Doctrine Matters

The truth will set you free

Website

Jesus speaking to the Sadducees

This was a sect of Judaism similar to the Pharisees, but they did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. Jesus was correcting them, telling them that God is not the God of the dead.

“But concerning the resurrection of the dead,
have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying,
‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?’
God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
Matthew 22:31-32

The Thief On The Cross

When Jesus was dying on the Cross, the criminal who was dying next to him asked Jesus to remember him when he came into his Kingdom. “And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’” (Luke 23:43)

If by that he meant the grave, of what import is the statement? Being in the grave with him would be a meaningless promise to that man.

Paul’s Dilemma

The Apostle Paul wished to be in heaven with Christ.

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Philippians1:21

If there’s no life after death, this statement is ridiculous. How can dying be gain?

“But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor;
yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.
For I am hard-pressed between the two,
having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.”

vs 22:
To be with Christ certainly doesn’t mean in the grave. Surely that wouldn’t be “far better.” How can lying in a grave be “FAR better?” Why would he so earnestly desire death unless he was looking to being with Christ?

Absent From The Body

1“We are confident, yes well pleased, rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”
(2nd Corinthians 5:8)

When a believer leaves the body, he is present with the Lord. One is not “present with the Lord” in the grave. No, he’s present with the Lord in heaven.

Moses and Elijah

Jesus took Peter, James and John up onto a mountain and was transfigured before them. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared and began speaking with Jesus. Peter was so shook that he asked if he should build a tent for them. Obviously, Moses and Elijah had been dead for centuries, yet they appeared on that mountain with Jesus. Alive.
Ref: Matthew 17:1-4

The Rich Man And Lazarus

Some believe this was a parable, but Jesus never names a person in his parables. What he was stating here was actual.

Jesus tells of a conversation between a rich man in hell and Lazarus who was in Paradise, clearly showing them both alive after death. In fact, the man in hell is begging that someone be sent to warn his brothers not to come to this awful place of torment. The answer was that they have the Bible, and if they don’t believe the Word of God then nothing will persuade them.
Ref: Luke chapter 16 verses 19-31

And best of all: