Various views regarding life after death have circulated for centuries. Different religions and scientists offer countless conclusions about what happens when we die. While many religions outside Christianity present a view of heaven and hell, their views are never beneficial for all parties involved. As in the case of Islam, only male Muslims will be able to enjoy Paradise, as women will be their mistresses and servants. As we look at how different religions view life after death, we must turn to the Bible.
What does the Bible say about life after death? Does it give a fair verdict on individuals, or does it play favorites? Moreover, is it even true? Does life actually continue after death, or do we cease to exist? All of these are valid questions to consider. As humans, it is only normal to question if there is life after death.
The Start of a Fear
When I was a young child, I was terrified of death. I remember thinking to myself that I was going to go to hell because I was a horrible person. After all, this is what many of us are taught from the time we are young children. Often, adults in our lives tell us that good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell. That’s even the general consensus in books and on television shows. However, these people and the messages they portray aren’t aligned with the Bible.
From the Bible, we can learn that we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:28). In other words, we are all bad people. There are no “good” people. All of us struggle with various sins, all of us have disobeyed God, and all of us do bad things. This is why we need a Savior to redeem us, and this Savior’s name is Jesus. He died for us to be forgiven of our sins so we could have eternal life with Him.
While this is a beautiful truth, not many of us are taught this from the church or from trusted adults. Unfortunately, this is because these individuals are not knowledgeable of the Scriptures. The Bible tells us that if we have placed faith in Jesus, we are given forgiveness, eternal life, and redemption. The only people who will go to hell are those who choose to reject Christ and refuse to place faith in Him.
There is life after death, as all people will continue to live on even though their physical bodies die. What is up for debate is where you will spend eternity, and it is ultimately up to you. If you choose to place faith in Jesus by believing that He died for your sins, was buried, and rose again, then you will go to heaven. However, if you choose not to place faith in Him, you will not go to heaven.
The Authenticity of the Bible
Within this conversation, we must address the authenticity of the Bible. If the Bible is not authentic, how can we trust anything it says? Moreover, if the Bible is just a created book by mankind and is filled with lies, then all of us are lost in our sins. As it is, the Bible is an authentic historical book. It has passed the test of time and is viewed as historically accurate by Christian scholars and secular scholars.
The Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Everything written in it is to teach, guide, and instruct us. Many people believe the Bible was written by men, and to an exten,t this is true; however, they were inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). In other words, the Holy Spirit, who is God, is the author of the Bible. Since we know this to be true, we can rest in the knowledge that the Bible is completely true.
There are no errors or contradictions in the Bible. Everything within the Bible’s pages aligns and forms a unified work. While the Bible was not composed in a traditional way from beginning to end, it is a collective piece that should be read without neglecting the Old Testament or the New Testament. One cannot properly appreciate the Messiah without understanding the Old Testament. Both of these Testaments are historical works that need to be respected and seen for what they are—the living Word of God.
Therefore, the Bible is an authentic work of history. With this in mind, we need to approach it carefully. Everything written in the Bible is true, including the truth that there is a God, He loves us, and He wants us to spend eternity with Him. No other religion or belief system has a god who loves his creation, nor do we see any other god leaving their kingdom to come and save mankind. Only in Christianity do we see this, and it is not something that should be overlooked.
Life After Death According to the Bible
According to the Bible, there is life after death. As mentioned, one will either go to heaven or hell based on whether they placed faith in Jesus or not. The free gift of salvation is offered to all people. You do not have to be a certain person, come from a certain background, or be part of a certain social group in order to receive salvation. Rather, Jesus died for salvation to be open to all. He did not just die for His chosen people, but instead, He died for us all (John 3:16-17).
If you want to place faith in Jesus today, you can. If you believe that He died for your sins, was buried, and rose again, then you are saved. Accept Him and trust Him as your personal Savior, and you will spend eternity with Him forever. Not only will you go to heaven when you pass away, but you will also have the privilege of living in the New Heaven and New Earth that God will create in the future.
The present heaven as well as the earth will be destroyed by fire (2 Peter 3:7). After God destroys the present earth and heaven, He will create the New Heaven and New Earth. This will be our forever home, and never will we leave it. There will be no more tears, crying, or pain (Revelation 21:4). This is a beautiful day we can all look forward to as believers. There is life after death, and if we choose to place faith in Jesus, we will spend eternity with Him.
The only alternative to this is spending eternity cut off from the Lord. If one rejects Jesus, they will go to hell when they die; however, their ultimate end will be in the lake of fire. Many believe this is not something a loving God would do, but we have to remember that God is also just and righteous. There are consequences for not placing faith in Him and dying in our own sins. This is why it is crucial for us to be knowledgeable about life after death, educate others, and help all people to come to know the Lord.
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