What the Bible Says About Ash
The Bible has a lot to say about ash. Ash is mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, ash was used as a symbol of mourning and repentance. In the New Testament, ash is mentioned in the book of Revelation as a symbol of judgment.
Genesis 3:19
“By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
This verse is often cited as evidence that we come from dust and will return to dust. In other words, when we die, our bodies will decompose and turn to ashes.
There is no doubt that this is what happens to our bodies when we die. But does this verse actually say that we come from dust and will return to dust?
The answer is no. Genesis 3:19 does not say that we come from dust or that we will return to dust. Rather, it says that our bodies are made from dust and will return to dust.
This is an important distinction. Our bodies may be made from dust, but we ourselves are not dust. We are something more than just our bodies. We are spirit beings who have been given a body of flesh and bones.
When our bodies die, they will indeed turn todust. But our spiritswill live on forever.
Job 42:6
And now my eye sees You. Therefore I despise myself and repent in ashes.”
Job was a man who went through a lot of trials and hardships. In the Book of Job, we see how even though Job lost everything, he still had faith in God. He knew that God was sovereign and in control, and he trusted that God would eventually bring him back to a place of blessing.
In Job 42:6, we see how Job responded to God when he finally saw Him face to face. He says, “And now my eye sees You. Therefore I despise myself and repent in ashes.”
Job’s response is one of humility and repentance. He knows that he is not worthy to even look at God, and so he repents in ashes. This is a beautiful picture of true repentance. It is not simply saying “I’m sorry” but it is turning away from our sin and humble ourselves before a holy God.
What the Bible Says About Dust
It is often said that we came from dust and to dust we shall return. This is a popular phrase that is often used to describe the human life cycle. What does the Bible actually say about dust?
Genesis 2:7
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
This verse from the Bible’s book of Genesis shows that God created humans from dust. Dust is a very small particle or a powdery substance that is found in the air and on surfaces. It can be made up of many things, including dead skin cells, hair, dirt, and more.
While some people may see dust as nothing more than a nuisance, it actually plays an important role in our world. For example, dust can help plants grow by providing them with essential nutrients. Dust can also help cleanse the air by trapping harmful pollutants.
So while you might not like cleaning up dust around your home, remember that it is actually a vital part of our world!
Psalm 103:14
He knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. -NIV
What the Bible Says About Death
Death is a scary thing. No one knows what happens after we die. Some people believe in reincarnation, some people believe in heaven, and some people believe in nothing at all. The Bible has a lot to say about death. In this article, we’ll look at what the Bible says about death, what happens after we die, and what happens to our bodies.
Ecclesiastes 3:20
Ecclesiastes 3:20 (NIV)
“All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass.”
Revelation 20:13
And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.
Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.
Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Conclusion
The Bible does not give a specific answer as to whether or not cremation is allowable. It does, however, provide general principles that can be applied to the question.
First, the Bible speaks of the body as a holy temple (1 Corinthians 6:19) and calls for it to be treated with respect (1 Timothy 5:6). This would seem to indicate that cremation, which reduces the body to ashes, is not an acceptable practice.
Second, the Bible often uses burial as a symbol of death and resurrection (e.g., Isaiah 26:19; Ezekiel 37:12-14; John 5:28-29). This would suggest that cremation, which destroys the body, is not an appropriate way to bury a Christian.
Third, in the Old Testament, God commanded that criminals be put to death by stoning and their bodies were then burned outside the city (Leviticus 20:14; 21:9). This was done as a form of degradation and was not intended as a respectful disposal of the body.
Fourth, in the New Testament, we are told that after Jesus was crucified, His body was wrapped in linen cloths and buried in a tomb (Matthew 27:59-60). This shows that even Jesus, who rose from the dead, was given a respectful burial.
In conclusion, while the Bible does not give a definitive answer on cremation, it does provide some principles that should be considered when making this decision.