Introduction
During our last gathering, I asked for suggestions from the group about what subject we should take up next in our series of discussions about “hot button” issues of our day. One of us suggested we examine Jesus’ parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). Although it didn’t strike me at the time as a “hot button” topic, we agreed. In my studies, it quickly became apparent that the idea wasn’t just to look at the parable itself, but to take up the weightier questions that Jesus’ parable concerns – those of death and resurrection.
Of course, this is a huge topic, touching on the very center of our existence and our hope of resurrection in Christ. I quickly realized it wasn’t a topic we would be able to adequately cover in a single session. Furthermore, as I began to delve into it, I realized I was in way over my head. I wanted to analyze the subject in terms of the so-called “inferior trinity” of mankind – body, soul, and spirit. While researching the subject, I stumbled across a wonderful paper by Dr. Lehman Strauss called “Death and Afterward.” I decided to propose to the group that we examine the topic of Death and Resurrection using Dr. Strauss’ paper as a framework.
This study will be broken into ten sessions paralleling Dr. Strauss’ paper:
- Death
- Man – A Trinity (Body, Soul, and Spirit)
- Can We Believe in Immortality?
- The Two Resurrections
- The Resurrection Body
- The Future Judgement of the Believer
- The Eternal Punishment of the Lost
- The Consciousness of the Soul After Death
- Heaven – The Home of the Redeemed
- Shall We Know Each Other in Heaven?
Unfortunately, Dr. Strauss’ paper is out of print, but is available as a Microsoft Word document here. Unfortunately, that document is in an older MS-Word format. Furthermore, not everyone has access to MS-Word. I have therefore saved the downloaded document in a more modern version of MS-Word and also saved it as a PDF. Please feel free to download and use either or both of these documents in your own studies, but do please heed and honor its copyright statement.
Session 1 – Death
Here are the study notes and discussion questions for our first session.
Session 2 – Man a Trinity (Body, Soul, Spirit)
Before we look into the Biblical concepts of death and resurrection we must first come to grips with components that make up ourselves – body, soul, and spirit – as a framework for our analysis and discussion. Here are the study notes and discussion questions/topics for this session.
Session 3 – Can We Believe in Immortality?
In this chapter, Dr. Strauss makes an important distinction between immortality and eternal life, implying a distinction between the immortality of those born again of God’s Spirit unto eternal life and the immortality of unbelievers who will be resurrected unto eternal separation from God. In this session, we also take up a summary discussion of the concept of “soul sleep.”
Session 4 – The Two Resurrections
Session 5 – The Resurrection Body
Session 6 & 7 – The Future Judgment of Believers
Session 8 – The Eternal Punishment of the Lost
Session 9 – The Consciousness of the Soul After Death
Session 10 – Heaven – Home of the Redeemed
Session 11 – Shall We Know Each Other In Heaven?
This is the final session in our series of discussions on Death and Resurrection based on Dr. Lehman Strauss’ book Death and Afterward.
Yesterday I was thinking about the discussion from our Monday night Bible study, particularly in regard to one of your questions about Matthew 25:14-30 the parable of the talents, and Matthew 25:31-46 the sheep and goats. The question was about faith and works. We all agreed that the works come out of the love we have for God and Jesus. I was also considering the the concept of “obedience” In John 13:3-15 we have the account of Jesus washing the Apostle’s feet. After he washes their feet he says, vs 12 “Do you understand what I have done for you? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” I understand the application of this passage to be about Christians following the example of Jesus and being a servant. So doing a “work” is an expression of faith, and also obedience to Jesus.
I had an interesting dream last night that touches on some of the questions we discussed during our session on Man A Trinity – Body, Soul, and Spirit. I have written a new BriRant about it that y’all may find interesting…
http://huppbrian.us/all/briblog/brirants/do-human-clones-have-human-souls/
I am so glad that you see the significance of the topic what happens to the soul after we physically die! Looks like the study covers everything! Thank you for your efforts, I look forward to the study with the Bereans.
My pleasure, Dorienne.
It is really a “hot button” topic. I think most of us meditate on death, and the exact nature of eternal life and bodily resurrection more frequently than we like to let on.