Jesus Christ died physically so we don’t have to have our spirit die, even if we physically die. And if we physically die, he died so we can rise from the dead to live forever. He lives, forever alive from the dead, to save us by grace. The grace of Jesus Christ is released from heaven to those who believe.
The purpose of this grace is to set us free by leading us to quit sinning. Then we find solace in the others who are in this grace too. It involves confessing to each other. It involves admonishing each other. It involves disciplining each other. It involves hoping for each other to quit sinning and continue not sinning, and encouraging each other to go this way and stick to the teachings and belief that leads to freedom from sin. Sometimes it involves dealing quite harshly with those who never quit sinning, perhaps too far into drunkard ways or drug addiction or violence and crime. It might mean handing them solemnly to Satan by shunning them in holy assembly with Holy Spirit present in name of Jesus Christ. Dealing with sin is a lot of what Christ brought into this world. Faith is there throughout, and hope and love. Even the worst case of having to shun a disciple can mean hope for their spirit if they body dies. This is all part of the gospel. It is not a sign on the dotted line and lo you are saved, no. It is a way that leads to salvation through tough lessons and lots of mutual support. Some go too far and lose that hope. Some never start to truly follow and these die in their sins. Some never believe in truth and these die in their sins. Those who do not die in their sins because they do believe and do follow the teachings in Christ Jesus, these are saved but often the hard way.
Christians believe and get baptised, intending to hold to the teachings of the way of Jesus, then often it happens that they get pulled into sinful behaviour by bad characters. People sometimes get targeted precisely because they are trying to quit the ways of the world. The people of the world do not like to see others trying to escape those ways. So they end up in alcoholism or drugs or violence or fraud or money laundering or this or that. It does not mean they were insincere in seeking to follow the way of Christ. But now they might get so deeply engrossed in sinful behaviour that no amount of admonition or discipline helps them get out of it. In some cases the only answer is to get punished by the devil and die. This way at least their spirit is saved. Christ is still the answer for them but as judge and presider over their judgment. They still die in Christ. They believed. They were baptised. They followed the teachings. They tried to escape the ways of bad behaviour, but the odds were too much against them and they fell, but Christ can help save their spirit by providing for mortal punishment of their body which saves their spirit. Try to turn them from the world ways if they are trapped, but be careful in case you are pulled in as well. Not everyone is equipped to help. Even those equipped might fail in some cases. Look how probation officers and social workers sometimes fail. Evil is strong.
How do we know all this? How can we be sure? (John chapter 8.) The miracles of Jesus Christ are a manifestation of the testimony of the Father. Now the Holy Spirit testifies too. The gospels are an account of the testimonies of apostles and other disciples. There are of course others now that Jesus is in heaven and has access with the Father. I am not sure Moses and Elijah were witnesses long term in the sane way as the apostles who spent years living and walking and working with Jesus daily. John saw him die on the cross, so did Mary. They all saw him alive from the dead. Yes, it is human testimony as is Jesus‘ and John the Baptist’s too. But it is not a testimony of humans only pleasing themselves but truthful because it is to please the Father.
