Cornerstone Independent Baptist Church
06/29/25 Sunday Family Service
  • Turn to Luke 23:26-31
    This evening we are going to consider two question cards that I received:
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    Question: What is the meaning of Luke 23:26-31, particularly verse 31?
    Read Luke 23:26-31
    As Jesus was on his way to be publicly crucified, a great crowd followed after Him. In particular, Luke notes, there were many women. As they lamented the judgment that He was enduring, Jesus turned and said some thought-provoking words to them.
    “Save your tears! Save them for yourselves and for your children. A judgment is coming that will cause you to weep even more than you are now.”
    Sidenote: but isn’t it amazing to see how that even on His way to the cross, Jesus was selfless? Even upon the cross, as Jesus gave His life for others, He was thinking about others.
    John 19:26–27 KJV 1900
    When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
    Jesus lived and died for others. That’s the standard He set for us to live by also. If you want to know what it looks like to live a fulfilling life for others, then read the Gospels. Jesus lived that life. He will teach you what it means to live for others.
    In verse 30, Jesus quotes a portion of Hosea 10:8 and gives a prophecy with a double fulfillment. The prophecy would be fulfilled in the near term when Rome would conquer Jerusalem in AD 70, but it will also be fulfilled in the future during the Great Tribulation.
    Revelation 6:15–16 KJV 1900
    And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
    Concerning verse 31: you can find multiple ideas concerning what Jesus meant by His cryptic proverb in verse 31. What is clear is that the proverb offers a comparison between two things with one being far worse than the other. In context, what was Jesus comparing? Perhaps more than one thing was being compared.
    Perhaps He was saying to the women, “save your tears. These Jewish rulers are rejecting me now, but one day mankind will reject God much more openly in the Great Tribulation. Consequently, the judgment of God will be much worse.”
    Application: Jesus took it seriously that a future judgment is coming for all mankind. If you are unsaved, you must trust Christ to save you from your sins. If you are saved, you must daily prepare for the judgment seat of Christ.
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    Question: Should a Christian be cremated? Does the Bible speak about cremation?
    Turn to Romans 14
    Short answers, in reverse order:
    Does the Bible speak about cremation? No, not as a subject. There’s one Old Testament reference of people’s remains being burned, 1 Samuel 31:11-13. Saul and his son’s bodies had been mutilated by the Philistines, so the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead took the bodies and burned them. It was the respectful thing to do since the bodies had been so injured.
    Should a Christian be cremated? I can’t answer that question. You must follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance and it may depend on the cultural nuances of where you live.
    For example, …“In Judaism, cremation is viewed as abhorrent because it is reminiscent of how Jewish bodies were disposed of in the Holocaust.”
    https://www.compellingtruth.org/cremation-Bible.html
    If I lived in a predominantly Jewish community, I would be opposed to it there for testimony’s sake.
    In Nepal, cremation is the standard because it is part of the Hindu religion. I would be opposed to it there because I would not want to blend the name of Christ with the practices of that religion.
    Regarding our culture in America, here’s some thoughts to consider:
    In 2025, the U.S. cremation rate is projected to be around 61.9%, while the burial rate is approximately 33.2%, according to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA). The cremation rate is expected to climb to 82.1% by 2045, reflecting a steady shift away from traditional burials. - Grok
    Cremation surpassed burial in 2015 (47.9% vs. 45.2%) and has grown steadily.
    Why?
    Cost.
    Traditional Burial: The average cost for a funeral with burial, including viewing, casket, embalming, and service fees, ranges from $7,000 to $12,000. This excludes additional expenses like burial plots ($1,000–$4,000) and vaults, which can significantly increase costs.
    Cremation with Viewing/Service: A cremation with a full memorial service and viewing averages $6,280–$7,000.
    However, from 2021 to 2023, burial costs rose by 6.1%, and cremation costs increased by 8.1%, driven by inflation and rising service fees. In other words, the cost of cremation rose faster than the cost of burial. Demand for cremation is growing, likely driving the increase.
    Burial was practiced throughout the Bible times and church history, but nowhere is it mandated in Scripture. Conversely, neither is cremation forbidden.
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    Genesis 23:19 KJV 1900
    And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan.
    Jesus Christ was buried in a tomb.
    Ananias and Sapphira were buried.
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    Acts 5:10 KJV 1900
    Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
    When it comes to subjects like burial vs cremation, as independent Baptists, we must uphold the Baptist principle of individual soul liberty.
    Read Romans 14:12-14
    My preference for myself is to be buried, but since the Bible does not speak authoritatively on the subject, I cannot burden you with my preference. You will give account of yourself and of your decisions to God, not to me. Therefore, if you choose to be cremated even though you believe that God wants you to be buried, you would sin against your conscience and you’ll answer to God for that.
    Read Romans 14:23
    The opposite is also true. If you conclude that the Lord wants you to be cremated, but you choose to be buried because of peer pressure (what will other people think?) that would also be a sin against your conscience.
    Don’t do that.
    You pray about it. You ask God for wisdom as James 1:5 says, and you let Him lead you to a conclusion on the matter.

      • Genesis 23:19KJV1900

      • Acts 5:10KJV1900

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