Do Christians Go To Heaven When They Die?

There is often vigorous debate about where Christians go when they die.
I am currently writing an essay on this topic, which may well become a chapter in a future book, so I thought I would share a brief excerpt with you here.

Most Christians believe they go to heaven to be with Jesus the moment they die, although I'm not sure many of them could verify that position from the Scriptures.

Quite a few Bible Scholars use Old Testament passages to show that everyone (including Christians) go to the grave, where they sleep unaware of anything, until the rapture or the second coming of Jesus (depending on the eschatology timetable they subscribe to).

To me, having received eternal life (Greek - life of the Age) MUST make a difference between the immediate destination after death of those who are followers of Christ and those who are still un-reconciled to God.
And Paul hints at this in various places .....

But I find an interesting hint in Paul's description of the Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:14.

We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God WILL BRING WITH JESUS THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP IN HIM. [NIV]

Jesus can only bring with him those who are already with him when he is about to come.
These are they who have been separated from their bodies at death - their souls/spirits going to be with Jesus in heaven and their bodies remaining on earth to be buried or cremated.

When Jesus comes, he brings these departed souls/spirits with him, raises their bodies, and re-unites their body, soul and spirit. Being "complete" again, as are the living saints waiting for this event, Jesus gathers both the departed and the living to be together with him in the air.

He then transforms the bodies of all those being raptured into their resurrection bodies, as 1 Corinthians 15 tells us. These bodies, we are told in several places, will bear the divine image of Jesus.

And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.
[1 Corinthians 15 : 49  NIV]

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son
[Romans 8 : 29  NIV]

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
[1 John 3 : 2  NIV]

I wonder if Peter, James and John were given a preview of what this body would be like when they saw Jesus transfigured on the mountain.
After they had seen this, Jesus instructed them not to tell anyone what they had seen until after He was resurrected. (Matt 17 : 1 - 9)
Why?
My guess: because Jesus' mission was to introduce Jews to their anticipated, earthly Messianic Kingdom, and himself as their Messiah, they would not understand anything about a transfigured, heavenly body until He had led the way into that realm on resurrection morning.

However, I have digressed.
The point of this excerpt is to demonstrate that St.Paul gives a clue that those in the Body of Christ were in heaven with Christ before the Rapture, and therefore must have been previously, spiritually translated to heaven on the occasion of their earthly death.

Blessings, Barry

Jesus, Israel and the Kingdom

In the previous post "Churches Diminish Jesus' Work on the Cross", I criticised the view of people who failed to read verse 17 when quoting the famous John 3:16 passage.
Those same people might now criticise me for not addressing verse 18, thinking that verse may contradict my argument that everyone is to be eventually reconciled to God.
Verse 18 says:

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. [NIV]

We must always remember that Jesus came to Israel who were looking for the Messiah who would establish the kingdom in which the Jews were to be the head of the nations. Jesus is never talking to Israel about anything other than this kingdom Age (which Christians often call the millennium).

So whatever Jesus was promising or forbidding His Jewish audience was associated with that coming kingdom.
And the promise of life in the Age was for those of His Jewish audience who believed in His Name - believed that it was this Jesus who was their Messiah.
And those who did not so believe, would be condemned to missing out on life in that Age.

Most of our popular English translations have caused us to miss out on knowing God's ultimate plan to reconcile everyone to Himself.

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
[Colossians 1 : 19 - 20  NIV]

"Eternal life" in the gospels is actually "life of the Age" in the underlying Greek. Jesus is not addressing eternity, but the kingdom Age that Israel's prophets predicted and the Jews were hoping for.

We only need to consult literal translations of the Greek New Testament to see this. For example consider John 17 : 3, which in our popular translations talks about eternal life.

and this is the life age-during, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and him whom Thou didst send—Jesus Christ;
[YLT]
And in this consists the Life of the Ages--in knowing Thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.
[WNT]
And, this, is the age-abiding life, That they get to know thee, the only real God, and him whom thou didst send, Jesus Christ.
[REB]
Now it is eonian life that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Him Whom Thou dost commission, Jesus Christ.
[CLV]
And this is life in the Age: that they might know you, the sole true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus the Anointed.
[DBH]

This pre-occupation with the kingdom is illustrated just before Jesus' ascension.

Then they gathered around him and asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
[Acts 1 : 6  NIV]

So, "whoever does not believe stands condemned already" in verse 18 is not speaking about people missing out on eventually being reconciled to God, but about Jews missing out on the kingdom Age that was promised to believing Israel.

God's ultimate plan looks well beyond Israel's kingdom age, and promises reconciliation of all creation, Jews and Gentiles alike.

Blessings, Barry

PS. For readers who are wondering how the teaching they have received on "hell" and "the lake of fire" could possibly be consistent with God's plan to reconcile all creation, might like to put these topics into the search box on the right of this page.
Fairly comprehensive previous single posts on these can be found at:
https://barrysgracespace.blogspot.com/2010/08/what-is-hell.html, and
https://barrysgracespace.blogspot.com/2011/03/lake-of-fire-again.html.
 

Churches Diminish Jesus' Work on the Cross

Hello again! I haven't posted for a while - too busy travelling around the country. We've been in Queensland to visit family after entry restrictions were lifted. 10 of our 15 grandchildren and all our 14 great grandchildren live there, so we spent several weeks getting to know them all over again.

On return, each of us copped a good dose of COVID - so no activity on the BLOG for a further couple of weeks.

While away we visited a vibrant church and enjoyed worshipping with them on several occasions. However on the last Sunday we attended, the sermon reminded us of what many churches seem to teach - to be saved and avoid eternity in a cruel hell each person needs to make the choice to believe and accept "the gospel" during their lifetime on this planet.

No mention of what God did for all of us 2000 years ago - reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. (2 Cor 5: 19)

No mention that all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3 : 24)

No mention that all in Adam's line of descent are now in Christ's. (1 Cor 15 : 22)

Quoted was one of the best known verses in the Bible - John 3 : 16.
But most who quote it (and use it to prove their view that Jesus only died for those who believe the gospel in their lifetime) don't continue reading to the next verse.

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 (Greek: life of the Age).

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
[John 3 : 16 - 17 NIV]

So what was "the gospel" preached there that day?
Basically, your salvation is actually in your hands. You need to be born in the right place at the right time to hear the gospel and then you need to produce the faith to believe and accept this gospel while you're still alive.

The gospel of grace was completely missed; the gospel of (personal) decision and action was the one being preached.

So sad really.
This vibrant church, while enthusiastically enjoying lively worship and warm and inclusive fellowship, were celebrating their good luck in hearing the gospel and deciding to accept it while still here, and were then being encouraged to pray for friends and family with urgency because their salvation depends solely on them hearing the gospel and their subsequent action.

God is not a god of good luck; God's plan to reconcile the world through Christ was devised before the world was even created.

He (Christ) was chosen before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
[1 Peter 1 : 20  TLV]

With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,
to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfilment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
[Ephesians 1 : 8 - 10  NIV]

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
[Colossians 1 : 19 - 20  NIV]

For there is one God, and there is one who brings God and human beings together, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself to redeem the whole human race. That was the proof at the right time that God wants everyone to be saved,
[1Tim 2 : 5 - 6  GNB]

Yes, we do need to share the gospel in words and actions with others so that if now is their appointed time they will be given the faith to believe what they have heard and seen.
Understanding and celebrating the truth of what Jesus has done for them, and commitment to Christ, will automatically follow.

Clearly, salvation is God's responsibility, and God's alone.
God sent Jesus to deal with our sin.

He (Christ) is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
[1 John 2: 2  NIV]

God draws us to Jesus.

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.
[John 6 : 44 NIV ]

God gives us the faith to believe this good news.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
[Ephesians 2 : 8 - 9  NIV]

It's ALL God's doing. When it's your turn you will be awakened, irresistibly drawn by God's love and action, and given faith to believe the gospel and the Holy Spirit to empower you in your commitment to follow Jesus.

It is God who produces in you the desires and actions that please him.
[Philippians 2 : 13  GW]

It was for me, and for every genuine, committed, faithful child of God I have known - for all in the Body of Christ, the firstfruits of the harvest, those who serve with Christ in the kingdom age.

But there's more, as shown in the Scripture quotations above.
No-one will be left out. Eventually everyone will be reconciled to God and enjoy eternity with Him. Everyone will have their turn to understand and enjoy what Jesus has done for them so long ago.

So I visited a terrific, vibrant church, but their preaching sometimes denied the love and grace of God for His creation and severely diminished the full payment of Christ on the cross for the sins of the world.

Will I attend again?
I'm sure I will - they welcome warmly, celebrate using God-focused worship, encourage their members to live committed and joyful lives, and preach positive messages most of the time.
Indeed, if we only choose to worship and fellowship in churches whose doctrine we 100% agree with, we might find ourselves worshipping alone.

Blessings, Barry

Belief Doesn't Create Truth

Many churches and Bible commentators teach that
if a person believes that Jesus died for their sins,
then they will be forgiven their sins and thus saved.

In other words, personal belief is needed to activate Christ's sacrifice for them, and so obtain their salvation.
Or, more arrogantly, Christ needs our help to save us!

This doesn't seem to harmonise with what the Scriptures say about what God has done through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.

First, our sins have been dealt with 2000 years ago - whether we believe it or not.

Jesus Christ, the one who pleases God completely. He is the sacrifice for our sins. He takes away not only our sins but the sins of all the world.
[1 John 2 : 1 - 2  NLT]

Second, God is reconciled to us and thus is at peace with us - whether we believe it or not.

For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them.
[2 Corinthians 5 : 19  NLT]

Third, God intends everyone to know these truths and live in unity and harmony with him and his creation forever - whether we believe it or not.

... God our Savior, who wants (intends) everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.
[1 Timothy 2 : 3 - 4   NLT]
God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.
[Ephesians 1 : 9 - 10  NLT]

Belief doesn't create these truths.
Creatures like you and me cannot believe the Creator's plans into existence.
All truths need to exist before they can be believed, meaning they are equally true for believers and unbelievers.

So if these truths do exist, why doesn't everyone believe them?

The simple answer is that not all of us come to belief at the same time.
Are you a believer?
Did you become a believer at the same time as other believers you know?
Probably not. 

God draws us to him, gives us the Holy Spirit and the faith to believe his good news at his appointed time for each of us.
And those appointed times will be spread across the eons or ages of time, not just in this present one, for all of creation.

Indeed, in this present age, God is only choosing the advance party of early believers, called the Body of Christ.
They do not have to wait till the end of time to come to know and believe the truth - as all others do.

Early believers are chosen and equipped to serve Christ in announcing these truths to the rest of their generation, so that those others still to be chosen from that generation will hear their call, be given faith and drawn into this advance party.

So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.
[Romans 10 : 17  NLT]

And God is still actively filling and empowering the advance party in 2022 - almost 2000 years after He began.

Blessings, Barry

Really Good News Produces Real Joy

I really enjoy watching YouTube videos of André Rieu and his orchestra and vocalists. Almost as much, I enjoy watching the reactions of his audience - such happiness, even tears of joy.

Audiences leaving the concert are often singing and dancing as they make their way to the street, and always with a huge smile on their faces.
And their topic of conversation? The concert, of course, and the exhilaration and happiness it gave them.  

I can't help thinking how wonderful it would be if we saw people leaving a church service like that.
Singing, dancing, talking about the joy and exhilaration the service gave them, and especially the good news that was preached.

But I haven't seen that too often ... and wonder why.
I wonder if God's true character, his love, grace and mercy, have been celebrated?
I wonder if God's plan to save the world has been mentioned?
I wonder if the audience has been reminded how specially chosen and privileged they are to be in Christ's advance party?
I wonder if the audience has been taught that their "unsaved" loved ones have already had their sin penalty paid for them by Jesus' death on the cross 2000 years ago?
I wonder if the really good news from the Bible has been shared or whether this has been re-jigged in some way?

For which reason God also exalted him on high and graced him with the name that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee - of beings heavenly and earthly and subterranean - should bend,
and every tongue gladly confess that Jesus the Anointed is Lord, for the glory of God the Father.
[Philippians 2 : 9 - 11  DBH]

If this really good news has been preached and celebrated, genuinely enthusiastic worship would break out spontaneously.
And the conversations after the service might contain expressions of  thankfulness, joy and hope, rather than discussions about the weather, football and politics. 

On a personal note: conversations after the service I have led have ranged from "You sure gave us something to think about this morning!" to
"Why haven't we heard that before?" to
"I don't think you should lead a service here again!"

And in one church, I have been cancelled, never to return to that pulpit again.
I had preached too much good news that made too many people hopeful and joyful and discussing the Biblical truths that were explored as they had morning tea after the service.

Blessings, Barry

Does Our Faith Match Our Hope?

As a Christian, what do you hope for?
An interesting aspect of an answer to this question came to me recently when thinking about the definition of faith from the Book of Hebrews.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
[Hebrews 11 : 1  NIV]

Are all the things you have faith in, what you believe, are also what you are hoping for?
Let's see.
Do you believe (have faith) that Jesus died on the cross for your sins? Then this Hebrews verse assures us that this is what you are hoping for.

Do you believe that Jesus is to return to planet earth to take you to be with him forever? Then this is what you are hoping for.

Do you believe that all unbelievers will be endlessly tormented in a place called "hell" after Jesus rewards you? Then this is what you are hoping for.

Many Christians I know do believe in this horrid doctrine of "eternal punishment" but most of them have never expressed a hope in it, especially if some of their close family are unbelievers.

I avoided this conflict between belief and hope by abandoning "the horrid doctrine" that I was taught in my early church days and began to study the Bible for myself and see God's true heart and character and His plan to reconcile all of His creation.

Here are a few verses from the New Testament which contradict "the horrid doctrine".

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
[John 3 : 17  NIV]
And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."
[Jesus speaking, John 12 : 32  NIV]
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
[1 John 2 : 2  NIV]
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them...
[2 Corinthians 5 : 18 - 19  NIV]

I therefore believe that God will reconcile all creation to Himself and this is what I am hoping for. I have this "assurance about what we do not see".

Does our faith match our hope?
Let's believe only those doctrines we can genuinely hope for.

Blessings, Barry

My 2021 Christmas Thought

Each year around Christmas I use my daily reflection time to think of something especially pertinent to the miraculous arrival of Jesus to earth as a babe in Bethlehem and His subsequent impact as the Saviour of the world.

In previous years I have written about the Santa deception, God's plan and provision to take away the sin of the world, the use of BC and AD to divide our calendar, and so on.

This year my Christmas thoughts have focused on another purpose God had in sending His Son, Jesus Christ, into our world - to show us what God is like.

Jesus himself declared this aspect of his role:

"The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me."
[John 12 : 45  NIV]

This was affirmed by other writers in the New Testament:

The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being,
[Hebrews 1 : 3a  NIV]
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
[Colossians 1 : 15  NIV]

Even so, some close disciples were slow to grasp this. Here is part of a 'Jesus-disciple' conversation recorded by John:

Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
"If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."
Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?
Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?" [John 14 : 5 - 9  NIV]

Prior to Jesus' arrival on our planet, people had mixed views about what God was like. The Law and the Prophetical writings in the Old Testament provided some insights but were limited and sometimes quite inconsistent.

To demonstrate the superior witness of Jesus over that of the Old Testament writings, we could look at that miraculous event played out on what we often call Mount Transfiguration, recorded in Matthew 17, Mark 9 and Luke 9.

Moses (representing the Law) and Elijah (representing the Prophets) were seen with Jesus on the mountain by Peter, James and John. When Peter offered to build shelters for Moses, Elijah and Jesus to show equal honour and respect for them, a cloud removed Moses and Elijah, and a voice from the cloud declared:

This is my Son, whom I love; with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him!
Matthew 17 : 5  NIV]

Equal honour was not to be assumed or given. Jesus is the Son.

No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
[John 1 : 18  NIV]

Listen to him! He knows God perfectly, far better than Moses and Elijah.

Although the Bible teaches us much about God, it really is pointing us to Jesus who is "the exact representation of his being".

This Christmas let's offer God thanks for his Son, the Bethlehem babe, who takes away the sins of the world, and resolve to listen to him as he reveals the God of love and mercy to us.

Blessings, Barry