Page 161 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

CRETE - CRETES

forward to the bodily resurrection, was given an God practices burial (De. 34:5-6).
honorable burial. From this important example, we Cremation is a sign of God’s curse. Throughout the
learn that even if cremation is less expensive or easier Bible the destruction of a human body or of an object by
than burial, it is still to be rejected, as the Israelites fire is used as a sign of divine wrath (Ex. 32:20; Le.
rejected the economical and simpler way to transport 10:1-2; De. 7:25; Nu. 16:35; 2 Ki. 10:26; 1 Ch. 14:12;
Joseph’s body. Ac. 19:18-19; Re. 20:15).
Burial looks forward to resurrection. The reason God’s For a person not to have a proper burial was
people have always been careful to practice burial is not considered a dishonor (1 Ki. 21:23-24; Ps. 83:9-10).
difficult to understand. We believe in a bodily The Christian’s body belongs to God. The body is not
resurrection (Ro. 8:22-23; 1 Co. 15:20-23; 2 Co. 5:1; 1 ours to destroy by fire or by any other means (Ro. 14:8;
Co. 15:51-57). Yes, the buried body will decompose in 1 Co. 6:19-20).
time. Yes, there are occasions in which Christians die in
ways which render burial impossible—in the sinking of God has plainly called cremation wickedness (Am.
ships, in fires, etc. But when at all possible we bury. 2:1).
Why the trouble? Because it is our certain hope that the The Lord Jesus Christ was buried, and He is our great
same individual will be raised in the same body, only example (Jn. 19:38-42).
changed. The physical body is called the seed for the Just as the Lord Jesus Christ was buried in certainty
resurrection body. When planted, a seed decomposes, that He would rise again on the third day according to
and the new plant comes forth. The Bible uses this to the Scriptures, even so is the Christian said to rest at
illustrate resurrection. death. To be absent from the body is to be present with
In 1 Co. 15:35-44 the Apostle answers those who the Lord, as the Apostle Paul testified (2 Co. 5:9 and Ph.
would ask how it is possible for God to raise again a 1:21-23). The body without the spirit is dead (Ja. 2:26).
decomposed body. The terminology used by the Holy The dead body sleeps in the grave while the redeemed
Spirit in this passage is that of husbandry—planting soul waits in glory for the great resurrection day.
seed. The farmer does not destroy his seed; he plants it, Of course we cannot force people either to bury or
then from the decaying seed comes forth the new life. not to bury. And we know that the manner of one’s
Such is burial and the resurrection. When we bury a burial does not affect one’s salvation or resurrection, but
Christian loved one, we are planting the seed for the we do believe these things are important, and we are
resurrection body! It is a powerful testimony of our convinced that Christians should take their stand upon
unwavering faith in God’s Word regarding the promise the examples of the Word of God. [See Death, Eternal
of bodily resurrection. Security, Gospel, Grace, Resurrection.]
Contrast heathenism. They have no such knowledge CRETE. Island in the Mediterranean (Ac. 27:7-21;
or hope. The Hindus and Buddhists, for example, Tit. 1:5). [See Cretes.]
believe in reincarnation. Though they believe in a CRETES. Inhabitants of the island of Crete (Ac.
human soul which is distinct from the body, they do not 2:11). “Called now Candia, a large island in the
believe that soul, once departed from the body at death, Mediterranean, about one hundred and fifty miles in
will be resurrected in any relation whatsoever to the length and from six to thirty-five wide. It lies midway
first body. Rather they believe the soul will be between Syria and Malta. Anciently it possessed its
reincarnated in another entirely unrelated body, or into hundred cities. It is mountainous, and its famous peak is
a non-physical sphere of existence. Mount Ida. The vessel carrying Paul on his way to
God’s people have always buried their dead with this Rome, sailed along the southern coast of the island,
magnificent hope burning in their hearts. “We will see where it was overtaken by a storm (Ac. 27:7-21). The
that brother or sister again in that same body, only Cretes are now called Cretans. It seems likely that a very
changed, glorified!” Hallelujah! Only through the death early acquaintance existed between the Cretans and the
and shed blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ can Jews; and the special mention of the Cretans among
we have this certain hope. He has taken upon Himself those attending the great Pentecost (Ac. 2:11) is just
on the cross the punishment for our sins, carried our what we should expect. The Cretans had a name in
sins into the grave, and risen again in eternal triumph ancient times for being good sailors; also for skill in
three days later. When an individual thoroughly archery and expertness in ambushing. Hence they were
acknowledges his sinfulness before God, repents of his frequently engaged as light-armed troops by other
sin, and receives Jesus Christ as his or her Lord and nations. The ancient notices of their character fully
Saviour, the sin debt is paid, and eternal life and glory is agree with the quotation which Paul produces from ‘one
promised from God the Father. Part of this heritage in of their own poets’ (Tit. 1:12): ‘The Cretans are always
Christ is the glorified resurrection body. liars, evil beasts, slow bellies’ (literally, idle gluttons).

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 161