Month: August 2010

Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation…of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Heb 6:1, 2

The Lord granted another glorious time of fellowship and study in his word last week.  If you’ve been unable to attend, I strongly encourage you to make every effort to be there.  The Lord is blessing us with His presence!  We began our meeting by refreshing ourselves in our previous topic: “What is the state of the physically dead right now?”  We considered Ecc 12:7 which instructs us that at death “…the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.”  What a glorious thought to know that to be absent from this body is to be present with the Lord! (2 Cor 5:8) That thought should encourage us concerning our brothers and sisters in the Lord that are no longer with us or that are nearing the end of their earthly journey.  Clearly, their state following their departure is “far better” because they are immediately “with Christ!” (Ph 1:23)

We also considered that there is a difference between the soul and the spirit (1 Th 5:23 and Heb 4:12 makes clear there is a distinction).  In general, the Scripture associates the eternal soul with each individual’s unique characteristics, desires, and feelings.  It can thirst (Pr 25:25) and be sorrowful (Mt 26:38), and, in our fallen state, it is more closely associated with the carnal desires of our body.  In fact, when the Lord tells us to take no thought for our “life” in Mt 6:25, specifically concerning what we should eat, drink, or wear, the word “life” in that verse is in fact the Greek word “soul”!  In contrast, the spirit is that part of man whereby we commune with God.  It has been separated from God in Adam’s fall, but God gives life to it in the new birth, which is also called being “born of the Spirit” (Jn 3:6).  The spirit is that part of man that engages in worship for “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (Jn 4:24)

We next addressed our second question: “What happens at the resurrection?”  The following verses help us to accurately answer this question and would be worthy of further study if you’re wondering about this topic:

• Both the righteous’ and the wicked’s bodies are resurrected (Jn 5:26-29)
• All of mankind will be judged at this general reserruction (Mt 25:31-46, Ac 17:31-32, He 9:27, Rev 20:12-13)
• At the resurrection, the spirits and souls of men will be joined again to a body, one that this time won’t wear out (1 Co 15:42).  We’ve already seen that right now in hell the soul is existing with cravings though it has no body (the rich man in hell was thirsty and tormented in the flames).  The soul that God gave man when He created him (Gen 2:7) exists forever with a spirit bound to eternal death or enjoying eternal life, but these natural bodies don’t last that long.  When God gives the new eternal bodies, two things will happen when these bodies are again joined to soul.  Hell will become more hellish for the souls in hell.  Now, they’ll have bodies and all the senses that come with it, yet they will still have no fulfillment for their lusts or relief from their suffering.  In contrast, once reunited with these now glorified bodies, heaven will become more heavenly for the spirits of just men that have been made perfect. (Heb 12:23) These new bodies will be more spiritually-tuned (1 Co 15:44 shows the transition from a “natural”, or “soulish” body as it’s more properly rendered from the Greek, to the new “spiritual” body).  See also v. 45, 51-53.

Lord willing, we will consider our final question along these lines this week, namely: “Will the wicked suffer eternally?”  What does it mean in Rev 20:14 when we read that death and hell are cast into the lake of fire?  Could a good and loving God really condemn men and women to an everlasting existence of torment and pain?  Please join us with your verses and thoughts.  I look forward to seeing you this week.

Jamie

Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation…of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Heb 6:1, 2

We began considering our text above last week, and the Lord really blessed our study!  This text shows how important it is to properly understand the doctrines concerning the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment because they are foundational to our faith.  My plan had been to consider three simple questions last week, but our study was so rich that we only had time to deal with the first one!

1) What is the state of the physically dead right now?

In answering this question, the story of the rich man and the beggar Lazarus in Lk 16:22-31 is most helpful.  Because the passage reveals that the rich man’s brothers are still alive, clearly this account takes place following natural death but before the general resurrection.  In other words, this text gives us an understanding of the state of the physically dead right now.  We can draw the following conclusions concerning the departed:

• The wicked man is in a state of suffering (Lk 16:22-23 “in torments”) and is experiencing sensation as if had a body.  It is like being burned (“cool my tongue”, “tormented in this flame” v. 24).
• In contrast, the righteous man is experiencing satisfaction and comfort (v. 25).
• The torment of the wicked is further enhanced because they can see the comfort of the righteous but cannot pass to where they are (v. 26).
• There is no opportunity of escape for the wicked.  Even though the rich man is suffering, he recognizes there’s no point in asking that he be sent back from the dead (which would relieve his suffering) and so instead asks Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers (v. 27).
• This existence is one without interaction with the living (neither the rich man nor Lazarus could have any effect on the living brothers unless raised from the dead).  Paul said it was more helpful to the church for him to be alive in the flesh in Ph 1:24. What does that tell us about the saints involvement with the church after death? There is none! Paul needed to be physically alive to benefit them! So what are the implications of this fact for those that talk to dead saints or think the dead are watching over them?

One final important point that we can gather from other passages concerning the state of the physically dead is that our dead brothers and sisters in Christ are even now His presence!  2 Co 5:6-8 says “…while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord…We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” In Ph 1:23-24, Paul says he’s between a rock and hard place because he knows it’s better for the church for him to remain alive, but he has a strong desire for death because then he would “be with Christ.”  Finally, we hear the precious words of our Savior as he promises the thief hanging on the cross next to Him that “today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Lk 23:43)

I’m excited to see where the Lord will take us this week as we continue looking at our topic.  We have two more questions to answer, so be prepared to share any relevant Scripture that you may have.  Remember, our next questions are:

2) What happens at the resurrection?

3) Will the wicked suffer eternally?

See you tomorrow, Lord willing…

Jamie

Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation…of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Heb 6:1, 2

In our text above, the doctrines concerning the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment are considered to be “elementary principles,” principles that are foundational to our faith.  If they are foundational, then we must have a solid understanding of them.  If we don’t, any knowledge we gain that is built upon a faulty view of these doctrines will also be faulty.  In the previous chapter, the author of Hebrews is rebuking his audience for their lack of maturity, stating that “by this time you ought to be teachers…[instead of needing] someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God.” (Heb 5:12) So, do we have a firm, biblical grasp on this doctrines?

It seems that increasingly within the church there are varying opinions of these basic principles.  Consider the implications of such a fact!  If we’re differing in opinion, then somebody’s wrong!  Remember, these aren’t deep theological questions.  These things are basic Christian truths that even a babe in Christ should know!  If a child never learns to add, how can he possibly grasp multiplication or far more advanced mathematical concepts?  If the foundational principles, the building blocks if you will, are erroneous, what hope do we have of getting anything else right?  So, how can we faithfully declare the gospel of Jesus Christ in an effectual manner, if we’ve stumbled at the foundations of that gospel?  I want to address three simple questions in this post, but I want to wait until after the Bible study this week to answer those questions.  Here they are for your consideration now, and I hope you can join us tomorrow as we explore what the Scripture reveals concerning them:

1) What is the state of the physically dead right now?

2) What happens at the resurrection?

3) Will the wicked suffer eternally?

Stay tuned for more…

Jamie

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
     The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
What is man that You are mindful of him,
     And the son of man that You visit him?
Psalm 8:3-4

Have you looked up lately?  I’m amazed when I go back to south Georgia where I grew up.  The stars are overwhelming!  Living near Atlanta, you simply don’t see that many stars.  But, when you’re able to visit a place not so close to the bright, city lights, you realize just how small you really are compared to the vast creation God has made.  When you consider that the stars we see with the naked eye are just a fraction of what’s out there, you understand why the psalmist would ask such a question.  Why are you mindful of man, O Lord?

We’re beginning our final section this week in Conformed to His Image, and it begins with the first of the great commandments, namely that we are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. (Mk 12:30) It is fitting before we consider our love for Him that we examine His great love for us.  After all, that’s why we love Him, isn’t it?  “We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 Jn 4:19)

Only the church can understand how amazing this verse really is!  Why would God set His love upon us?  There was nothing good in us that would draw Him to us.  There was no special beauty that would cause Him to desire us.  In fact, just the opposite was true.  When we look at man, we find that he is full of that which is offensive and repulsive to a holy God.  Instead of a heart that longs to know His creator, man’s heart is fixed upon himself from the womb.  He comes forth speaking lies! (Ps 58:3) Even King David, the sweet psalmist of Israel, confessed, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” (Ps 51:5) It is this understanding–that we have been forgiven in spite of our great wickedness–that prompts our love, and the strength of that love will depend on the extent to which we recognize our vileness apart from God.  Like the woman that washed Christ’s feet with tears, if we realize we’ve been forgiven much, we will love much. (Lk 7:47)

So, why is man so special?  Why would God be mindful of him.  The truth is there’s no reason except perhaps that man was filthy and degenerate enough that he could be a fitting display of the richness of God’s great grace and mercy!  Jesus didn’t come to save the innocent and pure.  He came into the world specifically to save sinners! (1 Tim 1:15) In doing so, He revealed the greatest love this world ever has and ever will see. “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:7-8)

Jamie