Life after Death Part 1: Heb. 9:27,28 Die once then judgment

This a BiteSizedTruth response series with BiteBytes answering multiple questions we receive consistently such as:

What happens when we die?
Do people go straight to Heaven or Hell when they die?
Do people ‘sleep’ after death until the Resurrection?
What ‘proof’ or evidence is there of life after death?

27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,

28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Hebrews 9:27-28 NIV

This scripture is just one of many clear repudiations of any reincarnation teachings.

I discovered personally years ago that reincarnation is in fact a teaching promulgated through false religions by the inspiration of demonic spirits 1 Timothy 4:1.

I’ll share more on this supernatural experience later but first recognize that any teaching of reincarnation is designed and has the effect of blurring the sense of urgent accountability which the Creator has placed into the human conscience.

The appointment to die physically and answer to God is applied to both Christians and Non-Christians: consider:

6Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.7For we live by faith, not by sight.

8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Romans 8:14-16

14 Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard

15 They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing

16 And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.

Stay tuned to BST for more on this series.

Buying Kingdom shares

Leave a comment

Most of us are familiar with the concept of buying stock or ‘shares’ in company as a way of sharing in the results, rewards i.e. ‘profits’ the company produces. It can also be a way of not only reaping dividends of profit but even of becoming a shared owner in the enterprise.

Jesus also taught us that we can ‘buy’ shares in the Kingdom and Kingdom work He instituted on behalf of heaven the heaven’s ruler, His Father.

but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,

Mark 9:41

“For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.”

Luke 12:33 sell the temporal for the eternal

a treasure in heaven that will never fail, Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.

Consider this also as when you pick stocks be diligent and wise to “pick a winner“. This is the serious business of eternity based on Titus 1:2 contracts offered by God who cannot lie. Men WILL lie so prayerfully make your Kingdom investments as led by God and His peace becomes the signature for your assurance. Colossians 3:15Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise].

Don’t throw your investment into any old charity or just any old ministry (that calls itself 'Christian') as though it makes no difference the quality of the work being done.

It matters just as if you would throw your investment into a poorly run business enterprise. Be confident that your investment is going into good work and your seed is planted in good ground!

Selah

Belief is not enough

Leave a comment

BiteByte: Not all belief is the kind that saves.

Jesus knew what was IN the heart John 2:23-25

God’s ability to search every heart perfectly means that he knows when someone’s faith is genuine faith that leads to a real relationship with the Lord Jesus and leads to eternal life.

Some belief lacks the power of salvation. This type of faith is only an intellectual acknowledgement compared in scripture to the belief that the spiritual entities known as demons have which only leads them to shudder knowing the day of their judgement is coming.

James 2:20 (AMP) Are you willing to be shown [proof], you foolish (unproductive, spiritually deficient) fellow, that faith apart from [good] works is inactive and ineffective and worthless?

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Ephesians 2:10

The Bible & Reincarnation – ONCE to DIE

Leave a comment

Hebrews 9:27,28 maybe the most explicit statement in scripture indicating that reincarnation teaching represents spiritual deception.

(Heb 9:27) Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,

(Heb 9:28) so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
The context of the passage emphasizes the ONE TIME nature of death by using the established understanding of the singular death experience destined for all men to illustrate how in God’s plan Christ sacrificial death can only occur ONCE.

(Heb 9:25) Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.

(Heb 9:26) Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Psalm 78:39 – “For He remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

The Bible & Reincarnation – The Door

Leave a comment

The critical truth is that God has a “door” to His house and a gate to His garden.

John 10:9
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.

Just as a person cannot simply eat anything that will fit into their mouth and expect good results or cannot enter anyone’s house without first knocking at the door, so it holds true spiritually as well.

(Mat 4:4) Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”