Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ March 30, 2008
“After Death”
Acts 1:2-3 and Selected
How long was Jesus on earth after His resurrection?
What was Jesus doing between His death & resurrection?
When a person dies today, where do they go?
What was Jesus’ new resurrection body like?
Acts 1:1-3 1 In my former book (Luke), Theophilus (friend of God), I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
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Instructions concerning staying in Jerusalem and then going into the world as His witnesses… |
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Post resurrection appearances and proofs attested to the reality of the resurrection… a demonstrated evidence |
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For 40 days the Lord Jesus appeared and discussed the Kingdom of God with them (millennium 1000 yr reign) |
I. The Proclamation of Christ
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Jesus spoke of two men who died who went to two different places |
Luke 16:22-23 22 "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.
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To help explain the proclamation of Christ… we must go back to Luke 16… |
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Two men died, Lazarus and a rich man, one a believer the other not. |
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Lazarus the believer was escorted by angels to “Abraham’s side… the other died, buried, in hell |
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I want you to draw your attention to “Abraham’s side and hell… two vastly different places |
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Jesus told the thief on cross, today you will be with me in Paradise |
Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
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Jesus Christ was crucified between two thieves…one repented & asked Jesus to remember him |
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Genuine saving faith was demonstrated… Jesus said – today you will be with me in “paradise” |
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“Abraham’s side” and “paradise” are the same place… this is where it gets interesting… |
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Paradise/Abraham’s side was part of the “underworld” |
Luke 16:26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'
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Jesus died and went to “paradise” which was located at this time in the “underworld”… |
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The rich man went to the hell section whereas Lazarus went to paradise section… |
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Notice this verse tells us there is a great chasm between the two… communicate but not cross |
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God’s Word speaks of various regions in this “underworld”: Paradise & Hell separated by a Great Chasm, Tartarus, the Abyss, Lake of Fire and it also speaks of having shafts, gates, chains, and keys (Gen 6; Lu 16,23; Eph 4; Mt 25; 1Pet 3; Col 2; Heb 4:14; Jude 6; Rev 1,20) |
<PPT - Picture of the underworld >
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Here’s a depiction of the underworld drawn by Clarence Larkin with it’s various regions… |
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(Laser Pointer) We see paradise section and hell section separated by a great chasm… |
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Tartarus is the holding prison for demons so vile, God chains and confines them in this region… |
Jude 1:6 And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home--these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.
2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell (tartarus), putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment;
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The abyss often called the bottomless pit also holds demonic creatures that will be released on earth during the seven year tribulation period (see Rev 9). |
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The Bible also speaks of the lake of fire, the final destination for all who refuse to trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior… reserved for those who refuse to be saved from their sins… along with all demonic fallen angels will ultimately end up in the lake of fire forever… Revelation 20:15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. |
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Studying God’s Word we also find the underworld has shafts, gates, chains & keys to unlock. |
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Between His death & resurrection Jesus descended into this “underworld”… into the realm of the dead (Jesus was NOT offering a second chance for salvation to the lost… Limbo or purgatory are not found in scripture) |
<PPT - Picture of the underworld again>
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The Bible doesn’t speak about a place of purification or even temporary punishment where souls are “made ready” for heaven… |
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ONE minute after death your destiny is sealed forever… no prayers, no clergy, no church, no indulgences/money, no eulogy can ever change a person’s eternity… |
Hebrews 9:27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, (remember Luke 16:26)
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Jesus told the repentant thief… TODAY you will be with ME in paradise! |
Jesus Proclaimed…
Ø To all the occupants of the “underworld”, His victory at the cross over Satan, Sin and Death…
1 Peter 3:18-19 18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19 through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison
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Jesus, God in the flesh… perfect, sinless… died a sacrificial death for our sins… His work done |
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Christ’s last words from the cross – “it is finished” Gk – “paid in full” (written on Roman tax receipts) |
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Jesus triumphantly preached, herald, proclaimed… Gk “kerusso” – a triumphant announcement! |
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To everyone in the underworld - Satan is defeated, Sin is defeated, Death is defeated…!!! |
Ø Jesus then opened the gates of Paradise leading O.T. believers triumphantly into God’s presence in heaven.
Ephesians 4:8-10 8 This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." 9 (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
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Not only did Christ announce to the confined demons (spirits/prison) also to the unsaved in hell |
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Jesus Christ at this time opened the gates of paradise/Abraham’s side… as a military victor… |
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The O.T. saints in the paradise region were led into heaven… He also gave gifts to men! |
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Early church fathers believed O.T. saints could not be taken into God’s presence UNTIL Christ purchased their redemption on the cross. |
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Please understand… how are we saved today? By God’s Grace through faith… looking back… |
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How was O.T. saints saved? By God’s grace through faith…looking forward… |
During the present church age, the redeemed who die are “absent from the body . . . at home with the Lord.” (2Co 5:8) The wicked, by contrast, are in hades (hell). (Luke 16:23) Both are awaiting resurrection: one the resurrection to life and the other the resurrection to condemnation.
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One minute after death of a “genuine” believer – they will be in Heaven |
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One minute after death of a “fake” believer – they will be in Hell |
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With no second chance… eternal destiny determined |
Philippians 2:10-11 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
· This is a powerful verse… every creature will one day recognize and bow before Jesus Christ
· The One who died for you is Sovereign over all Creation… Every knee will bow, every tongue confess Him for who He really is… He is Sovereign in heaven… on earth… under the earth (underworld)…
· The entire universe and everything in it will submit to Jesus… Option is to either bow now or bow later…
The third day… Easter Sunday… Jesus arose from the dead in a resurrection body!
II. The Presence of Christ (Resurrection Body)
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He could appear or disappear at will |
John 20:19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
Luke 24:31b “… and he disappeared from their sight.”
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In fear of being arrested the disciples locked the doors… Jesus appears… |
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Power of resurrection body… another occasion He broke bread… then disappeared… |
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He could be touched & recognized |
Luke 24:39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."
Luke 24:31a “Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him…”
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The eyewitnesses could see His wounds… He could be seen and touched… had flesh & bone. |
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Jesus is alive in a new resurrection body… we too will get a new resurrection body & recognize |
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He was able to eat food |
Luke 24:41-43 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.
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Jesus in His resurrected body was able to eat a piece of broiled fish… able to eat!!! (Lobster??) |
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He was NOT a ghost… but a real person… |
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1 minute after death you will be more alive than ever before… |
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The real you will live forever in a resurrected body also… BUT where will you spend eternity? |
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He “opens” hearts and minds to Bible truth |
Luke 24:45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
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Jesus “opened” their minds to truth… He still does that today… |
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There are many people here who started to come to Cross Creek, heard truth, minds opened… |
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Was gloriously born again by the Spirit of God… last week over a dozen decisions for Christ! |
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Allow God to open your heart and mind to truth and the reality of death and eternity. |
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I believe God is speaking to your heart this morning… you know you need to be saved… |
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Jesus is calling you to turn from sin and place your faith in Him alone to save you… |
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Would you receive Jesus as Savior and Lord before it’s eternally too late??? |
Let’s Bow our Hearts…
Today we saw the Proclamation of Christ and the Presence of Christ…
Next Week: The People of Christ (eyewitnesses) and the Promises of Christ
Friend Day
April 13th
“In the Beginning…” (New series)
“Be inviting your family, friends and neighbors”