Heaven and Death - Study 3/8/12
Heaven and Death
Have you ever wanted to be in heaven but not wanting to die first? I have never met anyone in his/her right senses who is so willing to die. You can say that of many non believers in Christ who may not know exactly what comes after death. But the same can be said for believers in Christ. We have all read and dreamed about heaven especially from the book of Revelation. There will be no more death, sorrow, crying, no pain etc. Even at the excitement of it all about heaven we still do not willingly volunteer to die. We love this life we are living but we also love heaven even more. So is there are disconnect?
Well not really. We are not the only ones who have experienced this tug of war going on inside of us. Listen to Apostle Paul, “While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life” (2 Corinthians 5:4). This really makes me feel better and confirms that I am not insane. Paul again is pouring out his heart to the Corinthians and reassuring them of the certainty of our life in Christ. He has already spoken to them about the resurrection of those who put their faith in Christ (1 Corinthians 15) and in this second Letter, 2 Corinthians 4. He goes on to explain his own struggles about this whole concept of life here and after.
This may not be your favorite topic, but it is a necessary study to gain proper understanding. I would rather know now for sure than later. It will also give me a reason for living each moment with eternity in sight to please God. For without faith it is impossible to please God.
2 Corinthians 5 (NLT)
1 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3 For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies.[a] 4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 5 God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.
6 So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. 7 For we live by believing and not by seeing. 8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. 10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.
Here are my observations in additions to the ones you may have:
1. Apostle Paul is continuing his exposition on the temporal sufferings compared to the glory that is due later. Paul said “We know” vs.1 implying that it is known or that is to be a common and necessary knowledge. If you don’t know Corinthians, I am explaining to you what you need to know about death, dying and the body we will assume after death. Unfortunately, we play ignorant and most people including believers in Christ do not want to know the details about death and dying. You see it in our expressions such as “what a tragedy” or “life short lived” as if death has dealt a final blow. We fear what we do not know and that is why most of us are afraid of death and dying.
2. Paul was a tent maker so he used what his familiar with as a means of explanation. He calls our present body, “a tent”. A tent compared to a house is a temporarily dwelling and not permanent. A tent also often wears out. Compared to the tent is a “house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself”. When we die, we get new bodies different from what we now have. Remember Jesus said he was going to prepare a mansion for us (John 14:2). Some bible scholars believe that is what Jesus was referring to. I tend to agree with that. Some think Jesus is preparing a literal mansion for us but it makes more sense to be our new bodies that defy what we use house here on earth for. Think about it - Who needs a bed to sleep where there is no night/darkness to sleep in?
3. We groan and sigh in this present body because there is “a heavenly body” that is much better. At the same time it is not that we want to immediately put off this present body like a cloth. Rather we long to put on the new heavenly body. It is a bit difficult to understand but that is our human nature fighting with the Spirit. “We groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us” vs. 4. I am desirous of heaven but am not looking forward to dying. It is a kind of a paradox. Our Christian lives are full of paradoxes like we die to live.
4. Remember our new life with God began by the Spirit which God has given us as we put our faith and trust in Jesus. Now God will finish what He started in us by the Holy Spirit. The life He will give us after we die will actually swallow up this present dying body. How do we know? The process has already started. The Spirit has made us “new creations” (vs.17) in Christ. The Holy Spirit is a “deposit” or upfront partial payment guaranteeing that God will come later to finish His job. “These dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 5 God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit” vs.4-5. Paul in Ephesians repeat similar theme. “Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory (Ephesians 1: 13). This is great news and that is why we are “confident” about our life here and after.
5. Now Paul proceeds to debunk two false teachings. “Purgatory” which teaches “that the believing dead must be “cleaned up” through their own suffering before coming into the presence of God”; and “Soul sleep” that teaches “ that the believing dead are held in some sort of suspended animation until the resurrection occurs”. Paul says, “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord” (vs.8). We must understand that eternity has no concept of time as we know it. It is not like those who are already dead in Christ are waiting to receive their new bodies at the time of resurrection. Once we die we get the new bodies and thus we are present with God immediately. There is no waiting period of “purgatory” and there is no “soul sleep” for the dead in Christ to be awakened when Christ comes. This is not what Revelation 6:9-11 and 1 Thessalonians4:15-17 teaches as would be quoted by the “soul-sleep” adherents.
6. There is an end goal in sight and the reason for living. “So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him” vs.9. Paul already stated that we live by faith and not by what we see. It all makes sense because the only way we can please God is by faith. “For without faith it is impossible to please God Hebrews 11:6. There will be thus a judgment awaiting believers for Christ to judge what we have done vs. 10. This is not the same judgment of Revelation 20:11-15 where the whole world will be judge for sin. This is like a crowning judgment for our motives in serving God. It does make a difference how I live though I have been saved from hell by grace and not of my works.
Are we living by faith? This is the real question. Our faith must be in trust of God for who He is and for His promises and provisions for life here and now and thereafter. We must live by faith even in the most mundane aspects of living – home life, work life etc. If we cannot trust God here, how can we trust Him for the life after? We must do all things with the right motive to please God and not to please man or woman. God sees all that we do and will reward accordingly.
I am not volunteering to die right now but I trust that when my time comes God will take care of me and give me life everlasting in a new body. Lord, I believe, help my unbelief and remove any fear of death from me for death has been swallowed by life in Christ. Lord help me to live to please you. Amen.
We have had recent deaths in both the natural and the extended Church family. May we be comforted for the passing of our loved ones especially those who have died believing and trusting in Christ. They are present with the Lord. That is what heaven is all about to be with the Lord forever.
Have you ever wanted to be in heaven but not wanting to die first? I have never met anyone in his/her right senses who is so willing to die. You can say that of many non believers in Christ who may not know exactly what comes after death. But the same can be said for believers in Christ. We have all read and dreamed about heaven especially from the book of Revelation. There will be no more death, sorrow, crying, no pain etc. Even at the excitement of it all about heaven we still do not willingly volunteer to die. We love this life we are living but we also love heaven even more. So is there are disconnect?
Well not really. We are not the only ones who have experienced this tug of war going on inside of us. Listen to Apostle Paul, “While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life” (2 Corinthians 5:4). This really makes me feel better and confirms that I am not insane. Paul again is pouring out his heart to the Corinthians and reassuring them of the certainty of our life in Christ. He has already spoken to them about the resurrection of those who put their faith in Christ (1 Corinthians 15) and in this second Letter, 2 Corinthians 4. He goes on to explain his own struggles about this whole concept of life here and after.
This may not be your favorite topic, but it is a necessary study to gain proper understanding. I would rather know now for sure than later. It will also give me a reason for living each moment with eternity in sight to please God. For without faith it is impossible to please God.
2 Corinthians 5 (NLT)
1 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3 For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies.[a] 4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 5 God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.
6 So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. 7 For we live by believing and not by seeing. 8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. 10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.
Here are my observations in additions to the ones you may have:
1. Apostle Paul is continuing his exposition on the temporal sufferings compared to the glory that is due later. Paul said “We know” vs.1 implying that it is known or that is to be a common and necessary knowledge. If you don’t know Corinthians, I am explaining to you what you need to know about death, dying and the body we will assume after death. Unfortunately, we play ignorant and most people including believers in Christ do not want to know the details about death and dying. You see it in our expressions such as “what a tragedy” or “life short lived” as if death has dealt a final blow. We fear what we do not know and that is why most of us are afraid of death and dying.
2. Paul was a tent maker so he used what his familiar with as a means of explanation. He calls our present body, “a tent”. A tent compared to a house is a temporarily dwelling and not permanent. A tent also often wears out. Compared to the tent is a “house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself”. When we die, we get new bodies different from what we now have. Remember Jesus said he was going to prepare a mansion for us (John 14:2). Some bible scholars believe that is what Jesus was referring to. I tend to agree with that. Some think Jesus is preparing a literal mansion for us but it makes more sense to be our new bodies that defy what we use house here on earth for. Think about it - Who needs a bed to sleep where there is no night/darkness to sleep in?
3. We groan and sigh in this present body because there is “a heavenly body” that is much better. At the same time it is not that we want to immediately put off this present body like a cloth. Rather we long to put on the new heavenly body. It is a bit difficult to understand but that is our human nature fighting with the Spirit. “We groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us” vs. 4. I am desirous of heaven but am not looking forward to dying. It is a kind of a paradox. Our Christian lives are full of paradoxes like we die to live.
4. Remember our new life with God began by the Spirit which God has given us as we put our faith and trust in Jesus. Now God will finish what He started in us by the Holy Spirit. The life He will give us after we die will actually swallow up this present dying body. How do we know? The process has already started. The Spirit has made us “new creations” (vs.17) in Christ. The Holy Spirit is a “deposit” or upfront partial payment guaranteeing that God will come later to finish His job. “These dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 5 God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit” vs.4-5. Paul in Ephesians repeat similar theme. “Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory (Ephesians 1: 13). This is great news and that is why we are “confident” about our life here and after.
5. Now Paul proceeds to debunk two false teachings. “Purgatory” which teaches “that the believing dead must be “cleaned up” through their own suffering before coming into the presence of God”; and “Soul sleep” that teaches “ that the believing dead are held in some sort of suspended animation until the resurrection occurs”. Paul says, “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord” (vs.8). We must understand that eternity has no concept of time as we know it. It is not like those who are already dead in Christ are waiting to receive their new bodies at the time of resurrection. Once we die we get the new bodies and thus we are present with God immediately. There is no waiting period of “purgatory” and there is no “soul sleep” for the dead in Christ to be awakened when Christ comes. This is not what Revelation 6:9-11 and 1 Thessalonians4:15-17 teaches as would be quoted by the “soul-sleep” adherents.
6. There is an end goal in sight and the reason for living. “So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him” vs.9. Paul already stated that we live by faith and not by what we see. It all makes sense because the only way we can please God is by faith. “For without faith it is impossible to please God Hebrews 11:6. There will be thus a judgment awaiting believers for Christ to judge what we have done vs. 10. This is not the same judgment of Revelation 20:11-15 where the whole world will be judge for sin. This is like a crowning judgment for our motives in serving God. It does make a difference how I live though I have been saved from hell by grace and not of my works.
Are we living by faith? This is the real question. Our faith must be in trust of God for who He is and for His promises and provisions for life here and now and thereafter. We must live by faith even in the most mundane aspects of living – home life, work life etc. If we cannot trust God here, how can we trust Him for the life after? We must do all things with the right motive to please God and not to please man or woman. God sees all that we do and will reward accordingly.
I am not volunteering to die right now but I trust that when my time comes God will take care of me and give me life everlasting in a new body. Lord, I believe, help my unbelief and remove any fear of death from me for death has been swallowed by life in Christ. Lord help me to live to please you. Amen.
We have had recent deaths in both the natural and the extended Church family. May we be comforted for the passing of our loved ones especially those who have died believing and trusting in Christ. They are present with the Lord. That is what heaven is all about to be with the Lord forever.
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