Garwood Presbyterian Church

What Exactly Happens After I Die?

1 Corinthians 15:20-23, 35, 42b-44, 49, 51-53, and 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

Introduction: Most people live in fear of death. But Hebrews 2:14-15 says that Jesus died in order to "free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death." Through His death and resurrection, we as Christians no longer have to live in fear of death. Instead, it is something we can look forward to because of what will happen after it. But exactly what does happen after we die?

1. What Happens Immediately After We Die?
   1. Even though the Bible speaks of death as "sleep," our spirit does not go to sleep when we die.
      1. But our physical body does go to "sleep" until it is resurrected.
   2. 2 Corinthians 5:8 says that your spirit, if we are a Christian, goes immediately to be with the Lord.
      1. Paul also said in Philippians 1:23 that he actually desired to depart this earth through death because then it meant that he would be with Christ.
      2. So, immediately after we die, we go directly to be with God forever.
   3. Is there any evidence outside of the Bible that our spirit can exist separately from our body?
      1. Yes there is in "out of body" experiences people have had, including having near death experiences.
      2. And it can be proven in some cases that the person was not just hallucinating, imagining, or dreaming about what happened, but that their spirit actual left their body and existed separately from it.
2. When Do We Get a New Body as Christians?
   1. 1 Corinthians 15:23 points out that it will take place when Jesus returns to earth.
   2. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 also says that this will happen when Christ returns.
      1. "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."
3. What Will Our New Body Be Like?
   1. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 says that our new body will have four characteristics.
   2. It will be imperishable, instead of the perishable one we have now.
      1. Our present body is perishable because it will die and decay, but our new body will be im-perishable because it will be immortal (1 Cor. 15:53-54) and eternal (2 Cor. 5:1).
   3. It will be sown in dishonor, but it will be raised in glory.
      1. When our body dies, it will be sown into the earth through burial, and in dishonor because "the wages of sin is death" and our death and burial will testify to the sin that took our life.
      2. Our new body will be glorious in that it will be like Jesus' resurrected body (Phil. 3:20-21).
   4. It will be sown in weakness, but it will be raised in power.
      1. When our body dies, it will be sown in burial, weak and completely useless.
      2. But our new body will be filled with the power of God, and not subject to our old body's weaknesses of sickness, sin, and death.
   5. It will be a spiritual body versus the natural body we have now.
      1. Our new body will not be made up of matter, but of spirit, and be like Jesus' resurrected body.

Conclusion: 1 Corinthians 15 concludes with, "When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.'" Yes, "Thanks be to God! For He gives us the victory (over death) through our Lord Jesus Christ."