May 20, 2015 - A. V. Rauf
What Happens When Believers Die & Encouraging Words
Today I want to give credit to two sources that I came across. I highly encourage you to check the link and then to watch the enclosed video.
In terms of salvation you fall into one of the following four categories:
- You are saved and you know it.
- You may think you are saved but you are not.
- You may not claim to be saved.
- You are not saved but you would like to be saved.
Salvation is God’s deliverance through Jesus Christ from all the effects of sin. We need to know beyond a shadow of a doubt where we will spend eternity:
1 John 5:9-13-–If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
If you are not confident that you have eternal salvation, I urge you settle the matter right away. This is the most important decision you will ever make in your life. God desires to save everyone:
1 Timothy 2:1-6—I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Ezekiel 18:20-23—The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
Needless to say, many Christians wonder what happens when a believer dies. This link contains an excellent article that explains the answer to this question in detail: https://www.raptureready.com/soap2/perkins1.html
Finally, I am not one who agrees with the notion that “there’s a demon behind every tree.” However I know that we are in a spiritual battle. A battle which has already been won, might I add:
Ephesians 6:10-13—Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Romans 8:38-39-–For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
That being said, I highly suggest you watch this next video clip in its entirety. The first 10 minutes may seem a bit disturbing yet provocative. However, the last 9 minutes are full of some great Scriptural encouragement (Highly recommended!):