RESURRECTION IN CONTEXT #6
/by Oscar M. Barker
26. Romans 6:23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. A believer could collect the wages of sin, which is death. This would rather take away any hope of a reward in the kingdom. But for those who do well, there is a gift of eternal life, a reward (See 1 Timothy 6:12). This is Paul’s usage of the term.
27. Romans 12:19. Avenge not yourselves, but rather place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay saith the Lord. This verse has been quoted to prove that punishment and hell await sinners. But there is nothing about death and resurrection here.
28. 1Cor. 3:17. If any man defile the Temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, whose temple ye are. The words defile and destroy are the same word in the Greek, and could well be rendered mar in both clauses. Nothing whatever here about death and resurrection. But it is about those who would mar the ekklesia with divisions and the like. Them will God mar. Under law yet.
29. 1 Cor. 6:9,10. Know ye not that un-righteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. These words were spoken to a people who were waiting for the Lord to come and they be changed, and not have to die. There is nothing here about hell, punishment, or a resurrection.
30. 1 Cor. 9:27. But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I should be a castaway. This verse is quoted to prove that one could be saved today and lost tomorrow. And it is used to prove that one who sins will go to hell. But there is nothing of the sort here. Castaway is used in Koine Greek of a cracked water pot. Paul simply does not want to be laid on the shelf. For the cracked pot could be used only to store grains and beans, but not water, living water, the Word.
31. 1Cor.10:5-12. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmer ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. Nothing whatever about future punishment and resurrection. It is simply the fact that those who lacked faith in the wilderness died in the wilderness. As to their hope or fate, read Psalms 90. Were only 2 out of 663,550 saved? See Numbers 26:51,65. Even Moses did not get to enter the land because of unbelief. But will not Moses have a resurrection? Or will he go to the orthodox hell and fry forever? People are certainly mixed up!
32. 1 Cor. 15:56. The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. Death’s sting is sin (genitive). And the law gives it added power, or condemnation. The only antidote is faith and resurrection. We fail to find here that punishment and hell await sinners, or even unbelievers.
In the Christian Workers NT you will find the above references in a long list of Scriptures quoted to prove that Punishment and Hell Await Sinners. We trust that our readers will search and see if traditions are true.
