DEATH AND BEYOND

In Hebrews 12:23 Paul speaks of the ‘spirits of just men made perfect’. This would seem to mean that we have a separate spirit that is purified and lives on in the presence of God. Please explain!
From the context it is clear that Paul is talking about us living in the Christian era. We are not coming to Mount Sinai with all its glory, to experience the awe of God’s presence, but in our Christian walk we come to the heavenly Jerusalem.
This is the focus of our spiritual attention, for we are as Paul said in Hebrews 11, pilgrims and strangers here.

Like Abraham we look for a city whose builder and maker is God. This city is the new Jerusalem which will descend to this earth, when it is re-created.
With our spiritual discernment we see the true meaning of this city, for spiritual things are spiritually discerned. ‘The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.’ Romans 8:16
If we are following the supervision of the voice of conscience, the voice of the Spirit of God, we will have the peace of the Spirit in our hearts. Although we live in this earth in mortal flesh we can see beyond this world by faith. The part of us that responds to God is sometimes called our spirit, in other words, our spiritual faculty. With this spiritual faculty we see the church of God in this verse, made up of those who are born again. We see the angels. Hebrews 1:14 ‘Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?’ This is still future. We see God the judge of all.

The judging takes place before Jesus comes to give us our reward of immortality. We see Jesus the Mediator. This is also referring to the time now, before Jesus comes back to gather His people, for when He comes He will not then be a mediator. ‘Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.’ Hebrews 9:28. He will come as a King. The sin issue will have been dealt with. His followers will have overcome sin.
The spirit of God beareth witness with our spirit. It is in this context that we find the phrase – ‘the spirits of just men made perfect.’

Our spiritual faculty is actively being developed day by day. We talk about loving the Lord with all our heart, we talk about surrendering our life to Him. This is the sense in which the word ‘spirit’ is used here. It is not talking about disembodied purified spirits being found in heaven. No other elements in the verse refers to anything other than our practical Christian life now. The phrase should not be taken out of context.
Before Jesus comes our characters, here on this earth will have developed into perfect Christ-likeness if we follow the counsel of God in spiritual things. When Jesus comes the people that He will gather will be holy people, spotless and without blame. Only the pure will see God. The church of God on earth, with the power of Jesus our Mediator and the help of the angels will have become just and perfect. As we come to the throne of God in faith and prayer we will meet up with those who are also striving to become pure in heart. Together we shall meet the Lord in the air with changed bodies and spiritual characters made perfect. We do not go to heaven when we die.
Although we live in this earth in mortal flesh we can see beyond this world by faith. The part of us that responds to God is sometimes called our spirit, in other words, our spiritual faculty. With this spiritual faculty we see the church of God in this verse, made up of those who are born again. And we see the angels. Hebrews 1:14 ‘Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?’

We see God the judge of all. The judging takes place before Jesus comes to give us our reward of immortality. We see Jesus the Mediator. This is also referring to the time now, before Jesus comes back to gather His people, for when He comes He will not then be a mediator. ‘Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.’ Hebrews 9:28. He will come as a King. The sin issue will have been dealt with. His followers will have overcome sin. ‘Just souls made perfect.’

[ Home ][ About Us ][ Lonely Questions ][ Contact Us ]