Sermon Central
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What Happens When You Die?
Contributed by Jeff Pearce on Jan 20, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: DO YOU TELL YOUR MEMBERS TO GO OUT AND WITNESS AND INVITE LOST PEOPLE TO CHURCH? DO YOU PREPARE THEM FOR QUESTIONS THEY MAY BE ASKED? THIS SERMON ANSWERS ONE OF THOSE COMMON QUESTIONS.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DIE?
INTRO: THERE ARE ONLY A FEW FOR SURE THINGS IN LIFE.
1: DEATH FOR THE CHRISTIAN
A) HEBREWS 9:27 AND AS IT IS APPOINTED UNTO MEN ONCE TO DIE, BUT AFTER THIS THE JUDGMENT
B) WE ALL GONNA LEAVE THIS WORLD ONE DAY
C) CHRISTIANS DIE THEY GO IMMEDIATELY INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD (LUKE 23:43)
D) CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE DIED ARE IN PARADISE BUT THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED THEIR GLORIFIED BODIES.
POINT: THIS IS CALLED THE INTERMEDIATE STATE. EVEN THOUGH THE BODY HAS DIED THE BELIEVERS SOUL EXISTS IN A CONCIOUS STATE AND ENJOYS FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD WHILE WAITING FOR A NEW RESSURECTED BODY.
2: DEATH FOR THE LOST
A) HEBREWS 9:27
B) LOST GONNA LEAVE TOO
C) A LOST PERSON DIES THEY GO TO AN INTERMEDIATE STATE AS WELL BEFORE THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT.
D) IT IS CALLED SHEOL OR HADES
POINT: THIS IS NOT HELL BUT IT IS NOT A PLEASANT PLACE TOO BE. LUKE 16:19-26 RICH MAN AND LAZARUS.
ILLUSTRATION FROM LUKE 16
1: A SEPERATION BETWEEN TWO PLACES THAT CANNOT BE CROSSED
2: ONCE YOUR THERE THAT IS WHERE YOU STAY
3: LAZARUS IS IN COMPLETE COMFORT
4: RICH MAN IS IN AGONY
AFTER THE INTERMEDIATE STATE COMES JUDGMENT.
HELL REV 20:11-15
HEAVEN REV 21:1-4
BODY: IS HELL FOR REAL?
1: YES
A) MATT 8:12 A PLACE OF OUTER DARKNESS
B) MATT 13:42 A FURNANCE
C) MATT 13:42 WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH
D) MATT 25:46 A PLACE OF TERRIBLE PUNISHMENT
POINT: HELL IS FOR REAL AND MOST OF THE TEACHINGS ON HELL IN THE BIBLE ARE GIVEN BY JESUS. WHO BETTER WOULD KNOW BUT THE SONOF GOD HIMSELF.
2: BIBLICAL REFERENCES ARE JUST SYMBOLIC!
A) FURNANCE
B) LAKE OF FIRE
C) BOTTOMLESS PIT
POINT: IF ALL OF THE LORDS WORDS WERE SYMBOLIC IT STILL DOESN’T MAKE HELL SOUND ANY BETTER. R.C. SPROUL: THE FUNCTION OF SYMBOLS IS TO POINT BEYOND THEMSELVES TO A HIGHER OR MORE INTENSE STATE OF ACTUALITY THAN THE SYMBOL ITSELF CAN CONTAIN.
3: WHY WOULD GOD SEND ME TOO HELL?
A) TRUTH IS GOD DOESN’T SEND ANYONE
B) WE DESERVE IT ROMANS 3:23
C) 2 PETER 3:9
D) HELL IS REAL AND NOT NEARLY ENOUGH COMMUNICATED IN GOD’S HOUSE TODAY
POINT: GOD LOVES US ENOUGH TO ALLOW US A WAY OUT OF CONDEMNATION. JOHN 3:16,17.
WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU WHEN YOU DIE IS UP TO YOU!! HOPEFULLY YOU CAN SE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL AND MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION FOR YOURSELF.
