What happens at death?

-

We do not know how humans would have left this world had there been no Fall; some doubt whether they ever would have done so. But as it is, the fruit of sin and God's judgment on it brings about the separation of body and soul through bodily death (Gen. 2:17; 3:19, 22; Rom. 5:12; 8:10; 1 Cor. 15:21 ), making it a certainty for everyone.

This separation of soul and body is a consequence of the spiritual separation from God that first brought about physical death (Gen. 2:17; 5:5) and that will be deepened after death for those who leave this world without Christ. In itself, death is an enemy (1 Cor. 15:26) and a terror (Heb. 2:15).

For Christians, the final terror of physical death is abolished. Jesus, the risen Savior, Himself passed through a terrible death, enduring the anger of God. He takes from us God's anger, and He lives to help us as we leave this world for the place He has prepared in the next (John 14:2, 3). Christians know that their own forthcoming death is an appointment to meet their Savior that He will faithfully keep. Paul could say, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." He longed "to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better" (Phil. 1: 21, 23), knowing that to be "away from the body" is to be "at home with the
Lord" (2 Cor. 5:8).

At death, the souls of believers are made perfect in holiness and enter into the
worshiping life of heaven (Heb. 12:22-24). In a word, they are glorified. Some have not accepted this, but teach instead that there is a purgatorial discipline after death amounting to a further stage of sanctification. In this purgatory the soul is prepared over a period of time, to be purified for the vision of God. 

This doctrine is not found in the Bible. The saints living on earth at Christ's coming will be perfected morally to be with Him in the moment
when their body is transformed (1 Cor. 15:51-54), and it seems that Paul, and the thief on the cross, expected the same admission to God's presence. Others say that believers pass into a soul-sleep and are unconscious between death and resurrection. 

The Bible, however, consistently represents the departed as conscious (Luke 16:22; 23:43; Phil. 1 :23; 2 Cor. 5:8; Rev. 6:9-11 ; 14:13). In itself to be without the body is a disadvantage; we live through our bodies, and to be
without a body is to be limited and impoverished. Paul longs to be "clothed" with the resurrection body and wants not at all to be "unclothed" (2 Cor. 5:4). The resurrection of the body is a distinctively Christian hope confessed by every branch of the church on earth. Death is decisive for destiny. 

Popular posts from this blog

Speaking in tongues for today - Charles Stanley

-
Image
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. … But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all. … And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. … Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way - 1 Corinthians 12:4, 7, 28, 30—31 The Lord Jesus Christ had come and gone. The church—newly birthed—was in a transition time. The new covenant was seen as a threat to the Jewish leaders; therefore, there was persecution for those who had chosen to follow Christ. The new religion, in its infant stages, had no Bible, few leaders, and absolutely no support from the government. Astounding that it survived, isn’t it?  How in the world did it survive with so little going for it? Power. Not just a force, but mighty, visible power. This new church
Read more

What is the glory (kabod) of God?

-
Image
2 CORINTHIANS 4:17 "This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." Scripture places a high value on God 's glory, and it is not hard to figure out why. Since the inherent glory of the Lord is something that He will not share with others (Isa. 42:8), we know that His glory is something that He prizes highly; indeed, He prizes it more highly than anything else. We should, therefore, set the glory of God as the goal and overarching emphasis of our lives. Whatever we lose for the sake of making the Lord's glory known will be worth it when we see the dazzling light and beauty of; the divine glory (28:5; Rev. 21:23). Glory has to do with light and beauty, but those aspects do not sum up what the Bible means when it speaks of the glory of God. Interestingly, the Hebrew word kabod , which is translated into English as "glory," has the root meaning of "weight" or "heaviness."
Read more

The Holy Spirit causes us to cry out: Abba, Father

-
Image
Pentecostés. Óleo sobre lienzo, 275 × 127 cm. Madrid, Museo del Prado. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) To bring out the same truth in another way, Paul says God sent Jesus (as a Man) to live under the Law in order “to redeem those under law, that we [Jews and Gentiles ] might receive the full rights [adoption] of sons” ( Galatians 4:5).  By “full rights” or “adoption” he means entering into the privileges and responsibilities of sonship. He uses it also of the sonship of Israel (Romans 9:4). Galatians 4:1, 2 indicate that the son and heir of a wealthy family in Paul’s day would be treated as a slave until he became of age.  Then he would receive the adoption, that is, all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities that belonged to an adult member of that family. Adoption was also used in the modern sense, so that Gentiles who were not sons of Abraham became true heirs, true sons of God , by faith.  Jesus died, not just to save us from the fires of hell, but to make it p
Read more