THE CURIOUS CHRISTIANS

Few questions weigh on the human heart as heavily as this: What happens when we die? For the believer in Christ, the Bible provides an unshakable hope. But to fully appreciate it, we need to understand how Scripture describes the state of the dead before and after Christ’s death and resurrection. The Old Covenant: Abraham’s Bosom and Hades Before Christ came, the Old Testament described the dead as going to Sheol (Hebrew) or Hades (Greek). But Sheol was not a one-size-fits-all place. Jesus’ parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) gives the clearest picture: The righteous dead were comforted in “Abraham’s bosom” - a place of peace and fellowship. The unrighteous dead were in torment, cut off from God’s comfort, though still awaiting final judgment. In this view, all the dead were in Sheol/Hades, but separated by their standing before God. The righteous were comforted, but they were not yet in God’s unveiled presence, because the way into heaven had not yet been opened. Th...

  In a world driven by relentless schedules and endless striving, the gospel stands as a radical, countercultural invitation: Come unto Me… and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). This is not a mere promise of a weekend off, nor a vague spiritual relaxation. It is the essence of Soteria, the salvation Jesus purchased restored to humanity. Soteria: More Than Escape In the New Testament, soteria is not simply the avoidance of hell; it is the fullness of deliverance, healing, wholeness, and peace. It is God’s comprehensive rescue mission, body, soul, and spirit, ushering us into reconciliation with Himself. Salvation is not just the start of a journey; it is the journey. It is not merely the ticket to heaven; it is the restoration of Eden’s fellowship, the opening of the true Sabbath. Rest: God’s Signature on Redemption From the beginning, God’s creative work culminated in rest (Genesis 2:2-3). Rest was not an afterthought; it was the goal. Redemption, likewise, finds its comple...

In a world constantly in motion, where anxiety is a normalized companion and rest seems like a luxury, the gospel offers something radically different. At the heart of salvation, soteria in the Greek, is not merely the rescue from sin’s penalty but the entrance into a life of divine rest. This rest is not a temporary reprieve or a weekend escape; it is the state of the believer who has ceased from self-reliance and entered into God’s finished work. Soteria; More Than Escape The New Testament word soteria encompasses more than a ticket to heaven. It speaks of deliverance, preservation, safety, and wholeness. Salvation in Christ is not merely about avoiding judgment; it is about being restored to the life God intended from the beginning, life in harmony with Him. From Genesis to Revelation, God’s desire is not just to save His people from something, but to bring them into something. That “something” is rest, the divine repose where God Himself dwells. Rest in Creation Genesis opens w...