1 Corinthians 15:51-58
The short answer to the above question is: For the believer death has no pain to offer us, and the grave will never have victory over us. The death rate in this life is 100%. All who live will ultimately die, in the sense that our physical lives will end someday. Death in itself is often painful, and it seems very final. Death divides families and leaves the remaining living in despondence. For many, death represents the end of existence.
Believers certainly are not exempt from the death which will finally claim us all. Back in the Garden of Eden, the actions of Adam and Eve brought sin to creation, and death along with it. When Jesus died on that cross He paid the penalty for all of the sin of humankind; when He rose from that grave, he defeated sin and death both; however, there is a caveat to this. For those who reject what Jesus did, our sin and the resulting death will claim us forever. Even though Jesus has attained victory over both, those who reject will not participate in the victory, and sin and death will win. Is anything sadder than that?
For those who believe, however, physical death does not mark the end! Sin and death, and those who die in them will be cast into the lake of fire. Those who believe will “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,” be raised and changed forever. Is anything more joyous than that?
February 14, 2018 at 10:20
Indeed nothing more joyous than being with Christ forever. This is our living hope, of which death cannot overcome.
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February 14, 2018 at 12:25
Amen brother
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February 14, 2018 at 10:44
This has always been an interesting concept – damnation for those who do not beleive, so how do you square away for those who are unaware or simply from a different culture?
Do such people get a sort of pass by God and the damnation rule only applies to those who are aware of Christianity and have rejected your god?
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February 14, 2018 at 12:25
Hi Ark
My suggestion to you? God is just and righteous. He will deal correctly with all humanity. You HAVE heard it. You take care of you and God will take care of everybody else.
That’s your answer and the only one I offer you.
Have one
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February 14, 2018 at 12:31
So it does not matter if one believes or not, as God will know his own, correct?
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February 14, 2018 at 12:35
Ark.
Don’t put words in my mouth. Sheesh. That makes you a liar
You have the only answer you will get
Go troll elsewhere
Have one
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February 14, 2018 at 12:37
I wasn’t trying to put words in your mouth and I don’t lie. It was framed in the fashion of a rhetorical question.
Was it wrong?
Will god damn all those who are not Christians or will he sort the wheat from the chaff?
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February 14, 2018 at 12:40
Ark.
You worry about YOU.
You have a choice.
Accept Him…or reject
Go find somebody that will entertain your distractions because I won’t
Have one
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February 14, 2018 at 12:49
Worry? What do really beleive I need to worry about, Wally?
I already know what you beleive concerning me once I die, I am more interested in those who are culturally tied to other religions.
Are those poor souls doomed as well, or as I asked before, will God recognise his own and forgive their trespass?
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February 14, 2018 at 11:14
Ready for this moment when we are changed forever and in His presence!
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February 14, 2018 at 12:26
Me too Beth, me too. Thanks and blessings
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February 14, 2018 at 11:43
Wally, I’ve spoken with skeptics and atheists who say some people latch onto Christianity because they’re weak and afraid to face death. Well, I’m guessing even hardcore atheists Ronny Reagan and Richard Dawkins aren’t truly at peace with their approaching deaths. But for the believer, Christianity is as much about the present as the future. We have a relationship right NOW with God through His Son, Jesus Christ that transcends the temporal. My shedding someday of this aging and increasingly achy frame will just be a part (admittedly a rather significant one) of my intimate walk with my Savior and Shepherd. I get to enjoy an eternal relationship with the Almighty God of the Universe through Jesus Christ right now!
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February 14, 2018 at 12:28
Oh amen, Tom. I think we minimize that sometimes, the here and now. Thanks for the reminder, brother
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February 14, 2018 at 12:00
Hey Wally,
Not sure if you are into this sort of thing, but I wanted to pass the recognition on either way. I have nominated you for the Sunshine Blogger Award. You can find the post on my page here: https://diariesofascatterbrain.com/2018/02/14/sunshine-blogger-award-nomination/ Thank you for bringing great content to this community! 😀
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February 14, 2018 at 12:31
Well I do vastly appreciate your thought and encouragement but I really don’t participate in them. I hope there is no offense taken and thanks for your kindness.
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February 14, 2018 at 15:51
Tom, I would bet my last dollar Dawkins is at peace with his position. The opposite is actually true, you will spend countless hours being subservient to just one of many made up ancient gods and you will worry your whole life if you have shown enough love and repentance to this particular god and will he accept you into the imagined mythical heaven. When you die you will simply go back to the Earth, the Earth is the real god that supported you, clothed you and fed you, what more do you want, eternal life, don’t make me laugh.
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February 14, 2018 at 16:01
Steve….you just keep on thinking that. You have been presented the Gospel countless times. What you do with it is up to you. Again, the entire content of your comment shows that you don’t understand a single thing about the Gospel of Salvation. I strongly suggest you withhold commenting on what you think that message us until you actually read it. Your insistence that the Christian life is one of moping around, grudgingly serving a hateful God, hoping you will do enough to get into heaven is false. If you took the time to actually READ the Scripture you completely misunderstand, and misapply, you would know how wrong you are. Now, don’t go off some senseless bloviation about how religion is a product of our minds. Read. This. Comment. You have completely misapplied what the Bible says. That is ALL this comment is about.
Just to illustrate:
” you will worry your whole life if you have shown enough love and repentance to this particular god and will he accept you into the imagined mythical heaven”
That is a falsehood, and is NOT true of the Christian life. If you continue to insist it is, then you ignore the clear teachings of those who are actually Christians. If you continue to insist on that position, you prove you are a know it all at best, or a liar at worst.
Stop your flailing, Steve. The very fact that you seem to consume much of your existence chasing Christians around blog land show that you are NOT at peace.
Peace is there for you my friend. Take it or leave it.
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February 14, 2018 at 21:23
So looking forward to this day…
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February 15, 2018 at 00:50
Amen! I’m with you on that one!
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February 15, 2018 at 02:14
Amen
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February 15, 2018 at 00:50
Wally, what a marvelous truth that gives believers hope!
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February 15, 2018 at 02:16
Thanks bro Jim!
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February 15, 2018 at 02:19
Whoah…up so late?
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February 15, 2018 at 04:08
Just for a minute I was
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February 15, 2018 at 05:35
Hope to hang onto for always! Love this, Wally! God bless you!
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February 15, 2018 at 06:12
Thanks, Lynn!
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February 15, 2018 at 08:03
Amen All my hope is in Jesus!
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February 15, 2018 at 08:15
For sure brother, thanks and blessings
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February 15, 2018 at 08:13
We talked about this last night at the men’s group I lead.
Yes, life can get people down but noting can compare to the wonders that await those who remain faithful until the end.
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February 15, 2018 at 08:17
It’s a great topic James for sure. Especially when things are beating on you a bit
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