Life After Death #2

In the beginning of last week's lesson I pointed out that all believers in the Bible agree there will be life after this, but they don't all agree as to who will receive this life or where it will be.

In that lesson I made mention of the fact that some believe that the ungodly won't receive life after death and that this denial of an existence will be their punishment for having lived ungodly.

I believe sufficient evidence was produced to prove that both the wicked and the righteous will be resurrected to an eternal existence but not to dwell together.

Now there is another group who believe that we experience more than one life here on earth before the second coming of Christ, and the purpose of this multiplicity of lives is to afford us the opportunity of finally advancing ourselves to a point of righteousness which will qualify us for an altogether spiritual existence. This I do not believe can be verifired by the scriptures, but to the contrary it contradits what many of them have to say!

No, this I cannot believe because there are scriptures which say we will only live once here on earth.

According to 2 Samuel 12:23 after the death of one of David's sons he said,"I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." David in saying this, was as much as saying, my sons shall not return.

A few years later David died. Then many years after this the Apostle Peter said he had not come back (Acts 2:29).

Consider this also. John in Revelation 20:6 and Revelation 2:11 speaks of some who shall not be hurt of the second death. now what is this second death?

John in both Revelation 20:15 and Revelatgion 21:8 says it will come to pass when Christ (on the Judgment Day), shall cast the unrighteous into the lake of fire.

Since there is to be a second death, then there must of necessity be a first death, but inasmuch as the second death is to take place when Christ return, then it must follow that we only experience one death before His return.

So, what does this all prive? It proves that when man dies the physical death, he leaves this world and never returns until the second coming of Jesus.

The Apostle Paul [*] in Hebrews 9:27-28 says "And as it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgement; so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many."

My dear readers, just as sure as this scripture says Christ was OFFERED ONCE, it also says we only DIE ONCE; so if we only die once then we only live once.

No, my friends, the scriptures do not (as those who believe in reincarnation) say, we shall live and die many times. But what they do say, is that we shall live once, and die once, and then cometh the judgment.

The other part of this doctrine of reincarnation, is that we by being given these many lives will finally be able to prepare ourselves for a spiritual existence. If this be so, then we as human beings (if given enough time) are capable of directing our own way into this spiritual state of being.

However, this as well as the other part of the position, is not consistent with what the scriptures say. This position declares that man is capable of directing his own steps. BUT WHAT SAITH THE SCRIPTURES? They proclaim this is impossible (Jeremiah 20:23, Proverbs 12:15, Proverbs 14:12, Proverbs 20:24).

Again, this position either says we may enter into the good life after while, even though we are not altogether free from sin, or it affirms we are capable of living without sin. yet Romans 6;23, Revelation 21:27 and John 8:21 teach that no one guilty of sin will be allowed to enter into that good life. Then, too, there is another group of scriptures which teach it is impoissible for us to live a sinless life (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8, 1 John 1:10).

No, my readers, the way of reincarnation is not the way unto the good life after death. However, there is a way by which this may be accomplished. Yes, God sent His Son Jesus into the word to die for the sins of all believers in Him and His Son who would be willing to turn away from sin and comply with His will (Hebrews 11:6, John 3:16, John 3:18, John 8:24, Matthew 7:21, Hebrews 5:9).

My readers, I wish I knew what all of us have need of hearing, which would fully convince us that we should reject all men invented ways.

I also wish I knew all that could be said to persuade those of you who have not yet embraced God's way, to do so today.

If you think a personal study might be helpful, then you decide the time an dplace which will be convient for you and I'll be there. [**]

By Tommy Hodge

[* I do not believe Paul wrote the Hebrews Letter, but apparently Bro. Hodge accepted it as fact. Though there is the possibility Paul was involved, there is no concrete evidence to support such an affirmation. Carey Scott]

[**] Since Bro. Hodge has sinced passed away, the offer still stands to study God's word. Either by e-mail correspondence with me, or if you desire a person on person study, contact me and I can find someone in your area to assist you find the truth on these things. Carey Scott

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