Becoming a Stronger Disciple

 

WHEN A DISCIPLE DIES

 

As a disciple, I want to know what to expect when I die.

 

(Mark 12:18-27) Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him with a question.  “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and have children for his brother.  Now there were seven brothers.  The first one married and died without leaving any children.  The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child.  It was the same with the third.  In fact, none of the seven left any children.  Last of all, the woman died too.  At the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?” Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?  When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.  Now about the dead rising - have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account of the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?  He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.  You are badly mistaken!”

 

 

1.            ANGELS After Death

 

            A.            Disciples do not become angels when we die!

 

(25) “When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.”

 

            B.            Facts about angels:

 

1)            Angels have the same basic appearance as humans.

2)            Angels are never presented as cute fat babies.

3)            Angels are never presented as women.

4)            Angels are never presented as having wings or playing harps.

5)            Angels are always presented as powerful male figures.

6)            Angels are God’s messengers to mankind and serve to accomplish His will.

7)            Angels do not marry.

 

 

2.            MARRIAGE After Death

 

            A.  In eternity there will be no more marriage.

 

            B.  Our love for Jesus and heaven is going to make marriage feel like a 3rd grade crush.

 

 

3.         LIFE After Death

 

            A.            WHAT – is life after death?

                       

                        1)            It is certain!

 

                        2)            It is different!

 

(1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-44, 49) But someone may ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as He has determined, and to each kind of seed He gives its own body... So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.  If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body… Just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the Man from heaven.

 

            B.            WHEN – is life after death?

 

                        1)            “I get my permanent body as soon as this one dies.”

 

                        2)            “I get my permanent body when Jesus raptures His church.”

 

                        3)            Both understandings are somehow going to be true!

 

            C.            WHERE – is life after death?

 

                        1)            If I trust and serve Jesus as Lord, I will live my permanent life in heaven.

 

                        2)            If I do not trust and serve Jesus as Lord, I will live my permanent life in hell.

 

                        3)            We are each deciding our permanent residence – right now!