There is no sin in cremation, that is for sure. And there is no inability on God’s part to raise a cremated body from the dead. But is cremation, a practice most often seen in Eastern religions, the best for the believer in Christ? 1. It is clarifying to note that burial was God’s preferred method of disposing of the body of Moses. God had the power to cremate Moses’ body on the spot, but rather, this gentle and loving phrase is found: '[God] buried him in the valley in the land of Moab' (Deut. 34:6). This fact alone is enough for me. If God chose this method Himself, then it certainly should be my preference also. 2. Burial underground (or in tombs) was the ordained method for the patriarchs, for God's chosen people, and for New Testament believers. There are numerous references to this, from Abraham's burial in the cave of Machpelah to Lazarus’ entombment in a crypt. The bodies of these saints were kept, as much as possible, in their original state, awaiting the resurrection of the body. 3. Consider the death of Christ Himself. He is our example in everything. Christ was in charge of His death. As He said, “No one has taken [my life] away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative” (John 10:18). Certainly His burial was no accident either. The dramatic events God ordained to take place included the tomb as an essential ingredient. It accentuated His resurrection. 4. Christianity is the most materialistic of the religions in this respect. That is, it gives an importance to the body and to all things tangible that other religions do not… Christianity sees the body as useful, rather than evil. It can do much good, if a believer is controlled by the Spirit. It is so valued by God that the very body we are living in will be raised up one day, made new for eternity. For this reason, we symbolize the importance of the body by burying it with love. 5. The burial of Christians was designed by God as the basis for our understanding of baptism. Though baptism does not save, it does picture our death, burial, and resurrection with Christ (cf. Rom. 6:3-4). Such a powerful picture as baptism is dependent for its meaning on the burial of Christ and of believers. 6. We should bury because the grave is such a potent reminder of the future (bodily) resurrection.
Jim Elliff

FREE Online Serbian Bible. Ezra Chapter 7:1-28.

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Ezra 7

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EZRA 7:1 A posle ovih stvari za carovanja Artakserksa, cara persijskog, Jezdra, sin Seraje sina Azarije, sina Helkije,
EZRA 7:2 Sina Saluma, sina Sadoka, sina Ahitova,
EZRA 7:3 Sina Amarije, sina Azarije, sina Merajota,
EZRA 7:4 Sina Zeraje, sina Ozije, sina Vukija,
EZRA 7:5 Sina Avuzije, sina Finesa, sina Eleazara, sina Arona poglavara sveštenièkog,
EZRA 7:6 Taj Jezdra vrati se iz vavilonske, a beše književnik vešt zakonu Mojsijevom, koji dade Gospod Bog Izrailjev, i car mu dade sve što zaiska, jer ruka Gospoda Boga njegovog beše nad njim,
EZRA 7:7 I vratiše se u Jerusalim neki sinovi Izrailjevi i sveštenici i Leviti i pevaèi i vratari i Netineji sedme godine cara Artakserksa.
EZRA 7:8 A dodje u Jerusalim petog meseca sedme godine tog cara.
EZRA 7:9 Jer prvog dana prvog meseca podje iz vavilonske, a prvog dana petog meseca dodje u Jerusalim, jer dobra ruka Boga njegovog beše nad njim.
EZRA 7:10 Jer Jezdra beše upravio srce svoje da istražuje zakon Gospodnji i da ga izvršuje i da uèi Izrailja uredbama i zakonima.
EZRA 7:11 A ovo je prepis od knjige koju dade car Artakserkso Jezdri svešteniku književniku veštom stvarima što je zapovedio Gospod i uredbama Njegovim u Izrailju:
EZRA 7:12 Artakserkso car nad carevima Jezdri svešteniku, književniku veštom u zakonu Boga nebeskog, svako dobro; tada i tada.
EZRA 7:13 Ja zapovedam: Ko god u mom carstvu od naroda Izrailjevog i od sveštenika njegovih i Levita hoæe od svoje volje da ide s tobom u Jerusalim, nek ide.
EZRA 7:14 Jer se šalješ od cara i od sedam savetnika njegovih da nadgledaš Judeju i Jerusalim po zakonu Boga svog koji ti je u rukama,
EZRA 7:15 I da odneseš srebro i zlato što car i savetnici njegovi dragovoljno prinose Bogu Izrailjevom, kome je stan u Jerusalimu,
EZRA 7:16 I sve srebro i zlato što nakupiš u svojoj zemlji vavilonskoj s dragovoljnim prilozima koje narod i sveštenici dragovoljno prilože na dom Boga svog u Jerusalimu.
EZRA 7:17 Pa odmah za te novce kupi junce i ovnove i jaganjce s darovima njihovim i nalivima njihovim, i prinesi ih na oltaru doma Boga našeg u Jerusalimu.
EZRA 7:18 I šta se tebi i braæi tvojoj svidi uèiniti s ostalim srebrom i zlatom, uèinite po volji Boga svog.
EZRA 7:19 I sudovi koji su ti dati za službu u domu Boga tvog, ostavi pred Bogom u Jerusalimu.
EZRA 7:20 I šta bi još trebalo domu Boga tvog, te bi valjalo dati, podaj iz carske riznice.
EZRA 7:21 I još zapovedam ja, car Artakserkso svim riznièarima s one strane reke, da šta god zaište od vas Jezdra sveštenik, književnik vešti zakonu Boga nebeskog, odmah da se uèini,
EZRA 7:22 Do sto talanata srebra i do sto kora pšenice i do sto vata vina i do sto vata ulja, a soli bez mere,
EZRA 7:23 Šta god zapovedi Bog nebeski, odmah da se uèini za dom Boga nebeskog, da ne dodje gnev na carstvo, na cara i na sinove njegove.
EZRA 7:24 I još vam javljamo da se ni od jednog izmedju sveštenika i Levita i pevaèa i vratara i Netineja i drugih sluga tog doma Božijeg ne sme uzimati danak ni porez ni carina.
EZRA 7:25 A ti, Jezdra, po mudrosti Boga svog koja ti je data postavi upravitelje i sudije da sude svemu narodu što je s one strane reke izmedju svih koji znaju zakon Boga tvog, i ko ne zna, uèite ga.
EZRA 7:26 A ko ne bi izvršavao zakon Boga tvog i zakon carev, odmah da mu se sudi, bilo da se pogubi ili da se progna ili da se oglobi ili da se baci u tamnicu.
EZRA 7:27 Blagosloven da je Gospod Bog otaca naših, koji dade to caru u srce da ukrasi dom Gospodnji u Jerusalimu,
EZRA 7:28 I dade mi, te nadjoh milost pred carem i savetnicima njegovim i pred svim silnim knezovima carevim. I ja se oslobodih, jer ruka Gospoda Boga mog beše nada mnom, i skupih glavare iz Izrailja da idu sa mnom.