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faith and works, the Bible uses the example of a body plus breath meaning life, to show that in our spiritual experience, in order to be alive we need to have faith plus works together to make a live Christian. If we do not have faith and works together as a whole, then our spiritual life is just as dead as when we have a body that is not breathing.
For as the body without the spirit [breath] is dead, so faith is without works. James 2:26
The Bible is a consistent whole. The same concepts run the entire length of its pages. This is why we can trust the Bible, the Word of God. |
Life began when God breathed into man and man became a living being. When a baby is born, it is essential that it draws its first breath quickly and cries. When we hear that first wail, we know that all is well and the new life is secure. When the last breath is exhaled then one dies. The Bible is clear that death is the reverse of life. |
And Jesus cried with a loud voice and gave up the ghost. Mark 15:37
And Jesus when He had cried with a loud voice, said, Father into Thy hands I commend My spirit, and having said thus, He gave up the ghost. Luke 23:46
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The process of drawing breath is the beginning of one’s life and exhaling the last breaths mark the ending of life. In this case both ‘ghost’ and ‘spirit’ mean the breath, so when the breath goes from the body back to the Giver of life, death takes place.
‘…. And where is he?’ Job 14:10 tells us about how one dies, but then it expresses the question that is the real crux of the whole issue - ‘Where is he?’ This is where the wondering begins. It is this not knowing that can hinder the grieving process. Without really knowing what has happened to our loved one, it is hard to say a full goodbye. It is this same ‘not knowing’ that brings the fear into our lives. We can hold on to speculation, tradition, stories from childhood or fables we are told, and still not know. We can be afraid of hell fire, or nothingness, or not recognising our loved ones again. The Bible is the only reliable source of answers to bring us true knowledge and freedom from fear. |
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11.
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| Where are those who have died? The Bible answer is that the dead are resting in the grave where we lovingly placed them, to return to the soil. If they have been cremated, the ashes return to the dust also. At the funeral service we say the words, ‘ashes to ashes, dust to dust.’ This is the exact answer to our question ‘Where are those who have died?’ |
Here are verses from the Bible to show that this is the case.
So man lieth down and riseth not. Job 14:12
They spend their days in wealth and in a moment go down to the grave. Job 21:14.
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest. Ecclesiastes 9:10
Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? And thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? Psalm 88:12
For now I shall sleep in the dust and thou shalt seek me in the morning but I shall not be. Job 7:21
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The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence. Psalm 115:17
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was and the spirit shall return to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7
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| The ‘spirit’ means the breath. Notice this verse: |
All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils. My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit. Job 27:3
We cannot say that this spirit is a separate living entity
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