What would happen to those in the Church when they died?
The False Teaching:
When those who followed the
Way of the Spirit died, they would go to the good side of
Hades. They would not be resurrected at the
end of the age. Those who followed the
Way of the Flesh would also go to the good side of
Hades but only
holy ones would ascend to heaven and would be resurrected at the
end of the age.
New Testament Response:
Those who had faith in Christ would go to heaven when they died and would be resurrected when Christ returned.
1 Corinthians 15:12-14
Now if Christ is preached, that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised. If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith also is in vain.
New Testament writers respond to the idea that only holy ones ascended to heaven by saying that one one had ascended into heaven.
John 3:13
No one has ascended into heaven, but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven.
Not even King David made it into heaven.
Acts 2:34
For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, "'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand
