IMMORTALITY (ECCL. 12:9-11)

1) Eccl. 12:11 is a perplexing verse.

2) At the present time my interpretation of the verse is this:

a) “Goads” are problems (issues) that stimulate thinking and earnest reflection.

b) Stated another way, goads are like puzzles which man seeks to solve.

c) Nails are the “solutions” to the goads (problems).

3) One “goad” is death. Why does death exist? Why does it affect both man and beast?

4) Is there a difference between the death of a person and the death of an animal?

5) Do we have any reason to believe in an afterlife?

6) Tonight we want to look at some “nails” (answers) regarding the existence of man.

7) Our study will be divided into two parts.

a) Long before Jesus ever came into the world the Old Testament taught that man cannot be destroyed.

b) Death may end physical life, but each person must continue on for eternity.

c) In the New Testament we see this doctrine again stated in a number of different ways.

8) Jews could have found this information in their Old Testaments if they had read it carefully.

9) Tonight we want to look at passages that they could have studied and considered.

10) In Gen. 5:1 we read about “the generations of Adam.”

11) Adam lived for 930 years and then he died (Gen. 5:5).

12) As we look through this list we come to a man named “Enoch.”

a) Enoch is said to have “walked with God” – verse 22 – READ.

b) Verse 23 tells us how long he lived. We skip that verse for the information in verse 24 – READ.

c) Notice the expression “God took him.”

d) Using the expression “took him” does not sound like the termination of this man’s existence.

e) The expression seems to imply continued life in another place or state.

13) If this is the only text we had, it might be conclusive in and of itself.

14) This is a starting point to show that in the Old Testament we see continued existence after life on earth.

a) In at least one previous lesson I have mentioned the expression “gathered to his people.”

b) Gen. 25:8 says Abraham was “gathered unto his people.”

c) Sometimes this expression describes a burial many miles away from the family cemetery plot.

d) In these cases, “gathered to his people” cannot refer to a burial.

e) “His people” points to a group of people who have an existence beyond this life.

15) Beyond these points we have another way to establish continued existence after death.

a) Not many preachers in the church use this argument, but it is a line of proof.

b) Let’s turn over to Lev. 19.

c) As Lev. 19 begins, God told Moses to instruct the Hebrews about holiness.

d) Within the Hebrew faith there was to be respect for parents (Lev. 19:3).

e) Idolatry was wrong (verse 4).

f) Theft, lying, and related matters were sinful (verse 11).

g) Tale bearing was not to be tolerated (verse 16).

h) If you have found this chapter let’s look at verse 31 together – READ.

i) Some translations use the word “mediums.”

j) Just as now, there were people who sought to make contact with the dead.

16) Here is an interesting question:

17) If a person dies and they are gone in every sense, how in the world could they be contacted?!

18) Contact with the departed necessities that the deceased still exist!

a) Someone might say, “That’s true, but perhaps the ancient mediums were just pretending.”

b) “Maybe they just claimed the dead still existed and they could make contact.”

c) This is a possibility so let’s refer back to another Old Testament event.

d) By the time of 1 Sam. 28, Samuel was dead. King Saul wanted Samuel’s advice.

e) Saul consulted a medium and had the chance to actually converse with Samuel.

f) Samuel was no longer on the earth, but he was still in existence.

19) Many have debated whether or not mediums can actually make contact with the dead.

20) The mention of mediums and the story of Samuel provides more evidence of a continuing existence.

21) If this is all the Old Testament proof had we may or may not be completely convinced of life after death.

a) Our evidence thus far is not bad, but maybe some would like to see a stronger case.

b) We can offer additional proof.

c) Job 19 is next on our list.

d) Job said something that is very, very interesting.

e) He wished that his words were inscribed in a book (verse 23).

f) Then he said he wished his words were forever inscribed on a rock with an iron pen (verse 24).

g) Job wished that his words would be preserved for a long time to come. He got his wish.

h) Had he known what was going to happen, he might have requested the right to edit the material.

i) Verse 25 has Job saying he knew his redeemer lived.

j) Verse 26 is what we want – READ.

22) How do we explain this passage?

23) Most believe Job lived long before the book of Leviticus was written.

24) At an early date Job said that if he died, he would not have flesh but he would still “see God.”

25) Unless we accept he spoke in error, here is proof of life beyond the grave.

a) The psalmist also said something interesting, Ps. 16:9-11.

b) He said his “soul would not be left in Sheol.”

c) The “holy one” would not see corruption.

d) In view of the writer’s comments, there must be some type of additional existence.

e) In the next Psalm (17:15) the writer said, “I shall behold thy face in righteousness.”

f) Since this is in the future tense, it was to happen in the future.

g) The writer was looking forward to (anticipating) something in a life beyond this one.

h) Another citation from the book of Psalms is even stronger and I will read it.

i) Ps. 49:15 – READ.

26) If there is a passage in the Old Testament that teaches a resurrection, this is it.

27) A writer spoke of death but then turned right around and spoke of life.

28) On at least some level the writer recognized that death is not the end; man continues to exist.

29) Ps. 73:24 addresses this same point.

a) The writer spoke of being “guided with God’s counsel.”

b) We have this experience during our earthly lifetime.

c) Then he said “afterward receive me into glory.”

30) In a prophetic context Isaiah said (26:19) “the dead shall live.”

31) Dan. 12:2 says a similar thing – people will be raised to eternal life or eternal condemnation.

32) Finally Hos. 13:14 is a helpful text.

33) The prophet asked where was death’s “destruction”?

34) Death could not destroy because those who die will be “ransomed” (released).

IF ALL WE HAD WAS A COPY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT WE COULD BELIEVE AND PROVE THAT MAN’S EARTHLY LIFE IS NOT ALL THERE IS TO HIS EXISTENCE.

a) Since we have more than the Old Testament, we may also turn to the New Testament for proof.

b) This is also important because sometimes people say “life after death” is philosophy.

c) Many have said this idea came from Greek thought and culture.

d) Stated another way, “believing in life after death is a belief rooted in mythology.”

e) That allegation is simply not true.

f) Job made his statement long before Greek culture had its beginning.

g) Philosophy and other disciplines did not create the idea of life after death.

2) When Christianity was introduced to the world, this topic did receive additional attention.

3) Jesus spoke about “destroying soul and body in hell.”

4) If this means the termination of existence in all forms, Hell is not a place/state to be feared.

5) Jesus warning only has significance of man can continue to exist in a state of torment.

6) Jesus prayed that people would be forgiven in Lk. 23:34 (forgive them they know not w/they do).

7) If our earthly life is all there is, what value did the Lord’s prayer have? Was it not meaningless?

8) If there is no life after death, Jesus was a liar.

a) Jn. 11:25 has the Lord saying “I am the resurrection.”

b) Stated another way, Jesus said the dead will again live because of Him.

c) If there is no life after death, Jesus is NOT the resurrection.

d) A week ago we did a brief study of 2 Cor. 5:1.

e) When Christians die, they have “a build from God.”

f) What good is a dwelling place from God if we are not alive after death?

9) We see in Lk. 16 with the rich man and Lazarus continued existence after life on the earth.

10) Both the good and the evil continue to exist.

11) We live in a time when people make some pretty wild (and often false statements).

12) We have people re-writing history so that history conforms to what someone believes and not the facts.

13) For both the young and the old, here is an important truth to live by:

14) When we hear something that seems unusual, strange, or hard to believe, check it out.

15) Many claim that continued life after death came from Greek culture.

16) There are people who hear that in a classroom or somewhere else and swallow it hook, line & sinker.

17) If we go back and look at the facts, we find the truth.

18) Philosophers and others taught this because of what they found in “sacred sayings” or “old traditions.”

19) People taught an after life because of the Scriptures.

20) Man continues to live after death, and there are only two choices for eternity.

21) All will either live with God forever and ever, or they will live without Him forever and ever.

22) We trust that each one who is here wants to be with Him, and you have done what is necessary to do that.