Bible Questions and Answers

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One of the most pernicious of the false doctrines that pervade Christendom is that when we die only our body dies and we have within us an immortal soul or spirit that leaves the body and continues a conscious existence elsewhere.

There is no such doctrine in the Bible.

The Bible clearly states that we are mortal and that when we die we return to the elements from which we are constructed. All of the mechanisms by which our senses function are destroyed in the process of dissolution.

The sentence passed on Adam:

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.

Returning to dust is common to all his descendents:

Psalms 104:29... thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.

Adam was made 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.

When we cease to breathe we become a dead soul. We, as living souls, die because we sin.

Ezekiel 18:4... the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

When we die we have no conscious existence:

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.

Psalms 6:5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

The dead sleep in the dust.

Job 7:21 And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.

The hope of the gospel is resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

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... 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...

Our physical functions will be restored.

Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

When Christ was raised from the dead he was given immortality. He now lives by the power of God.

2 Corinthians 13:4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God.

Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

The promise to those who are found ‘in Christ’ at his return is that they will be invested with the divine nature.

2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature...

Their bodies will be made like the glorious body that he now has.

Philippians 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

They will be made equal to the angels.

Luke 20:36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

Daniel prophesies of the judgment to come:

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.

And so Paul says:

1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The purpose of God is to fill this earth with his glory in the form of mankind made in his image and raised to the divine nature in whom he will dwell forever.

Isaiah 45:18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

Numbers 14:21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.

As mortals our life force is in our blood and we depend on a supply of food and oxygen to live. Our bodies deteriorate, become diseased and die. When we are made immortal we live by the Spirit of God eternally. We will truly be in the likeness of our creator.

Paul explains:

1 Corinthians 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Eternal life is not something that we currently possess it is a gift of God available only through belief and baptism into Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

I hope this helps.
Glenn