| Chapter 3 The Christian Hope |
Regardless of what many religions teach (fundamental Christianity,
Jewish traditions, Islam or Buddhism, etc), there is no such thing as
natural immortality of the soul. The Bible declares that the soul of man
is his very being. It is his breath, personality and conscious life. All
this departs from him when he dies. See Ecclesiastes 3:19.
"For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one
thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they
have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a
beast..."
Because of this, their memory is deceased and they will soon be
forgotten by those friends and loved ones who will also die. See
Ecclesiastes 9:5.
"For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything,
neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is
forgotten."
The Hebrew word for soul is NEPHESH, corresponding with the Greek
PSUCHE which indicates the personal life of an individual including their
thoughts, memories and emotions. Soul is not to be confused with the
term "spirit". (The Hebrew word for spirit is RUACH, which is literally
translated as "wind". In the King James Version it is also translated as,
"spirit". Spirit is a term used to identify those forces which are invisible
such as the Spirit of God, the wind, the breath of man, angels or devils.
Death of soul is a very frightening concept for the mortal human mind to
grasp. Therefore the tendency is to deny death's reality through
religious posturing, and spiritualism. We become like Eve's serpant
telling ourselves, "We shall not surely die!"
The truth is that when man dies, his breath flies away along with his
thoughts and memory, and his body returns to dust.
The Good News is that Jesus Christ came that man should not perish
either in body or soul; according to John 3:16.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
It is not a natural thing for body or soul to be resurrected after it has
died. But by the miracle of God, through His mercy in the form of Jesus
Christ, the resurrection of the dead will be a reality for those who
believe. This resurrection is a complete revitalizing of the body and soul
but in a perfect and incorruptible fashion. This is the Christian hope!
See I Corinthians 15:19-22.
"If in this only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most
miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the
firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man
came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so
in Christ shall all be made alive."
In this dispensation of grace, the entire population of the world,
consisting of both Israel and the gentiles, has the opportunity to partake
of this grace. They may accept God's gift by believing in the lordship of
the living Christ, or they may reject it by unbelief. Only by Christ can
man pass from death unto everlasting life. Only by Christ can man be
cleansed from all sin and then stand before God as if he were a new
sinless creature.
As Jesus Christ told the Pharisees in John 5:39,40.
"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and
they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye
might have life."
The Pharisees assumed that they had eternal life but did not discern,
through the scriptures, that eternal life is only made available through
the Christ. Their assumptions were based upon their traditions rather
than on the reality of the Word of God. There are those today who also
think that immortality dwells in their souls and are able to achieve
paradise through their own good works. This is pure imagination and is
not based on biblical knowledge.
They must heed the warning of Romans 3:23 and 6:23.
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God...
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord."
The gift of God is eternal life. Life itself is a wonderful gift. How much
more wonderful is the gift of a everlasting life in paradise, with a perfect
ruler and no pain or want.
As a Christian we receive a token of eternal life when we confess with
our mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in our hearts that God raised him
from the dead. See Romans 10:10.
"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation."
This token is holy spirit. It is called incorruptible seed because it is the
seed that will spring up to everlasting life for the individual it was
committed to.
See I Peter 1:23.
"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the
word of God, which liveth and abideth forever."
It is called power from on high because with it a Christian is able to walk
in Christ's steps here on earth, both healing the infirm, binding the hand
of the harmers, and reconciling those who will come back to God. See
Acts 1:8, as Jesus addresses his disciples before ascending to heaven.
"But ye shall receive power, after that the [holy spirit] is come upon
you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all
Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
It is also called the new birth. When a person is conceived by his
parents on earth. An earthly seed is planted which manifests itself as a
human being. When the new birth occurs, God plants holy spirit,
incorruptible and permanent seed within the believer. A new being is
created from the old human and even though the believer stumbles, falls
and utterly fails throughout his entire life the seed, that New Life, will
eventually manifest itself fully when Jesus Christ returns to harvest his
own.
See II Corinthians 5:17.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold all things are become new."
The excellence of this new creation is expressed in Ephesians chapter
2, verses 4 through 10:
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with
Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and
made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his
grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it
is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
The return of Christ for the Church of God marks the end of the
dispensation of grace. It is known in Christian circles as the Rapture.
See I Corinthians 15:51-54.
"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We [all believers] shall not all sleep,
but we shall all be changed, In a moment , in a 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. For this corruptible must put on
incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 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."
This wondrous moment, which occurs just prior to the Day of the Lord
closes the grace dispensation. Once again the focus is back on Israel,
and the law. See how this is reflected in the austere writings to future
Israel, as in Revelation 3:16:
"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert
cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor
hot: I will spue thee out of my mouth."
This could not be addressed to the Church of God because all those
who are born-again (even though they may tend to be lukewarm in their
works) will still be saved, according to the promises of the grace of God.
See Galatians 3:2-3:
"This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of
the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in
the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?"
In our current Grace dispensation, eternal life is secured only by the
hearing of the Word. Believing that Word (not works). Confessing that
Word (not works). Our works add nothing to the accomplishing of that
gift. Our perfection, therefore, is accomplished by God alone.
The great tragedy to be explored in our day, however, is how many of
those forever inhabiting the pews of Christian churches have never fully
subjected themselves the Lord and deny his resurrection--those who are
neither born-again nor part of the true body of Christ. Those who have
heard plenty to believe but refuse to commit to Christ. Those who think
that, "If I'm faithful enough to show up every Sunday, pay my tithe and
do my church work--How can God deny me a seat in heaven." These
may very well be the rejected amongst the congregation in our grace
dispensation; But those of Christ's true Body, the Born-agains, the
saved will never be rejected.
After the dispensation of grace comes to an abrupt conclusion with the
Rapture, the saying, Many are called (of Israel) but few are chosen (of
Israel) will once again apply. For the real Israel will congregate and of
that nation will God choose His people from great tribulation.
The Rapture of the Church of God can not be confused with the
gathering together of the 144,000 from Israel, nor the Resurrection of
the just dead. These latter two events will occur in the Day of the Lord's
Judgement-- but the Rapture will close the Grace Dispensation. Soon
after this will be seven years of great sorrow and tribulation to all who
remain on the earth.
The Church will not go through the worldly wrath of the Anti-Christ nor
the Wrath of God. In Romans 5:8 and 9, this is explained.
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that , while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his
blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."
And in I Thessalonians 1:10:
"And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead,
even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come."
And, also, in I Thessalonians 5:9:
"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our
Lord Jesus Christ."
Death, the enemy of all men, will be swallowed up in the victorious life of
Christ and will trouble mankind no longer. Sorrow, mourning and fear
will continue even among believers, until all things are resolved and
darkness is deposed. Until then, we are comforted in the knowledge of
the Christian hope, as stated in I Thessalonians 4:13-18:
"But I would not have you ignorant, brethren concerning them that are
asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also
which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 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 [precede] them which are asleep. 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: 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. Wherefore comfort one another with
these words."
Because the Church is saved by grace and not works the individual
members are not in jeopardy of being cast from the Kingdom of Heaven
into outer darkness. In the parable of the wedding feast there may have
been those found without the proper attire; but we of the Church, even
now, are properly attired. For, since our new birth into the family of God
we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ and at the Rapture will
physically be made like him. See I John 3:1 and 2.
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that
we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us
not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God,
and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when he
shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."
NEXT
Jewish traditions, Islam or Buddhism, etc), there is no such thing as
natural immortality of the soul. The Bible declares that the soul of man
is his very being. It is his breath, personality and conscious life. All
this departs from him when he dies. See Ecclesiastes 3:19.
"For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one
thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they
have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a
beast..."
Because of this, their memory is deceased and they will soon be
forgotten by those friends and loved ones who will also die. See
Ecclesiastes 9:5.
"For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything,
neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is
forgotten."
The Hebrew word for soul is NEPHESH, corresponding with the Greek
PSUCHE which indicates the personal life of an individual including their
thoughts, memories and emotions. Soul is not to be confused with the
term "spirit". (The Hebrew word for spirit is RUACH, which is literally
translated as "wind". In the King James Version it is also translated as,
"spirit". Spirit is a term used to identify those forces which are invisible
such as the Spirit of God, the wind, the breath of man, angels or devils.
Death of soul is a very frightening concept for the mortal human mind to
grasp. Therefore the tendency is to deny death's reality through
religious posturing, and spiritualism. We become like Eve's serpant
telling ourselves, "We shall not surely die!"
The truth is that when man dies, his breath flies away along with his
thoughts and memory, and his body returns to dust.
The Good News is that Jesus Christ came that man should not perish
either in body or soul; according to John 3:16.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
It is not a natural thing for body or soul to be resurrected after it has
died. But by the miracle of God, through His mercy in the form of Jesus
Christ, the resurrection of the dead will be a reality for those who
believe. This resurrection is a complete revitalizing of the body and soul
but in a perfect and incorruptible fashion. This is the Christian hope!
See I Corinthians 15:19-22.
"If in this only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most
miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the
firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man
came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so
in Christ shall all be made alive."
In this dispensation of grace, the entire population of the world,
consisting of both Israel and the gentiles, has the opportunity to partake
of this grace. They may accept God's gift by believing in the lordship of
the living Christ, or they may reject it by unbelief. Only by Christ can
man pass from death unto everlasting life. Only by Christ can man be
cleansed from all sin and then stand before God as if he were a new
sinless creature.
As Jesus Christ told the Pharisees in John 5:39,40.
"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and
they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye
might have life."
The Pharisees assumed that they had eternal life but did not discern,
through the scriptures, that eternal life is only made available through
the Christ. Their assumptions were based upon their traditions rather
than on the reality of the Word of God. There are those today who also
think that immortality dwells in their souls and are able to achieve
paradise through their own good works. This is pure imagination and is
not based on biblical knowledge.
They must heed the warning of Romans 3:23 and 6:23.
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God...
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord."
The gift of God is eternal life. Life itself is a wonderful gift. How much
more wonderful is the gift of a everlasting life in paradise, with a perfect
ruler and no pain or want.
As a Christian we receive a token of eternal life when we confess with
our mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in our hearts that God raised him
from the dead. See Romans 10:10.
"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation."
This token is holy spirit. It is called incorruptible seed because it is the
seed that will spring up to everlasting life for the individual it was
committed to.
See I Peter 1:23.
"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the
word of God, which liveth and abideth forever."
It is called power from on high because with it a Christian is able to walk
in Christ's steps here on earth, both healing the infirm, binding the hand
of the harmers, and reconciling those who will come back to God. See
Acts 1:8, as Jesus addresses his disciples before ascending to heaven.
"But ye shall receive power, after that the [holy spirit] is come upon
you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all
Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
It is also called the new birth. When a person is conceived by his
parents on earth. An earthly seed is planted which manifests itself as a
human being. When the new birth occurs, God plants holy spirit,
incorruptible and permanent seed within the believer. A new being is
created from the old human and even though the believer stumbles, falls
and utterly fails throughout his entire life the seed, that New Life, will
eventually manifest itself fully when Jesus Christ returns to harvest his
own.
See II Corinthians 5:17.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold all things are become new."
The excellence of this new creation is expressed in Ephesians chapter
2, verses 4 through 10:
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with
Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and
made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his
grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it
is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,
which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
The return of Christ for the Church of God marks the end of the
dispensation of grace. It is known in Christian circles as the Rapture.
See I Corinthians 15:51-54.
"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We [all believers] shall not all sleep,
but we shall all be changed, In a moment , in a 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. For this corruptible must put on
incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 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."
This wondrous moment, which occurs just prior to the Day of the Lord
closes the grace dispensation. Once again the focus is back on Israel,
and the law. See how this is reflected in the austere writings to future
Israel, as in Revelation 3:16:
"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert
cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor
hot: I will spue thee out of my mouth."
This could not be addressed to the Church of God because all those
who are born-again (even though they may tend to be lukewarm in their
works) will still be saved, according to the promises of the grace of God.
See Galatians 3:2-3:
"This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of
the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in
the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?"
In our current Grace dispensation, eternal life is secured only by the
hearing of the Word. Believing that Word (not works). Confessing that
Word (not works). Our works add nothing to the accomplishing of that
gift. Our perfection, therefore, is accomplished by God alone.
The great tragedy to be explored in our day, however, is how many of
those forever inhabiting the pews of Christian churches have never fully
subjected themselves the Lord and deny his resurrection--those who are
neither born-again nor part of the true body of Christ. Those who have
heard plenty to believe but refuse to commit to Christ. Those who think
that, "If I'm faithful enough to show up every Sunday, pay my tithe and
do my church work--How can God deny me a seat in heaven." These
may very well be the rejected amongst the congregation in our grace
dispensation; But those of Christ's true Body, the Born-agains, the
saved will never be rejected.
After the dispensation of grace comes to an abrupt conclusion with the
Rapture, the saying, Many are called (of Israel) but few are chosen (of
Israel) will once again apply. For the real Israel will congregate and of
that nation will God choose His people from great tribulation.
The Rapture of the Church of God can not be confused with the
gathering together of the 144,000 from Israel, nor the Resurrection of
the just dead. These latter two events will occur in the Day of the Lord's
Judgement-- but the Rapture will close the Grace Dispensation. Soon
after this will be seven years of great sorrow and tribulation to all who
remain on the earth.
The Church will not go through the worldly wrath of the Anti-Christ nor
the Wrath of God. In Romans 5:8 and 9, this is explained.
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that , while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his
blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."
And in I Thessalonians 1:10:
"And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead,
even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come."
And, also, in I Thessalonians 5:9:
"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our
Lord Jesus Christ."
Death, the enemy of all men, will be swallowed up in the victorious life of
Christ and will trouble mankind no longer. Sorrow, mourning and fear
will continue even among believers, until all things are resolved and
darkness is deposed. Until then, we are comforted in the knowledge of
the Christian hope, as stated in I Thessalonians 4:13-18:
"But I would not have you ignorant, brethren concerning them that are
asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also
which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 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 [precede] them which are asleep. 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: 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. Wherefore comfort one another with
these words."
Because the Church is saved by grace and not works the individual
members are not in jeopardy of being cast from the Kingdom of Heaven
into outer darkness. In the parable of the wedding feast there may have
been those found without the proper attire; but we of the Church, even
now, are properly attired. For, since our new birth into the family of God
we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ and at the Rapture will
physically be made like him. See I John 3:1 and 2.
"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that
we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us
not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God,
and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when he
shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."
NEXT
Copyright Pete Lounsbury 1994