Expert: Clive Heath - 5/4/2010

Question
The belief stated by one of the other pastors on this web site about the state of the dead is that we are not asleep, but rather up in heaven with God after death.  How can the soul be alive?

Genesis 2:7 states that we do not have a living soul but rather we become a living soul, only after the union of the body made from the dust and the breath of life given by God.

Ecclesiastes 9: 4-6 also tells us that the dead know not any thing, nor have they any more a reward: for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

!!! if the righteous were in heaven after death, would they not have their reward and much love? and if the wicked are in hell, wouldn't they have hatred and much agony?

II Corinthians 15:51-56 tells us that at Christ second coming the dead in Christ is raised incorruptible and this mortal will put on immortality.  If the righteous were in heaven wouldn't they already have received immortality?

Also if the wicked are burning in hell forever and ever that would be giving them eternal life.  I believe that is the gift of God and not the wages of sin.  
-For the wages of sin is Death, but the gift of God is everlasting life.-

There are many points to make... but this teaching does not match up with what the bible says about death at all.  Please show me why you believe this

Answer
Hi Chad,

I will really do my best with this.

As it says in Romans 6:23, The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ.

Many things in the Bible can be perceived in different ways, but I believe the same as the other Pastor in that we are not asleep but are up in heaven with God.

The saul is what we are , the body is just a box that we live in, once the body dies then the soul is released and goes back to our Lord. But I do understand what you are saying about Genisis 2:7, but no matter if we have a living saul or are given a saul after death it is what happens after that matters to us.

But I believe that we go to the Lord and those that are not saved will sit in front of the judgement seat of God. Our loving God will give all that are not saved a second chance as he wants us all to be with him.

The theology of St.Paul says, It is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so no one can boast.

If living in hell was to be seen as eternal life, then they would suffer forever , a loving God would not want that, not even for them, so I believe the wages of sin is death. This being no life at all.

The righteous will indeed be rewarded with love and eternal life with the Lord, this being immortality.

As Jesus said in John 14:6, I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but by me, so we have to take care of things now or risk the judgement.

Chad this is a very deep subject, I can only tell you what I believe and that is that we go back to the Lord, the righteous already being saved and others will be judged.

I really do hope this helps.


Regards and God Bless

Clive Heath