Page 91 - Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2011

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However, in all honesty, I must say that I do not know for certainty what eternal effect that the act of
willful cremation by Christians of their body will produce. I suspect such “dead works” performed in
defiance of God’s clearly revealed will, might result in a person being saved, but suffering loss of
reward as spelled out in 1 Corinthians 3:14-15. Why so? Because, such failure to act in true faith and
obedience toward God’s revealed purpose for the body, God’s warning is clear:

“THEREFORE, TO HIM WHO KNOWS TO DO GOOD AND DOES NOT DO IT, TO HIM IT IS SIN”
James 4:17

“DO NOT BE DECEIVED, GOD IS NOT MOCKED; FOR WHATEVER A MAN SOWS, THAT HE WILL ALSO REAP”
Gal. 6:7

There are many who would tell you that there are no ramifications for a Christian to choose to cremate
the body rather than bury it as Scripture reveals. Somehow we think that “Grace” means we can reap
what we do not sow and that we can end up with the same results even if we choose to disobey God’s
instructions, that we can know to do good, but not suffer any loss if we don’t do it. From my perspective
of Scripture, this is dangerous and risky thinking.

Let me reassure you it is not a matter of being saved or not saved that is the consequence of choosing
cremation over burial, but I fear it may well result in a loss of eternal rewards if we are willfully
disobedient, and especially if our motivation for doing so is to save money.

I lack the space to print out these Scriptures, but let me urge you to meditate prayerfully in “The
Resurrection Chapter” of 1 Corinthians 15:35-57. Some of the important points Paul makes that are
applicable to the subject we are studying are these:

1.THE BODY IS BURIED BY FAITH AS A SEED PLACED IN THE GROUND.

2. IT IS SOWN INTO THE GROUND AS A CORRUPTIBLE, MORTAL , PHYSICAL BODY.

3. IT IS EVENTUALLY TO BE RAISED AS AN INCORRUPTIBLE, IMMORTAL, SPIRITUAL BODY.

4. FLESH AND BLOOD (the physical body) CANNOT INHERIT THE HEAVENLY KINGDOM.

5. THE NATURAL BODY COMES FIRST, THEN THE SPIRITUAL BODY.

6. THE RAPTURE IS PRECEDED BY THE DEAD IN CHRIST BEING RAISED FROM THE DEAD.

7. THEN THOSE WHO ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN WILL BE INSTANTLY CHANGED FROM THE
PHYSICAL BODY TO THE SPIRITUAL BODY WITHOUT DYING.

It is clear from the language of Paul above, as well as his illustrations pertaining to the resurrection,
that he taught (and anticipated) that the body of the believer would be sown into the ground like a seed.
It speaks of the natural corruption process that releases the life contained in the seed. If possible, the
body of the believer is to be planted in the ground, not burned with fire! The remains are to experience
a natural corruption process in the ground. I am grieved when I read the “creative” ways in which the
world takes the ashes and disperses them from airplanes and the like. That is fine for the world, but it
is not so fine for a believer!

God has a plan for the body of the believer. At the rapture, the first manifestation before the living will
be removed is that the GRAVES are visibly opened in which the planted bodies of believers will be
raised! This is God’s witness to a Christ-rejecting world of the power of the resurrection from the dead.
All BURIED bodies of believers who have died in obedience to Christ will be used by God to bear
witness to the world of the value of being a Christian. What an honor! This is a hard saying, but if you
burn your body and scatter its ashes, you will not be part of that manifested witness even though
(perhaps) your body will be reconstructed from ash. Do it God’s way, and “rest in peace!”

Selah,

Pastor Randy Shupe