The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum cremation

Although it is true that the raising of Lazarus' primary purpose was to reveal the deity of Christ and that He as God had power over life and death, Paul's use of the text is certainly appropriate and applicable. The point is that man, as he was created, consisted of BOTH body and soul. This can be further seen from the martyrs who died for the cause of truth and Christ who cry out, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" (Rev 6:10; cf. Rom 8:23). And, at the Judgment when the saints shall be glorified, they shall be given a new body, incorruptible in which the spirit shall live forever. (1Cor 15:52-54) In the case of Lazarus, his "life" was restored to its former state, i.e., body and soul/spirit, thus being made whole once again, his body being not only the "container" for his spirit, but also the dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. (1Cor 3:16, 17; 6:19)

In His Grace,