GOODWILL FELLOWSHIP BIBLE STUDY GROUP Life After Death

Prepared and presented by The Rev. Alfred Thiagarajan on April 10, 2010

IS THERE A LIFE AFTER DEATH? IF A MAN DIES, SHALL HE LIVE AGAIN ?......

EVEN SOME OF THE SADDUCEES HAVE THE SAME DOUBT. Luke 20: 27 (NIV) 27 Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. Their belief is: Man is a mortal being of blood and flesh and bones. His life ends in death.

THEORY OF EVOLUTION Man is a biological being, came from animal. Hence he will die and perish like animal HINDUISM AND BUDDHISM We will be born again in earth. Man will take 7 lives and according to his karma, be born a human being or an animal.

To understand life, we have to understand death To understand death, we have to understand sin.

God did not create Death. When he created Garden of Eden, there was no death. Adam sinned by his disobedience. The wages of sin is death

GENESIS 3:19 (NIV) 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."

BECAUSE HUMAN BEINGS FELL IN SIN, WE NEEDED A SAVIOR.

IF THERE IS NO BLOODSHED, THERE IS NO FORGIVENESS OF SINS.

AS WE BELIEVE IN CHRIST, WE ARE FORGIVEN SINNERS

THERE IS NO DEATH FOR BELIEVERS John 3:16 (NIV) 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 11:26 (NIV) 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

WHY DO WE STILL DIE?

BELIEVERS HAVE TWO BIRTHS. 1) Biological birth 2) Spiritual birth (born again or salvation experience) –Nicademus episode

THERE ARE TWO DEATHS 1) Biological death – Cannot avoid 2) Spiritual death –can be avoided by living a righteous life. Jesus is talking about our spiritual death John 11:25 (NIV) 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; Resurrection is the most important and unique aspect of our faith.

WE WILL NOW SEE THE LIFE AFTER DEATH.

Our body has the same concept of trinity as we are created in the image of God. Body: dust of earth. Spirit: breathe of God. Soul: the being, our intellect, our personality, in fact, our identity

SOUL AND SPIRIT ARE DIFFERENT Proof: Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) 12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double- edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NIV) 23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Body dies returns to dust Genesis 3:9 “for dust you are and to dust you will return” Spirit: Returns to God

PROOF IN THE SCRIPTURE Ecclesiastes 12:7 (New International Version) 7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Luke 23:46 (New International Version) 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. Soul: will depart to other world after death. Matthew 10:28 (New International Version) 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

WHERE THE SOUL GOES AFTER DEATH? John 13:36 (NIV) Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, where are You going?" Jesus answered, "Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later." John 14:2 (NIV) In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. Luke 23:43 43 And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.

THE DEPARTED SOULS REMAIN IN HEAVEN OR HELL UNTIL THE DAY OF JUDGMENT, WHEN THEY SHALL BE REUNITED WITH THEIR OWN BODIES.

CAN WE IDENTIFY THE DEPARTED SOULS? Yes

Matthew 17:2-3 (NIV) 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

AFTER RAPTURE, SECOND COMING AND RESURRECTION HAPPENS

IS RESURRECTION PHYSICAL? Who gets resurrected? Acts 24:15 (NIV) 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.

WHY EVERYONE WILL BE RAISED? 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV) 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

WHAT HAPPENS IN JUDGMENT DAY?

Matthew 25:31 (NIV) 31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. John 5:28-29 (NIV) 28 "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.

Revelation 20:11-15 (NIV) The Dead Are Judged 11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Matthew 25:46 (NIV) 46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.“ What will happen to good souls in heaven? The redeemed souls in heaven will be reunited with their own (now glorified) bodies, and will begin to enjoy the bliss of heaven in both body and soul Both body and soul will be glorious and perfect like Christ, no long subject to the effects of the fall.

RESULTS AFTER JUDGMENT DAY

REVELATION 21 1) First heaven and the first earth will pass away 2) New heaven and a new earth 3) The new Jerusalem, will come down out of heaven from God 4) There will be no more death. 5) Christ will rule for 1000 years.

Conclusion: 1 CORINTHIANS 3:16 SAYS, "Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" We are not complete unless our spirits are renewed. We will not live abundantly if our spirits are unsatisfied.

THANKS FOR COMING GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

Our Next Bible study May 15 th 2010 “Free will & God’s will”