Who defines the afterlife?

In the most recent census of the UK in 2001 76.8% of the population would define themselves as religious, predominantly Christian. (71.6%) [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=293]

I have no doubt that those who group themselves as 'Christians' will have a huge difference of opinion of what being a Christian really means. From bible believing regular church goers to 'cultural Christians' something the renowned atheist Richard Dawkins claims to be. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7136682.stm] However I think its fair to say that most of these people would believe in some kind of afterlife.

The idea of God and an afterlife is inextricable linked. If we know that there can only be one true idea of God rather than everyones own different ideas somehow all being correct then likewise there can only be one afterlife. If there is a real place where people go at death then it cannot be defined from our own imaginations or ideas just as God cannot be. There must be one true definition of an afterlife. One true place people people go at death.

Where do we go to find out about this afterlife? We can listen to the ideas and imaginations of each person – but is this a reliable source? Truth – whether God exists or not, whether there is an afterlife or not is not revealed by a vote. There can only be one truth.

As a Christian I believe in the Bible as my anchor for truth in which we read :

“For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God” Romans 3v23
“For the wages of sin is death...” Romans 6v23a
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for Gods wrath remains on him” John 3v36

All have sinned and the wages, our payment – what our sins deserves, is death. Biblical Christianity is not a DIY religion. If all have sinned and the wages of this sin is death then there is no amount of 'Good deeds' we can do to escape this eternal death. This 'death' is linked to being under Gods wrath for our sin.

If God is love how can he be angry with us?
Why or how does some simple belief in his son take away this anger?
What does it mean to 'believe' in Gods son?

These are the questions we'll be looking at in the days to come – post comments if you want to add more to the list.