Those who are apart from the body are together with Christ

[Ignatius]

I was having a conversation with someone who believes the dead are ‘asleep’ until the resurrection. I wanted to quote a passage which says something like “Those who are apart from the body are together with Christ”, but I couldn’t find it. Can anyone help point out which passage this is. I think it was in one of Pauls epistles. Thank you.

 

[Catholic_Dude]

I was having a conversation with someone who believes the dead are ‘asleep’ until the resurrection. I wanted to quote a passage which says something like “Those who are apart from the body are together with Christ”, but I couldn’t find it. Can anyone help point out which passage this is. I think it was in one of Pauls epistles. Thank you.

21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. - Php 1

12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. - Col 1

 

[Ignatius]

On another thread here someone pointed out the following.

In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus relates what happened to a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus when they died. They were both judged immediately after death, Lazarus going to comfort and the rich man to torment. The dead rich man recognized both dead Abraham and dead Lazarus and the rich man and Abraham spoke with each other. The rich man, though dead, remembered his living brothers and interceded for them.

Thus, the dead are conscious and remember their loved ones.

 

[tabcom]

2 Corinthians
Chapter 5

1
For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven.
2
For in this tent we groan, longing to be further clothed with our heavenly habitation
3
if indeed, when we have taken it off, we shall not be found naked.
4
For while we are in this tent we groan and are weighed down, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
5
Now the one who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a first installment.
6
So we are always courageous, although we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,
7
for we walk by faith, not by sight.
8
Yet we are courageous, and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord.
9
Therefore, we aspire to please him, whether we are at home or away.
10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.
11
8 Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we are clearly apparent to God, and I hope we are also apparent to your consciousness.

 

[ryanoneil]

Philippians1:23 “I am caught between the two. I long to depart this life and be with Christ, for that is far better.”

The key word here is that he longs or desires. There is a big difference between wanting something and it actually being the case.

 

[Ignatius]

2 Corinthians
Chapter 5:**8 **Yet we are courageous, and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord.

That’s the one. Only I like the way the KJV puts this particular verse:
2Co 5:8 We are confident, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord

Thanks.