Lesson 3 - LIFE AFTER DEATH
- Read Titus 2:13 and 2 Thess 1:10. What is the “blessed hope” of the Lord’s return?
- How does this hope help you in your trials against evil and your sufferings today?
4 Responses to “Lesson 3 - LIFE AFTER DEATH”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
June 17th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
I have reflected on the following questions:
1. Are people sent to hell for punishment?
I do not believe that God sends anyone to hell. He is a merciful God who sent His only Son to save humankind. However, I do believe that if we turn away from God we send ourselves to hell. God in John 3:14-15 does tell us that we are to obey two most important commandments: Love God above all else and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves and He also gives us free choice to do what we want. So eternal punishment is our own doing.
2. Is there any way that someone can escape from hell? I think people mix up what happened when Jesus freed the people who were dead from the beginning of time before His coming 2000 years ago with what we think of as hell in today’s world. Yes, those people were in a holding place waiting for Him to bring them to eternal salvation.
3. Can demons convert back to holiness and enter heaven? The demons (fallen angels) it was their choice to have eternal damnation.
4. What will happen when Jesus returns? What will happen to hell then?
From what the scriptures tell, us Jesus will return and separate the sheep from the goats. The sheep will be with Jesus in an eternal place of salvation and the goats will be in and eternal place of damnation, where not being able to see God will be the worse suffering that anyone can experience.
5. Can we know when the “end times†or “final hour†will come? In the scriptures Jesus told the apostles that only God know the time or the hour.
Theological Reflection Questions:
1. What is the blessed hope we read about in Titus and 2 Thess. It is the hope that in following the path that Jesus showed us while He was with us will bring us to eternal salvation.
2. How does this hop help you in your trials against evil and your sufferings today?
For me it is the knowledge that if I live my life according to the examples Jesus left us, He will always be with us to help us through the suffering and gives us the strength to combat evil. I will be with you always.
April 13th, 2008 at 9:20 am
1. What is the “blessed hope” of the Lord’s return? It is the hope I have that I will be among the holy ones who stand and wait to glorify our Lord when he comes again on Judgement Day.
2. This hope helps me realize that Jesus is always ready to help me withstand all the trials I undergo daily, if only I call on him. Practicing what I believe is explained by the old saying, “practice makes perfect”. I will be perfected and made holy if I keep to what Jesus taught, and on the last day, with his grace, I will be saved. God says to trust him and have patience, and he will come for me.
As it says in Sirach 7:36: “in whatever you do, remember your last days and you will never sin.” That is something that helps me try to stay on the right path. And I thank Jesus daily for his forgiveness, because I do fall a lot along the way!
May 27th, 2008 at 1:33 am
1. The hope is when Jesus comes to be glorified in the saints and admired by those who believe.
2. Suffering purifies our Christian faith. Suffering is something that cannot be avoided if you are a Christian. The hope of eternal life gives us the strength to patiently endure suffering and trials.
June 20th, 2008 at 1:06 am
1.Read titus 2:13 and 2 thess 1:10.What is the “blessed hope”of the lords return? It is the hope that when jesus comes he will be glorified and follewed by those who love and truely believe.
2.How does this hope help you in your trials against evils and your sufferings today? their is pain and sufferings all around us and i know that.This gives me the courage to fight against it it makes me stronger i know that jesus is watching over me and that it’s just making me stronger.At the end it will all be worth it it’s hard now but will better after.