Because I did not want to discard them, and did not really know where else to post them, I will post the opening notes to the Romans Part 15 segment here:
There is something that we regret not mentioning two weeks ago, or perhaps three. That is the passing of a dear sister, Lily Keegan, on June 20th. Through her ministry, Gertrude ministries, she and her fellow-worker Mary Jacqua have comforted, edified and encouraged many of our Christian brethren, and especially prisoners. Mary endeavors to continue in the ministry and can be contacted at
http://gertrudeministries.orgIt is not my intention to sound callous, but my outlook is quite different even from many Identity Christians regarding the death of loved ones, and first I must state that I have no need to apologize for not looking to the things behind, so to speak, and always focusing on the challenges that lay ahead. And while it is good that we should remember our brothers and sisters who have passed, we must as Christians know this: we have no need to pray for the dead, but rather we should pray for the living! If we are grounded in our Christian faith, we must know that our deceased brethren are already with Christ, and are already at peace.
From Philippians chapter 1, the words of Paul to that assembly concerning the possibility of his own execution in Rome: “... 20 in accordance with my eager expectation and hope, seeing that in nothing shall I be ashamed, but with all freespokenness - as always - even now Christ shall be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For me to live anointed and to die is gain. 22 But if to live in flesh, this for me a fruit of labor, then I know not which I prefer. 23 I am afflicted by the two, having the desire for which to depart, and to be with Christ, very much the better; 24 but to continue in the flesh is of more necessity for your sake. 25 And persuaded of this, I know that I shall abide and remain with you all for your advancement and joy of the faith”.
Understanding this, Christians should know that, while it is indeed proper to lament our deceased brethren, it is not really necessary to pray for them. Rather, we can be comforted in knowing that they being with Christ shall be praying for us! That reflects the Christian hope in Christ. This, to me, reflects the meaning of the prayer that Christ Himself prayed when He was about to depart from the world, in John chapter 17: “8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. 9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. 11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. 26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
Christ, departing from this world, prayed for those whom He was leaving behind in the world. We should hope that our deceased friends and loved ones feel the same way about us, and for that reason we should care for them in life just as much and even more than we may honor them in death.
