@bodhitharta Hi BD:

I hope you don’t mind me coming in on this conversation between you and Kerwin. Jonah indeed escaped death from Hell, which is spiritual separation from God, but do you really believe that he escaped physical death?

Jesus escaped eternal death. He was accused of blasphemy and died just as the scriptures state that he did, but God judged him guiltless and raised him from the dead to eternal life never to die again.

He overcame sin and death by obeying God’s Word without sin even unto death on the cross, and without this victory there is not resurrection from the dead because the wages of sin is death, and death is spiritual separation from God.

And so, you might ask, what about those who obeyed God in the Old Testament who were in right standing with God? They obeyed God but not without sin, and so without the sacrifice that God has provided through his uniquely begotten Son, they would remain in the grave. But since it was God’s plan to reconcile all to Himself through His Son from the beginning of creation. They will also be raised from the dead when the Lord comes for the church. They are part of the body of Christ.

Ephesians 2:

13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

Ephesians 1:

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Love in Christ,
Marty