The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed by Brenda Rivera of Orlando, Florida from the tape, GC 1301-O, titled "Bible Questions and Answers Part 17."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE. ©1978. All Rights Reserved.

Question

I’m a rather young Christian and I’m confused about one thing. When we die, do we go directly to be with Christ or is there a waiting period? And the reason I’m asking is because I know in Philippians 1:21-23 it says “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh this will mean fruitful labor for me and I do not know which to choose.” Then it goes on to say “But I am hard pressed from both directions having the desire to depart and be with Christ for that is very much better.” I’m just confused if he means when he departs he will then go to be with Christ?

Answer

What does he say?

Questioner

That’s what he says.

Answer

That’s what he said. To depart and be with Christ, there’s nothing in the middle. To depart and hang around and hope to be with Christ, to depart and do nothing? No, to depart and be with Christ. The key verse is 2 Corinthians 5:8, look that up 2 Corinthians 5:8. Paul says this “We are confident.” Right, does your Bible say something like that?

Questioner

We are of good courage.

Answer

"We are of good courage or confident and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be what?" Present with the Lord, that’s all you ever have there is no other place. Absent with the body present with the Lord. There’s no other way. What did Jesus say on the cross? "Father, into Thy hands I commit my..." what? "Commit my Spirit." You go from here to there, there is nothing else, there is no waiting place. Now that is the soul, that is the inner man, the spirit. The body goes into the grave and awaits the Rapture to be rejoined to that spirit. 
 
Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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