Others say that our spirit moves nearer to God where it is absorbed, through a process of re-incarnation. Some say there is a world parallel to ours, where our life continues immediately after die. There are myriads of ideas taught about what happened when we die.
God says we stop breathing, that all the functions of brain and body and spiritual things cease, our breathing, our work, and our praise. We go to the grave. We sleep there until the resurrection. But the record of everything about us is recorded in the books of God.
Q15 Many people believe that when we die we go to be with God, but did Jesus, our example, go to heaven as soon as He died?
And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Matthew 28:5,6.
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father. John 20:17
NOTE: Jesus rested in the grave until He came forth in resurrection glory. He told Mary He had not yet ascended to heaven. He did not go to paradise on Good Friday.
Q16 Did not God put a spirit into a person, but which at death goes back to be with God?
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7
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. Genesis 2:7 (Soul means person. We say today—there was not a soul about this morning. We do not mean a disembodied spirit.)
The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. Job 33:4
All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils. Job 27:3
His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth. Psalm 146:4
NOTE: Body and breath together make a living person with physical, mental and spiritual capacities. The spirit is the breath. We can see this from the parallels in the Hebrew words. At death we breathe our last and all three aspects finish. We are placed in the grave where we return to the elements of the soil. A part of us is not living on somewhere else. We all sleep in death awaiting the resurrection, when the physical, mental and spiritual aspects will be reawakened in the blink of an eye, according to our record in the books of God. No changes will take place in our character after we die.
Q17 Who only does the Bible say has immortality?
That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. 1 Timothy 6:14-16
Q18 When do the good receive the eternal life that God has promised?
22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Revelation 22:12
Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life. Romans 2:6,7.
Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a |
