Subject: Making sure I understand your meaning |
Bible Note: Hey Steve. Notice verses 10, 16 and 17 of the text you gave in II Cor. 5. Paul is talking about deeds done in the flesh (the lust of the flesh). This is what he means when he says "absent from the body". I paraphrase, "absent from the deeds (or lusts) of the body." Paul knew (like Job 14:10-15 and 19:26, Dan. 12:13 and King David Acts 2:34-35) that he would have to wait in the grave (like all the saved) for his resurrection before he could go to heaven. II Tim. 4:8. Study the state of the dead (especially what the OT prophets say about it). Get a good concordance. Look up the words: dead, death, perish, sleep, awake, etc. and see that the dead must wait in their graves for a resurrection before they can enter heaven. The dead don't even exist right now. (Except perhaps in the memory of God.) Check out Ps. 104:29-30, 146:4; Eccl. 12:7; Isa. 26:19 In fact, should there be no resurrection from the dead, then the dead in Christ are perished. I Cor. 15:12-23 says a lot about this. Notice verse 23 also. Anyway, I hope this helps. Like I said, get a good concordance. Check it out for yourself. Make sure you know everything the Bible says about the state of the dead (not just a verse or two that might not mean what you think it means). |