Written by Jonathan Reekie

Brethren Of Christ Articles - Doctrinal Matters

Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection: what does it mean?

At Easter time Christians turn their attention to Christ’s death and resurrection as this is the key to salvation.  In this article I am not going to go into the question of the origins of the Easter festival and all the paraphernalia associated with it – such as eggs and bunnies.  Suffice it to say that the origin of this so called Christian festival is pagan.  I am therefore using this time of the year to write about the true nature of salvation as taught in the Bible.

Popular Christian belief
Popular Christian belief is based on what is known as the 39 Articles of the Anglican Church or the Catechisms of the Catholic Church.

The significant Articles of the Anglican Church are numbers iii and iv.  These describe the death of Christ and say that he died for us and that he has risen to heaven until he returns to judge all men at the last day.

The relevant section of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is Article 12 paragraph 1023 which says that the faithful ‘have been or will be in heaven, in the heavenly Kingdom and celestial paradise with Christ, joined to the company of the holy angels’.

It should be noted here that when the Article says ‘for us’ it means ‘instead of us’.  That is saying that the faithful do not die and this ties in with the Catechism that speaks about heaven going at death.

I will go on to show from the Bible that the belief that Christ died for us (or instead of us) and that we have an immortal soul that goes to heaven is not supported by scripture.

The first thing to note is that the words ‘immortal soul’ do not appear anywhere in the Bible.  Does this not seem odd as it is a fundamental doctrine of popular Christianity?

The following scriptures show clearly the state of the soul at death and this is the complete opposite of ‘immortal’:-

Ezekiel 18: 4:
Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.  In case it should be claimed that this only refers to certain classes of people Romans 3: 23 makes it clear that it refers to everyone. It says: ‘For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God’.

Verse 20 of the same chapter in Ezekiel repeats the words: ‘The soul that sinneth, it shall die’.  The emphasis of this point in one chapter surely makes the point very clearly and beyond doubt.

Psalms 6: 5:
For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?’

Ecclesiastes 9: 5:
‘For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.’

King David was a significant ‘man of God’ and he is referred to as ‘a man after mine (God’s) own heart (Acts 13; 22).  Now if anyone was to go to heaven on death then it would have been David but we read in Acts 2: 29 – 31: Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

‘Corruption’ is the state that David is in death as distinct from the position of Christ.  Acts 13: 34 - ‘And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.’ Verses 36 & 37 - ‘For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.’

Another significant verse relating to death is Romans 6: 23 ‘For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.’

So it follows that if death is the natural end of man and that he is in a ‘sleep’ (the Bible description of death of the faithful) then Christ cannot have died ‘instead of us’.

His death is described as a ‘propitiation’ 1 John 2: 2  ‘And he is the propitiation (an appeasing, forgiveness) for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world.’

I have said what death is but what does the Bible teach as the true reward for the faithful?

1 Corinthians 15 describes in detail the nature of resurrection and the actual way it happens.  It also describes the end result.    Verses 54 & 55 – ‘So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory’?

It is worth reading the whole of chapter 15 of the first Epistle to the Corinthians and this will provide the reader with a clear understanding of the nature of man and the physical nature of the resurrection which is clearly the only hope the Bible describes for the faithful.

At the time of the Apostle Paul the unbelievers questioned his belief in the resurrection as is seen in Acts 24: 15 & 21 – ‘And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.’

Also in 11 Timothy 2: 16 – 19 we read – ‘But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;  Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.’

I encourage you to be wary of false teachings and have a look for yourself what the Bible teaches.

April 2010