Second Chance After Death?
It is true that there is no Scripture which explicitly states that grace ceases after death. However, that is not how Scripture works. With the preponderance of biblical data which speaks to the reality of one life which ends in physical death and ultimately judgment for sin, it is not at all likely that any kind of “second chance” theology can be built upon Scripture. (Psalms 9:17, Matthew 5:22; 10:28, 49, Mark 9:43, Revelation 21:8)
While it may be pleasing to the heart to speculate that perhaps somehow all people of every generation will receive a second chance after death to receive Christ, the Scriptures know nothing of this possibility. It is neither explicitly taught in Scripture nor in any way directly alluded to. Some say that Romans 11:26 implies or at least leaves the door open to this possability. However, Romans 11:26 is speaking in a sort of hyperbolic manner. The Apostle Paul is speaking of all of Israel in terms of the nation of Israel as a people group which will be saved from the calamity facing it at the time of the return of the Messiah. When Jesus returns He will crush the enemies of Israel and establish His Kingdom.
Only a chapter a before the Apostle Paul laments the fact that many of His own kindred people will perish in their sins because of their lack of willingness to receive Christ and subsequently, salvation in Christ. “Brothers and sisters, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.” (Romans 10:1-4 NIV)
How can the Apostle Paul lament Israel’s condition as out of the will of God for rejecting Christ in chapter ten and then make the claim in chapter eleven that they shall all receive salvation? If Paul had in mind that they would come to Christ post-mortem, surely he could have said so.
Just because the Bible does not explicitly state that grace does not end after this life, we cannot effectively build biblical doctrine from biblical silence. The Bible also does not explicitly state that men can grow wings and fly. This – albeit absurd – example surely does not open up the possibility that they may in fact do so. The plain teaching of the Bible is that men and woman live once, choose or reject the salvation that is offered in Christ, and then face the just and righteous judgment of God. “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” (Hebrews 9:27-28 NIV)
This biblical imperative gives additional gravity to the importance for choosing Christ by faith in this life. There is no hope outside of Christ and we have been given today to choose Him. “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:11-12 NIV)
Pilgrim Pastor... living the life that God has given today, choosing Christ now...
A Primer on Pain and Evil
People bring many different theological and
philosophical perspectives to bear on the questions relate to the problem of
pain and evil. They are too vast to
fully explore for our purposes here.
These various ideas which are brought to bear in an attempt to answer
these questions often convolute, complicate, and obscure any answer which has
the potential to satisfy the heart with intricate systems of thought that
barely satisfy the mind. To get at the
heart of the problem of pain and evil we have to ask two questions and be
willing to listen to what God says in His word with regard to their
answers. Who is God? Who am I in relation to God? From these two foundational questions we find
answers with the potential to satisfy the heart and sustain a growing faith in
God.
Sin is the source of the brokenness in this
world. In Romans 5 we read that death
came into the world as the result of the rebellion of Adam in the garden. Acting on behalf of man as the corporate head
of the human race, Adam chose to rebel against God rather than to obey God. (Genesis 3:16-19) The result was a change in
the nature of creation. God is not the
author of evil. Adam and Eve chose
rebellion. God is absolutely just, in
the same way that He is completely holy and loving. Man’s choice brought about the consequence of
death’s entrance into the world.
Humanity has itself to blame for the brokenness of this world and if we
are honest, we can plainly see that the greatest amount of pain and suffering
that occurs in the world is brought about through hostility shared between
people. The pain and suffering that is
cited in your question, for example, is the pain and suffering which man has
caused himself through his great and tragic propensity to destroy one
another.
Conversely, God has offered humanity a way out of
its sinful rebellion so that for those who choose Christ, there is a way to be
reconciled to God. “But the gift is not
like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how
much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man,
Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Nor can the gift of God be compared with
the result of one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought
condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification.”
(Romans 5:15-16 NIV)
We have quickly addressed the origin of pain and
suffering. What about its continued existence?
Surely it is true that man causes much harm to man. Humanity is in many ways its greatest enemy. Why does God allow this pain and suffering to
continue? Everything that occurs in the
world and in our life has one grand purpose which offers meaning well beyond
our immediate comfort, safety, or well-being.
All that occurs does so either by design or divine allowance in order to
draw mankind to a place of dependence upon God. “Therefore, since we have been justified
through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through
whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And
we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our
sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance,
character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because
God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has
been given to us.” (Romans 5:1-5 NIV)
Pain, suffering, sorrow, tragedy, is allowed to
continue in this present period of human history in order to cut the legs out
from under our pride, draw us to our knees in repentance, and raise our eyes to
heaven. In Romans 8:28-29 the Bible says
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also
predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” (NIV) God redeems the brokenness of this life as we
identify with Christ through it and allow it to make us more dependent upon
God.
God is not pleased with evil. Nor will He allow it to continue unchecked
forever. In Revelation 21:1-5 we read that God has promised to wipe away every
tear, that a day is coming when Jesus shall return, destroy the present
brokenness that sin brought into this world, and establish His Kingdom in
perfection. We are not without
hope. While we do not know when this
will occur, it is has long been the blessed hope of the Church and a
foundational truth for countless believers.
The Bible is the very most consistent when it comes
to our experience of tragedy and pain in this world and an explanation for it
which offers hope and meaning. Consider
that no other system of theology or philosophy adequately deals with the
problem of pain and evil; man’s utter inability to manage his relationships
apart from violence, cruelty and dissatisfaction. We all sense that there is a problem, that
this world is somehow not what it ought to be.
The fall in the Garden of Eden still echoes in the chambers of every heart. Only the Bible explains where our proclivity
to destroy ourselves comes from in terms which also offer hope and are consistent
with our experience of reality. The
Bible passes the correspondence test of truth.
What it says corresponds with our experience of the world around us.
Pilgrim Pastor... Surrounded by evil, suffering, sorrow... filled with love, light, hope!
Christ The Center
There is a right way and wrong way to do things... More specifically there is a thoughtful way and a hasty way to do things! My three year old son Ephram calls himself “Pastor Ephram.” He has every intention, at least for now, of pursuing full time ministry when he grows up. He even has a complete wardrobe of “pastor clothes” as he refers to them. When he is not wearing his latest superman or batman pajamas, he has suits and ties just his size, although he usually shows up to church wearing with one of my ties dangling just below his knee caps.
Yesterday while he and my five year old son Sebastian assisted me in the grocery store, he proved my point about a right and a hasty way to things. Sebastian and I were calmly examining his shopping list to ensure that we didn’t forget the most important items – marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate for a backyard bbq round of S’mores. Meanwhile Pastor Ephram, who is slightly taller than a parking stump, decided all on his own initiative to “gently place,” uhhh… I mean heave like a discus thrower, a carton of 18 eggs into the cart! 17 of them broke. 1 remained intact.
His reply to my rebuke, "Well daaaaaaad... we neeeeeeeded them..." Should the lord actually lead him into ministry, my advice to him then will be similar to my chastisement that day in the store. Slow down and do it right. I've taught you that it is ok to ask for help. In other words, get training. Anything worth doing is worth taking the time to prepare for. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” (II Timothy 2:15-16 KJV)
We don’t need intellectual elites in the pulpit. However, we do need trained pastors who understand the difference being pleasing God and men; between proclaiming truth and earning favor; shaking hands after a worship service, for example, as an extension of the service of ministry to the people of God, not fishing for a pat on the back. Not everyone is going to like every sermon. Not everyone should like every sermon! While a preacher hopes for his sermons to be received on their own merit and used by God, some sermons should be challenging, exposited from challenging Bible texts, to the point that they bring conviction.
Pastor Ephram, I will say, Seek respect as an honest expository preacher more than to be liked as a jovial preacher. It is good to be loved but faithfulness is a higher virtue than likability. Make Christ the center of your preaching because He is the gospel! I am afraid for my son though, in light of all of the abuses and lack of plain, honest, biblical preaching in our day. It may well get worse before it gets better. When that day comes, Pastor Ephram may have to stand in very short company in the gate of biblical faithfulness.
Yet stand he must and so must we all. Truth is immortal. (visa-vi Balthasar Hubmaier)
(http://brad.chando.net/2007/01/28/truth-is-immortal/)
Moments of Encouragement
There was a time when I thought that to love meant it was wrong to confront something that was wrong. More specifically, I used to be convinced, though suspiciously, that it was possible to stand for truth without ever confronting lies. I have become completely unconvinced of that idea.
In Matthew 7:15 Jesus tells us to “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” (NIV) Today, false prophets abound. What is more troubling to this shepherd is that there are droves of people who gladly follow after them, buying their latest cliché ridden self centered books, tapes, DVD’s, and whatever else they are selling for just one easy payment of $19.95.
Listen to what megastar celebrity prosperity preacher Joel Osteen says on a recent installment of “Moments of Encouragement” which is broadcast on YouTube and made available on his ministry website. Joel says that, “Praise precedes the victory,as you were giving God praise today; you know what, your praise is just sending out your faith. That’s allowing God to just arrange things in your favor… You are supposed to reign in life, as the Scripture says, like a king.” (link at bottom of post)
Here’s the trouble with what Osteen says here. Well, here’s one of the many troubling things... Where in the Bible does it say that we are supposed to reign on this earth now like a king? Since Osteen seldom quotes Scripture directly, I am forced to guess what passage he is presently taking out of context, and my best guess is that he is alluding to II Timothy 2:12: “if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us.” (NIV) Here’s where Joel’s sloppy exegetical work is so obvious that I would expect even the simplest of Bible reader to catch it, but sadly, they don’t.
Perhaps it is not that we are unable, but unwilling. Like so many spiritual children, cotton candy is greatly preferred to a healthy meal.
The passage says that we shall reign with Him. Not that we are reining. In this life Christ endured suffering and pain and shall one day return to earth to reign. Presently the world groans under the weight of sin, pain, sorrow, and the Devil’s attacks on believers. The preceding passage says “Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him.” (II Timothy 2:11 NIV)
Friend, while in this world, Jesus suffered and died. He put the mercy of God on display. Jesus didn’t have His “Best Life Now.” (One of Osteen’s book titles) Our calling is to look like Jesus and we are not necessarily going to have our best life now either! In fact, I don’t want my best life now! Even the best life in this broken and fallen world pales in comparison to the life that is coming through faith in the one who suffered and died for sin.
Praise is not a means to an end. We don’t worship God because of what we will get out of it. We worship Him because He is worthy. That’s it. We don’t allow God to do anything. He does what He does according to His sovereign and supreme will. God is arranging things according to His will in a way that celebrates His glory and when we get lost in His worth we find our ultimate peace and joy. We are His servants, His people, His children, His Church! God is not our genie in a bottle.
This is just more of the common-sell coming from American pulpits… I I I ... You You You… Me Me Me… but more on that in another post…
1. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6eK-W32IME0#at=186)
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