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"Come to me, all who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 (GWT)

The weekly One Year Bible Chronological Reading plan this week is Job 17-39:

Su - Job. 17-20; Mo - Job. 21-23; Tu - Job. 24-28, We - Job 29-31; Th - Job 32-34; Fr - Job 35-37; Sa - Job 38-39

Sexual purity begins with a decision to be pure - with a choice to be obedient to God’s standards even though it will be difficult. How can you do this?

• Learn what God’s Word says about purity
• Establish some ground rules for your relationships
• Decide how far is too far NOW and never cross the line

If you date someone and things go well how far will you go? God calls you to refrain from all forms of sexual intimacy until marriage. You need to decide what those lines are for you. I think some good principles to follow are this:

• Would I be doing do this openly around other Christians?
• Is this going to end up tempting me to go too far?
• Could this potentially tempt my date to go too far?
• Would God be pleased with this?

To that end here are a few things to consider prolonged sessions of kissing, petting, and partial or total nudity, immodest dress, sexually explicit conversation, letters, e-mails, text messages, even viewing sexually suggestive forms of media and entertainment

2. MAGNIFY THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT WAITING AND THE BENEFITS OF WAITING.

When you’re faced with temptation a great tool to help you overcome the temptation is to magnify the potential consequences of that sin. For example, if you’re tempted to have pre-marital sex that would be a good time to remind yourself that there’s a 25% or better chance that you will contract a STD including HIV. That would be a good time to remind yourself that after a few minutes of pleasure you could be a mommy or daddy for the rest of your life. It would be a good time to ask yourself, “How would I feel if my spouse walked in on this?”

3. FIND A MATURE CHRISTIAN ADULT YOU CAN CONFIDE IN.

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Prov. 27:17 (NIV)

There is no underestimating the value of a mature Christian friend that you can turn to for help, counsel, and even correction. They can help you be more balanced and objective in how you handle romantic relationships. But the key words are “mature Christian adult!” No unbelievers in this role, no immature Christians in this role, no teenagers in this role. You need a mature Christian adult!

4. NO MISSIONARY DATING

“Stop forming inappropriate relationships with unbelievers. Can right and wrong be partners? Can light have anything in common with darkness?” 2 Cor. 6:14 (GWT)

If you’re single decide up front who you are willing to date and who you are not willing to date. In other words, prayerfully establish some basic standards for you dating relationships. Create a profile of a person you would date.

Believers with believers only - there is no dating unbelievers here. Avoid the deception to "missionary date" with the hope of converting unbelievers because while you wait on them to come to Christ, which they may never do, you can get emotionally, and even too-often physically, entangled. I personally think you should go even further here.

5. KNOW YOURSELF AND BE TRUE TO YOURSELF

This is simple. No one knows you better than you. You know what gets you into trouble in relationships. You know what kind of people are bad for you - but you tend to be drawn to them anyway. You know what kind of places are bad for you - but you tend to be drawn to them anyway. You know what kind of activities are bad for you - but you tend to be drawn to them. Follow your conscience and avoid those people, places, and activities.

6. SERVE GOD AND LET HIM FIND YOUR MATE

“So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.” Genesis 2:20-22 (NIV)

It was while Adam was going about his work for God that God brought him a mate. For a Christian, prior to entering the covenantal relationship of marriage with another person you are in fact already in a covenantal relationship with God.

In fact, the Apostle Paul celebrates the fact that single people have certain advantages over married people when it comes to God. They can and should devote themselves more so to serving God. No one should be doing more in the church, in the Kingdom of God than single people. You should be the most aggressive servants of God in terms of time devoted directly to building the Kingdom.

7. DEVOTE YOURSELF TO GROWING IN CHRIST

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.” Ephesians 6:10-11 (NIV)

• Pray daily for God’s wisdom, strength, protection and blessing
• Immerse yourself in your relationship with God - stay close to Him

8. GUARD YOUR MIND

“Be careful how you think, your life is shaped by your thoughts.” Prov. 4:23 (NCV)

God says, “Guard your mind.” Why? Because not every thought you have is a good thought. And even thoughts that in themselves may not be “evil” or “bad” can lead us into temptation. So God says, “Pay attention to your thoughts and learn how to shut the door of your mind to garbage.” The same way you would secure your home at night to prevent unwanted guests you need to secure your mind to prevent unwanted thoughts from leading down the path of sin. Here’s a few ways you can do that?

• Memorize large portions of Scripture - “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!” Psalm 119:11 (NIV)
• Actively think about good - “Turn your back on lustful thoughts and give your positive attention to goodness, integrity, love, and peace.” 2 Tim. 2:22 (Ph)
• Avoid situations that stir up the wrong desires - “Flee from sexual immorality.” 1 Cor. 6:18 (NIV)

In a poll on religion and the family conducted for Religion & Ethics Newsweekly, 49% of Americans said that cohabitation was acceptable. In my experience that percentage is probably not much different in the church. But in the August 2005 issue of Psychology Today, there was an article entitled, "The Cohabitation Trap: When 'Just Living Together' Sabotages Love" by Nancy Wartik.

The article concluded that, “Living together before marriage seems like a smart way to road test the relationship. But cohabitation may lead you to wed for all the wrong reasons--or turn into a one-way trip to splitsville.”

There are a few common reasons behind cohabitation...
a. Some see cohabitation as sort of marriage experiment.
b. Some believe living together will help them make a more informed decision about marriage.
c. And for some living together just makes good economic sense.

First lets see what the Bible says and then I give you some research from a non-Christian source. Is cohabitation sexual immorality? What does the Bible say about cohabitation?

Defining Sexual immorality

The Greek word pornea is often translated into English as "sexual immorality." It is a broad word that includes a whole host of deviant and not so deviant (by cultural standards) sexual behavior. It includes things like prostitution, incest, bestiality, adultery, pornography, homosexuality, and fornication. One definition of fornication is having sex with someone you're not married to.

So is Cohabitation Sexual immorality? The answer is maybe!

(1) Cohabitation generally includes the idea of sharing the same bed, which most definitely falls under the definition of sexual immorality. The Bible calls clearly defines that as sexual immorality and God tells us to avoid it. It’s pretty straightforward. So in a vast majority of cases cohabitation leads to sexual immorality.

(2) But -- “What if we’re living together but not sleeping together or having sex. We’re just living under the same roof?” Well technically cohabitation under those circumstances isn’t sexual immorality. If that's true then why does the "church" have such a dim view of it? Although cohabitation under these circumstances isn't sexual immorality there are other biblical principles related to this that need to be considered. Let me list a few.

• Your Reputation

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” I The. 5:22 (KJV)

“But among you there must not even be a hint of sexual immorality...” Eph. 5:3 (NIV)

Your Christian testimony (reputation) and even that of your church may be damaged if you live in a cohabitation arrangement. Not everyone will know, ask, or even believe that you're not having sex with your partner. You may think, "That's their problem, not mine." Well, that's only partly true because the God wants us to live above reproach and avoid situations that even hint of sexual immorality - like cohabitation. Even though you may not be committing sexual immorality your living arrangements may damage your integrity with other and reflect poorly on you, your church, and God.

• Your Love For Others

“If what I eat is going to make another Christian sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live – for I don't want to make another Christian stumble.” I Cor. 8:13 (NLT)

Paul made a practice of avoiding activities that he knew would be offensive to others. Some of the things he avoided he would have avoided no matter what. But other things he avoided he did so, not because they were wrong or sinful, but simply because he knew some people would have a problem with them. The principle is called "deference." Deference is limiting your freedom for the sake of others. For example, if you had a five year old child you're probably careful about what movies you let them watch. In fact, you may actually wait until they are in bed before you watch certain programming. Why? Out of deference for them. You love them and care about them and so you're willing to reshape your behavior and even limit it for your child's benefit. Cohabitation is a sensitive issue still for many people, especially in the church. Why not show your love for others by choosing to limit your freedom and decide not to cohabitate?

• Your Freedom

“Everyone is tempted by his own desires as they lure him away and trap him.” James 1:14 (GWT)

The Bible tells us over and over again to avoid, flee from, run from temptation - especially sexual immorality. By living with someone of the opposite sex you set yourself up for temptation, which just sets you up for failure. All it takes is just one moment of weakness. Even when the person you cohabitate with is not your boyfriend/girlfriend/fiance the temptations are still there. Even if you're not attracted to your roommates they may be attracted to you or they may bring home friends unannounced. Any number of things can and will conspire against you to put you in a compromising and tempting situation. If you value your freedom from sin and especially sexual immorality then avoid cohabitation.

• Your Conscience

“Whenever our conscience condemns us, we will be reassured that God is greater than our conscience and knows everything.” 1 John 3:20 (GWT)

"Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." James 4:17 (NLT)

Finally, we all have that small still voice called the Holy Spirit that speaks to us. If your conscience tells you, "Don't do this." That would be the Holy Spirit and it's best to listen to that voice. If you're conflicted about doing it that a good sign that you should not do it. In the immortal words of Monty Python and the Holy Grail - "Run Away!" When you begin to make choices that conflict with your conscience you begin to harden your heart toward God. It's a slippery slope that just takes you, almost imperceptibly, further and further away from God.

What does the research say?

Research on this issue has yielded some interesting findings. And by the way the research is predominantly not done by Christians who might be tempted to skew the results.

• Couples who move in together before marriage hare two times more likely to divorce than couples who marry before living together.
• Couples who lived together before marriage tend to have poorer-quality marriages than couples who did not cohabitate before marriage.
• Couples who cohabitate before marriage tend to be less committed to their spouse and less likely to remain faithful than couples who did not cohabitate.
• Men who cohabit are especially less likely to ever commit to marriage.
• Couples who cohabitate tend to have less traditional views about marriage which, among other things, tends to weaken their faith and belief in God.
• Children who live with their parents in cohabitation arrangements tend to have more emotional and/or academic problems than children who live with two married parents.
• Children whose parents modeled cohabitation are more likely to do the same than children whose parents modeled marriage first.

Is cohabitation ever acceptable?

I believe there are some exceptions. For example, when family members cohabitate such as brother and sister. And there probably are some other cases where it would be acceptable. You'd have to evaluate each on a case by case basis.

How do I get out of a cohabitation situation?

As fast as possible! Most people stay in them, even when they conclude they are wrong, because (1) they're afraid they'll lose their significant other, (2) they're afraid they'll lose money, (3) they don't have the money to move.

So what do you do? First, explain to your partner why you need to do this. Don't waiver in your conviction on this. If they really love you they will come around. If they don't you may have saved yourself a great deal of pain later in life. Second, put an immediate end to any sexual immorality and take steps to protect yourself from it in the future. Third, deal fairly with the financial issues but don't let a loss of some finances keep you from pleasing the Lord and doing what you know is right. God can restore what you "lose." Fourth, make financial arrangements to move out. Start saving money, talk to another friend who may need a roommate, etc. Fifth, Move out or have them move out as soon as possible. Of course be sure to pray always during this process for God's help, favor, and courage to do what you must do. You may be surprised how God comes through for you!

Summary: Whether the circumstances surrounding cohabitation make it sexual immorality or not the Biblical precedence is that it should be avoided. Even the research surrounding this issue makes it clear that cohabitation is bad news for everybody involved. Common sense says no, the research says no, even the Bible says no - so I would conclude that cohabitation is bad news and in most cases it probably is sin as well.

“Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband... Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” 1 Cor. 7:1-2, 8-9 (NIV)

“It is God’s will... that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable.” 1 Thes. 4:3-4 (NIV)

The phrase sexual immorality deals with all kinds of sexual activity inside and outside the marriage relationship including all sorts of deviant sexual behavior. It would include pornography, prostitution, adultery, and even premarital sex or se with someone you're not married to. In other words, these passages help us understand that sexual immorality is sin and God wants us to avoid it.

FIVE REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD COMPLY WITH GOD’S COMMAND TO AVOID SEX OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE

1. GOD LOVES YOU AND ONLY HAS YOUR BEST INTERESTS AT HEART

“The Lord your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you.” Deut 23:5 (NIV)

God loves you and only asks of you what will ultimately be best for you in the end. It doesn’t mean it’s the easiest or most pleasant path, but it always the most eternally rewarding path.

“However, the person who continues to study God's perfect teachings that make people free and who remains committed to them will be blessed. People like that don't merely listen and forget; they actually do what God's teachings say.” James 1:25 (GWT)

God’s word is a treasure map. When you study it and do it consistently you keep stumbling into good things. You keep tripping over blessing. It’s not an accident. It’s because God loves you so much that he gave you his Son, his Spirit, and he gave you his word to lead you into the best, most rewarding life possible. God rewards obedience.

2. SEX IS A GIFT TO BE ENJOYED WITHIN MARRIAGE

"Sex is good, it is God's gift... and this good gift of God will find its fullest expression realized when a man and a woman give themselves completely to each other in the marriage relationship.” - Daniel Akin, God on Sex

There is a very popular term in our culture today related to sex. It’s the phrase casual sex. Nowhere in the Bible can you find any reference or credibility given to the idea of casual sex. The reason is because from God’s perspective there is nothing casual about sex. Sex is sex - and it has very real consequences for the parties involved. In the context of marriage those consequences are typically blessings. But outside the context of marriage those consequences are costly, life long, and potentially disastrous. Sexually transmitted diseases, unexpected pregnancy, and psychological and spiritual scars are just a few of those potential consequences.

When you recognize that sex is a gift from God, who was the creator of it - doesn’t it make sense to follow God’s instructions about sex? Who knows best how something works? Wouldn’t it be the creator?

When you open a new gift that requires assembly. What do you do? Do you just start trying to put it together or do you read the instructions? All the men are saying, “I never read the instructions. Instructions are for wimps. I just figure it out as I go.” And that’s why we have so many problems with sex. We never read the instructions. The creator gave sex for the pleasure and enjoyment of a man and a woman in the context of marriage. If you use it that way you get the most out of it. If you don’t use it that way it’s like trying to hammer a nail with an iPod. You won’t drive the nail and you’ll wreck the iPod in the process.

Yeah, but isn’t sexual desire natural? Yes it is, but that doesn't mean that every way of satisfying that desire is appropriate or even good for you. Hunger is natural, but eating too much or the wrong things can make you or sick or even kill you. Thirst is natural but would you want to drink polluted water. No. why? Because it could make you sick.

“God wants you to be pure and to keep clear of all sexual sin... For God has not called us to be dirty-minded and full of lust but to be holy and clean.” 1 Thes. 4:3,7 (LB)

God doesn’t want us drinking dirty water when it comes to sex and sexual desire. The proper way to deal with our natural desires is either satisfy them in the context of marriage or overcome them in Christ.

3. GOD’S INSTRUCTS US TO BE HOLY AND AVOID SEXUAL IMMORALITY

“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified and that you should avoid sexual immorality and that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable.” 1 Thes. 4:3-4 (NIV)

The third reason why we should avoid sexual immorality is simply because God said so. The Bible forbids all sex outside marriage.

Limiting your sexual disobedience to a one person doesn't turn it into something that’s acceptable in God’s eyes. Limiting sexual disobedience to someone you “love” or have deep feelings for doesn’t make it acceptable in God’s eyes. You’re not “making love” - you’re having sex. If it was real love it would wait until it could be expressed and experienced within marriage.

“Never offer any part of your body to sin's power. No part of your body should ever be used to do any ungodly thing. Instead, offer yourselves to God as people who have come back from death and are now alive. Offer all the parts of your body to God. Use them to do everything that God approves of.” Romans 6:12-13 (GWT)

4. PREMARITAL SEX DAMAGES INTIMACY AND COMMITMENT IN MARRIAGE

Commitment is the foundation of a marriage - not sex. Build a marriage on anything other than commitment expressed in love and it will fail - and there are many kinds of failure. Commitment creates the proper environment for trust, which leads to intimacy. Without real commitment there cannot be real trust - and without real trust there will not be real intimacy.

Let me ask you a question. Would you feel more comfortable telling a very personal, and intimate detail about yourself to -- a friend who has proven over the years to be trustworthy and able to maintain confidentiality, or would you tell it to a friend who has a big mouth? You would tell the friend who is trusted to keep it confidential, not the big mouth. Why - because trust allows you to feel confident about being intimate. Trust breeds intimacy. You can only be intimate with someone to the extent you trust them.

“Unmarried commitment” is a contradiction in terms; the proper term for a committed sexual relationship is “marriage.” Without it, what would you be committed to? Committed to sex? Here's how you know you have a commitment. When you're married, you have one, and when you're not married, you don't. Before the marriage ceremony, everything is reversible — your thoughts, your feelings, even your intention to get married.

5. THERE ARE VERY REAL LIFE LONG PHYSICAL CONSEQUENCES TO SEX OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE

• Unplanned pregnancy - Eighty percent of teens that become pregnant drop out of school. And 60% of them get pregnant again with 2 years. We’re told that teen pregnancies account for some 30% of US abortions.
• A less than ideal marriage
• Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD's)

Approximately one in four sexually active teens is living with a sexually transmitted disease (Dr. Meg Meeker in Epidemic: How Teen Sex Is Killing Our Kids Lifeline Press, 2002).

Nine million Americans are carrying a sexually transmitted disease. And at that rate of growth it will be one out of every four people in about five years.

Why is that happening? Because of sex outside of the marriage relationship.

A teenager has sex with that person they think is the "one" - only to a few weeks later they now have an STD they have to carry the rest of their lives - and may someday have to explain to their potential future spouse - assuming the disease isn’t fatal. An unfaithful husband or wife has a one nightstand and then infects their spouse with HIV. The chances of infection may be around 25%, but if you’re infected, you’re 100 percent infected.

Sex outside of marriage is sexual immorality. And sexual immorality is sin. Can you avoid it - yes. Should you avoid it yes!

“You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” 1 Cor. 6:19-20

I believe that God's position on divorce is far more compassionate and practical than traditional church teaching allows for. My understanding of the issue is really framed by two passages of Scripture. One is Malachi 2:16 where God makes it clear that he hates divorce and the second is Matthew 19:8 where Jesus states that Moses allowed divorce because of the hardness of their hearts. These passages (among others) help me understand two things about this issue. First, that God clearly desires that marriage last a lifetime and that we do all we can to remain married and honor our marriage vows. But secondly, they also help me understand that God cares deeply about the victim in a marriage gone bad. I believe that Jesus' comment in Matthew 19:8 does not mean God allows divorce because people are stubborn and will do it even he he disallowed it. That doesn't make sense to me as the Bible gives us no examples of God compromising on his standards because we refuse to live up to them. That would be like saying God will allow us to participate in certain sins because we're going to do them anyway so why not just accept it and move on. I think a better understanding of what Jesus is saying here that is more faithful to our understanding of the nature and character of God is that God allows for divorce, even though he does not like it, because he knows that certain individuals in marriages will be so hard hearted and cruel to their spouses that they will never change. And so out of compassion for the hurt, abused, neglected, abandoned spouse or even family God will (under certain circumstances) allow divorce.

So that of course leads to the question, "Under what circumstances?" Well, I suggest you get the message from Sunday, May 10th entitled "What the Bible says about Divorce," to hear it in completion - but here is the short version. First, I want to strongly emphasize that the law of love and grace and forgiveness should always prevail whenever possible. God's preference is that even when there is a failure on one's part in a marriage both parties should try to work it out. Divorce should only be a last option!

Given that though I do believe that according to the Bible legitimate causes for ending a marriage included:

(1) Death - I think this is pretty obvious.

(2) Sexual Immorality (including adultery - See Matthew 19)

In Matthew 19 Jesus wasn't giving an extended teaching on divorce. He was actually responding to a very specific question about something called "any cause" divorce based on Deut. 24:1. Jesus was not saying that sexual immorality is the only legitimate cause for divorce. He was saying that Deut. 24:1 only addressed divorce in cases of sexual immorality. That doesn't mean the Bible doesn't allow it for other reasons, because it clearly does. Additionally, sexual immorality per Matthew 19 includes more than just adultery, and it also includes the idea of someone who engages in a pattern of adultery or sexual immorality as opposed to a single incident or failure.

(3) Abandonment (1 Corinthians 7:15, Matthew 18:15-17, 1 Timothy 5:8)

Even though Paul specifically mentions abandonment by an unbeliever I believe that Matthew 18:15-17 and 1 Timothy 5:8 would allow a believer to divorce even if they were abandoned by a spouse who claimed to be a "believer." These passages tell us that, even though someone claims to be believers, if they insist on acting like an unbeliever then we can treat them that way. I think Paul limited his comments in 1 Cor. 7 to unbelievers in large part because he couldn't conceive of a true believer ever abandoning their family.

(4) Abuse or Neglect (1 Corinthians 7, Ephesians 5, Exodus 21:10:11)

Although the Bible does not specifically address divorce in cases of abuse or neglect it does provide clear instructions and commands for husbands and wives to love and care for one another. In fact, according to Exodus 21:10-11 under the Old Covenant a wife could divorce her husband if he failed to provide adequate food, clothing, or even physical intimacy for her. I realize that I am in the minority here - but if God cares enough about someone to allow them to divorce if they do not receive enough food then surely he would allow it if someone was truly abused or neglected in other ways. Some have concluded that since Jesus didn't talk about abuse and divorce directly it can't be an acceptable or legitimate cause to end a marriage. However, Jesus didn't talk about abandonment either yet Paul made it clear that it was a legitimate cause to end a marriage. It appears that divorce in abuse and neglect cases was an acceptable practice in Jesus' day based on what is known of Jewish culture (again see Ex. 21:10-11). I tend to agree with those who have suggested that perhaps Jesus never talked about it, was never challenged on it, and the Bible never addresses it so directly because he didn't take exception to it. I also tend to think that many will not accept this as a legitimate cause for divorce because it can be such a subjective issue and is ripe for abuse. However, the fact that people may take advantage of God's grace is not new and is not reason enough to hold to such a position. In any case you will have to make up your own mind.

I hope this helps to clarify some of the confusion behind divorce. If you have a question feel free to e-mail me or just post a comment here on the blog and I'll respond.

God Bless

Pastor Mark

The Catholic Church teaches that when a person dies there are four possible places they can be sent by God. (1) Unbelievers would certainly be sent to hell. (2) Believers could be sent to heaven if they were considered “sanctified” at the time of death according to Catholic standards. But this is usually only presumed to happen to a very few “saints.” (3) It is more likely, according to Catholic beliefs, that when a believer dies he/she would be sent to a temporary place of suffering called Purgatory where “their souls would be purified of the damage they had done to them by their sins.” (4) And finally the Catholic used to teach that unbaptized infants/children would forever be assigned to a place called Limbo, although this is no longer a widely held belief among Roman Catholics.

In Catholic doctrine Purgatory, is “the final purification of the elect.” Some say it is more of a state of existence than a literal place. According to Catholic doctrine and the Catechism of the Catholic Church it is the process by which “all who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.”

In the Roman Catholic Church one must confess their sins to a priest to abstain absolution (forgiveness for purposes of our discussion). If someone died after having committed sin, but without having had a “last” confession the Church believed they could not immediately enter heaven and God’s presence. They would first have to “purged” of these sins first. Purgatory is where and how the Roman Catholic Church teaches this purification takes place. It is a temporary holding for believers, a stop over on their way to heaven. Although there does appear to be some kind of pain or torment associated with this experience.

The Purgatory teaching is based in part on Jesus comment about “making up with your accusers before you get to court or else they will throw you into prison and you will not get out until you have paid the last penny”(See Mathew 5; 26). The Catholic Church believes this is a reference to purgatory. Also they refer to the Book of Maccabees (2nd Mac.12: 42) where there is a case in which an offering was made for dead soldiers so that their sin would be totally forgiven and they would receive mercy.

It should be noted that the Book of Maccabees is part of what is called the New Testament Apocrypha. It is a book that has historical value but is not considered a Holy Spirit inspired book by Protestants and it is not part of the Protestant Bible. We don’t believe it is appropriate to build doctrine around Apocryphal writings.

The concept or idea of “purgatory” was first introduced by Augustine in the 4th century, but the term “purgatory” didn’t come into use until the 12th century. The Catholic Church eventually “formalized” the doctrine in the 16th century.

In connection with formalizing this doctrine in the 16th century the sale of something known as “indulgences” became popular in the Catholic Church. An "indulgence" is the idea that by contributing money or something of value to the church one could "indulge" in a certain sin and would not have to worry about punishment for that sin because the “indulgence” purported to remit that sin. You could “buy” indulgences of various sizes, or even, for a heftier payment, buy a departed person’s soul out of purgatory and into heaven.

Martin Luther; saw the abuse and corruption in these ideas and practices which motivated him to draft and post his 95 propositions, primarily attacking the sale of indulgences. With that the Reformation officially began. The Reformation movement restored the biblical doctrine of salvation by grace through faith, the priority of God’s Word, and the priesthood of all believers and started the Protestant church — named so because those involved “protested” the corrupt state of much of the church at the time.

Are Hades (or Sheol in Hebrew) and Purgatory the same?

It should be noted that although Hades (or Sheol in Hebrew) and purgatory are both described as temporary holding places for departed souls they are not the same thing by any means. Hades is a temporary holding place for unbelievers only. Those who died rejecting Christ and who are awaiting their final judgment at the Great White Throne Judgment of Christ and will ultimately be cast into hell (the lake of fire). There is no hope of redemption for souls in Hades.

In stark contrast to Hades the Catholic idea of purgatory only holds believers and allows for them to remain there until they have been purged of their unrighteousness or sin and are become acceptable for heaven. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that suffering of some kind is the main means of purging and that the prayers of the living as well as “masses” held in honor of the deceased can shorten a persons stay in purgatory and get them into heaven faster.

This idea is in direct conflict with the Bible’s clear teaching that salvation is by faith alone - not by works. You cannot suffer your way into heaven, and other people certainly cannot earn or purchase another’s entrance into heaven. Jesus death on the cross is the ultimate sacrifice (payment) made once for all. Faith in Christ alone is sufficient, and indeed, the only means by which we enter heaven.

Limbo of the father’s was a temporary “limbo,” a place the Catholic Church taught that righteous men and women of the Old Testament went after death. This would essentially be the equivalent of what we might refer to as Abraham’s Bosom or Paradise (See Luke 16). The idea was prior to Jesus death and resurrection people could not go directly to heaven after death - since it was Jesus who makes eternal life possible. And so based on some OT passages, Jesus parable in Luke 16 about Lazarus, and a few other passages many believed that when someone died under the Old Covenant God provided a temporary paradise for them. But after the death and ascension of Jesus “taking captivity captive” there would be no more need for the limbo of the fathers since they would now be in heaven.

Limbo of Infants was, under Catholic doctrine, the permanent place of existence for all children who died in infancy before they were baptized. In some views it also included the mentally retarded. In the Catholic Church baptism is understood to be necessary for salvation, hence if a child is not baptized they could not go to heaven.

Some who held this Catholic theory regard the Limbo of Infants as a state of maximum natural happiness, others as one of "mildest punishment." Still others in the Catholic Church believed that all the unbaptized were damned. There really is no biblical evidence to support a Limbo of Infants doctrine. The fact that within the Catholic Church itself there are varied positions on this issue demonstrates the weakness of such a position. And most Catholic no longer adhere to this teaching.

The Bible does not teach that salvation comes through baptism or that baptism is necessary for salvation. Baptism is important and it should follow salvation, but it is separate and distinct from salvation, and not required for it. Salvation occurs when a person believes on Christ. It is a work of grace through faith, not a result of some activity.

So what does happen to an infant that dies?

That’s a good and tough question to answer. A concept that is related to this issue is what people sometimes refer to as the “age of accountability.” This term is not found in the Bible, but it is an expression that has been used to refer to the age that a person reaches when he/she is able to understand the Gospel (or whatever revelation God has given to him) and when he is held accountable before God for believing or rejecting the revelation God has given to him.

Obviously an infant would not have reached the “age of accountability.” It is evident also that there are certain people who have such serious mental disabilities that they will never be accountable in this way. It’s impossible to set a single “age of accountability” for every person. Children develop mentally in different ways, and therefore only God knows a person’s “age of accountability.” Our responsibility is to instruct and teach our children from their youngest days, and trust God to work in their hearts.

But the Bible does, however, give us some great hope for believing that when infants die they go immediately and forever to be with the God in Heaven. For example, King David had a child by Bathsheba, which died in infancy. When the child died David's said, “While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:22-23).
The clear sense of this passage is that David believed that he would be reunited with his child in the next life. He knew the baby, having died, could not come back to this life, but he believed that he would go to him. While we can't be dogmatic that such a passage teaches infant salvation, it does seem to point in that direction. Our God is kind and loving as well as just and those who die before the “age of accountability” will be taken care of by the loving and compassionate Savior who died for them.

SHEOL AND HADES - The Old Testament Hebrew word sheol and the New Testament Greek word hades mean the same thing. In the KJV Bible sheol is translated as “hell” thirty-one times, as “the grave” thirty-one times, and as “the pit” three times. In the NIV Bible it is usually translated as “the grave,” but sometimes as “death,” “the depths,” or “the realm of death.” Of course other Bible translations offer additional alternatives complicating the issue of clarity.

It’s very important to note that when the words hades or sheol are translated as “hell” they are not a reference to the “fire and brimstone” hell we often think of that is referred to in Rev. 21:8 (see the discussion on “gehenna” below). When hades or sheol are translated as “hell” they have a different meaning. In fact, they typically have one of two literal meanings (Note: the words could also be used in a figurative sense but we’re are not going to look at that here for the sake of time): (1) a literal grave; or (2) a temporary or intermediate holding place for departed souls.

(1) A literal grave: I understand that the word "hell" is actually an old English word. Several hundred years ago when the KJV of the Bible was translated to English, the people of England commonly talked of "putting their potatoes in hell for the winter” to preserve them. Hell simply meant a hole in the ground that was covered up. What some might call a grave. Over time the word began to take on additional meaning and come to mean what we typically think of today when we use the term hell. So sometimes the use of hades or sheol simply means nothing more than a literal grave (a hole in the ground) as in Rev. 20:13 mentioned above.

(2) A temporary or intermediate holding place for departed souls: A second meaning of hades or sheol relates to a common belief is it was a temporary or intermediate holding place for people who had died prior to them going to either heaven or hell. It represents a place that is different and distinct from the hell of Rev. 21:8. We’ll discuss this further below.

Although the word “hell” found in the Bible can be a reference to either the real “fire and brimstone” hell of Rev. 21:8 or to hades/sheol (a temporary or intermediate holding place for the dead) - it should be noted that hades/sheol never refer to the real “hell” of Rev. 21:8. To say it another way, wherever hades/sheol are used in the Bible (apart from figurative references) it is either referring to the temporary or intermediate holding place for the dead or simply to a grave (a hole in the ground), but never to the hell of Rev. 21:8 even though the word(s) are sometimes translated as “hell.”

THE GRAVE - The “grave” can simply mean a hole in the ground or it could be a reference to the temporary holding place called sheol or hades depending on the context in which it is used. It can also be used figuratively.

THE PIT OR ABADDON - The use in the Bible of the phrases the pit (other than “the bottomless pit” discussed below), or abbadon, or even the “place of destruction” are believed to be different ways of referring to sheol or hades, or used figuratively express pain, suffering, or loss, or to simply refer to death or destruction. It’s not likely that these are actual “places” separate and distinct from hades, or sheol, or the abyss for example. Some believe Abaddon could also refer to a person such as Satan, the antichrist, or some other powerful demonic angel. The context must be considered to know the more precise meaning of these words when found in Bible translations.

THE ABYSS (THE DEEP, OR THE BOTTOMLESS PIT) - It is derived from the Greek word “abussos” which means (1) literally, "very deep," "bottomless"; (2) figuratively, "unfathomable," "boundless." The word "abyss" is not actually used in the KJV Bible. It is found, however in varying degrees, in the NIV, ESV and other Bible translations - usually to transliterate the Greek word “abussos.”

In the KJV Bible the word abussos is translated as "the deep" in two passages (Lk. 8:31; Rom. 10:7); or the "the bottomless pit" in Revelation (Rev 9:1,2,11; 11:7; 17:8; 20:1,3).

In the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament) “abussos” is how Jewish translators rendered the Old Testament Hebrew word “tehom.” The Septuagint never uses “abussos” as a rendering of the Hebrew word sheol (which is translated into Greek as hades and means “place of the dead”). Therefore it is believed that “tehom” (and by default its Greek counterpart abussos) never meant an "abode or place of the dead," which it has unfortunately been translated as in a few instances. For example, in the New Living Bible translation of Romans 10:7 the word abussos is rendered as the “place of the dead,” and the Complete Jewish Bible translation of that same passage renders abussos as “Sheol,” which has created some confusion. But the weight of evidence seems to indicate that the Greek abussos and its Hebrew equivalent tehom refer to something very different than the Greek hades and its Hebrew equivalent sheol.

The most likely meaning of abyss is a temporary “abode of demons” (not of departed humans). It’s a place to hold at least some of them until they are eventually cast into the lake of fire after the millennial reign of Christ. It is probably connected to a place described 2 Peter 2:4 by the Greek word “tartaros” - see discussion below.

Support for this idea is found in Luke 8:31 which uses the word abussos in reference to demons not humans. In this passage the KJV renders abussos as "into the deep" (Weymouth and The Twentieth Century New Testament = "into the bottomless pit"). In this passage the demons do not want Jesus to send them to the abyss, which is implied is a holding place of punishment until the end times. In this same account in the Gospel of Mark 5:10 the Greek word “chora” is used. The KJV translated chora as “out of the country,” meaning Jesus would send them away. Chora can mean “country” but it also means “a space lying between two places or limits” (Strong’s Ex. Concordance). A clearer understanding of Mark 5:10 would be that the demons feared Jesus would send them to a place that is “between” this world and their final holding place “the lake of fire.” This would be consistent with Luke’s use of the word abussos or “abyss.”

Also Rev. 9:11 speaks of an angel king of the abyss named Abaddon or Applyon who is released at the sounding of the fifth trumpet when the “abyss” or “bottomless pit” is opened during the tribulation period. This supports the idea that the abyss is an abode of evil spirits (not humans), but not their place of final punishment; it is therefore to be distinguished from the "lake of fire and brimstone" where the beast and the false prophet are, and into which the Devil is to be finally cast (Rev 19:20; 20:10). To summarize, the abyss is a temporary holding place for demonic spirits (not departed humans) to secure these spirits and cut them off from this world until they can be thrown into the “lake of fire” after the millennial reign of Christ.

TARTAROS - Tartaros is a Greek word, which has also been translated into English as "hell" creating even more confusion about what hell is. It occurs only once in the New Testament in II Peter 2:4. This passage does not refer to humans but to some kind of restrained condition of fallen angels. It means "darkness of the material universe," or "dark abyss," or "prison." But again it has nothing to do with people. It seems to refer to a temporary holding place or condition for fallen angelic beings and/or demonic spirits. It is possible just another reference to the “abyss” mentioned earlier.

GEHENNA, THE LAKE OF FIRE, AND HELL - Gehenna, the lake of fire and hell (the real fire and brimstone hell of Rev. 21:8) are all the same thing. Again what makes this confusing is that translators have used the word hell to refer to both the Rev. 21:8 gehenna hell and to the very different place of hades/sheol (the temporary holding place of the dead). Sometimes the only way to tell the difference is to use a concordance to look up whether the actual word used was gehenna (Rev. 21:8 “hell”) or hades (temporary holding place of the dead).

Gehenna is a Greek word often translated as “hell” in the New Testament. The word is actually derived from the name of the narrow, rocky Valley of Hinnom, which was a garbage dump on the south side of Jerusalem. It was the place where garbage was constantly being burned. Trash, filth, and even dead bodies of animals and despised criminals were thrown into the fires of gehenna, or the Valley of Hinnom.

Psalm 23 refers to “valley of the shadow of death.” The Psalm is believed to have been written by King David reflecting on a time when he had to flee Jerusalem in fear for his life when his son tried to forcefully take the throne. Some believe that he fled the city by passing through the Valley of Hinnom and when writing the Psalm called this place the “valley of the shadow of death” which would have had multiple meanings. One meaning referring to activity of garbage and dead things being burned there, one meaning referring to his precarious situation in fleeing for his life through that valley, and one meaning being prophetic and referring to this place as picture of real and future gehenna hell consistent with how Jesus described hell.

Ordinarily, everything thrown into this valley was destroyed by fire—completely burned up. Therefore, Christ used gehenna to help us picture the terrible fate of unrepentant sinners. Gehenna is the final place of punishment. It is the “fire and brimstone” hell of the Bible.

Gehenna is the hell of Revelation 21:8 (NIV), “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

Jesus used the word gehenna in Mark 9:43,45,47 Luke 12:5 to teach that the unrighteous will be punished by being put into “hell,” (gehenna fire) which He describes as a fire that will not be quenched (see also Jeremiah 17:27).

The idea of gehenna is also used in Matthew 7:15-19; 13:30; 23:33; Matthew 8:12; 22:13; 25:30; Matthew 13:42, 50; and Hebrews 10:26-27. All who stubbornly refuse to repent and persist in breaking God's commandments ultimately find themselves in a lake of "fire and brimstone." And a very large fire would have the appearance of a fiery lake, hence its description. The fate of the wicked is gehenna fire.

So gehenna, the lake of fire, and what most people would typically think of as “hell” today are all the same. The Bible makes it clear that the lake of fire or hell was not intended for people but for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41).

THE SECOND DEATH - The “second death” is more of a condition than a place. The Bible calls final separation from God “the second death.” The second death is what happens to someone who is cast into gehenna, or the lake of fire, or hell (they are all the same thing - just different names).

In Revelation the lake of fire is described as the second death (Revelation 20:14). Jesus also identified gehenna as a second death when He warned: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell [Gehenna]” (Matthew 10:28; see also Luke 12:4,5). It clearly refers to another death after the physical death of the body and that is different than physical death. As physical death is separation from the body and from the environment of this life, so the second death is a final and eternal separation from God and from the life to be enjoyed in the new creation.

Those who will experience the second death include all who take the mark of the beast (Revelation 14:9–11). They will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the angels and Christ. There is no promise of rehabilitation or restoration once the final judgment is pronounced. Gehenna is forever!

The Believers Resurrection and Judgment - All believers who have died will eventually face what is sometimes called the Bema Judgment Seat of Christ. This believer’s judgment cannot result in a loss of salvation or eternal life. It is a judgment of our works that will result in additional rewards for believers. This judgment will happen sometime after the resurrection of believers. The resurrection of believers will happen in conjunction with the rapture. It will also take place before the resurrection and judgment of unbelievers discussed below. It should be noted that since believers have eternal life at the moment they receive Christ this “resurrection” isn’t to bring the believer back to “life,” it is to provide the believer with his/her resurrection or glorified body with which to spend eternity.

The Unbelievers Resurrection and Judgment - Unbelievers who have died will be judged separately from believers at what is called the Great White Throne Judgment. The purpose of this judgment will be to essentially demonstrate to unbelievers that their rejection of Christ left them no hope of eternal life and their end will be the Lake of Fire, sometimes called Gehenna or hell.

Revelation 20:13 states, “The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and the grave gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done.”

This is not a reference to different places people have been held after death and before the resurrection. It is simply a way of telling us that no matter how a person’s body saw corruption (decayed or perished) God would resurrect them and they would not escape judgment.
It doesn’t matter if a person’s body perished or was buried in the “sea,” was buried in an earthly grave, or perished by some other means ("death") they will be resurrected to face judgment. So all the unjustified dead on land or in the sea, wherever they may be, are to be resurrected to "judgment" in the future.

This unbeliever’s judgment will be preceded by their resurrection. The unbeliever’s resurrection happens after the millennial reign of Christ and after the believer’s resurrection. It should be noted that this is probably better thought of as a “resurrection of the dead” (i.e., those who have died without Christ) as opposed to a “resurrection from the dead.” Those who have died without Christ are not given a second chance. This resurrection is for the purposes of their final judgment and will presumably provide them with some kind of “form” with which to spend eternity in the Lake of fire. The Bible doesn’t give details on this point.

What we do know is that neither the believer’s or unbeliever’s resurrection and judgment happen immediately after a person dies. They happen some time in the future.