Bible Questions and Answers

According to the Bible when we die, we cease to exist.

Death is the penalty for disobedience.

Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

After Adam’s disobedience he was condemned to death

Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

We, descended from Adam, possess the nature which was a result of his eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Because of this we all sin and, like Adam, are condemned to death.

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Adam was made as a living soul.

Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

We don’t possess an immortal soul; we ARE a mortal soul.

The Hebrew word ‘nephesh’ which is translated ‘soul’ means a ‘being’ or ‘creature’.

When used of animals it is translated ‘creature’.

Genesis 1:24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature (nephesh) after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.

When we die our soul dies.

When we are placed in the grave our ‘soul’ is placed in the grave.

Psalms 89:48 What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.

In death our faculties cease to function.

We cannot think, feel, see, hear or speak – we are unconscious.

Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing…

Psalms 146:4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish

For this reason, death is spoken of as ‘sleep’.

1 Kings 2:10 So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.

Acts 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

In sleep we experience the unconsciousness of death.

Spirit, as applied to man, is used in two ways in scripture:

1. The life-force supplied by God which enables us to live.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Job 34:14 If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; 15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

2. The way that we think.

Numbers 14:24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.

Luke 9:55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

Our spirit (the way we think) survives death only in the memory of God.

God, who knows our thoughts, is able to reconstruct us as ourselves at some time in the future.

The hope of life after death, depends upon resurrection from the dead.

Daniel 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

John 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

In death, those who believe the gospel and are baptised into Jesus Christ ‘sleep’ ‘in Jesus’ awaiting the resurrection at his return.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

We must be ‘born’ of water and of the spirit.

John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

To be born of water we must be baptised by immersion in water for the remission of sins.

To be born of the spirit means we must change in the way that we think naturally to the way that God thinks.

To do this we must read word of God and make a determined effort to live by the commandments of Jesus Christ.

John 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

2 Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

May I suggest that you read:

After Death – What? https://www.thisisyourbible.com/library/show/43

I hope you find this helpful.

God bless,
Glenn