Sin death and beyond
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SIN, DEATH AND BEYOND: M.M.NINAN<br />
All believers having "died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar<br />
off, " (Hebrews 11:13). indicates that those dead in Christ did not enter the promised l<strong>and</strong> of<br />
Heaven but yet see it from far just as Moses did/ The soul leave the body at <strong>death</strong>, <strong>and</strong><br />
depending on the Soul's relationship with Jesus they are either given the Paradise (if<br />
Christian), or to a place of punishment (if he is not a Christian)? Lutherans, Catholics, <strong>and</strong><br />
most Protestants hold this view.<br />
The following passages refers to the dead as still alive:<br />
These are the scriptural basis of this view<br />
In Matthew 22:31-32, Jesus says: "Have you not read that which was spoken to you by God,<br />
saying 'I am the God of Abraham, <strong>and</strong> the God of Isaac, <strong>and</strong> the God of Jacob'? He is not the<br />
God of the dead but of the living."<br />
At the transfiguration (see Matt. 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36; <strong>and</strong> 2 Pet. 1:16-18). Peter,<br />
James, <strong>and</strong> John sees Moses <strong>and</strong> Elijah talking with Jesus. Moses clearly died, at Mount<br />
Nebo, in Jordan (dated as 1272 BC) years before Jesus (Deut. 34) Elijah was taken to heaven<br />
in a fiery chariot (2 Kings 2:11).<br />
Luke 23:39-43 in the events that transpired at the time of crucifixion, Jesus assures the<br />
repentant thief on the cross "Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." Here<br />
the thief was with Jesus after <strong>death</strong> <strong>and</strong> the place is called Paradise.<br />
John 11:25 Jesus says: "I am the resurrection <strong>and</strong> the life; he who believes in Me shall live<br />
even if he dies."<br />
2 Corinthians 5:6-8 "Therefore, being always of good courage, <strong>and</strong> knowing that while we are<br />
at home in the body we are absent from the Lord--for we walk by faith, not by sight. We are of<br />
good courage, I say, <strong>and</strong> prefer rather to be absent from the body <strong>and</strong> to be at home with the<br />
Lord."<br />
(Phil. 1:21-24)"For to me, to live is Christ, <strong>and</strong> to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh,<br />
this will mean fruitful labor for me; <strong>and</strong> I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed<br />
from both directions, having the desire to depart <strong>and</strong> be with Christ, for that is very much<br />
better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake"<br />
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