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Is there hope beyond the grave?

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Samuel Smith
5

LESSON 2

IS THERE HOPE BEYOND THE GRAVE?

You are welcome to another edition of Insights from God's Word, a Bible study programme that is committed to sharing God's Word by allowing the Bible to speak for itself.

In this edition, we continue with our series on The Truth About Death. In this study, I want us to consider the question: Is there hope beyond the grave?

During the time of Christ, two of the main Jewish religious groups; that is, the Pharisees and the Sadducees were sharply divided on the belief in the bodily resurrection of the dead. While the Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead, the Sadducees on the other hand, believed otherwise (Matthew 22:23; Acts 23:6-9). During the missionary journeys of the apostle Paul, he encountered some philosophers of the Epicureans and Stoicks; some of whom actually mocked at his teaching on the bodily resurrection of the dead (Acts 17:18-32). Today, just like those philosophers who encountered Paul in Athens, many secular people mock at the belief in the bodily resurrection of the dead. In this study, I want us to consider what the Bible has to say on the issue of the resurrection.

Throughout the various generations of mankind, not a few people have pondered the question as to whether the dead will live again. Many have asked whether there is hope for mankind beyond the grave. The patriarch Job echoed the deep thoughts of many when he made the statement: "If a man die, shall he live again? (Job 14:14). Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the prophet Isaiah provided a straightforward answer to this perplexing question that has been on the heart of many people. From Isaiah 26:19, we read the assuring statement of Scripture: "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead."

What an assurance from God' s Holy Word; our dead friends and relatives shall live again! From John 11: 25, we read some revolutionary words from Christ: "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live". After this remarkable statement, our Saviour went ahead and raised Lazarus from the dead (see John 11:43-44). Beloved, what Christ did for Lazarus, He has promised to do for everyone who comes to believe in Him. From John 6:40, we read the following assuring words of Christ: "And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day."

Friends, the Bible is so clear about the fact that people who give their hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ will be resurrected to eternal life at the second coming of Christ. The apostle Paul sought to encourage the believers in Thessalonica with the hope of the resurrection that we have in Jesus. From 1 Thessalonians 4:16, we read the following assuring words from the apostle Paul: "4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
A similar passage from the apostle Paul was chronicled to the believers who dwelt in Corinth. From 1 Corinthians 15:51-55, we read the following assurance from God's Holy Word: "15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"

(1 Corinthians 15:51-55)
Friends, this is the assurance that the people of God have over death. We can look beyond the grave with confidence. This is because one day our Saviour is going to deliver us from the prison house of death. We will then dwell with Him forever in a land of fadeless day (Revelation 22:5), in a land where " ...God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Revelation 21:4).

Beloved, have you lost a dear one to death? Are you grieving over the death of a spouse, child, father, mother, or close relative or friend? Even though a painful experience, the apostle Paul admonishes us that we should not grieve over our dead as people without hope. His reason for this is because Christ has gained the victory over death (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14), and soon and not too far away, we will embrace our dead friends and family again (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

What a happy reunion awaits the people of God! When babies departed from their parents due to death will be ushered back into their arms by their guardian angels, when friends and families whose earthly ties were sadly broken due to death will be reunited, never again to be separated. But sad to say friends, not everyone will experience this bliss of resurrection. The Bible teaches that another class of people will also resurrect from their graves but not to experience the bliss of God's eternal home. This is the wicked of all ages who refused to accept the gift of salvation that God offered to us through the atoning sacrifice of His dear Son. These people loved to hang on to sin and the world instead of surrendering their hearts to the Saviour. And at the end of time, as the righteous resurrect to enjoy the bliss of eternal life, these wicked will be resurrected in shame to face the dreadful judgement of God (Revelation 20:11-15).

From the prophet Daniel, we catch a glimpse of the terrible resurrection of the wicked: "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, AND SOME TO SHAME AND EVERLASTING CONTEMPT" (Daniel 12:2; Capital Emphasis Added).

From John 5:28-29, we read similar words from Christ Himself: "28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; AND THEY THAT HAVE DONE EVIL, UNTO THE RESURRECTION OF DAMNATION" (John 5:28-29). Beloved, from our study so far, it is clear from several scriptural passages that death does not have the final word. And that people who have surrendered their lives to Christ can look beyond the grave with the hope of a better life to come. Dear friends, we all have a choice to make; whether we will surrender our lives to Christ and have a solid hope beyond the grave, or we will despise so great a salvation that God offers us through His Son, and look forward to a resurrection of shame and condemnation!

Exhortation: Beloved, I have fully surrendered my heart to the Lord Jesus Christ because of His supreme sacrifice for me on the cross of Calvary. I want to serve Him with all my heart because of His marvellous grace and love, because of His promise of a better resurrection, and eternal life in a world made new. If this is your wish, if this is your prayer, why don't you ask God to give you the strength to make Him the Lord and Saviour of your life today? Just ask Him. He is willing to help you now!

In our next study, we will consider the topic: What happens to man at death? We will be considering in detail the biblical doctrine of the state of the dead. The Bible Study references for this study are Genesis 2:7, Genesis 3:19, Ecclesiastes 12:7, Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 and Psalm 146:3-4. Please do well to go through these passages before the next study is released.

Stay blessed and keep shining for King Jesus.

Maranatha!

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