One of the issues I have seen in this thread is the lack of understanding of "life" and "death" according to the Scriptures. Please consider the following:
What is Death? Interestingly, when most people are asked to define “death", they say something along the lines of “when all bodily functions cease”. This is clearly a naturalistic view. I was once asked (by a ‘science minded’ person), What is the definition of “cold"? I said, “The opposite of “heat"". He said, The definition of “cold", is “the absence of heat". Likewise, we can say, that “death" is the absence of “life". Now we must get a bit more definitive. Why? Because we want a Scriptural definition of death. We have two elements to deal with: 1) the spiritual; and 2) the physical.
Let's go to the Scriptures!
2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Genesis
In the above text God tells Adam, in the day that he eats of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; he shalt surely die.
And … 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; Titus
(God cannot lie!) Here is what we know:
3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. Genesis
At some point Adam and Eve both ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Furthermore, we also know that Adam and Eve didn't die ‘physically’ that day.
So what happened?
First, we must understand that we are composed of three parts: 1) the body; 2) the soul; and 3) the spirit. Paul said, 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians
So once again … 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Genesis
We know 1) that God cannot lie; 2) Adam and Eve didn't die physically that day; and 3) man has a body, soul, and spirit.
What then does the Scripture say about the relationship between a person's sin, and their relationship with God?
59:1 Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. Isaiah
What are “iniquities”?
16:21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: Leviticus
I want you to notice two words from the above text: 1) “iniquities”; and 2) “transgressions”. (The phrase is “transgressions in all their sins”)
3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John
Dealing with the latter, then the former … we see that “sin" is a transgression of the law. Therefore, the phrase “transgressions in all their sins” relates to “sin"; but what about the word “iniquities”?
3:26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. Acts
Strongs G4189 Greek: πονηρία Transliteration: ponēria Pronunciation: pon-ay-ree'-ah Definition: From G4190; depravity that is (specifically) malice; plural (concretely) plots sins: - iniquity wickedness.
When a study is done of the word “sin", it simply refers to a person transgressing the law of God. Iniquity on the other hand, is not a simple slip of the law breaker, but a willing choice to violate the Law of God .
Adam didn't slip, he willingly chose to eat the fruit God told him not to eat. The consequence of Adam's willful transgression (more correctly called an iniquity) was that his soul was separated from God, just as Isaiah stated. This is spiritual death.
Fortunately for Adam, and for mankind, God allows our body to continue to live so that we can recognize our need of salvation, which will bring us back into a proper relationship with God. Hence the word “Atonement” which we see throughout the Scriptures.
The word “Atone" means “at one" …
Strong G2643 Greek: καταλλαγή Transliteration: katallagē Pronunciation: kat-al-lag-ay' Definition: From G2644; exchange (figuratively adjustment) that is restoration to (the divine) favor: - atonement reconciliation (-ing).
So iniquity separates; but the blood of Jesus restores that relationship. Now I said that God gives us time to be restored to a proper relationship with Himself … but what happens if we don’t get atonement from God?
As we consider this, think about the fact that people can live literally for decades without being reconciled to God. What does this mean? It means that their soul has been separated from God all that time … but it is still there … in existence.
Dead … (separate from God), but still there, existing.
Let's take a brief moment to define “life".
14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John
Jesus said that He is “Life". Let's go back to Genesis …
2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Genesis
So God breathed into Adam the “breath of life".
Think about that. God breathed into the nostrils of Adam … the breath of life.
23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Luke
There Jesus is, hanging on the cross, when He willingly says, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” … what happened next? “he gave up the ghost" Jesus willingly surrendered to the Father that which kept his physical body alive … His spirit.
12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Ecclesiastes
Like us, Jesus has three parts: 1) the Body; 2) the soul; and 3) a spirit. Let's look at what happened to all three parts.
1) The body of Jesus A) remained on the cross; then B ) was placed in a grave; then C) was resurrected physically, but now in a type of physical body that could both eat, drink, pass through walls and doors, disappear (vanish), and walk away into heaven.
2) The soul of Jesus went to hell, where He took the keys of death and hell, then walked over to Abraham's bosom, where He released the souls of the OT saints upon His resurrection.
16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Psalm
1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Revelation
27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Matthew
3) The spirit of Jesus went to the Father 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Luke
Notice above what happened when Jesus resurrected from the grave … “And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose”
11:11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. 11:12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. 11:13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.11:14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. John
Jesus used the word “sleep” to define the state of the Old Testament saints which had died. Here, the Holy Spirit inspired John to use the same word to tell us that while these Old Testament saints had their bodies in the grave, they were separated from their souls, which were in Abraham's bosom, in comfort. Jesus bears further witness to this in Luke.
16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. Luke
The bodies of those who have died physically are all in a grave somewhere; but the location of there soul is determined by whether or not they were a believer in Christ when they were separated from physical life “the breath of life" which is the “spirit", that goes to the Father who gave it to us. The soul is separated from the body, that is the meaning of death, but it is still in existence somewhere.
In the Old Testament believing souls went to Abraham's bosom as taught by Jesus, but the unbelieving souls went to the fires of hell to be tormented, which Jesus also taught.
19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 19:27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. Job
Job clearly believed in a future a futuristic physical resurrection upon the earth. He knew that his current body would be eaten by worms yet, “yet in my flesh shall I see God”, and this would be, “upon the earth”. Job understood that for a period of time after his physical death, he would be separated from that body, but would be reunited with it in “the latter day upon the earth”.
Jesus taught there would be both eternal life and “everlasting punishment”. 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Matthew
Notice what Jesus says, the wicked “go away into everlasting punishment” … they are separated from Himself (He is “Life" … being separated from the “Life … Jesus" is the definition of “death"). “But the righteous into life eternal” … the righteousness get “Life" (to be with Jesus forever). Yay!
