RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2020-09-14	Does My Soul Sleep After Death?
		When we die does our consciousness continue somewhere or do we just sleep awaiting the resurrection? What is the experience of people between death and the bodily resurrection? Why is the word “sleep” so often used to describe death even by Jesus? Where in the Bible can we learn to be more confident of what happens to a loved one who has died? What is the Biblical teaching or purpose of God for us? Is it to have a lot of spirits in heaven or physical bodies on the New Earth? To the Greeks the resurrection of the body was considered bad teaching. They loved the idea of immortality of the soul, but not of the body. Christianity's teaching of the resurrection was appalling to the Greek mind. The Bible teaches the body will be resurrected from the dead. The bodily resurrection of Jesus was in a form that could be recognized, be touched, and ate food. Jesus's resurrection body was the prototype for our resurrection body (1Co.15:20). 1Co 15:20  But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. The Greek mindset mocked the resurrection asking what kind of body do they get? Paul answers in verses 42-44. 1Co 15:42  So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 1Co 15:43  It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 1Co 15:44  It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. So resurrection is a crucial doctrine for the Christian. So what about the time between death and the resurrection of the body? Why is it sometimes called 'sleep'? 1Th 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 1Th 4:15  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. Those who have “asleep” is a reference to those who have died. Why does he say it that way? 1Co 15:17  And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 1Co 15:18  Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. Again the word “asleep” is used as a picture of dying. In the story of Jairus's daughter (Mk.5:35-43) we have the word “dead” (v.35) and “sleeping” (v.39) used. Mar 5:39  When He came in, He said to them, "Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping." Well, she was dead and He calls it sleeping. Why? This is the way the body looks and acts when it is dead. It is a description of the dead by a softer picture of what it actually looks like. Jesus speaks of the rich man and Lazarus (Lk.16:19-31). He does NOT say it is a parable. Jesus described it like it really happened. He seems to be making the point that after death there is no sleep or unconsciousness. There is life in torment or in bliss. Why not say they are unconscious on the other side of death. They really are in “soul sleep” till the resurrection? Paul tells us why we do not. Php 1:21  For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Php 1:22  But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. Php 1:23  For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. When Paul speaks of his death he calls it “gain” (v.21) because he goes into the presence of Christ (v.23), and it is “far better” than staying here. 2Co 5:6  So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 2Co 5:7  For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2Co 5:8  We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 2Co 5:9  Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. So dying in the body means to be present with the Lord. Christians have a double encouragement for those who have died. 1. Now after death we experience being in Christ's presence between death and resurrection. 2. For the believer Christ has secured for us the final resurrection of the body for the new heaven and new earth. We are safe in Him now. We are safe at the moment of death. And we will be supremely joyful in the new body forever. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

An Evangelical Free Church of America

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