Is there life after death?

Answer

Job, in his despair, asked, “If a man dies, shall he live again?” «If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, Till my change come. », (Job 14:14, ESV). This question has challenged all of us. Is there life after death? What happens to us after we die? Do we simply cease to exist? Is death a cycle of departing and returning to earth? Do all individuals go to the same place after death, or do they go to different places? Is heaven and hell real?

The Bible assures us that there is life after death. This world is not the end, and humanity was created for something greater. When a person dies, the body stops functioning and begins to return to the earth, but the spiritual aspect of a person continues to exist: “The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7;cf: Psalm 146:4).

For those who are saved and have their sins forgiven, God grants eternal life, a glorious existence that is beyond human comprehension: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” «But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, Neither have entered into the heart of man, The things which God hath prepared for them that love him. », (1 Corinthians 2:9, NLT). This eternal life is intimately connected to Jesus Christ: “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only trueGod and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” «And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. », (John 17:3). In Jesus’ prayer in this passage, He equates “eternal life” with a knowledge of God and of the Son. “Whoever has the Son has life” «He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. », (1 John 5:12).

Jesus Christ, God incarnate, came to the earth to pay for our sins and give us the gift of eternal life: “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” «But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. », (Isaiah 53:5). Three days after His crucifixion, Jesus proved Himself victorious over death by rising from the grave—He is life personified «Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: », (John 11:25) and the ultimate proof that there is life after death.

The resurrection of Christ is a well-documented event. The apostle Paul invited people to question the over 500 eyewitnesses who saw Jesus after His resurrection «after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. », (1 Corinthians 15:6). All of them could bear testimony to the fact that Jesus is alive and that thHere is indeed life after death.

The resurrection of Christ, which gives us the sure hope of life after death, is the cornerstone of the Christian faith (1 Corinthians 15:12-19). Because Christ was raised from the dead, we have faith that we, too, will be resurrected. As Jesus told His disciples, “Because I live, you also will live” «Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. », (John 14:19). Christ was only the first of a great harvest of those who will be raised to life again «But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. », (1 Corinthians 15:23). Just as God raised up Jesus’ body, so will our bodies be resurrected upon Jesus’ return «And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. », (1 Corinthians 6:14).

The fact of life after death does not mean everyone will go to heaven, however. People will continue to exist after they die, and there will be a resurrection someday, but God makes a distinction between the resurrection of the just (those who are in Christ) and the unjust (those who die in their sin): “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt” «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). Paul put it this way: “There will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked” «and have hope toward God, wh

They themselves also allow that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. «And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.», (Acts 24:15).

Each person must make a choice in this life, a decision that will determine their eternal destination. It is appointed for us to die once, and after that comes judgment. «And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:», (Hebrews 9:27). Those who have been justified by faith in Christ will enter eternal life in heaven, while those who have refused Christ as Savior will face eternal punishment in hell. «And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.», (Matthew 25:46). Hell, like heaven, is a real place. It is a place where the unrighteous will endure the never-ending, eternal wrath of God. Hell is depicted as a lake of fire where the inhabitants will be tormented day and night forever and ever. «And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.», (Revelation 20:10). In hell, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, indicating intense grief and anger. «and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.», (Matthew 13:42).

God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but desires for them to turn from their evil ways so they can live. «Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his ways so they can live.»

Turn ye and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? », (Ezekiel 33:11). However, He will not compel us into submission; if we opt to reject Christ, the one and only Savior, we are turning away from the heaven He has prepared for us, and we will exist eternally apart from Him. Life on earth serves as a preparation for what lies ahead. Faith in Christ readies us for life after death: “Whoever believes in [God’s Son] 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” «He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. », (John 3:18).

Every individual will encounter life after death in some form. For those who believe in Christ, life after death entails eternal life in heaven with God. Conversely, for those who do not believe, life after death means an eternity in the lake of fire. How can we attain eternal life and evade hell? There is only one path—through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus declared, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die” (John 11:25-26).

The gift of eternal life is freely offered to all. “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them” «He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.», (John 3:36). We will not have the chance to accept God’s gift of salvation after death. Our eternal destination is determined.

Determined in our earthly lifetimes by our reception or rejection of Jesus Christ. “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” «(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, And in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) », (2 Corinthians 6:2). If we trust in the death of Jesus Christ as the full payment for our sin, and we believe in His resurrection from the dead, we are guaranteed eternal life after death, in glory (1 Peter 1:3-5).

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