What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death?
The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory; and their bodies being still united to Christ, do rest in their graves till the resurrection.
Proofs
- The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, (Hebrews 12:23)
- and do immediately pass into glory; (2 Corinthians 5:1, 6, 8; Philippians 1:23; Luke 23:43)
- and their bodies being still united to Christ, (1 Thessalonians 4:14)
- do rest in their graves (Isaiah 57:2)
- till the resurrection. (Job 19:26–27)
Additional Exposition
Section 1
Do believers die as well as others?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Your fathers where are they, and the prophets do they live for ever? (Zechariah 1:5)
Must they die as well as others?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Knowing that shortly I must put off this tabernacle, (2 Peter 1:14)
Would they not live if they could?
Answer: No.
Proof: I would not live always, (Job 7:16)
But is there a manifest difference between their death and that of others?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: For precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints, (Psalm 116:15)
Section 2
Is death an advantage to the saints?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: To die is gain, (Philippians 1:21)
Doth the soul die with the body?
Answer: No.
Proof: For men may kill the body, but they are not able to kill the soul, (Matthew 10:28)
Doth it sleep with the body?
Answer: No.
Proof: For it returns to God who gave it, (Ecclesiastes 12:7)
Does it immediately enter upon a separate state?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: For when we are absent from the body, we are present with the Lord, (2 Corinthians 5:8)
Section 3
Doth death release the saints from all their sorrows?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: They shall no more say, I am sick, (Isaiah 33:24)
And free them from all their remaining corruptions?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: For they are without fault before the throne of God, (Revelation 14:5)
And set them at an eternal distance from all their spiritual enemies?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: For the accuser of the brethren is cast down, (Revelation 12:10)
And put an end to all their trials and labours?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: They rest from their labours, (Revelation 14:13)
And introduce them into a state of absolute perfection?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: For the spirits of just men are made perfect, (Hebrews 12:23)
Section 4
Do believers at death enter upon a state of perfect knowledge?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: For here we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face, (1 Corinthians 13:12)
And of perfect holiness?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: For they have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, (Revelation 7:14)
And of complete glory?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Thou shalt guide me by thy counsel and afterward receive me to glory, (Psalm 73:24)
Are they received into a glorious place?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: For it is enlightened with the glory of God, and the Lamb is the light thereof, (Revelation 21:23)
Are they joined with glorious company?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: They are come to an innumerable company of angels, to God the Judge of all, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, (Hebrews 12:22–23)
Do they wear a glorious image?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: I shall be satisfied when I awake in thy likeness, (Psalm 17:15)
Are they employed in glorious works?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: They serve God day and night, in his temple, (Revelation 7:15)
And do they receive a glorious reward?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Ye shall receive a crown of glory, that fadeth not away, (1 Peter 5:4)
Section 5
Are the bodies of believers committed to the grave?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, (Ecclesiastes 12:7)
Is the grave the common receptacle of mankind?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, (Ecclesiastes 12:7)
Hath a decent interment been sometimes denied to wicked men?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, (Jeremiah 22:10)
But is it promised to the saint?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Thou shalt go to thy Father in peace, thou shalt be buried in a good old age, (Genesis 15:15)
Is the grave a resting place to such?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: They shall rest in their beds, (Isaiah 57:2)
And do they sometimes long for that resting place?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: O that thou wouldst hide me in the grave, (Job 14:13)
And provide for it?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Give me a possession of a burying place, (Genesis 23:4)
Section 6
Doth death separate the saints from the love of God?
Answer: No.
Proof: Neither death nor life can separate us from the love of God, (Romans 8:38)
Or dissolve their union with Christ?
Answer: No.
Proof: For they sleep in Jesus, (1 Thessalonians 4:14)
May they therefore meet it without fear?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: O death, where is thy sting, 0 grave where is thy victory, (1 Corinthians 15:55)