How can the gospel be preached to the dead?
What is this verse actually saying?
1 Peter 4:6
ESV - 6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.
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Asked September 09 2013
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Shushant Mojumdar
Supporter
Community answers are sorted based on votes. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is.
Ken Laney
Supporter
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses This and other passages certainly lead me to believe that redeeming the dead certainly related to the spiritual condition of people who live in a state of unrepentant sin.
Olofin Adebayo
Supporter
It appointed unto a man to die once after which is judgement, it's when they are still physical alive but spiritually they are dead b'cos they are still living in sin. The gospel of Jesus Christ is preach only to the living.
EL Mohel Castorena
Supporter
Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are "alive from the dead", and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. The dead spoken of are those the living dead servants of sin.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
Yes, Shushant, I can see how you feel. Peter in fact does say, “the Gospel was preached also to those who are dead.” This appears to claim that people have a chance to be saved after they die. But this runs into conflict with Hebrews 9:27, which insists that “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” I believe that there is hope on this side of the grave but that there is NO HOPE beyond the grave, Jesus said (cf. John 3:36; 5:24). Decide now BEFORE it is TOO LATE! There's no second chance after death to get saved! John 3:36: Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. John 5:24: Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life. No Christ, no hope. Know Christ, know hope.
Leslie Coutinho
Supporter
1 Peter 4:6: For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. Lord Jesus was led by His Father, who showed Him all things that He was doing, that was raising the dead and giving life unto them. Those who would hear His voice in the right spirit would then come out of the sinful graves that they were in. (John 5:20-21, 25) There were many who followed our Lord Jesus, not because they saw the miracles of the loaves but because they were filled. They endured not what the Lord shared with them, the bread which came down from heaven, for then many disciples walked no more with Him. (Pro 21:16) The disciples were also judged according to men in the flesh, and the Lord Jesus said to the twelve disciples, “Will ye also go away?” (John 6:26,58,66) One day, Lord Jesus needed to go through Samaria and stopped by Sychar at a well because He was tired. A woman who was living a sinful life came to the well to draw water. Lord Jesus asked her for a drink. As the Lord spoke to her, He revealed to her the gift of God, to draw water out of the wells of salvation (Isa 12:3) which was the Gospel that was preached to those who had died in spirit. He explained that those who worship God, who is a Spirit, must do so in both spirit and truth. The woman was moved by this encounter and went to tell the men in her city about it. For then, many Samaritans believed in the Lord Jesus and came to witness Him themselves. (John 4:15, 24, 39-42) Every child of God’s creation today is in His hand whom He leads. Jeremiah was told to rise and go to the potter’s house where He would reveal His word unto him. As he arose and went and watched the works of the potter’s hand, and the vessel that he made of clay was ruined in the hands of the potter, for which he had to crush it dead and do it again till it seemed to be good in the potter’s hand to make it again. Every child that is ruined or lost can be raised again to be made perfect in the potter’s hand and those who are dead and sleep in the dust are raised again as we are in His hand today. (Jere 18:1-6/Dan 12:2) John 5:28: Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice.
Benita Randolph
Supporter
The gospel will not profit the Dead, Luke 16:23-31 tells the story of the rich man and the beggar that died and one went to heaven and the other to hell. The one in hell asked for mercy and the reply was that there was a sphere that prohibit anyone from crossing over, he then asked to have the beggar that was in heaven to return from the dead to warn his family not to come to hell where he was and the response was that they have prophets and preachers in the earth to warn them. Although the only account of the dead being given another chance at salvation after they were physically dead was the account of Jesus after his death on the cross went into hell to conquer death and the scriptures says that he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto them. But that would be the only exception. After death then comes judgement and they will be without excuse.
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