What is the purpose of this life? We live, we die. We procreate. They live, they die. Is life all about the joy and the sadness in between life and death? Or is it about the success and failure between it? Or Is it all about singing praise and worship to a God while on earth awaiting a heavenly life with more Singing and worship for all eternity right after this life. What about after life? Would we be on some cloud playing a harp? What does the bible teach us about what it is that we are all looking forward to in life and in death? What is life all about?
The traditions of men and religion have crept into the churches of this world and they are kicking against the foundations laid down by the Lord Jesus Christ and that which was given to the early apostles. The apostacy of the church is everywhere. It is rampant, like a cancer, growing out in numbers killing every weak cell. Killing every ignorant life that does not care to know who He is. Many of these so called born again churches are choking life out of the believers, leading them to false gospels and showing them illusions of a self-centered life. People pleasers. They indeed have a gospel. A gospel that sounds good for the people. Half truths that bring death and eternal punishements. Leading a generation of believers into a lie. Men who are pleasers of men who like to be pleased. Carnal men catering to a carnal generation. A self deceived bunch of people leading astray a generation, into more deception and death. We are now moving into a time, where we have set aside biblical standards and moving into a so called experiential christianity. Setting God into a box, based on our experiences, visions and so called encounters even though they are totally against the written word of God.
The true gospel message is not a one liner. But it encompasses the whole of the bible. Starting from genesis right upto Revelation, where the grand plan of God for man is revealed. Today, I want to look at what it is that we are all looking forward to? What is it that we have faith for? An important question we must ask ourseves is what we believe even remotely close to what the apostles believed. Even basic core faith questions like are we already saved when we prayed a line at the alter call and is that all there is to eternal life. Was my eternity sealed that day?
The whole excercise towards this faith that we have found ourselves in, is all in vain, says the bibleif, there is no resurrection. Paul, when teaching the Church at Corrinth about resurrection, says if we, like the carnal people of the world, had hope only in this world all our faith and life is a wasted exercise. Yes, if we believe and yet not resurrect, its all useless.
1Co 15:19 If we who are [abiding] in Christ have hope only in this life and that is all, then we are of all people most miserable and to be pitied.
Again, to the church at Thessalonica, when faced with false gospel teacings about death and life after that, Paul writes to them making it clear to them that we are not like the rest of the world who really have no hope after death. He tells then that all those who died in the faith (which again is a larger topic as to what that really means. I will address this soon), will rise through Jesus, when Jesus comes.
1Th 4:13 Now also we would not have you ignorant, brethren, about those who fall asleep [in death], that you may not grieve [for them] as the rest do who have no hope [beyond the grave].
1Th 4:14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will also bring with Him through Jesus those who have fallen asleep [in death].
1Th 4:15 For this we declare to you by the Lord's [own] word, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall in no way precede [into His presence] or have any advantage at all over those who have previously fallen asleep [in Him in death].
1Th 4:16 Then we, the living ones who remain [on the earth], shall simultaneously be caught up along with [the resurrected dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the eternity of the eternities) we shall be with the Lord!
1Th 4:17 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first.
Now the question is, if there is absolutely nothing to look forward to, if there is no resurrection of the dead, then is there a life at all, between death and resurrection? If indeed you were only a spirit and your spirit would be in heaven as the prevelant teachings in the church go, why should resurrection be so important? After all, the real you is already in heaven, is it not? Why would the Lord Jesus, bother to come back for a body thats already become dust?
Another thing that we understand from Pauls writing here is that there was only 2 options they believed in at that time. Either you die and perish OR you die and are resurrected. The Jews also believed on similar lines which is evident from the Lazarus episode. The 2 sects - Pharisees and the Sadducees had 2 different belief system about the resurrection.
Another thing that we understand from Pauls writing here is that there was only 2 options they believed in at that time. Either you die and perish OR you die and are resurrected. The Jews also believed on similar lines which is evident from the Lazarus episode. The 2 sects - Pharisees and the Sadducees had 2 different belief system about the resurrection. The pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead and the Sadducees didnot.
Act 23:6 For the Sadducees hold that there is no resurrection, nor angel nor spirit, but the Pharisees declare openly and speak out freely, acknowledging [their belief in] them both.
Act 23:7 So when he had said this, an angry dispute arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the whole [crowded] assemblage was divided [into two factions].
Act 23:8 But Paul, when he perceived that one part of them were Sadducees and the other part Pharisees, cried out to the council (Sanhedrin), Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; it is with regard to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am indicted and being judged.
Again, Paul fighting the fasle teachings that were being induced into the Church at Corinth, battles with words, convincing the Corinthians about the reality of resurrection and the hope for all,dead or alive, being just that.
1Co 15:17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is mere delusion [futile, fruitless], and you are still in your sins [under the control and penalty of sin];
1Co 15:18 And further, those who have died in [spiritual fellowship and union with] Christ have perished (are lost)!
The crux of Christianity is that Jesus died and rose again to a eternal and glorious life and this is the same thing that awaits us. Jesus again confirms that the dead would be where they are and would hear Him and come out of their tombs at the time of resurrection.
Joh 5:28 Do not be surprised and wonder at this, for the time is coming when all those who are in the tombs shall hear His voice,
Joh 5:29 And they shall come out--those who have practiced doing good [will come out] to the resurrection of [new] life, and those who have done evil will be raised for judgment [raised to meet their sentence]. [Dan. 12:2.]
The whole creation has been waiting for this resurrection of man so that whole purpose of creation and all the plans of God would be finally complete. This is the destiny of every believer. The fulfilment of the whole of scriptures. The revelation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:22 We know that the whole creation [of irrational creatures] has been moaning together in the pains of labor until now. [Jer. 12:4, 11.]
Rom 8:23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves too, who have and enjoy the firstfruits of the [Holy] Spirit [a foretaste of the blissful things to come] groan inwardly as we wait for the redemption of our bodies [from sensuality and the grave, which will reveal] our adoption (our manifestation as God's sons).
Rom 8:24 For in [this] hope we were saved. But hope [the object of] which is seen is not hope. For how can one hope for what he already sees?
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