Consciousness of the Soul

The death of Jesus was the end of the law of Moses and the beginning of the New Covenant that is far superior to the old one. His death gave us eternal life. His resurrection proved that life is eternal.

When Jesus was talking to the Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection, he asked, "Have you not read what God said to you, I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not a God of the dead, but of the living" (MT 22:32). He was affirming that though the Patriarchs mentioned had been in their graves for centuries, their souls still live. Everyone is alive to God, whether or not the body is alive.

When Jesus informed his disciples that Lazarus was dead, he said that he has fallen asleep, but I am going to wake him up (JN 11:11). Then he told them that he was dead. God does not think of death like we do. It's like they are asleep, because he can raise them any time he desires. They are dead to us because we can't wake them, but God can. The Bible teaches consciousness of the soul.

Before the Lord raised Lazarus he said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die" (JN 11:25-26).

At the Transfiguration, Jesus spoke with Moses who was buried by God and Elijah who never died but was taken to heaven in a whirlwind (MT 17:3) Whether the body is in the grave or the soul is in heaven our spirits live.

When Saul, in desperation consulted with a medium, to talk to dead Samuel, it was probably the power of God that brought him up. After complaining about being disturbed, he told Saul what was going on in his life, and what was about to happen to him. He informed him that "you and your sons will be with me" (1SA Ch 28).

In the story of the Rich man and Lazarus, this Lazarus begged at the rich man's gate. When they both died, and were in hades, Abraham said to the rich man, "Remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted and you are in agony" (LK CH 16).

The Bible teaches that the soul is always conscious whether the body lives or not. Jesus told the thief on the cross, that today you will be with me in paradise (LK 23:43). We don't have to wait after the death of the body to be in a place of comfort. These passages seem to indicate that souls and are capable of carrying on a conversation, and may be aware of what is going on in the world, This is possible because the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one-deity that is the God of the soul that never dies.

The last words of Jesus before he died ?Into Thy hands I commend My Spirit,? is the doctrine of immortality. Death to Jesus was simply entering into the presence of God. The Bible teaches that death is not ceasing to exist. It is not unconsciousness. For the saved it is passing into complete joy and comfort. For the unsaved it is being in agony forever. The book, ?Climbing the Heavenly Stairs? teaches how to be acceptable to God and prepare for the glories of heaven. To learn more and order, click on the following link. http://thelynnbradleybook.com