Life, death, and the timing and meaning of the cross of Christ

Life, death, and the timing and meaning of the cross of Christ

QUESTION:

What will happen to the souls of those who died before Jesus Christ? Did they go to the nothingness or hell if they didn’t know Jesus’ name. They died before Him. So where are they now?

If the time of Jesus death have no meaning, then what meaning has it? Why was His death needed? If He did not die, would we go to hell?

I don’t get it. If they will be saved even before Jesus’ death, then His death is pointless. If it has any meaning and value, then why would those who died before Him be damned? Isn’t that proof that we aren’t equal before God at all?

ANSWER:

The doctrine of death and the afterlife is wide and there are many different theories. Some believe in “soul sleep” which means while the body is 6-feet under at death, they are aware of nothing. No consciousness, no thinking or experiences, but just waiting in ‘sleep’ for their resurrection in their order. The Bible has many references that can suggest this.

The Destinies of a Man

The Destinies of a Man

At the very moment you believed the grace gospel, you were regenerated in spirit, and you were placed into Christ, becoming an adopted son, seated with Christ in the heavenlies. What a contrast to what you were before this! Before salvation by God's grace, you were a dead sinner, living out a vain existence that would end with the wrath of God. You were of no value to anything going on in this earth. Paul said,

Ephesians 2:1-3 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others [who are outside of Christ].

Fundamental Concepts of ‘Rightly Dividing’ the Truth

Fundamental Concepts of ‘Rightly Dividing’ the Truth

It always saddens me why so many people resist the dispensational interpretation of scripture. In addition, most of these people reject the idea BEFORE they have even understood what dispensations are. I’m not being judgmental, …just realistic, as I’m speaking from experience! They are influenced by someone who dismisses it, or their church resists it, and then they build barriers against it, all without even investigating what it is really about.

What are our ambassadorial duties in this broken world?

What are our ambassadorial duties in this broken world?

The world is in a mess, right! So, what are we to be doing about it? I hear so many ‘Christians’ saying that we need to resist the changes happening in this age and make our mark on society. I don’t know about you, but I think this is the wrong mindset! If you know Bible prophecy, you will know that what is happening in the world today is part of God’s plan. I like to say that things are not falling apart (as so many think), rather things are starting to fall into place! This gives me such hope for our Lord’s soon return.

Does God expect us to halt the immorality of man? Does God expect us to stop the rise of evil? Does God expect us to disarm the Antichrist and spoil his plans? Of course not! Again, these things MUST take place. Judgement is coming upon the world. So, what then does God expect of us?

THE FAITH: A Form of Sound Doctrine

What is "THE FAITH "

Col.2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in THE FAITH, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you [corrupting THE FAITH] through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Paul uses the phrase, "THE FAITH", to identify the working of an independent, living truth, existing as a foundation, in the heart of the believer. THE FAITH is in simple terms, the Bible, the Word of God, embedded in the heart of the believer. However, in a more accurate definition, THE FAITH is not all the Bible, but rather, a "specific set of doctrine" from within the Bible. What is more, the "specific set of doctrine", as foundational truth in the heart, is determined by the dispensation in which one lives. Let me explain.

Not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect

Not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect

The vain babblings of unregenerated men

How many philosophers, teachers, students of scripture, so-called wise men, debaters, and counselors are out there, speaking the things of the Bible, judging and arguing the deep things of the Word, correcting, advising, and reprimanding others, all the while thinking that they understand the oracles of God, that they have the credentials to speak truth, and that they have their theology grounded because of research, study, and experience. To these individuals, I address the fact that if you have not been regenerated by the gospel of grace and received the Spirit of Christ within you, then your theological wisdom is foolishness, and your biblical teachings are vain jangling's and rife with lies.

Ask yourself truthfully, what is the origin of your theology? From what fountain of knowledge has your wisdom been syphoned from? Are you glorying in an invented truth? Has it not by chance been handed down to you from the vain imaginations of others who came before you? Could it be that you are gloating in reused fabrications of theology that others have once blended together for their own glory or purpose?

The apostle Paul arrived at one time in Athens and encountered a city fraught with idols. In the center of all this deception sat wise men who daily spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing. 

Acts 17:16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. ... 18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? ... 20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. 21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.) ... 23 For as I [Paul] passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, "To the Unknown God". Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.