Luke 23:42 And he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. I. THE SOULS OF SAINTS SURVIVE THEIR BODIES. 1. Scripture plainly represents the soul to be different and distinct from the body. 2. The death of the body has no tendency to destroy the life of the soul. 3. Death has no more tendency to obstruct the free, voluntary, rational exercise of the soul, than to destroy it. II. The souls of the saints after death GO IMMEDIATELY TO PARADISE. 1. Thes are essentially prepared to go there. 2. The Scripture gives no account of any other place than heaven or hell, to which the souls of men go after death. 3. That the Scripture assures us that many saints have actually gone to heaven immediately after they left this world.Improvement: 1. This subject teaches the error of those who hold that the souls of all men are annihilated at death. 2. This subject teaches the error of those who maintain that the souls of men sleep during the intermediate state between death and the resurrection. 3. This subject teaches the enormous error of those who maintain that many of the souls of saints are at their death sent immediately to purgatory, and there confined for a longer or shorter time, before they are allowed to go to heaven. 4. This subject teaches us the immense value of the human soul. It is distinct from, and superior to, the body, in all its rational powers and faculties, and can exist in its full vigour and activity in a state of separation from the body. It is in its nature immortal, and no other power than that which gave it existence can destroy it. 5. If the soul survives the body, and as soon as it leaves it goes into a state of everlasting happiness or misery, then this life is the most important period in human existence. 6. If the souls of men survive their bodies, then the office of the ministry is a very serious and responsible office. It is the peculiar and appropriate business of ministers to watch for souls. (N. Emmons, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.WEB: He said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom." |
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