Natural Immortality
Hell and the Grave
God the Creator  
The Law of God
The "rapture"
Graven images and Idols

Natural Immortality 

The notion that life is an endless circle is ridiculous.  Death occurs constantly around us. The idea that man's nature is in any way naturally immortal is equally false.  The idea that a man 'has a spirit' which cannot die is deceptive, and denies the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  The belief, when a man dies, his 'spirit' or 'soul' goes some place else to think, have being, or do anything is not biblical.  "His breath goeth forth; he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish."     
        (Psalm 146:4; Ecclesiastes 9:5-6; Job 14:20-21)

It is a comfort to many people, to think departed loved ones are 'with the Lord.'  And indeed, our 'spirit' does return to the Lord who gave it.   (Ecclesiastes 12:7) 

God gives you that comfort.  God does hold our person and its life in His hand.  He can make us live, at His choice.  The Lord will proclaim a resurrection from death.    (1 Corinthians 15:35-58) 

But the idea that any part of man, including any so called 'spirit,' lives on naturally, 'reincarnated,' or in any other form, without having a resurrection of life, from God, through Jesus Christ, is false.    (John 3:35-36;  John 11:23-27) 

The idea man's nature contains a separate thing, often called 'his spirit,' which somehow naturally lives on, repeats the lie told to Eve, namely, . . .
  "Ye shalt not surely die."     (Genesis 3:4) 

This doctrine is a belief of ancient paganism which has found a home in 'christian doctrine,' and other religions in the world.  The doctrine, that all men have some part of their being, often called a spirit, live on naturally, either in hell, heaven, purgatory, or the spirit world, denies the need for the death of Jesus the Christ.  If there was no real, true, complete death, Jesus would not have had to die, to save mankind from that death.  Jesus saved mankind from extinction. 

Man is composed of Body (ones physical being), made alive by the Breath of Life (spirit) from God.  Man then becomes a living soul.  He does not have a soul.  He is a soul.  All creatures have the Breath of Life.  These words 'soul' and 'spirit' often have different definitions to different people.     (Genesis 2:7, 7:15;
      Revelation 16:3) 

Without body and breath creatures, including men and women, are dead.  A man's spirit is his genetic blueprint, memories, and identifying traits.  A man's, or woman's, consciousness and understanding will not work without a body. The natural man has a natural body, subject to death.  The redeemed will have a body free of sin and death.  The soul of man is his spirit in control of his body.  There is no soul without the Breath of Life.     (1 Corinthians 2:9-14; Job 20:3;
         James 2:26) 

At death, a person's page is completed in the "books of record" in Heaven.  That person's "spirit" (genetic blueprint, memories, identifying traits) indeed returns to God.  But his thoughts perish.  He has no more to do with "anything that is done under the sun."  "His sons come to honor and he knows it not."   It is man's position to rest in death, until the day appointed for him to be resurrected, or given life again.  On that day, God will recombine spirit and body.  On that day, a man will live again.  God can make a man a living soul any time He wants.  The Almighty God has this power.    (Revelation 20:12;  Ecclesiastes 12:7, 9:5-7;
    Ecclesiastes 3:18-22;  Psalm 146:4;  Job 14:20-21;  John 6:39-40) 

Isn't it comforting to think, ones loved ones get some true rest, instead of having to view the injustices of this world?   Do we want our departed loved ones to watch the hardships we may endure without them?  Isn't it beautiful and wonderful to know God wants to wait, instead of making our loved ones perfect without us.                (Hebrews 11:39-40) 

God put angels to guard the way to "The Tree of Life," so man would not live forever, in his sinful state.  Jesus Christ came so man might not die.  Those who do not come through Christ shall not see life.  They will die.  Those who trust Jesus receive the gift of abundant life.     (Genesis 3:22-24,  John 10:1,9-10) 

Hell and the grave 

Hell is a time and event.  The place is Earth.  Hell's result is the grave.  The grave is eternal, without Christ.  Eventually even death will die, for there will be no more death.  The death will last for ever.  The Fire of the Torment, will not last forever.   (2 Timothy 4:1-8; 2 Peter 3:1-15;
    Isaiah 28:21-23; Revelation 20:14-15  thru   Revelation 21:1;   Revelation 21:1-27) 

REPEAT, the Fire which God will use to cleanse the earth and rid it of all that sins, the Fire that is often called Hell, will not last for-ever.  Eventually it will have done its work.  Even the hardest sinners, even Satan himself, cannot, will not, stand the wrath of God.  They will be not. 

Common sense tells you a merciful God will not torture.  Would God want to give his enemies life forever, if they endure a little discomfort?  Would God want them around at all to blaspheme Him some more?  If you are confronted with a dog that has rabies, do you pen it up and scorch it with a torch every few minutes?  No, dear reader, you being merciful, put the dog out of its misery. 

God the Creator 

The distinguishing characteristic of the One True God is His position of Creator.  "The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens."     (Jeremiah 10:11) 

The Lord our God is all present, all knowing, and all powerful.  He spoke a word and the Creation was made.  He commanded it to be, and it was.     (Psalm 33:8-9) 

The gods and idols men set before themselves, as some great thing, are nothing.  The Creator of Heaven and Earth is the sovereign ruler.  Even the heathen who respect the Only Sovereign Creator are recognized by Him.  For without Jesus there "was not any thing made that was made."     (Romans 1:20;  Romans 2:11-15;  Galatians 3:6-9;  John 1:1-5;   Acts 10:34-35) 

The Law of God 

The Law of God, as expressed and given to Moses on Mount Sinai in the "Ten  Commandments," is the foundation and throne for the government of the Almighty God. The Law of God is unchanging, and binding. It commands and demands obedience.
    (Exodus 20:1-17)   

The penalty for breaking these commandments is death.  That is why Jesus Christ, God himself, had to come and die.  He had to pay that penalty as a ransom for us who deserve the death.
    (Romans 8:1-4) 

We could not pay this price for ourselves, because we are unworthy.  By passing through life, death, and coming alive again, Jesus made "The Way" for us to pass from death to Life.  The "Lamb of God," Jesus the Christ, He is Worthy.   (John 14:6; John 1:29-34; Revelation 5:1-14) 

"Sin is transgression of the law."     (1 John 3:4) 

"For the wages of sin is death;  but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."     (Romans 6:23) 

We are the ones who are guilty of having other gods more important to us than The Almighty.  Thank God for the faith and mercy of Jesus Christ.  (See the doctrinal listing headed
"The Nature of Salvation.") 

The "rapture" 

God will transport the redeemed with 'rapture' out of sin, and into the joy of the Lord.  The dictionary says rapture is the state of being carried away with joy.  God's people will be carried away, with great joy, but not until the last day. 

The doctrine of some mystical 'rapture' whereby God takes His people out of the world before "the great tribulation," before the "time of trouble such as never was," is false.
     (Matthew 24:21;  Daniel 12:1-3;  Revelation 7:14-17;  John 17:15) 

This deception is designed to lull God's people to sleep.  If one believes they will not have to endure something, he will not prepare for it, or watch for it.  If one thinks Jesus comes once, secretly, to rescue His people, and once publicly to rule the nations, he will not be prepared for the hardships before Jesus returns. 

The scripture most often used to justify the doctrine of 'the rapture' is the figure of two women working side by side.  One woman is taken and the other woman is left.
    (Matthew 24:41;  Matthew 24:35-51) 

This text instead shows, when Jesus comes, some people will be chosen, others will not.  It does not show when that happens, or what happens to the two women after.  The text only says one is taken and the other left.  This scripture also shows the people involved do not know the time of this separation. He shall come as a "thief in the night." 

The parable of the tares and the wheat, show both good and bad growing together until the harvest.  The weeds are gathered and bound first.     (Matthew 13:24-30) 

In the biblical book Revelation Jesus says, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still.  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."     (Revelation 22:10-12) 

This shows that just prior to Jesus' return, every man, will be set as unrighteous or righteous.  Jesus comes shortly after this close of mankind's probation.    (See the doctrinal listing headed        "The Close of Probation") 

Graven Images & Idols 

The third commandment, of the ten commandments, is a prohibition against bowing down to false gods, images of idolatry, or worshiping something not worthy of worship.    (Exodus 20:4-6) 

This applies in a number of manners, some more apparent than others.  Most basic would be like making a god and then bowing to it.  On a higher level would be bowing to a heavenly being.
      (See Revelation 22:8-9)   

Another level might be making a person, place, thing, or action an 'idol' to yourself.  In doing this one would be also breaking the first of the ten commandments.  Namely, having no other gods, greater than the Lord God, in your life.    (Exodus 20:1-3) 

We must not bow before anyone but God.  No job, girlfriend, statue, status, or self, should ever hold more of our loyalty than our loyalty to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

Worship before statues is a practice of ancient paganism and has no part in the worship of the Creator or in the worship of Jesus Christ.  It is one thing to have a statue of Jesus which helps your faith.  It is a completely different thing to worship a statue or any form of idol as if the idol had any power in God's universe. Hang that picture of the virgin, but pray to God.

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."    (James 1:27)