phrase, Paul centers this ancient hope in the Nazarene - (Amos 5:18-20, Joel 2:31, Philippians 1:6, 2:16, 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 2 Peter 3:10).

Paul wrote of the coming day when each man’s work would be examined to see whether it was built on the proper foundation. That judgment will occur on the “Day of the Lord” - (1 Corinthians 3:13-15).

The Apostle also dealt with inappropriate attitudes in the congregation. Some members questioned his teachings and apostolic authority. He responded by employing the image of household servants. As a faithful “steward,” Paul was entrusted with the “mysteries” of God. He was accountable only to the Master of the household. The evaluation of the Corinthians was of no consequence. Only the judgment of Jesus mattered, and his valuation would become evident when he arrived - (1 Corinthians 4:3-5).

Paul dealt with a shameful incident that brought the congregation into disrepute. A member was having sexual relations with his stepmother. While fornication and adultery were common in Greco-Roman society, engaging in sex with one’s stepmother was beyond the pale even for pagans. Rather than boast of their spirituality, he summoned the Corinthians to “mourn” that such an egregious sinner was in their midst - (1 Corinthians 5:4-5).

He admonished the Assembly to expel the offender so his “spirit may be saved on the Day of the Lord.” The “destruction of the flesh” would become part of this remedial process. The result Paul hoped for was the offender’s repentance and salvation on that last day.

Paul next mentioned the “coming” of Jesus in his discussion on proper behavior during the Lord’s Supper in consideration of his impending arrival. He combined the commemoration of Christ’s death with the promise of his return. By eating the bread and drinking the wine, the congregation announced his death “until he comes,” linking the two events - (1 Corinthians 11:24-26 – “For as often as you eat this bread, and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes”).

AT HIS ARRIVAL

Paul responded to men who denied the future resurrection by pointing to the past resurrection of Jesus.  If there was no future resurrection, then “not even Christ has been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, void is our proclamation, void also our faith” - (1 Corinthians 15:22-28).

In Chapter 15, he presented the order of final events leading up to the arrival of Jesus. He was the “first fruits of those who have fallen asleep,” the first participant in the larger resurrection; therefore, his past resurrection was and remains foundational to our future resurrection.

Since death came into existence through a man, Adam, so “through a man,” Christ, came the raising of the dead. Just as “in Adam, all died,” so in Jesus, all will be made alive - (1 Thessalonians 1: 2:19, 3:13, 4:15, 5:23, 2 Thessalonians 2:1, 2:8).

The resurrection will occur at the “arrival” or ‘Parousia’ of Jesus. The raising of the dead will mean “the end” of Death. All this will occur after Jesus “delivers up the Kingdom to his God and Father when he brings to nothing all rule and all authority and power,” including the “Last Enemy,” namely, Death.

In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul referred several times to the “Day of the Lord Jesus,” and described its key aspects. First, he expected only one future coming of Jesus. Secondly, his “arrival” would occur on the “Day of the Lord.” Thirdly, it would include the examination of the righteous. Fourthly, Jesus would “arrive” after he subjugated all his enemies. Fifthly, his coming means the bodily resurrection of the righteous dead and the cessation of death, and our resurrection is based on the past Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

All this will occur on the impending “Day of our Lord Jesus Christ” at the end of the present age when he is “revealed” from Heaven.

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RELATED POSTS:

• The Day of the Lord - (Jesus will arrive to gather his people on the Day of the Lord. In the New Testament, this event becomes the Day of Christ)

• Disinformation - (Disinformation about the day of the Lord caused alarm in the congregation at Thessalonica – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2)

• Death, the Last Enemy - (The arrival of Jesus at the end of the age will mean the end of the Last Enemy, namely, Death - 1 Corinthians 15:24-28)