Death and The Intermediate

Death and the
Intermediate State
STUDY QUESTIONS
 What is the purpose of death in the
Christian life?
 What happens to our bodies and souls
when we die?
A) Why do Christians die?
1. Death is not a punishment for Christians. All the penalty for our sins
has been paid.(Rom. 8:1)
2. Death is the final outcome of living in a fallen world. The last
aspect of a fallen world to be removed will be death (1 Cor.
15:26, 54-55)
3. God uses the experience of aging and death to complete our
sanctification (Rom. 8:28,Heb. 2:10, Heb. 12:6, 10-11, Heb. 5:8,
Rev. 2:10, Phil. 1:20).
4. Our experience of death completes our union with Christ. (Rom.
8:17, 1 Peter 4:13, 1Peter 2:21)
5. Our obedience to God is more important that preserving our own
lives. (Acts 20: 24, Acts21:13, 2 Cor. 11:23-27, 2 Tim. 4:6-7, Rev.
12:11)
B) How should we think of our own death
and the death of others?
1) Our own death: not with fear but with joy at the prospect of
going to be with Christ. (2Cor. 5:8, Phil. 1:22-23, Rev. 14:13; Heb.
2:15, Rom. 8:38-39)
2) The death of Christian friends and relatives: sorrow, but mixed
with joy. (Acts 8:2, 20:37-38; John 11:35, Phil. 2:27, 2 Sam. 1:11-
27, 1 Thess. 4:13, 5:10; Ps. 116:15; 2 Sam.12:20; Job 1:20-21)
3) The death of unbelievers: but not mixed with the joy of
assurance of salvation (Rom. 9:1-3, 2 Sam. 1:19-25).
-- But we often do not have absolute certainty that a person has
persisted in refusal to trust Christ all the way to the point of death.
The knowledge of one’s impending death often will bring about
genuine heart searching on the part of the dying person.
-- Nevertheless, after a non-Christian has died, it
would be wrong indicate to others that we think
that person has gone to heaven. This would
give misleading information and false
assurance and diminish the urgency for those
remaining to trust Christ.
 -- It is often helpful to recall the good qualities
that you remember about the person’s life: 2
Sam 1:19-25
C) What happens when people die?
1) The souls of believers go immediately into God’s presence. (2 Cor.

5:8, Phil. 1:23, Luke 23:43, Heb. 12:1, 22-24)
 i. The Bible does not teach the doctrine of Purgatory. In Roman
Catholic teaching, Purgatory is the place where the souls of
believers go to be further purified from sin until they are ready to
be admitted into heaven. (supported from 2 Maccabees 12:42-
45; also Matt. 12:32; 1 Cor. 3:15)
 ii. The Bible does not teach the doctrine of “soul sleep.” A
metaphorical expression is sued in these verses to teach that death
is temporary. (Matt. 9:24, 24:52; John 11:11; Acts 7:60, 13:36; 1
Cor. 15:6, 18, 20, 51; 1 Thess. 4:13, 5:10).
iii. Did OT believers enter immediately into God’s presence? Yes, I
think so: Gen.5:24, 2 Kings 2:11, Ps. 23:6, Matt. 22:32, Luke
16:25
iv. Should we pray for the dead? No. To pray for the dead is
simply to pray for something that God has told us has already
been decided.
2) The souls of unbelievers go immediately to eternal punishment
(Matt. 25: 41, 46; Luke16:24-26; John 3:18; Heb 9:27; Rev.
14:11, 20:10).
i. Scripture never represents final judgment as depending on
anything done after we die, but only on what has happened in
this life (Matt. 25:31-46, Rom. 2:5-10).
ii. Unbelievers await final judgment (Matt. 25: 31-46; John
5:28-29; Acts 24:15; Rev. 20:12, 15)
“The Order of Salvation”
1. Election (God’s choice of people to be saved)
2. The gospel call (proclaiming the message of the gospel)
3. Regeneration (being born again)
4. Conversion (faith and repentance)
5. Justification (right legal standing)
6. Adoption (membership in God’s family)
7. Sanctification (right conduct of life)
8. Perseverance (remaining a Christian)
9. Death (going to be with the Lord)
10. Glorification (receiving a resurrection body)
42
GLORIFICATION
Receiving a Resurrected Body
STUDY QUESTIONS
When will we receive a

resurrection body?
What will they be like?
I. Explanation & Scriptural Basis
Definition -
1. Glorification is the final step in the
application of redemption.
2. It will happen when Christ returns and raises
from the dead the bodies of all believers for
all time who have died, and reunites them with
their souls, and changes the bodies of all
believers who remain alive, thereby giving all
believers at the same time perfect resurrection
bodies like his own.
A) New Testament Evidence for
Glorification
•1 Cor. 15:22-23
• 1 Thess. 4:14-16
• John 5:28-29
• Phil. 3:20-21
• Rom. 8:11-
B) Old Testament Support for
Glorification
o Job 19:25-26
o Dan 12:23
o Isa. 26:19-
o John 11:23-
o Acts 24:14-15
o Heb 11:13-16
C) What Will Our Resurrection Bodies Be
Like?
1) 1 Cor. 15:42-44, 49

i. Imperishable
ii. Glorious ( Matt. 13:14,
Dan.12:3, Ex. 34:35)
iii. Powerful
iv. Spiritual
C) What Will Our Resurrection Bodies
Be Like? Cont…
2. Whatever remains in the grave from our own physical
bodies will be taken by God and transformed and
used to make a new resurrection body (1 Cor. 15:37-
44)
3. Christ's own resurrection body, though it differed
somewhat from the body he had before he died, was
similar enough in appearance for the disciples to know
who it was rather quickly
4. People will be able to recognize and know one
another in heaven (Matt. 8:11; Luke 9:30, 33; Matt.
27:52-53)
D) The Entire Creation Will Be
Renewed As Well
(Rom. 8:19-23)
E) The Unbelieving Dead Will Be Raised for Judgment
on the Day of Final Judgment
 (John 5:28-29;
 Acts 24:14-15)
Questions for Personal Application
THANKS

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Death and the

1) The souls of believers go immediately into God’s presence. (2 Cor.

When will we receive a

1) 1 Cor. 15:42-44, 49

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