A few weeks ago I joked because I made my own quote…”Good theology gets you through tough times”
Here is some that got me through this week
-God’s ways are higher then my ways. Isaiah 55
-When I am weak Jesus is strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10
-This world is not my home. Phil 3:20
-The Gospel of Jesus meets every need I have because it gives us hope.
Today I am talking about more good theology “What happens when we die?”
Hebrews 9:27 Judgment issue (Well done)
When God created the heavens and the earth, death was not a part of it, this is why it never goes well with us, and that is why it will eventually will be conquered 1 Cor. 15:26 & Rev. 20:14
Three types of death that the Scriptures teach
1. Spiritual death - what we are before we trust Jesus Eph 2:1, John 3 “Born again”
2. Physical Death - Genesis 35:18-19
3. Eternal death- final permanent separation of non-believers from God Rev 20:14
Start with
The Death of those who do not Trust Christ. Results in Hell, describe
Some may say, that is harsh why would God want that for anyone? The answer is that He does not and He has for us a way of escape. Through Jesus Christ, see God means business 2 Peter 3:9
How to avoid Hell John 5:24 GOSPEL
You have no second chance
1 Peter 3:18-20 This is an interpretation from Augustine. Christ preached through Noah at the time of Noah and they are called the “Spirits in prison” because they were preached to in the past and now in the prison of Hell.
Understand the context of 1st Peter is Peter was writing to the righteous minority surrounded by hostile unbelievers like Noah was.
Luke 16:19-36 Parable (Talk about)
Another issue that always seems to come up is “Can our loved ones see us?” Nowhere in the Bible does it say that our loved ones can see us. I would venture to say based upon the parable they are aware of us but they and we will not posses the same attributes of God…all powerful, all knowing…all seeing.
The Death of a Believer
2 Cor. 5:6-8 Phil 1:23 Intermediate state, not in the new heavens yet. We go to be with Christ Ephesians 1: Acts 7 Stephen
-No soul sleep “fallen asleep is a metaphor for death”
-No purgatory (Catholic Church does not believe this either)
-We do not need to pray for the dead
Quick overview of the grand scheme of things so we have an understanding
1. Rapture 1 Thess 4:16, Dead in Christ
1 Corinthians 15:36-49 Does not matter what happens to the body of a person (Burial vrs Cremation)
Glorified Body Issue Christ’s resurrected body is the prototype
Philippians 3:21 “Transformed in to a glorious body”
2. Tribulation, all believers of all time in heaven Rev 4-19
3. Millennial Reign of Christ Rev 20,
4 Great White Throne Judgment.
5. New Heavens and Earth
Our salvation is not fully complete but at physical death 1 Cor 13:12 We will see things like God sees things
Death will touch you, so how do you cope?
-Time to Mourn, Jesus wept
-Makes us reflect on our lives. Not How much good do I do, but how much good in Jesus’ name do I do. Even the greatest people are forgotten. But Jesus is not
-The imperative nature of Gospel work, Death is not the end for anyone
-Find comfort in the Lord, where you find comfort will determine how comforted you are.
-What do we learn and take away from losing someone.
For me Strength is in Christ
What is next for us here at our church?
35 years ago a small group of people began this Gospel work in our community. A result of the obedience of those people was the salvation of many in this community among them was the one we physically lost this past week
1 Cor 15:58 Don’t lose focus
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