What does the Scripture say happens to us when we die?
In death, do we go to be with Jesus immediately?
This is a fitting question the week after Easter and our resurrection celebrations. Death is the great unknown. There are so many different philosophical opinions and religious beliefs about what happens. It can be confusing.
Not to mention the fact that the Scripture does not approach death scientifically, but historically. It speaks of it in terms of reality with little explanation of how or what. The question demands an answer, but we are going to have to lean in and investigate through a New Testament perspective.
I find 3 specific passages of scripture to be meaningful and helpful.
Today with Jesus (Luke 23:42 & 43)
It’s noon on Friday. Darkness will soon cover the land. The Lord of glory is about to lay down His life as the propitiation for our sins. Two criminals hang with Him. One blasphemes with his dying breath. The other calls out for mercy.
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus’ answer: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Don’t get too caught up in trying to parse out the concept of paradise. You’ll miss the point. Jesus says, today you will be with Me. Where Jesus was going, he was going. And he was going when Jesus was going.
No purgatory. No soul sleep in the grave. No wandering the waterless places. Jesus made a promise. Upon death, that man would be with Him.
At home with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6 - 8)
Life in this earthly body can be a burden. Paul says we groan while in this tent, desiring to put on our heavenly dwelling. The Spirit God has given to us is the guarantee that what is mortal will one day be swallowed up by life. Therefore, we are of good courage, full of hope and confidence.
“We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
To be away from the body is a reference to death, that which is mortal facing its own mortality. On our death day, when we are swallowed up by that which is truly life, we will be at home with the Lord. Where our Shepherd is, that is where we will be. Where He dwells, we will dwell. Our eternal fellowship with Him is certain. It will be immediate and permanent.
To be with Him is far better (Philippians 1:21 - 23)
In prison, facing an uncertain future, Paul is perplexed. He is hard pressed, in a straight between two outcomes. On the one hand, he could be released and go on serving the church. It would mean fruitful labor among the Philippians, people he loved so much, something they needed and he knew was necessary.
On the other hand, the Emperor could finally hear his case, and he could be executed. When that would be he did not know, but his death was a plausible outcome. Caught between the two outcomes, he famously says, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain”
The outcome wasn’t up to him, but his desire is clear as crystal. “My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” On this side of eternity, death was gain, which John Piper calls “true treasure.” On the other side of eternity, when Paul was with Christ, death would be far better.
It is easy with the talk of death as gain to miss the fact that in Paul’s Holy Spirit inspirited theology of death, to depart meant to be with Christ. Once again, where our Shepherd is, that is where we will be. And what is more, we will know it, and experience it, and appreciate it for all it’s worth. It will be better by far.
So loved ones, be of good courage. Death is one more place Christ has gone ahead of you. He has won. And you have nothing to fear.
This is a fitting question the week after Easter and our resurrection celebrations. Death is the great unknown. There are so many different philosophical opinions and religious beliefs about what happens. It can be confusing.
Not to mention the fact that the Scripture does not approach death scientifically, but historically. It speaks of it in terms of reality with little explanation of how or what. The question demands an answer, but we are going to have to lean in and investigate through a New Testament perspective.
I find 3 specific passages of scripture to be meaningful and helpful.
Today with Jesus (Luke 23:42 & 43)
It’s noon on Friday. Darkness will soon cover the land. The Lord of glory is about to lay down His life as the propitiation for our sins. Two criminals hang with Him. One blasphemes with his dying breath. The other calls out for mercy.
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus’ answer: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Don’t get too caught up in trying to parse out the concept of paradise. You’ll miss the point. Jesus says, today you will be with Me. Where Jesus was going, he was going. And he was going when Jesus was going.
No purgatory. No soul sleep in the grave. No wandering the waterless places. Jesus made a promise. Upon death, that man would be with Him.
At home with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6 - 8)
Life in this earthly body can be a burden. Paul says we groan while in this tent, desiring to put on our heavenly dwelling. The Spirit God has given to us is the guarantee that what is mortal will one day be swallowed up by life. Therefore, we are of good courage, full of hope and confidence.
“We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
To be away from the body is a reference to death, that which is mortal facing its own mortality. On our death day, when we are swallowed up by that which is truly life, we will be at home with the Lord. Where our Shepherd is, that is where we will be. Where He dwells, we will dwell. Our eternal fellowship with Him is certain. It will be immediate and permanent.
To be with Him is far better (Philippians 1:21 - 23)
In prison, facing an uncertain future, Paul is perplexed. He is hard pressed, in a straight between two outcomes. On the one hand, he could be released and go on serving the church. It would mean fruitful labor among the Philippians, people he loved so much, something they needed and he knew was necessary.
On the other hand, the Emperor could finally hear his case, and he could be executed. When that would be he did not know, but his death was a plausible outcome. Caught between the two outcomes, he famously says, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain”
The outcome wasn’t up to him, but his desire is clear as crystal. “My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” On this side of eternity, death was gain, which John Piper calls “true treasure.” On the other side of eternity, when Paul was with Christ, death would be far better.
It is easy with the talk of death as gain to miss the fact that in Paul’s Holy Spirit inspirited theology of death, to depart meant to be with Christ. Once again, where our Shepherd is, that is where we will be. And what is more, we will know it, and experience it, and appreciate it for all it’s worth. It will be better by far.
So loved ones, be of good courage. Death is one more place Christ has gone ahead of you. He has won. And you have nothing to fear.
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