Before we draw a conclusion on this important subject, let us consider what the Bible has to say. The Bible speaks of death as an enemy. Luke 23:43 . The Bible Speaks of Several Types of Death. The Bible is very clear about that. Death - What does the Bible say about it? What does the Bible say about this? Death is the result of sin. Nevertheless, many Christians believe that their bodies would be ineligible for resurrection if they are cremated. So, in summary, what does the Bible say about cremation? Although the Bible does not specifically speak to the subject of cremation, we do find in the Word of God that only the heathen tribes cremated people (burned their bodies with fire after death), while the Jews always buried bodies in graves in the ground, or entombed their dead in a cave or in an sepulcher, similar to our modern day mausoleums. The bottom line is that the moment we die - brain death that is - we no longer exist as an individual person. God certainly has the power to make our resurrection bodies from the dust or ashes to which our bodies decompose after death. The good news—the fabulous news—is YES, he will! Interestingly, there is no specific teaching in the Bible about cremation. Do we just cease to exist? This is probably based on the fact that Jesus remained on earth for 40 days after his resurrection (Acts 1:3). What Happens to the Body at Death? The best conclusion for Christians when searching for answers is to ask God for guidance. The Judgment. According to the Bible, death is a state of continued sleep. The soul of a lost person descends to hell immediately upon death (Lk. The coma in Luke 23:43 is actually mis-placed. After Death. (Job 14:14). Christian beliefs about life after death are based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As such, people remain unconscious. The very word can trigger images of darkness, of grief, and for some, fear. “Eternity: What Awaits After Death” Sermon #1 “Eternity: What Does the Bible Say About Death? And we know you already read Ecclesiastes 9:5, and you could look at Psalm 146:3. 16:22-23; Rev. In case you’re wondering, the Bible doesn’t say specifically that cremation is wrong. In other words there is no life after death Christianity. After Adam and Eve sinned, death entered the world. However, the fact of the matter is, many years after the King James Bible was written, punctuation was added to it. beth shammai say that after wiping his hands with a napkin the diner places it on the table, while beth hillel say that he places it on the cushion. Cremation does not conflict with the Bible nor does it interfere with God’s ability to resurrect the dead. Therefore, it would not be a "sin" to cremate a loved one. Here in two parts, one today, the second tomorrow, I want to offer a broad sketch of how the Biblical hope of “life after death” emerged and developed. Add Comment. We have a lesson called “Are the Dead Really Dead?”, we’ll send you a free copy if you call the resource number. Psalm 103:15-17 is a Bible passage that gives us a great perspective on cremation -- or on any other burial practice: As for man, his days are like grass, He flourishes like a flower of the field; They are oblivious to time and anything else in the universe. Scripture clearly speaks of both eternal life with God in heaven and eternal separation from God in hell. 2 Timothy 4:7. What does the Bible say about death? After death, the rich man in Luke 16 went into what the Hebrew says in the Old Testament is Sheol which simply means “the place of the dead” and the equivalent in the New Testament is where the rich man ended up, in Hades. He wants us to live, and die, with the confidence that comes from knowing Jesus defeated death when He died on the cross and rose from the grave. Recently, we looked at the account of Lazarus, who was raised from the dead by Jesus.He spent four days in the afterlife, yet the Bible tells us nothing about what he saw. Bible Verses about Life After Death. The word ‘death’ shows up in the Bible with several different meanings. The "sting of death," Scripture says, "is sin," and Scripture says because of this sin "it is appointed unto men once to die and after that the judgment." 15 beth shammai say that [after the meal] the floor is swept before the washing of the hands, 16 while beth hillel say that [the diners] wash their hands and then the floor is swept. The Bible says nothing about life after death. Burial was the acceptable method for disposing of corpses among the Israelites. The short answer to this question is that the Bible says we literally die after death. For believers, the Bible tells us that after death believers, souls are taken to heaven, because their sins are forgiven by receiving Jesus Christ. There is … According to the Order of Christian Funerals (OCF 412), “This is the body once washed in baptism, anointed with the oil of salvation, and fed with the bread of life. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). They can be lost at sea, burned in an accident, left above ground and many others. According to the Bible, death is not the end of life but the separation of the soul from the body. And he said to him, “Truly, I say … What Does the Bible Say About Life After Death? Hades is which is also called “a place of the dead,” but there were already flames of torment after he had died. I have fought the good fight. Although cremation accounts can be found in the Bible, the practice was not common or accepted at all among ancient Hebrews. 1 Corinthians 15:26 says, “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” In this world we are seeing death all around us: death by old age, disease, murder, suicide, accidents, disasters, famine and war. The Bible places emphasis on burial in caves, tombs, or under the earth as the most common method of disposition as in Genesis 23:19 – 35:4; 2, Chronicles 16:14, and Matthew 27:60-66. Most Christians have spent some time wondering what happens to us after we die. Some say this proves the Bible contradicts itself. Original Question: After we die, do we forget what happened in our life on earth? The view that a person holds about the afterlife is bound to affect the value given to this current life. The Bible never directly addresses the issue of cremation, nor does it prohibit it. The Patriarchs of the Bible were “careful.” Genesis 3:19 (2) The Word of God tells us that the sting of death has been swallowed up in the victory of Christ. Is there nothing afterwards? Death, just like life is a process, scientists say. Is this life all there is? Hebrews 9:27-28 Begin sermon with video clip - “Ever Think About Dying?” (www.sermonspice.com) “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, (28) so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. It should be placed after the word "today." The Bible examples of burial reflect what was the accepted cultural practice and tradition of disposing bodies at the time of a person's death and are not a commanded practice. Cremation seems to be a sensible answer to the limited number of available gravesites and the rising cost of burial. The Bible does not clearly define about cremation as a means to dispose of the dead. The Bible neither favors nor forbids the process of cremation.. In Genesis, we know that man was formed from the dust of the ground. Some Russians believe that souls of the dead remain at the site of their death for forty days. What Does the Bible Say About Death, Eternal Life and Heaven? The Bible and Cremation . This is in life and in death and it should be dealt with in dignity, respect, and loving care. And if it did happen or if it is a parable, it seems to be making the point that after death there is not oblivion or sleep, unconsciousness. But let’s dig a little deeper so we can have full perspective on this issue. O ne of the most difficult things to deal with in life is the death of a loved one. But God doesn’t want us to live in fear nor defeat. However, there is no scriptural prohibition of cremation in the New Testament. Nothing at all. Romans 6:23 directly states, "For the wages of sin is death." If after death one attains higher regions such as Maharlok or Janalok due to higher spiritual level, one does not need to be reincarnated as all of the individual’s remaining destiny (accumulated account) can be worked out from these planes themselves. I have finished the race. So there’s a number of verses in the Bible that say that dead people don’t come back to haunt the living. But for (Name), the sting, which is sin, has been removed and so also the judgment. Answer: The Bible does not wait long before mentioning the death penalty for certain sinful actions. Expect some surprises. In the words of the Bible, the dead do not know or feel anything. In this state, the person feels nothing. The patriarch Job asked, "If a man dies, shall he live again?" Now I don’t know for sure, frankly, whether it was a parable or not, but it doesn’t say it was a parable. Death. If that were the case, such hopelessness would be terribly depressing. He just describes it like it really happened. Whatever is done to the body after death does not affect the soul's condition. Here are 10 important things that the Bible says about death. There are many ways a Christian can die without a proper burial. Even for the Christian, death is a part of life. 20:13). I have kept the faith. But again, it does not command that burial should be the only method. Some of these meanings are metaphors for different aspects of the spiritual life: The Bible speaks of the Christian being ‘dead to sin’ (Romans 6:2, 11, 7:6; Colossians 2:20; I Peter 2:24). How a person's fleshly existence is handled after they die does not affect their salvation or God's ability to resurrect them (see Ezekiel 37:1 - 14). Therefore, cremation is an acceptable means of dealing with the dead. We don’t go to heaven or hell, or maintain any conscious state. I. Dead people “sleep” in unconsciousness—they don’t think or feel anything. 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