Monthly Archives: January 2021

Nobody knows what happens after death!

(Image i-am-n T-shirts Voice of the Martyrs)

By Spencer D Gear PhD

I do some Internet blogging and met this fellow who stated:

when your asked if you no de wae - ImgflipThere are no answers, and there never will be for the living. And there is no difference in dogmatism of those who say that there has to an after life and those who say there is not. Nobody knows.[1]

I responded: Do you understand your hypocrisy? You claim there is no difference between the dogmatism of those who affirm an after-life and those who don’t. Then you give us your dogmatism: “Nobody knows.”

Meet someone who gives evidence for life-after-death.

Let me introduce you to somebody who knows what happens after death.

Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back. After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power (1 Corinthians 15:22-24 NLT).

This same author, the Apostle Paul, writing under divine inspiration, affirmed: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21 NIV).

This kind of evidence led to this statement in the Apostles’ Creed: “I believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.”

“Nobody knows” is arrogance.

I know you won’t like the evidence I’ve provided, but your “nobody knows” position is one of ignorance – even arrogance.
What was Jesus’ view? He said to Martha at the time when her brother, Lazarus, was raised from the dead by Jesus, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies, and the one who lives and believes in me will never die [i.e. will never die forever]. Do you believe this?”(
John 11:25-26 NET)

Meet the One who knows what happens at death.

There is most definitely someone who knows where you will be one minute after your last breath. He is the crucified, resurrected and returning Jesus Christ who is alive and well. He is the only one who has provided assurance in life and after death.

(Image from 2018, “Thousands of Muslims turn to Christ after witnessing ISIS atrocities,” Christian Today)

You must count the cost of following Jesus with much thought.

  • Salvation is absolutely free.
  • So is joining the army; you don’t have to pay to get into it. Everything you need is provided.[2]
  • Following Christ is like joining the army. It will cost you daily. It will cost you freedom, family, friends, doing things your own way (autonomy), and possibly even your life.[3]
  • I must tell you, a prospective believer, the full truth and nothing but the truth.
  • Read what Jesus said about this in Luke 14:26-33; Matthew 10:34-38, and Romans 6:6.

See a more extensive discussion on the Gospel and discipleship in, The Content of the Gospel . . . and some discipleship.

Romanian pastor, Richard Wurmbrand, spent 14 years in a communist prison – three of these years were in solitary confinement. Later, he was able to say,

We prisoners have experienced the power of God, the love of God which made us leap with joy. Prison has proved that love is as strong as death. We have conquered through Christ. Officers with rubber truncheons came to interrogate us; we interrogated them, and they became Christians. Other prisoners had been converted… The Communists believe that happiness comes from material satisfaction; but alone in my cell, cold, hungry and in rags, I danced for joy every night… Sometimes I was so filled with joy that I felt I would burst if I did not give it expression… I had discovered a beauty in Christ which I had not known before.[4]

Will you join me in confessing your sin, seeking God’s forgiveness and seeking salvation for eternal life through Jesus Christ?

clip_image002[5]

(VOM refers to Voice of the Martyrs, founded by Richard & Sabina Wurmbrand. Image courtesy Persecution Blog, VOM)

Notes

[1] On Line Opinion, “Death and the Lords of the Universe,” Peter Sellick, 18 January 2021, Posted by ttbn, Monday, 18 January 2021 4:38:24 PM (Accessed 19 January 2021).

[2] John F. MacArthur Jr., Faith Works: The Gospel According to the Apostles. Milton Keynes, England: Word Publishing, 1993, p. 253.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Richard Wurmbrand, In God’s Underground (Diane Books), in David K. Watson, How to Find God. Wheaton, Illinois: Harold Shaw Publishers, 1974, p. 65.

 

Copyright © 2021 Spencer D. Gear. This document last updated at Date: 19 January 2021.

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Is Heaven Real?

Jesus Christ In Heaven

By Spencer D Gear PhD

Is heaven real or a fantasy? How can any person get there?

There is a liberal Anglican, Peter Sellick, who posts articles online. He has a new one entitled, “Death and the Lords of the Universe” (On Line Opinion, 18 January 2021), That’s a provocative title. Which Lords?

I picked up a statement from this article:

Death is real, a real end and absence that cannot be penetrated. When this is understood, the confidence of “a better place” after death is exposed as a attempt to soften the hard realities of life and therefore to remain a child in the world.[1]

Sellick’s world view of liberalism speaking

So, I responded:[2]

This is your world view speaking. It is far, far from biblical reality which states:
clip_image001“For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain” (Phil 1:21 NET).

clip_image001[1]“Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Cor 5:8 NET).

There is absolute confidence of going to a place of many rooms/mansions for the Christian (John 14:2).

Your problem, Sells, is that you don’t have confidence in the authority of Scripture, so you invent your theology or seek someone else to support your liberalism.

Country music follows your world view.

Country music has a fantasy about heaven. This is one example, sung by its composer, Steve Wariner.[3]

File:Steve wariner 2019.jpg

(Image Steve Wariner, Wikimedia)

These are Steve Wariner lyrics:

“Holes In The Floor Of Heaven”

One day shy of eight years old, my grandma passed away
I was a broken hearted little boy, blowing out that birthday cake
How I cried when the sky let go, with a cold and lonesome rain,
Mamma smiled, said don’t be sad child, grandma’s watching you today
Cause there’s holes in the floor of heaven
And her tears are pouring down,
That’s how you know she’s watching,
Wishing she could be here now.[4]

I’m a country music fan and have heard so many songs with a generalised statement about heaven but no biblical evidence.

You fall into a similar category.

The Bible is adamant: There are mansions for believers; to die is gain, and when I’m absent from this frail, mortal body I’ll be present with the Lord.

Absolutely certain no heaven

Another poster jumped in: “Nobody know (sic) what happens after death” [5] Another asked: “How do you know? Can you prove it?”[6]

I responded: “How do you know? What causes you to make this absolutistic statement? Don’t you think it would show more humility if you said: “I’m unsure what happens at death, but I’ll seek some more information.” [7]

Do you want to join me?

Here’s the key for everyone to enter heaven and enjoy salvation forever: “You can’t be saved by believing in anyone else. God has given people no other name under heaven that will save them” (Acts 4:12 NIRV).

Notes


[1] https://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=21273 (Accessed 18 January 2021).

[2] See: Posted by OzSpen, Monday, 18 January 2021 10:02:07 AM. Ibid.

[3] Available at: http://theboot.com/country-songs-about-heaven/ (Accessed 18 January 2021).

[4] Available at: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/stevewariner/holesinthefloorofheaven.html (Accessed 18 January 2021).

[5]  Posted by ttbn, Monday, 18 January 2021 10:50:10 AM.

[6]  Posted by Mr Opinion, Monday, 18 January 2021 11:25:54 AM

[7] Posted by OzSpen, Monday, 18 January 2021 11:39:21 AM.

Copyright © 2021 Spencer D. Gear. This document last updated at Date: 18 January 2021.

The 7 Letter Alphabet: How to Name Music Notes — Musicnotes Now

The 7 Letter Alphabet: How to Name Music Notes — Musicnotes Now