Thursday: Death and Resurrection
At Creation, “God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Gen. 2:7, NKJV). This account of the creation of humanity reveals that life derives from God. Is immortality an intrinsic aspect of this life?
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The Bible tells us that only God is immortal (1 Tim. 6:16); immortality is not given to humans at birth. In contrast to God, human beings are mortal. Scripture compares our lives with “a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14, NKJV), and at death our lives enter a sleeplike state in which there is no consciousness. (See Eccl. 9:5-6, Eccl. 9:10; Ps. 146:4; Ps. 115:17; John 11:11-15.)
Although people are born mortal and subject to death, the Bible speaks of Jesus Christ as the source of immortality and tells us that He gives the promise of immortality and eternal life to all those who believe in His salvation. “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23, NKJV). Jesus “has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel” (2 Tim. 1:10, NKJV). “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16, NKJV). So, there is hope of life after death.
Read 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. What do these passages tell us about life after death and when immortality will be given to human beings?
The apostle Paul makes it clear that God bestows immortality upon people, not at the moment of death, but rather at the resurrection, when the last trumpet will sound. While believers receive the promise of eternal life at the moment they accept Jesus as their Savior, immortality is given only at the resurrection. The New Testament knows nothing of the idea of souls going off to heaven immediately at death; this teaching has its roots in paganism, going back to the philosophy of the ancient Greeks, and is not found in either the Old or New Testament.
| How does our understanding of death help us appreciate even more the promise of the Second Coming? How does this belief powerfully unite us as Seventh-day Adventists? |
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I am not really sure why this doctrine was included in a series on unity. I guess that part of the reason is that our stance on the state of the dead is different from the majority view of Christianity. And being different is often unifying.
I appreciate the Seventh-day Adventist view on death and find it comforting and assuring. However, I have been to Adventist funerals where the homily has been an unbridled poke in the eye to the non-Adventist friends and relatives who are attending, gloating that we have got it right. At times like these, I wish that we had taken a few lessons in tact and diplomacy. Being right is not an excuse to be arrogant.
There is a time to boldly explain what we believe and why and we need to ask the Holy Spirit for guidance for wisdom about wording and timing.
This has always been a delicate issue but tact should always prevail. What are the possibilities that you will meet this same group of non - Adventist in a different setting so you can explain the state of the dead? Is it ok to let them leave believing something contrary to the scriptures? I believe that we should not let an opportunity pass without proclaiming “thus saith the Lord.” It might be someone’s only opportunity of hearing the truth. As Christians our truths should be presented in love and humility as oppose to condemning or in a condescending manner.
Yes, if the opportunity arises in a different setting it is appropriate for such a discussion to occur. I think that at an Adventist funeral it is appropriate to talk about the hope of the resurrection, but you can do it in such a way that non-Adventists don't think that the minister is opportunistically preaching an evangelistic sermon to a captive audience of non-believers.
Hebrews 11:13
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.
What did they not receive?
They did not receive the assurance of salvation. They knew the promise had been given in Christ but the reality has not happened; therefore, they died believing in the promise of God.
However we have seen the evidence of the promise.
Revelation 1:17&18
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
I have overcame sin and death; therefore, I will deliver those who are on death row. I will free those who have been resting in grave and unit them unto myself.
Satan no longer have the power to divide my people from me.
Read the first paragraph of Thursday's lesson. I am very, very surprised that Romans 5:12 was not a natural part of this paragraph. To me, its omission is a fatal mistake. As is right now one could think that the life which came from God in the beginning was naturally and always subject to death. . Does anyone agree with me?
I am a little confused also. If we were not subject to death why was it necessary for Adam and Eve to eat of the tree of life. Was it that they would die without eating from it? It was life-sutaining hence it was taken away after man sinned so they would not live forever in a sinful state.Is it also reasonable to say that without the tree-of-life they would have died not eating of it, even if they did not sin?
Happy Thanks giving. We have a lot to be thankful for. Christ lived for us died for us and rose from the dead for us. Now therefore we thank our God for what He has done for us. His mercy, His faith in us, His forever loving kindness, compels us to surrender to Him by our own choice. His love does not stop there, He lifts up, encourages, and gives us the power to follow through.
Here in Australia we are embracing Halloween more and more each year - but unfortunately we haven’t embraced Thanksgiving at all. Says something about where our values lie.
In studying the wonderful physiology of the human body, scientists have concluded that we were never meant to die, yet we do. We are truly fearfully and wonderfully made. Yet we die. Immortality only happens when connected to the Immortal Creator, who alone gives life. Even Satan is dependent upon God for every breath and pulse. Sinners live by the grace and power of God alone.
The Bible speaks clearly about man's present state in life and in death, and holds the promise of eternal life for all who live by faith in the Son of God. In this knowledge we may be united in “looking for the Blessed Hope”.
Would someone clarify the statement in the second paragraph ending with "...and at death our lives enter a sleeplike state in which there is no consciousness." What part of us is our 'lives' and how do we 'enter'?
The clearest example that one's spirit is not whisked off to heaven immediately after death is Christ in the tomb and the statement He made to Mary just after He rose. He said, Jon 20:17, "Do not touch me for I have not yet ascended to the Father". Christ the person was in the tomb during His death/sleep.