Suffering and Death For Those Who Are Forgiven - Part II

4. Death Destroys the Body of Death

“O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Rom. 7:24). The human body is corrupt (Rom. 7:18). It is defiled by sin and incapable of being perfect. Yes, death was intended primarily for judgment on the sin of mankind (Gen. 2:16-17), but for believers it serves an important role in removing the “body of death.” The flesh, as the Bible repeatedly calls our fallen nature, is filled with sinful desires (Rom. 13:14). The only way we can be rid of our sinful desires once and for all is to shed our mortal bodies and obtain new bodies in the Resurrection of the Just.

For the believer, we have already died with Christ (Gal. 2:20). I believe part of what that means (though secondarily) is that the judgment aspect of death is removed, since Jesus was judged in our place for our sins. So, death is no longer a horrible curse for the believer. The day of one’s death is better than one’s birth (Eccl. 7:1). As Paul said, “to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). Our corrupt bodies are as defiled temples. We cannot have perfect fellowship with God when our flesh is soiled with sinful desires. (Don’t get me wrong, our “flesh” is not just physical. It has mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions, no doubt. Our flesh is still “us.” We cannot excuse our fallen nature by saying it’s just our flesh—as though our flesh is just a physical part of us that can be amputated. No, it’s central to who we are as people.)

Our bodies are decaying. There is something intrinsically imperfect with something that is decaying. We are “corruptible” creatures, but we look to put on incorruption (1 Cor. 15:53). Death is the primary way in which God appointed this exchange to happen: the sinful, decaying body breaks down, and God eventually replaces it with an immortal body, free from sin.
 
5. God Intentionally Provides No Proof of Himself

It is taught in the Bible that God is not desperate to win people to Himself. He will save those He chooses without blasting them with proof of the Bible. As seen by how Jesus interacted with the crowds, God sometimes conceals the truth from those who are “indifferent” (really more like hostile) to know the Truth.

What does this have to do with death? Well, if Christians were not subject to death, what would be the alternative? Would we be raptured? Would we be suddenly changed to be perfect beings? All the alternatives to death would virtually prove the Truth of the Bible. Thus, it seems reasonable that one reason God would not keep His children from death is that He does not want to prove Himself to the world in this age. Believers and unbelievers die alike, so that skeptics are left with their skepticism about the reality of the Messiah, eternal salvation, and the resurrection. Can you imagine what scientists would do if we believers were suddenly given glorified bodies? They would have no choice but to acknowledge that something extraordinary—or supernatural—was happening for Christians. (Additionally, God does not desire to provide instantaneous proof to all people of the reality of someone’s faith in Him, but expects believers to bear fruit worthy of repentance such that they are known to be “good trees.”)

Instead, we are left here on earth to witness to others. We are left to carry on for the benefit of others. Paul said that to remain on earth “in the flesh” was for the benefit of others (Phil. 1:23-24).

6. Salvation is Not Intended to be the “Easy Way Out” of Life’s Problems

Everyone would like an easy way out of this life that does not involve suffering or death. Yet, if there were no death it would distract from part of the message of the gospel—that one must be willing to abandon all things for Jesus’ sake, including one’s own physical pleasures and benefits and life (Mt. 16:25; Lu. 14:26,33), to claim Him as the eternal reward. We must consider Him more valuable than anything else. If we are willing to lay down our lives for His sake (both figuratively and literally), then we show the world the great value of our God. When a believer is able to overcome the fear of death (Heb. 2:14-16) and to say that death is gain, they display the all-surpassing worth of the Lord. This opportunity to clearly display the infinite worth of God would be missed if there was no death for the believer. It seems clear to me that if faith in Jesus allowed us to bypass death it would cheapen the gospel.

If death could be escaped by belief in Christ, then the masses would rush to Him in a false hope of escaping death, with no true belief or repentance. Twice as many fake Christians would be running around everywhere. It would be the health-and-wealth, prosperity gospel on steroids.

For all these reasons, I believe God has appointed all men to die. Nevertheless, those of us are in Christ will never die (Jn. 11:26), for Death has been put to death by the work of our Savior on the cross.

Suffering and Death For Those Who Are Forgiven - Part I

If Christ Jesus died for the sins of us His people and suffered the judgment of death and hell in our place, why must we still suffer and die? Have you ever wondered that? I certainly have. Death’s “sting” has been removed (1Cor 15:55-56), but why not death itself? How can we be assured that death’s power is removed for us if we still face the prospect of death? Let’s see if we can deduce the answers by reasoning from the Bible. (In points 1-3 we will address the question of suffering, and in points 4-6, posted later, we will address the question of physical death.)

1. Sinners Need Suffering for Sanctification

As sinners who are still in the flesh we must be continually reminded of our fallen nature and the blackness of our sin. One of the ways that God disciplines His erring children is to bring out the “rod of correction” (cf. Heb 12:5-7). The pain of guilt itself serves as a corrective agent in the life of a believer (cf. Ps 32:4-5), and this guilt can subsequently serve to bring physical suffering (Ps 32:3; 89:7-9).

Physical suffering from illness, disease, and injury may not be direct punishment for any particular sin—as is shown from the story of Job who suffered much physically—but it certainly is a means by which God sanctifies His children. Job spoke of that sanctification through trials (Job 23:10). Paul spoke of the sanctifying work of suffering when he spoke of his “thorn in the flesh” (2Cor 12:7-10). Such thorns teach us to rely more upon the strength of God in our lives.

Yet, the Bible makes clear that sometimes God disciplines His children physically directly because of sin: 1Cor 11:29-32 and James 5:14-16. When necessary God physically judges His own children in order to wake them up to their sin and bring them back to repentance. This is a fearful thing.

2. Our Sufferings Bring Endurance and Unite Us More with Christ

Remarkably suffering can be a great blessing. The Bible indicates this quite clearly in regard to “trials” (e.g. James 1:2-3), and we may apply this to all pain and suffering in general. Trials produce patience, or “cheerful endurance.” No doubt any suffering can accomplish this work of endurance where the grace of God abounds.

But even beyond this, the Apostle Paul recognized that suffering unites us to Christ in a very special way. “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things; . . . that I may know Him . . . and the fellowship of His sufferings” (Phil 3:8, 10). Thus, for Paul, physical trials were a unique way in which he could taste of the unspeakable sufferings of his Savior and know Him better. Make no mistake about it: this suffering is a one-time opportunity to know Christ more fully. In the New Earth there is no more pain or sorrow (Rev 21:4).

Now, enduring physical maladies with joyfulness also provides an opportunity for the greatest witness from humans of God’s infinite value. For, consider that if we endure trials with patience and deep abiding joy it is inexplicable to the unbelieving world. It shows the lost world that Eternal Reward awaits those who hope in God’s mercy. It shows them that a person’s faith is genuine, meaningful, and powerfully sustained by God. It shows them that Jesus Christ is worth it all. God uses afflictions in life to display the glory of God to the world (cf. John 9:1-3).

God is pleased to test our faith, like with Abraham and Isaac. Who could deny that Abraham loved the Lord more than his precious son whom God asked to sacrifice? His son was the only son of his wife, born to him in the waning years of his life, and it was certain he could not have another. The more precious his son the more obviously more precious God would appear in his trial. So, too, the greater the pain or the harder the trial we endure with faithful endurance the more obviously glorious the Lord appears.

(Aside: Why does God not audibly speak or appear to us? Perhaps it is for the same reason of testing our faith.)

3. This Life Provides a Unique Opportunity for Attaining Heavenly Treasure and Spiritual Growth

The Bible teaches that the trials in a believer’s life may build an eternal weight of glory in the hereafter (2Cor 4:17-18). Again, this life is a one-time opportunity for affliction. This is the only time in all of eternity that afflictions may build for us a weight of glory.

Let that sink in, believe it, and consider if you seriously do not want any affliction in life. Do you want to escape the chance to build an eternal weight of glory? It’s interesting how the Bible can show us how our fallen thinking is often completely opposite of the truth.

Sufferings and persecutions allow us to attain heavenly treasure that may not be attainable in eternity. And trials somehow allow us to grow spiritually in a special way. Perhaps this way is because of that unique chance to know Christ. Perhaps endurance through fiery trial is God’s primary means of testing His children and giving them the opportunity to exercise their faith and declare His worth to an unbelieving world. We know that the greatest Treasure is Jesus Himself, so certainly knowing Him to deeper degrees lets us love Him and treasure Him more. It might just be that the degree of suffering we endure in this life forever limits our ability to “vicariously” know Jesus in that particular way.

Church Ages of Revelation 2-3

Is this possible? I only offer this as random speculation. There are various possible ways in which the seven churches of Revelation may be prophetic. My favorite suggestion is that they are representative of "church ages." But, I wonder if anyone has considered the idea presented above of the churches representing the condition of regions of the world near the "end times."

Here are the seven churches of Revelation:

1. Ephesus ("Permitted" or "Desirable")
2. Smyrna ("Myrrh")
3. Pergamum ("Height" or "Elevation")
4. Thyatira ("Odor of Affliction")
5. Sardis ("Red Ones")
6. Philadelphia ("Brotherly Love")
7. Laodicea ("Justice of the People")

Is It Okay to Question God's Timing?

When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”  —Revelation 6:9-10

So, here are the souls of the righteous ones made perfect before God in heaven, and they are asking God something very interesting. It sounds almost like they are impatient and complaining and vindictive on the surface. How long? Avenge our blood? These do not sound like the words of perfected individuals, right? Actually, there were good reasons for asking this question of God’s timing.

These martyrs were not impatient, but rather expectant and unsure of the timing of God’s judgment. They knew that God’s judgment was coming, but they did not know when. Notice the words “holy and true.” In that context, they sought an answer to the timing of God’s righteous judgment. The holiness of God demands justice, and justice is to the glory of His name. These martyrs desired, no doubt, the foreordained justice punishment of God to fall on the impenitent followers of the devil. Yes, it was personal to them, certainly, for they had been killed. But is it wrong to desire God’s judgment—which you know must sometime come—on those who have personally done great wrong to you and blasphemed God? Apparently, the answer is “no.” I would suggest that the key here is that they knew that there would be no mercy to these people, and so they looked forward to the just punishment of God that was to come, when His righteousness would be revealed. Then, we too can appreciate and look forward to God’s judgment on those who refuse to repent, even as did David (e.g. Ps 74:10; 94:1-5; 82:8). If God is glorified in judgment—though He takes no pleasure in it—we should and must learn to appreciate it. Perhaps this seems inappropriate in the church age where grace is emphasized, but perhaps rather our view of God needs some adjustment.

What we learn of the eternal state is that we will not know everything. We will not immediately be given all the answers in heaven. In fact, God may not give us the answers immediately, even as He did not give these ones a direct answer as to the exact timing. Then too it is not inappropriate to ask God questions now. An honest and open and God-glorifying prayer may include humble questions, as we see over and over again in the prayers of the Psalms.

(We also learn that those in heaven are aware of the passage of time. They are not so disconnected with time that they cannot wonder that so much time is passing. Lastly, we learn that they appear to be aware of what is happening on earth to some degree or another. They know that God’s judgment has not yet come to those on the earth.)

These martyrs were not complaining, but rather they were inquiring. They desired to know God’s timing and plans. It is not wrong to wonder at God’s plans and to inquire about them. Rather it might show a lack of interest in God and His glory (or else a lack of appreciation for His sovereign control). An inquiry becomes sin only when there is impatience, anger, or some such dissatisfaction with the plans of the Lord. Curiosity is not wrong but frustration is. Our lives will be richer, I think, when we inquire of the plans of the Lord and His counsels—just don’t always expect an obvious answer.

These martyrs were not vindictive, but rather passionate about the holiness of God. Why did these people not desire the salvation of the wicked? Why did they desire vengeance? This gets into the unpleasant question of the eternal punishment of God. Hell, and those who will go there, were made for the glory of God (cf. Prov 16:4). It’s not exactly something any of us humans really want to ponder every day. However, the punishment of hell serves a very important purpose: It more clearly than anything else demonstrates the justice and holiness of God. It’s there because God cannot permanently wink at sin. All sin must be dealt with severely, for all sin is offensive to the Lord and detracts from His infinite glory.

And, if we are believers, we acknowledge that we deserve such just punishment. Furthermore, we recognize that God’s glory is at stake and all sin must be dealt with severely one Way or another way. Should we not then desire God’s holiness to be demonstrated in His righteous indignation being poured out on the vessels of wrath (cf. Rom 9:21-23)? We should have no desire to see any one individual eternally lost, but we should expectantly wait for the justice of God to be revealed from heaven . . . for His own name’s sake! If we are passionate about the glory of God, I believe this will become reality for us.

The response of God to these martyrs is interesting. “Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed” (Rev 6:11). God was longsuffering to the wicked. Only God knows when to end that time of being longsuffering, but He does have a specific time in mind. Other examples of His longsuffering to those doomed to destruction include the Amorites, who were to be destroyed by the Israelites (cf. Gen 15:16). God’s mercy is perfectly optional, yet He chooses to be abundantly generous with His mercy. That is why we call it longsuffering. We see then that God is intentionally longsuffering up to a precise point in time when He will no longer constrain His anger against evil. For most individuals that time is no more than ninety years.

The martyrs understood. They accepted God’s answer without question. They understood that God is merciful even to the wicked and that He has a set time for judgment. So, we too must accept God’s timing and all that happens in our lives, trusting that He is in control and that He is wisely executing His plans to most emphasize His glory.