Results 1 - 3 of 3
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Christians ambivalent about death? | Phil 1:23 | Makarios | 105537 | ||
Greetings Aixen7z4, How should the believer view death? Daniel looked into the future and saw hope in the midst of death. He described the state of the dead in terms of "those who sleep" (Dan. 12:2), which is a metaphor. The "sleep" of death means that the dead will someday "wake up" from their temporary condition and go on to an eternal state- "some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt" (Dan. 12:2). Other Old Testament writers reflect this same view that death is not the end of existence. Some describe it like a reunion with your ancestors (Gen. 15:15; 35:29; 1 Kings 2:10). Others refer to death in a way that shows that they expected to meet God when they died (Ps. 17:15; 73:23-24). In the New Testament, Paul used similar language when describing the 'sleep' of death (Eph. 5:14; 1 Thess. 4:13-14). Likewise, believers are invited into eternal life with Him through His Son, who died and came back to life so that we could escape the condemnation of death. God does not let death have the final say over those who believe. Hosea promised that God would ransom His faithful people from the power of the grave: "I will redeem them from death," vows the Lord (Hosea 13:14). The prophet's message is actually a taunt towards death's power. Isaiah promised that God will "swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces" (Is. 25:8). Also, we actually see death's own end in Revelation 21:1,4! Therefore, we can be assured that death will not have the final say over those who believe in Him, and that we will even see the end of death itself. But life is short. Job saw life as a fleeting thing (Job 7:6; 14:1-2; 16:22). But the key to life is to "seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near." (Isaiah 55:6) By doing so, we can honor the truth of the psalmist who wrote, "My times are in Your hand" (Psalm 31:15). We will live the years of our lives many times over in the presence of God in heaven! "When we've been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing God's praise than when we first begun!" - Amazing Grace Blessings to you, Makarios |
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2 | Christians ambivalent about death? | Phil 1:23 | Aixen7z4 | 105556 | ||
I've not had time to read the post carefully, but I think you are saying that death is not a sad thing. To that I must agree. One of the most dramatic changes to take place at my conversion was my attitude toward death. Before, I had a morbid and constant fear of death. After I was saved I found that death had lost its sting. I live for the Lord every day, and every day I long to see Him. I have had many close brushes with death, and it has never frightened me. Someone must have already said it, but I say, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ“. |
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3 | Christians ambivalent about death? | Phil 1:23 | Makarios | 105565 | ||
Greetings Aixen7z4, In regards to a funeral service, many Christians would favor a return to a simple service which emphasizes the Christian truth about dying. At the same time, those who do not know Christ insist on a "proper Christian burial", thinking that the more elaborate the funeral the more religiously impressive it is. They never stop to ask the question, "Whom are we trying to impress?" I agree with you that the death of the body is not a bad thing if you are a believer. :-) Death of the body and its resultant dissolution is offset by the knowledge that "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord" (2 Cor. 5:8). Man's soul does not die in the same sense as does his body, but rather enters everlasting reward or eternal punishment (Matt. 25:31-46). Also, the Christian confidently expects the resurrection, assured by Christ's resurrection (1 Cor. 15:20-23). Christian sorrow is very different from the sorrow of those who have no such hope (1 Thess. 4:13-18). However, the great importance given to the soul in Scripture does not mean that we should deny any importance to the body, since Scripture does not entirely dismiss the importance of the believer's body. After all, God has chosen the believer's body to be the temple of His Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19-20). And the Bible gives examples of God's saints being respectfully buried- Abraham (Gen. 25:7-10), Jacob (Gen. 50:1-14), Moses (Deut. 34:5-6). Since respect is in order, a funeral's purpose must then be defined. Since Biblical Christianity posits the absolute necessity of a personal relationship to God through Jesus Christ, the funeral service could therefore help establish and strengthen that relationship by focusing on God Himself, His eternity, sovereignty and grace, enabling those who sorrow to face life again because such a gracious God rules both time and eternity. By giving that appropriate honor to a deceased Christian, the funeral service can remind each mourner of the Scriptural meaning of life and death. The funeral service should not deny death, but at the same time emphasize the resurrection assured by the deceased's faith in the risen Christ. Also, the service could help those attending to prepare to die, as did Peter in 2 Peter 1:12-15 and Paul in 2 Tim. 4:6-8. Preparing for death involves so much more than just writing up a will. Adequate preparation for death will also include a frank acceptance of the fact of death by both the individual and his loved ones, so that its occurrence will be an occasion of increased prayer, faith, and devotion to Christ, rather than simply a time of mourning and loss. Blessings to you, Makarios |
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