by Peter Manuel
What happens after death?
Where do we go?
Is there a heaven?
Is there a hell?
Is there meaning to existence?
Why are we here?
The word “Hell, has become a conversational byword in our day.”(1) Webster’s New World College Dictionary defines Hell as the “place of woe and anguish, arrived at by the wicked after death…the place of total and final separation from God and so of eternal misery and suffering, arrived at by those who die unrepentant in grave sin…” (2)
Even though we all live, not every person lives the same way. (3) “Every person has eternal life; not all have the same destination. The question is not, will I live forever? . . . [but] where will I spend my eternal life?” (4)
In John 5:24, Jesus states, “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes in him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." The life referred to here is eternal and everlasting; this life also exists now. (5)
“How do we obtain eternal life with Christ? Through new spiritual birth.” (6) Just as we were once born physically and biologically, Jesus states in John 3:3," I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless his is born again.” (7) A follower of Christ is a new creation. A Regeneration in a person’s life must take place for them to go to heaven with Jesus. That is, a person must be born twice: physically and spiritually, see 1Tit 3:4-8; Jn 1; 2 Cor 5:17, 6:16; Col 1:27; Ro 8:10; Gal 2:20; Eph 3:17. Why do we need to be born twice, because all of us have sinned, see Ro 3:9-20; 5:12.
The fact is 100% of all people that ever lived or are living or will ever live will die, (except of course Jesus Christ the Son of God.) There is a time to be born, and a time to die, see Ecc 3:1-2. In Hebrews 9:27 we read that ". . . man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. . ."
“When most people think about death, they think only about physical death.” (8) However, the Bible talks about a second death also. "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death"(Rev 21:8).
“Death means separation. When you die physically, your soul or spirit separates from your body.” (9)Some people believe that a painful death is the worst thing that can happen, but this is not true. The Bible tells us that “the second death is separation from the presence of God forever.” (10)
Satan has fooled people into believing there will never be a day of judgment by God, since the beginning of time. (11) “He tells people, ‘There is no God and thus no judge and no judgment. You can live any way you like and just pass into oblivion!’" (12) Now, I don’t know about you but this view of life seems very point less, we live then we just die and it does not matter what happens in between. This would be a miserable existence. I mean, why be born at all?
The truth of the matter is that we were meant to live for so much more! We are meant to praise and glorify the one true God by our thoughts, words and actions, see Ephesians 1; Ro 12:1; Php 1:11. If we are the product of random chaotic processes then the probability would be innumerable that we are alive. From a galactic macroscopic viewpoint, earth is not too cold or too hot; it is not Venus or Mars the red planet. Is it by chance that earth's orbit and tilt angle is so perfect as to not cause extreme unbearable seasons and climates? Is it chance that earth's orbital semi major axes is 1 A.U.; its perihelion is 0.98 A.U., aphelion is 1.02 A.U.; its orbital speed 29.79 km/s; its orbital inclination to the ecliptic 0.01 degrees; its surface gravity 9.80m/s2; its sidereal rotation period 0.9973 solar days; sidereal orbital period 1.000038 tropical years; its mean surface temperature 290K...? Moreover, is it by accident that we have an ozone layer that protects us or an atmosphere composition of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, .9% argon, .03% carbon dioxide? (13)
Physicist Freeman Dyson writes, “As we look out into the universe and identify the many accidents of physics and astronomy that have worked together to our benefit, it almost seems as if the universe must have known that we were coming." (14) Is our existence accidental? I say no! Looking only to ourselves rather than beyond ourselves can get lonely. God created Man (Ge 1:1-2; 26-31), is reflected in Man (vv.26-28) and God interacts with Man (Ge 3:8-9). In Genesis 2:7 we read that “the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” Furthermore, in Genesis 1:26 we read, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” The “us” is the Trinity: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All three being the three persons of God, they are coequally and coeternally one God.
Now some say the Bible is from Man. However, all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, see Mt 1:22; 2 Pe 1:21. Its authentication comes internally, historically, archaeologically, prophetically, and messianically. (15,16,17) Moreover, "all Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work"(2Ti 3:16-17).
"Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt" (Da 12:2). Here, sleep refers to being physically dead and therefore, awake means to rise up from the dead. (18) In John 3:18 Jesus states that, "Whoever believes in him [Jesus] is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s only begotten Son [who is Jesus Christ]. Moreover, Jesus also tells us that ". . . whoever hears my word and believers him who sent me has eternal life [ or everlasting life] and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life” (Jn 5:24). Here Jesus is talking about himself and his word; the one who sent him is his Father, see Jn 5:16-30; Heb 5:8.
“No one lives a perfectly good, holy, righteous life.” (19) (Ro 3:10, 23) “Therefore, no one will be declared righteous in his [God's] sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin” (Ro 3:20). However, “even though all are sinners. . . God will declare everyone who puts his trust in Jesus not guilty but righteous. . . Christ died to pay the penalty for our sin and lived a life of perfect righteousness that can in turn be imputed [credited] to us.” (20) “Salvation is by grace alone and is based not on human effort but on God's saving plan and the gracious gift of his Son.” (21) (2 Tim 1:9; Titus 2:11, 3:5; Jn 3:17, 12:47, 9:39; Ro 3:28, 10:9; Eph 2;8-9 ) “To be Christ’s is to have entered a relationship that nothing can ever destroy.” (22) (1 Th 5:10; Isa 43:13, 49:16; Dt 32:39; 51:16; 30:2-3; 49:2; Rom 8:39; Jn 10:28)
“God is . . . the Savior of all in that he offers Salvation to all and saves all who come to him.” (23) (1 Ti 4:10) “Christ died on the cross, and therefore made peace possible between God and man, and he restored in principle the harmony in the physical world.” (24) (Col 1:14, 20; 2 Co 5:21) God chose us in Christ before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless, see Eph 1:4. In love, he predestined us to be adopted as his sons, see Eph 1:5.
In the judgment of the unbeliever, there will be a courtroom unlike any we have seen. (25) “There will be no debate about guilt or innocence.” There will be a prosecutor but no defender, a judge but no jury, a sentence without appeal, a punishment without parole, a jail without escape. (26) Jesus declared in Matthew 7:22 that, “ Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'” However, in the end Jesus will say to them, ". . . 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'” (Mt 7:23) In Matthew 25:41 Jesus further says to them, “. . . 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” “We all die physically, but each of us chooses whether we will experience the second death. [Moreover,] we will all be resurrected-- some to the resurrection of life, some to the resurrection of condemnation.” (27) Followers of Jesus Christ are to tell others who do not know Christ, of the hope of a new transformed body, of the resurrection, of the abundant everlasting life that Jesus offers to those who are without hope and spiritually lost, see Mt 28:19-20; Mt 22:27-28; Jn 4:14, 5:21, 10:10, 28.
In Romans 3:10-12 we read, ‘There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.’ All have sinned and have fallen short of God’s glory. (28) However, all who believe are justified freely by his grace through the redemption from Christ Jesus. (29)
“In him [Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.”(Eph 1:7) There are only two kinds of religions in the world: human achievement which is based upon works or divine accomplishment which is based upon God’s gracious free gift of salvation by and through the sacrifice of his Son Jesus, see Ro 3:20, 28, 4:6, 11:6, Gal 2:6, 3:2, Heb 11.
“Christ, the only entirely righteous one, at Calvary took our sin upon himself and endured the punishment we deserved, namely, death and separation from [the loving, merciful true] God. Thus, by a marvelous exchange, he made it possible for us to receive his righteousness and thereby be reconciled to God . . . Again, all this is God's doing; all this is freely available to us because of his divine grace.” (30) “Christ, who is both the incarnate Son and the second person of the Trinity, authentically displays God to us, for he is the very radiance of divine glory (Heb 1:3). He is the image of God in which man was originally created and into which redeemed mankind is being gloriously transformed (2Co 3:18), until at last, when Christ comes again at the end of this age, we who believe will be like him. (1Jn 3:2).” (31) God treated Jesus as we should be treated, so that he could treat us as his Son should be treated, see Col 1:14; 2 Cor 5:17. “. . . If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved”(Ro 10:9). Jesus did not come to judge the world, on the contrary, he came to save it (Jn 12:47). "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" (Jn 3:16). God does not condemn people, on the contrary, we condemn ourselves if we reject him, if we deny his free gift of eternal life. Religion is relying on external efforts to connect with God, whereas Regeneration is receiving an internal gift given by God. We are saved only by God’s grace, by what God has done, by faith alone, see Ro 11:26; 2 Ti 1:9; Tit 2:11; Heb 3:14; Ro 5:18; Ac 16:30, 31; 1 Ti 4:10.
Jesus is different. He claimed to be God, see Jn 5:18, 10:30. Furthermore, other people also believed that Jesus was God, 2000+ years ago and today. Other founders of religions never claimed to be God. (32) Jesus died physically then he rose from the dead and went to heaven, where He now is, see Mt 26:64; Eph 1:20; Col 3:1. You may ask what if the Bible is wrong; I ask what if the Bible is right? If it is wrong all that is lost is time. Yet one will gain instructions on how to live in addition to advice and other benefits. However, if the Bible is right, anyone will also be given forgiveness of the past, enjoyment of the present, and assurance of an eternal future with the one true God, all by just admitting that you have done wrong, surrendering yourself to Jesus, believing and accepting His sacrifice and resurrection from the dead, trusting Him and wanting to follow Him, see Jn 3, 4; Ro 10:9; Eph 2; 1 Pe 1:21-23; Mt 7:21-27; 1 Jn 4:15. (33) The Bible is very definite about our freedom to choose against God and the results of that decision: eternal condemnation, see Jn 3:16, 15:16; Jos 24:15; 1 Ki 18:21; Rev 22:17. God has a perfect plan for everyone, but it is up to each person to choose whether to follow that plan. In addition, the Bible says that God’s plan of love is totally free to everyone. (34) God is personal, Holy, all powerful, just, loving, forgiving, and much more.
God’s existence is evidenced by His creation and His Word. There is a great amount of evidence, which includes “statistical proof, that an all-knowing God inspired the Bible.” (35) Moreover, there is 100% accurate historical prophecy in the Bible. These specific prophecies were written hundreds of years before the events they described occurred. (36) The Bible is not a science book, but it nevertheless contains references to science which are all found to be correct. (37) The original Old Testament scriptures “were a written record of words inspired by God.” (see Isa 56:1; Ec 20, Dt 6). Any false prophet was quickly put to death, see Dt 18:20. Many cross checks were implemented to ensure great accuracy. (38) In addition, great numbers of copies of the New Testament were distributed during the time of the eyewitnesses who would not tolerate the spread of errors. (39) In addition, “the historical accounts in the biblical record present both precision and accuracy.” (40) Today the Bible is treated as a “major historical source for archaeology.” There are also abundant archaeological discoveries that support the prophecies of the Bible. (41)
God’s existence is supported by his Word in its composition, in the totally accurate prophecies, and in the scientific insights that it contains. (42, 43) These scientific insights were in the Bible hundreds of years before science discovered them. (43,44) In addition, the Bible is composed miraculously. Consider that it’s 66 books were written over a time period of hundreds of years by 40 different authors under the guidance and direction of God, yet the Bible is consistent on various controversial subjects. (45) In fact, the Bible has survived against all odds. The Bible has been persecuted and many attempts have been made to destroy it, even though it is “the most well-documented ancient writing.” (46) “Only specific prophesies of historical people, places, or events can confirm divine input [influence]”. (47,48) Therefore, the Bible is miraculously designed, it has miraculously survived, and it is historically accurate. Therefore, it would be illogical not to find out for yourself what the Bible is all about, why some people have tried to destroy it, and why some people have died for it. Do you not want to know why God created humans? Why He created this kind of earth? And why there is evil and suffering?
If there is no God, then why do Christians create a God or a religion that condemn them and others?
Why did Jesus, Paul, Peter, and countless others die and today still die for the name of the Living God?
Jesus was either a liar, a mad person, or the true Son of God. If he is a liar, why do we follow him? die for him?, why did he die?. If he is a mad person, again why did he die? why do others die?
Jesus, was he just a good man, mad man, con man or God man? He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God! He suffered, died, and rose for you and me!
“[Do] you want to know, the difference between us. You want to know, why these things have changed. . . [It is because of] the One who lives in me. . . I let go of my life, yes I gave it all. I let go of all I used to do and I gave it all away.” (49) (Kutless) I let go of my life to Him. Christ wants to be with you; it is not a religion but a relationship. He is waiting for you. Do not run away from Him, do not hide. Christ died so that He could be with you forever. “You ask me why I need this faith; I tell you it is the only way to be set free from all your pain. . . I need your focus just this day, let me reveal to you a true friend. He’ll give you purpose, [meaning,] and eternal life. . .” (50) (Kutless) Jesus is the truth, the life, and the Way, the only way to be saved. He ransomed you. Will you not come and take him in? “I cry out to [Him] with the Love that fills my heart. . . It is by [His] grace and love I am free.” (51) I personally was born again just a few years ago. I am not perfect, but I know that that is ok. Moreover, even though I do not know every thing about God, I am growing and learning. I wrote this letter because I care and He cares what happens to you! I thank the Lord for loving me, for dying upon the tree of Calvary. I am not perfect, but I know that is okay. “There has got to be more to life, there is got to be more to everything [you think] exists.” (52) (P.O.D.) Tomorrow is not promised.
In 1 Corinthians 15:13 we learn that “if the dead do not rise from the grave, then (1) ’not even Christ has been raised’ (v. 13); (2) ‘our preaching is useless’ (v 14); (3) ‘so is your faith’ (v.14). (4) we are ‘false witnesses’ that God raised Christ from the dead (v. 15); (5) ‘your faith is futile’ (v. 17); (6) ‘you are still under your sins’ (v. 17) and still carry the guilt and condemnation of sin; (7) ‘those also who have fallen asleep [have died] in Christ are lost’ (v. 18); and (8) ‘we are to be pitied’ who ‘only for this life. . .hope in Christ’ (v.19) and put up with persecution and hardship.’(53) However, Christ has indeed been raised. There is abundant evidence of this historical fact. (54) “Therefore, Christ, who has been raised, is the guarantee of the resurrection of all of God's redeemed people.” (55) (see 1Cor 15:20; 1Th 4:13-18) With the new relationship that I have with Jesus, I have never felt more at peace, or safer, or secure, and or at rest then ever. Jesus is our representative before God, he had to become one of us, i.e. human, and die as a substitute for us in order to make peace between God and humans, Isa 50, 53.
God is saying to you: “Why do you run? Why do you hide? Oh don’t you know I just, just want to be with you? . . . [Why are you] ignoring me? . . . And I’m waiting for you. . . Don’t you know that I died, died so that I could be with you, forever? Find a place of solitude, and I’ll speak to you, as you pray to me. Don’t you know I’m waiting here, waiting for you to read and hear my words.” (56) “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”(Rom 6:23) “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:21).
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’”(Mt 22:37-40).
“The Lord be with your Spirit." (2 Ti 4:22)
Notes:
1. Skip Heitzig, “Life, Death, Resurrection,” Connection
Magazine, Easter issue 2003, 3, quoting John Brown.
2. Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th ed. , s. v .”Hell.”
3. Heitzig, “Life, Death, Resurrection,” Connection
Magazine, 4.
4. Heitzig, “Life, Death, Resurrection,” Connection
Magazine, 4.
5. Heitzig, “Life, Death, Resurrection,” Connection
Magazine, 4.
6. Heitzig, “Life, Death, Resurrection,” Connection
Magazine, 4.
7. Heitzig, “Life, Death, Resurrection,” Connection
Magazine, 4.
8. Heitzig, “Life, Death, Resurrection,” Connection
Magazine, 4.
9. Heitzig, “Life, Death, Resurrection,” Connection
Magazine, 4.
10. Heitzig, “Life, Death, Resurrection,” Connection
Magazine, 4.
11. Heitzig, “Life, Death, Resurrection,” Connection
Magazine, 5.
12. Heitzig, “Life, Death, Resurrection,” Connection
Magazine, 5.
13. Chaisson and McMillan, Astronomy Today, 4th ed. , (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 2001).
14. Shermer, Michael. “Digits and Fidgets.” Scientific American, January 2003, 35.
15. Ralph O. Muncaster, Can You Trust the Bible? (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2000)
16. Ralph O. Muncaster, Is the Bible Really a Message from God? (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2000)
17. Ralph O. Muncaster, Why Does God Allow Suffering? (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2001)
18. Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary of American English, s. v. “sleep and awake.”
19. The NIV Study Bible. 10th ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995, 1712.
20. The NIV Study Bible. 10th ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995, 1712.
21. The NIV Study Bible. 10th ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995, 1845.
22. The NIV Study Bible. 10th ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995, 1827.
23. The NIV Study Bible. 10th ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995, 1840.
24. The NIV Study Bible. 10th ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995, 1816.
25. Heitzig, “Life, Death, Resurrection,” Connection
Magazine, 7.
26. Heitzig, “Life, Death, Resurrection,” Connection
Magazine, 7.
27. Heitzig, “Life, Death, Resurrection,” Connection
Magazine, 7.
28. Romans 3:21-24 (NIV).
29. Romans 3:21-24 (NIV).
30. The NIV Study Bible. 10th ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995, 1770.
31. The NIV Study Bible. 10th ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995, 1768.
32. Ralph O. Muncaster, How to Talk About Jesus With the Skeptics in Your Life. (Eugene,
OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2001), 17.
33. Muncaster, How to Talk About Jesus, 20-21.
34. Muncaster, How to Talk About Jesus, 21.
35. Muncaster, Why Does God Allow Suffering, 8.
36. Muncaster, Why Does God Allow Suffering, 8, 14.
37. Muncaster, Why Does God Allow Suffering, 9.
38. Muncaster, Why Does God Allow Suffering, 9.
39. Muncaster, Why Does God Allow Suffering, 9-10.
40. Muncaster, Why Does God Allow Suffering, 10.
41. Muncaster, Why Does God Allow Suffering, 10.
42. Muncaster, Ralph O. What Really Happens When You Die? (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2000), 7.
43. Muncaster, Why Does God Allow Suffering, 8-9, 14-15.
44. Ralph O. Muncaster, Science Was the Bible Ahead of its Time? (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2000).
45. Muncaster, Why Does God Allow Suffering, 14.
46. Muncaster, Why Does God Allow Suffering, 15.
47. Muncaster, Why Does God Allow Suffering, 8.
48. Muncaster, What Really Happens When You Die, 7.
49. Kutless, “In Me,” Kutless, Tooth and Nail compact disk.
50. Kutless, “Saved,” Kutless, Tooth and Nail compact disk.
51. Kutless, “Grace and Love,” Kutless, Tooth and Nail compact disk.
52. P.O.D. , “Youth Of The Nation,” Satellite, Atlantic compact disk.
53. The NIV Study Bible. 10th ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995, 1757-58.
54. Ralph O. Muncaster, What is the Proof for the Resurrection? (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2000).
55. The NIV Study Bible. 10th ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995, 1758.
56. Kutless, “Run,” Kutless, Tooth and Nail compact disk.
Bibliography:
Chaisson and McMillan, Astronomy Today, 4th ed. , (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 2001).
Heitzig, Skip. “Life, Death, Resurrection.” Connection Magazine, Easter issue 2003, 3-7.
Kutless. “Run.” Kutless, Tooth and Nail compact disk.
Kutless. “In Me.” Kutless. Tooth and Nail compact disk.
Kutless. “Saved,” Kutles Tooth and Nail compact disk.
Kutless. “Grace and Love.” Kutless. Tooth and Nail compact disk.
Muncaster, Ralph O. How to Talk About Jesus With the Skeptics in Your Life. Eugene,
Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2001.
Muncaster, Ralph O. Why Does God Allow Suffering? Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House
Publishers, 2001.
Muncaster, Ralph O. What Really Happens When You Die? Eugene, Oregon:
Harvest House Publishers, 2000.
Muncaster, Ralph O. Can You Trust the Bible? Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2000.
Muncaster, Ralph O. Is the Bible Really a Message from God? Eugene, OR: Harvest House
Publishers, 2000.
Muncaster, Ralph O. Science Was the Bible Ahead of its Time? Eugene, OR: Harvest House
Publishers, 2000.
Muncaster, Ralph O. What is the Proof for the Resurrection? Eugene, OR: Harvest House
Publishers, 2000.
P.O.D. “Youth Of The Nation.” Satellite. Atlantic compact disk.
Shermer, Michael. “Digits and Fidgets.” Scientific American, January 2003, 35.
The NIV Study Bible. 10th ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.