The Afterlife

Apr 3, 2016

“Beyond the Grave:  The Afterlife”

 

Three Truths About the Afterlife . . .

 

• Although it is destined for all to die physically, it is by God’s design that all will live forever

“The tree of life was in the midst of the garden (Eden), and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”  Genesis 2:9

 

“He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden He placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.” Genesis 3:24

 

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.”  1 John 5:13

 

• One of two destinies awaits every person who dies.
  • Your soul/spirit immediately leaves you physical body and is ushered into the presence of Christ, or is separated from Christ, for eternity.
    • For true Christ-followers the assurance is Heaven.

(John 14:1-4; Matthew 25:46)

• For all who reject Christ the assurance is Hell (Hades) and ultimately the lake of fire.

“Then He (Jesus) will say to those on His left (unrighteous), ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”  Matthew 25:41

 

“And these (the unrighteous) will go away into eternal punishment . . .”  Matthew 25:46

 

• Jesus affirms resurrection and eternal life. (John 11:17-27)

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16

 

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.”  John 6:47

 

“As for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?’  He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.  You are quite wrong.”  Mark 12:26-27