Letter To My Friends

Please see the Biblical references and footnotes below the letter

Dear Friend,

I am writing to invite you to engage with me in a conversation about our, and our families’, afterlife. I hope you will agree with me that there is no more important topic, and that we probably don’t talk about it enough. I’ve been thinking about this a lot, and maybe you have as well. Whether our ideas are similar or different, I believe we can benefit from talking. It doesn't have to be awkward or challenging. I’m not asking to debate or argue. I just want to talk. I’ve sent you this letter because you are someone I care about, and whose thoughts and opinions I want to understand, and maybe influence.

Relying on the Bible as my source, here for your consideration are my main thoughts: I believe God created mankind good, with the freedom to choose between good and evil. But when man chose evil, his "goodness" was lost, and since that time, his descendants, us, have been born with an awareness of a duty to love and obey God, but with hearts unwilling. Instead of seeking after God as we should, we pursue our own way and refuse to submit to His commands. Because of our sin we have become enemies of God who deserve only His wrath and judgment and are without hope - outside of God doing something to rescue us. But God, out of an abundance of mercy, sent Jesus to suffer and die as a sacrifice to pay our just punishment, that we could never pay, so that when we place our complete faith and trust in Jesus, God applies Christ’s righteousness to our debt. And as forgiven, new creations, we are now empowered by God’s Spirit to live lives that please and glorify God. That's it - that's what I think! So, there's mine - what's yours?

Please understand that I am not suggesting, nor do I think, that I am somehow more holy, more intelligent, more close to God, or more anything else than you. I am, as has been said, just one beggar telling another beggar where I found food. So, can we talk? Can we meet for coffee, lunch or just a visit? We can meet alone or in a group (invite whoever you want). Or will you call, text or email me? We are certainly on our way to the afterlife, and the ideas we have are not only affecting us, but also the people we love most. Some of my thoughts have evolved over the years, and if we’ve spoken before, I’d relish the chance to update you, and maybe correct some things I now think I was getting wrong. I realize – it’s religion – polite people don’t talk about religion. But what if our concern to be polite keeps us from discovering something important? I don’t think I can afford to take that chance. Can anyone really afford to get this wrong? Have we done our due diligence? In the face of so many who believe ideologies, philosophies, and religions, that we think are wrong - are we confident that we have the truth? If so - is our confidence justified?

I covet your thoughts and would love to hear from you - even if your thinking is averse to mine. In fact, especially if your thinking is averse to mine. Please use the QR code below to access a version of this letter with Biblical references. 

Sincerely,

Frank

Biblical references and footnotes

God created mankind good.

• And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. (Genesis 1:31).

• Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— (Romans 5:12).

With the freedom to choose between good and evil.

• The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:15 - 17) 

But when man chose evil.

• So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3:6) 

His "goodness" was lost

• Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” (Genesis 3:7 - 11) 

• For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17) 

• Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:18) 

Since that time, his descendants, us, have been born with an awareness of our duty to love and obey God, but with hearts unwilling. 

• For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. (Romans 1:19-21)

Our stubborn independence is sin, and has separated us from God, and we are lost and without hope - outside of God doing something to rescue us.

• And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—  among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. (Ephesians 2:1 - 8)

But God, out of an abundant of mercy, acted for us by sending Jesus to make a way for us to be reconciled to God through Jesus' sacrifice of himself. 

• (Romans 5:17 - 19)  For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

• (Titus 3:4-7)  But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,  whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,  so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

• (2 Timothy 1:8-10) Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,  who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

• (Acts 13:38-39)  Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

• (Romans 3:19-20)  Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

• (Romans 3:27-28)  Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

• (Romans 4:3-5)  For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 

• (Galatians 2:16)  yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

• (Galatians 3:10-15)  For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us — for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

So, our only hope is to recognize and accept our desperate condition and turn from our sin and place our complete trust and reliance in Jesus as our savior and lord.

• Paul, talking to the believers in Ephesus states (Ephesians 2:1 - 8)  And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—  among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

• Also see Paul's words to the Corinthians in (2 Corinthians 5:17 - 21)  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

And give ourselves completely to God.

• (Romans 12:1)  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

• (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)  For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

• (Matthew 16:24-26)  Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

• (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)  Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

• (1 Peter 1:18-19)  knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

• (Matthew 10:37-39)  Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

• (1 Corinthians 6:20)  for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

• (1 Corinthians 7:23)  You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men.

• (1 Peter 2:24-25)  He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

• (Luke 17:7-10) “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”