Cora Carolfi Funeral
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16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”
One of the most well known passages in the whole Bible is John 3:16 and it was a favorite of Cora’s. It has been called “The Gospel in the Nutshell” for it is the Good News of how God has saved us. But it also contains a reference to the Law. God sent his Son so that we would not perish.
We are here today because in an earthly way, Cora did perish. Even though she lived longer than most people do, her body succumbed to old age and she died — and died rather suddenly. The topic that people die is not avoided in the Bible.
How many references to death? The word “death” has 454 references.
First mention?
Genesis 2:15–17 (NIV84)
15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”
Last mention?
Revelation 14:13 (NIV84)
13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”
Why do people die? It is the consequence of sin.
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—
And we will all perish.
27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
6 A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”
24 For, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.
But the perishing that John 3:16 refers to is more than just physical death. The Bible warns that we deserve condemnation for our sins. Condemnation means being condemned to an eternity in hell. Even though modernists try to shy away from such a stark pronouncement, the Bible is clear about the truth that we deserved God’s temporal AND eternal punishment.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Because of sin and its penalty for disobeying our holy and righteous God, we all deserved to be condemned and at death we would perish facing an eternity of separation from God in hell. There would be no “going to a better place” or “rest from our labors” or “a blessed reunion with loved ones” or even a ceasing of awareness but a future of intense pain and suffering for all eternity. We may not think of it when we confess our sins in church and say we deserved God’s eternal punishment but that is what the Law warns us about.
That is why John 3:16 is such a comfort to us as Christians. God does not want us to perish.
2 Peter 3:8–9 (NIV)
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
To phrase it positively 1 Timothy 2:1–6 (NIV84)
1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.
John 3:16 states how God in his love provided the means by which we are saved.
God loved the world: All people of all time.
God sent his Son: To live and die in our place.
God sends the Holy Spirit so we can believe in Jesus.
Result: Although we will still die physically, we will not perish eternally.
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Our response? We make every effort to enter that rest.
10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Cora was known for being a hard working woman who was also very “strong” in her beliefs, opinions, and ways. This past several years have been difficult for her in many ways. One of her frustrations was that she was no longer to be as energetic physically and mentally as she once was. But rather than do nothing, she still endeavored to do what she could to be active.
Embroidery for example. Several days before she died, she did not feel well but instead of staying in bed, she worked on her latest project. More importantly, she continued to pray and to strengthen her faith with the Word of God by reading her devotional book and Meditations which focused on the teachings of the Bible.
But now she is at rest. At the committal we say that we lay the body at rest. The Bible tells us that the saints now rest from their labors. Hebrews speaks of that eternal rest. Rest which is hers because God did send his Son to be our Savior who came not to condemn the world, but to save the world. Whoever believes in him has that wonderful gift of eternal life.
And so today we remember Cora and exchange stories and bring words of comfort to each other. We remember the good days and trust that she is enjoying heaven in the presence of God.
But there is also that underlying grim reminder that we too are in jeopardy of perishing — our own mortality cannot escape us. What God in his love has made possible for us to escape through faith in Jesus is perishing eternally. This is Jesus’ promise:
John 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned,
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
44 Then Jesus cried out, “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
