You Asked For It (Message 3)

The Reason for this Topic —

A number of people asked questions concerning DEATH and GRIEF. These questions are pertinent because death is the great EQUALIZER of mankind.

I. What Happens at the Moment of Death?

A. There are TWO Christian views on this.

“SOUL-SLEEP.” —The belief that death is like sleeping. Eventually each soul will be “AWAKENED” to resurrection, and judgment. Some hold to this view because. . .

a. The Bible sometimes refers to death as SLEEP.
Acts 7:59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 . . . When he had said this, he fell asleep.

b. The Old Testament seems to TEACH a “sleep.”
Dan. 12:13 “As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.”

c. The dead “KNOW NOTHING.”
Eccl. 9:5 For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing;

Others hold to the belief that the moment a person dies, that his/her spirit is IMMEDIATELY with the Lord. The REASONS to hold to this view are the following:

a. Jesus taught it in PARABLE form (Luke 16).

b. Jesus said that the “DEAD” were WITH the Lord.
Luke 20:37 . . . , even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 38 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

c. Jesus talked with two “DEAD PEOPLE.”
Mark 9:4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

d. Paul says that you are HERE or with the LORD.
2 Cor. 5:8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

e. Even the Old Testament teaches LIFE to LIFE.
Gen. 5:24 Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.
(Practically, the two views are much the same.)

II. When are We Judged?

Luke 16:19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, . . .

There are TWO judgments for all people:

A person is judged according to faith at the MOMENT of death and taken to their RIGHTFUL, eternal home.
Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

At the end of TIME there is a second judgment that will reward or punish according to WORKS.
Rev. 20:13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.
1 Cor. 3:12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.

III. Should a Christian’s Body Be Cremated?

A. There are TWO views on this question:

NO, for the following reasons:

a. Because to burn a body meant that it was CURSED.
Josh 7:25 Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble on us? The LORD will bring trouble on you today.” Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them.

b. Because a body is like a SEED and should be BURIED or PLANTED.
1Cor. 15:35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 36 How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else.

c. Because our bodies are the TEMPLE of GOD.
1Cor. 6:19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;

YES, for the following reasons:

a. The Jews would cremate a body in EXTREME cases.
1Sam. 31: 12 . . . They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them.

b. You will be receiving a NEW BODY and have no need for the OLD one. Consider . . .
1Cor 15: 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.

c. The Bible does not CONDEMN cremation (or burial) and the New Testament era is a time of grace and FREEDOM.

d. It is PRACTICAL in a modern world.

IV. How Should Christians Handle the Topic of Death?

It seems that the DEEPER a person’s faith, the less they FEAR death. But it is human nature to fear what we don’t UNDERSTAND.

We should MOURN the loss of loved ones, but not like the WORLD mourns. We have HOPE!
1Th. 4:13 . . . we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.

Live each day CELEBRATING the gift of life, while looking FORWARD to the day that you MEET Jesus face to face.
Col. 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Walk The Talk

What have been your questions and concerns regarding the topic of death?

What is your view of “soul-sleep?”

Why is Jesus’ teaching so important to us on the topic of death and afterlife?

Do you have concerns about final judgment? What did you learn about the two judgments?

What is your personal view on cremation? How would you answer other Christians on this topic?

What was most helpful to you in this study and why?