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Ask The Pastor
Hi Glenda,
You asked some good questions. Let's see what the Scriptures have
to say.
> Dear Bro Buddy I would like to know if the bible
teaches that a
> believer or unbeliever goes straight to their eternal place as soon as
> they cease to occupy their bodies?
With regard to the believer, Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he
who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life,
and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into
life." (John 5:24)
Some teach that everyone who dies as to come to the judgment
before being admitted into heaven. But here Jesus says there is no
judgment for a believer, in that the believer has passed out of death
into life. This being the case, when a believer departs their body
they go directly to be with Jesus.
Paul picks up on this by saying that while we are in this body we are
'absent' from the Lord. He then adds, "We are of good courage, I
say, and prefer to be absent from the body and to be at home with
the Lord." (2Co5:8)
As for the unbeliever, we have the story of Lazarus and the rich
man. It says of the rich man, "In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being
in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom."
(Luke 16:23)
> And also the flesh that has decayed (went back to
dust) will it ever
> live again? Or do we get new glorified bodies?
The answer to this question is, both. Our glorified bodies do come
from the earth, but they are in a new form. Job best exemplifies the
ancient faith of God's people, when he says, "As for me, I know that
my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the
earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see
God." (Job 19:25,26)
> What I am really trying to find out, is, do we go
straight on to our
> eternal abode or do we stay unconsious untill the resurrection, untill
> Jesus comes back? Thank you very much ....In Christ ...Glenda It is ok
> if you post my question on your "Ask The Pastor" web page.
Thanks Glenda for permission to post my answers. These questions
are important.
Some teach that the soul sleeps until the second coming of Jesus,
but this isn't my understanding of the Scriptures. Paul speaks of our
being with the Lord the moment we pass from this life. We also
have to consider the Scripture, which says, "Therefore, since we
have so great a could of witnesses surrounding us." (Heb12:1)
These witnesses are the Old Testament saints who are now with
Jesus.
Hope this helps.
Buddy
Bro. Buddy Martin - Ask
the Pastor
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Lawrence "Buddy" Martin
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org
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