BIBLE PASSAGES HARD TO UNDERSTAND. We have insisted that humans are naturally mortal (subject to death) and God is immortal (not subject to death). At Jesus’ return, then and only then will the righteous dead and righteous living experience immortality. But there are a few passages in the Bible that may lead one to believe the lie Satan told in the Garden of Eden “you shall not surely die” or the lie that the unrighteous will live eternally in a forever-burning hell. How are these difficult passages to be reconciled?

This series addresses the concerns we all have: the concern for sin, evil, death, dying, and what happens after we die. Is there hope after death? When God created us, humans, he intended for us to live forever in a loving, peaceful relationship with him. But this relationship has been broken by sin.

Here, we address the origin of sin and look more closely at death and dying.

But, instead of looking at death negatively, we look at it in the context of hope, the promised hope based on what Jesus did for us when he died and came back to life again.

From the Sabbath School Adult Bible Study Guide 2022 Quarter 4: Sabbath.School (See also Hope Sabbath School and 3ABN Sabbath School)

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Let’s invite the Spirit of God

Heavenly Father, as we search the scriptures open our understanding and give us a humble teachable heart so that we may know clearly what is truth.

In Jesus’ Name Amen

When we become diligent students of the word, we will discover that there are some passages in the Bible difficult to understand on our own, thus we need the aid of the Holy Spirit. 

This Jesus expresses in John 5:39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. (John 5:39 NKJV).

This is why as students of the word; we should never begin reading the Bible without humbly asking for the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is He who helps us understand what is written in the Bible.

That said, we should not only look at passages that can easily be explained or that fit within what we believe but with the help of the Holy Spirit also look at those passages that may be seen from a different perspective than what we have traditionally believed.

Peter admonishes that we should “always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; (1 Peter 3:15, NKJV).

Paul adds that we should, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2, 3, NKJV).

We can do this only if we study the word from an objective viewpoint opened to the voice of the Holy Spirit.

Knowing that some things are difficult for individuals to accept and understand does not mean we suppress or ignore those passages.

“Christ Himself did not suppress one word of truth, but He spoke it always in love. . . . He was never rude, never needlessly spoke a severe word, never gave needless pain to a sensitive soul. He did not censure human weakness.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 353.

So, this week, we will study some interesting, but controversial passages related to the natural immortality of the soul.

We examine biblical passages that seem to promote the lie told in the Garden of Eden “you shall not surely die”. And we address the issue related to the existence of an eternal burning hellfire.

Thus, we will address the following biblical passages:

Luke 16:19–31: as it relates to the parable about the rich man and poor Lazarus.

Luke 23:43: regards to Jesus’ response to the thief on the cross

Philippians 1:21–24 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18: in reference to Paul’s statement about him looking forward to being “with the Lord,”

 1 Peter 3:13–20 related to Peter talking about Christ’s preaching to the “spirits in prison . . . in the days of Noah

And finally, Revelation 6:9–11 regarding the statement on the souls killed for their faith crying for justice.

In the Bible, Jesus tells a story about a Rich Man and a Poor Man called Lazarus. What message was Jesus relaying in this story? Find out in Day 2: The Rich Man and Lazarus

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