Theological Term of the Week: Intermediate State

intermediate state
The state of being in which the soul exists between the time of death and the time of the resurrection of the body.

• From scripture:

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.  (Philippians 1:21-23 ESV)

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,  for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. (2 Corinthians 5:6-9 ESV)

• From The Westminster Larger Catechism: 

Question 86: What is the communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible church enjoy immediately after death?

Answer: The communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible church enjoy immediately after death, is, in that their souls are then made perfect in holiness, and received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies, which even in death continue united to Christ, and rest in their graves as in their beds, till at the last day they be again united to their souls. Whereas the souls of the wicked are at their death cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, and their bodies kept in their graves, as in their prisons, till the resurrection and judgment of the great day.

• From The Christian Faith by Michael Horton:

In the intermediate state, believers are not simply in contemplative repose. Nor are they lost souls wandering throughout the realm of shadows or crossing back and forth over the river Styx ferried by Charon. Rather, they are made part of the company assembled at the true Zion, with “innumerable angels in festal gathering” and “the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Able” (Heb 12:22—24).

Learn more:

1. Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary: Intermediate State
2. Blue Letter Bible: What Happens to a Believer After Death?
3. Simply Put: The Intermediate State
4. Kim Riddlebarger: The Intermediate State
5. Louis Berkhof: The Scriptural View of the Intermediate State
6. Sam Storms: 10 Things You Should Know About the Intermediate State

Related terms:

• glorification
• heaven
• hell

Filed under Salvation

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Theological Term of the Week: Intercession of Christ

intercession of Christ
The work of Christ, in which, as the great high priest, he intercedes before God on behalf of his people, a work he continues to do in this present age as he sits at the right hand of God in heaven. 

• From scripture:

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? (Romans 8:31-35 ESV)

The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:23-25 ESV)

• From the Belgic Confession, Article 26, Christ’s Intercession: 

We believe that we have no access unto God but alone through the only Mediator and Advocate, Jesus Christ the righteous, who therefore became man, having united in one person the divine and human natures, that we men might have access to the divine Majesty, which access would otherwise be barred against us. But this Mediator, whom the Father hath appointed between Him and us, ought in no wise affright us by His majesty, or cause us to seek another according to our fancy. For there is no creature, either in heaven or on earth, who loveth us more than Jesus Christ; who, though He was in the form of God, yet made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a man and of a servant for us, and was made like unto His brethren in all things. If, then, we should seek for another mediator who would be well affected towards us, whom could we find who loved us more than He who laid down His life for us, even when we were His enemies? And if we seek for one who hath power and majesty, who is there that hath so much of both as He who sits at the right hand of His Father, and who hath all power in heaven and on earth? And who will sooner be heard than the own well-beloved Son of God? 

From Systematic Theology by Louis Berkhof, page 353: 

He is ever making intercession for those that are His, pleading for their acceptance on the basis of His completed sacrifice, and for their safe-keeping in the world, and making their prayers and services acceptable to God. The Lutherans stress the fact that the intercession of Christ is vocalis et realis, while the Reformed emphasize the fact that it consists primarily in the presence of Christ in man’s nature with the Father, and that the prayers are to be considered as the presentation of legitimate claims rather than as supplications.

Learn more:

1. Got Questions: What is the purpose of Jesus interceding for us in Heaven?
2. Robert Letham: Intercessory Work of Christ
3. R. C. Sproul: Christ’s Work of Intercession
4. Gavin Ortlund: Jesus Ever Lives Above, for You to Intercede
5. David Wells: Our Human Priest
6. John Gerstner: Ascension: Session & Intercession, Part 1, Part 2

Related terms:

• ascension of Jesus
• humanity of Christ
• priest (as an office of Christ)

Filed under Salvation

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Theological Term of the Week: Inclusivism

inclusivism
The view that while Jesus is the only Saviour, and everyone who is saved is saved by his work, explicit knowledge of Jesus and faith in him is not necessary for salvation.

• Scripture that shows inclusivism is wrong:

[I]f you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. [11] For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” [12] For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. [13] For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

[14] How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? [15] And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” [16] But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” [17] So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ (Romans 10:9–17 ESV).

• From the Westminster Larger Catechism, chapter 6: 

Question 60: Can they who have never heard the gospel, and so know not Jesus Christ, nor believe in him, be saved by their living according to the light of nature?

Answer: They who, having never heard the gospel, know not Jesus Christ, and believe not in him, cannot be saved, be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature, or the laws of that religion which they profess; neither is there salvation in any other, but in Christ alone, who is the Savior only of his body the church.

Learn more:

1. Got Questions: Inclusivism vs exclusivism - what does the Bible say?
2. Matthew Barrett: What Is Inclusivism?
3. Kevin DeYoung: Clarifying Inclusivism and Exclusivism
4. Trevin Wax: What Is Inclusivism and Why Does It Matter?
5. Greg Koukl: Revisiting Inclusivism: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
6. Ardel Canaday: “Evangelical Inclusivism” and the Exclusivity of the Gospel: A Review of John Sanders’s No Other Name

Related terms:

• general revelation
• exclusivism
• pluralism
• universalism

Filed under Salvation

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Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured as a Theological Term of the Week? Email your suggestion using the contact button in the navigation bar above. 

Clicking on the Theological Terms button above the header will take you to an alphabetical list of all the theological terms.