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We…will be caught up together with them…to meet the Lord in the air. 1 Thessalonians 4:17, NIV

Paul is describing the ascension of believers. Everything that is true of Jesus becomes true of us. We are united with Christ in His death, resurrection, and ascension.

Film stars or other people with fabulous wealth sometimes make prenuptial agreements before they marry. The point of a prenuptial agreement is that something is being held back: “There are some things that remain mine, and you will never get them.” Jesus makes no prenuptial agreements. He holds nothing back. All that is His becomes ours.

1. Christ’s sin-bearing death becomes yours
When you die, you will not carry your guilt into your death, because Jesus carried it into His death for you. You will never know what it is like to die a sin-bearing death.

2. Christ’s risen life becomes yours
Being a Christian is much more than believing certain truths about Jesus or signing off on a creed. The life of this risen Lord Jesus Christ becomes yours. He shares His life with you by the Holy Spirit. Paul says, “Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). He says, “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).

3. Christ’s glorious ascension will also be yours
Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father, and so will you. All that is His becomes yours.

You too will ascend to the right hand of the Father.

If you die before the day of Jesus’ coming, you will rise. If you are still alive, you will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, as you ascend to meet Him in the air (1 Cor. 15:52). Every Christian who has ever lived will participate in this event.

What does it mean, knowing that Jesus will hold nothing back from you?