Therefore, personally, I believe a Christian may do either -- either a traditional burial like that of Jesus or cremation. The believer’s hope, whether we will submit our remains to burial or cremation, is that the body that is buried or incinerated is not precisely the same body, molecule for molecule, which will ultimately dwell with the Lord. There will be some continuity between our present body and that which is resurrected -- but God will be able to do His resurrecting work whether the body decays or is burned. 1 Corinthians 15:35 , 1 Corinthians 15:37 , 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 is the text that guides us in this.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

But someone may ask, ‘How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?’ . . . When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else . . . So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

No one needs to worry that the body will somehow be destroyed to the extent that some (like those cremated) will be unable to participate in the time when God will resurrect the bodies of His people. No. The body that is interred will either slowly decay or burn rapidly, but God will give all of His children a new body, glorious, and incorruptible to dwell with Him forever. Once and for all the negativity of death and separation from God will be nullified.

To His Glory,

Pastor Greg Waybright