240703 BITES: Q33 What benefits do believers receive from Christ at their death?

Q33: What benefits do believers receive from Christ at their death? A33: Upon death, believers' souls are perfected in holiness and immediately enter into glory. Their bodies, still united to Christ, rest in the grave until the resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:14)

INTERACTION:

Think back with me to when Christ Jesus died on the cross… that was very sad wasn’t it… He is our best Friend and He died for our sins. He is a very good Friend. INTENT IS TO HELP THE KIDDOS CONNECT EMOTIONALLY TO THE DEATH OF CHRIST

After He died, do you think God the Father forgot God the Son in the tomb where He was buried? Why or why not? THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT GOD THE FATHER LOVES THE SON and could never forget His Son.

Of course not!!! He could never forget His Son… Now we who are adopted, we who are believers in Christ, united with Him, justified by Him, prayed for by Him, made perfect or sanctified by Him - do you think God will forget us when we die? Not a chance!!! Why? BECAUSE HE LOVES US.... MAY BE HELPFUL TO ASK Q27 and/or Q32

TRANSITION TO CONCEPT

Because God loves His children He does not forget them in the grave - actually great benefits are in store for the believer at their death.

He makes believers completely perfect at death (never again able to sin). He makes them able to enter into heaven (never to leave His presence). At the resurrection the believer’s souls are united with their glorified bodies; bodies that are like Christ’s.

Believers have a great and sure confidence that God will raise we who believe because of Christ’s payment of our sins.

Who here believes that Christ died for their sins? Who here believes that they have received His perfection in God’s eyes? RHETORICAL QUESTIONS - DO NOT AFFIRM OR DENY ANY RESPONSES

QUESTION AND ANSWER

So here is tonight’s question: Q33: What benefits do believers receive from Christ at their death? A33: Upon death, believers' souls are perfected in holiness and immediately enter into glory. Their bodies, still united to Christ, rest in the grave until the resurrection

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 | 13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

That’s a lot of hope!!! This passage tells us that we who believe do not have to grieve for those believers that die before us like other folks. It also says that God will bring with Him those who have died in Christ. That believers who have died will be raised first and never be apart from God. What a comfort we have in Christ. What a blessing!

Ask if anyone has questions then define terminology

Breakdown of Terms from Catechism Question: Terms and Definitions

Perfected in Holiness: This means that upon death, believers are made completely holy, free from sin and its effects. Example: Imagine a dirty mirror being cleaned so it perfectly reflects light without any smudges. Similarly, believers' souls are cleansed of all sin, allowing them to perfectly reflect God's holiness. Jude 24 “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,”

Immediately Enter into Glory: This refers to the believers' souls going to heaven to be in the presence of God right after death. Example: Think of a student graduating and immediately entering an Ivy league university. Upon death, believers instantly transition to being in God's glorious presence. Philippians 1:23 – "But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better."

Bodies Still United to Christ: Even though believers' bodies are in the grave, they remain spiritually connected to Christ. Example: Like holding onto a keepsake though it has been broken. We keep it because it is valuable to us and we will fix it later. The bodies of believers are in the grave but remain precious to Christ and will be restored. Psalm 116:15 “Precious in the sight of Yahweh Is the death of His holy ones.”

Rest in the Grave Until the Resurrection: Believers' bodies remain in the grave until the last day when they will be resurrected and reunited with their souls. Example: Think of planting a seed that stays in the ground until it sprouts into a plant. Similarly, believers' bodies stay in the grave until the resurrection. Job 19:26 – "Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God."

WHY DOES THIS MATTER?

God saves not only the believer’s soul but also their bodies too - He makes believers like Christ 1 Corinthians 15:23“But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming.” 1 John 3:2“Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not been manifested as yet what we will be. We know that when He is manifested, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.”

LAST QUESTION AND ANSWER

Q33: What benefits do believers receive from Christ at their death? A33: Upon death, believers' souls are perfected in holiness and immediately enter into glory. Their bodies, still united to Christ, rest in the grave until the resurrection

1 Thessalonians 4:14 “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.”

GOSPEL PRESENTATION:

Is anyone here unsure of whether they are in Christ? Is anyone here not sure whether they will spend eternity with Him?

Here is what must happen, Jesus said that we must agree with God that we are indeed sinners. That the judgment that our sins deserve is right and good. We must tell God that we are needy and we cannot make ourselves good in His eyes. We must pray asking God to give us His Son’s righteousness. He promises to give it to those who believe in Him. Jesus said in John 11:26“and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die—ever. Do you believe this?””

Any questions?

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SPG 36. Q. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at their death?

A. The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness (Heb. 12:23 and do immediately pass into glory, (Phil. 1:23; 2 Cor. 5:8; Lk. 23:43), and their bodies, being still united to Christ (1 Thess. 4:14), do rest in their graves (Isa. 57:2) till the resurrection (Job 19:26).

WSC Question 37 What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death?

The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, (Heb. 12:23) and do immediately pass into glory; (2 Cor. 5:1,6,8, Phil. 1:23, Luke 23:43) and their bodies, being still united to Christ, (1 Thess. 4:14) do rest in their graves, (Isa. 57:2) till the resurrection. (Job 19:26–27)

WLC Question 86 What is the communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible church enjoy immediately after death?

The communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible church enjoy immediately after death is, in that their souls are then made perfect in holiness, (Heb. 12:23) and received into the highest heavens, (2 Cor. 5:1,6,8, Phil. 1:23, Acts 3:21, Eph. 4:10) where they behold the face of God in light and glory, (1 John 3:2, 1 Cor. 13:12) waiting for the full redemption of their bodies, (Rom. 8:23, Ps. 16:9) which even in death continue united to Christ, (1 Thess. 4:14) and rest in their graves as in their beds, (Isa. 57:2) till at the last day they be again united to their souls. (Job 19:26–27) Whereas the souls of the wicked are at their death cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, and their bodies kept in their graves, as in their prisons, till the resurrection and judgment of the great day. (Luke 16:23–24, Acts 1:25, Jude 6–7)

Hebrews 12:23“to the festal gathering and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,”

2 Corinthians 5:1“For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

2 Corinthians 5:6“Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—”

2 Corinthians 5:8“we are of good courage and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.”

Philippians 1:23“But I am hard-pressed between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better,”

Acts 3:21“whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.”

Ephesians 4:10“He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)”

1 John 3:2“Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not been manifested as yet what we will be. We know that when He is manifested, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.”

1 Corinthians 13:12“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.”

Romans 8:23“And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.”

Psalm 16:9“Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely.”

1 Thessalonians 4:14“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.”

Isaiah 57:2“He enters into peace; They rest in their beds, Each one who walked in his upright way.”

Job 19:26–27““Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall behold God, Whom I myself shall behold, And whom my eyes will see and not another. My heart faints within me!”

Luke 16:23–24““And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. “And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’”

Acts 1:25“to take the place of this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.””

Jude 6–7“And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day, just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, having indulged in the same way as these in gross sexual immorality and having gone after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.”

Mark Initial Draft: Q33 What benefits do believers receive from Christ at their death?

The souls of believers are perfected in holiness having passed immediately into glory while their bodies, being still united to Christ, do rest in their graves till the resurrection.

1 Thessalonians 4:14“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.”

Mark Second Draft: Q33 - What benefits do believers receive from Christ at their death?

A33 - Upon death, believers' souls are perfected in holiness and immediately enter glory. Their bodies, still united to Christ, rest in the grave until the resurrection.

1 Thessalonians 4:14“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.”

Mark Third Draft: Q33 - What benefits do believers receive from Christ at their death?

A33 - Upon death, believers' souls are perfected in holiness and immediately enter into glory. Their bodies, still united to Christ, rest in the grave until the resurrection.

1 Thessalonians 4:14“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.”

Mark Final Draft: