Is cremation a Biblical alternative to burial?

Yes, there is no direct command regarding burial or prohibition of cremation for a Christian.  What we have are examples throughout the scriptures on burial.  First, is it a sin again God that we are cremated, I say the answer is NO.  The word buried is in the Bible 112 times in 110 verses. Burial is the pattern I see used in the Scriptures. Therefore, the following are my views of this discussion about cremation vs. burial. 

Burial is an example Jesus gave us - Mat 27:59-60 - Joseph took the body (Jesus), wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, {60} and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away -

Burial that we were taken from dust and to dust we will return - Gen 3:19 - By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."

Burial proclaims the Gospel - 1 Cor 15:3-5 - For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.

Burial Symbolizes the Hope of Resurrection - 1 Cor 15:42-44 -  So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; {43} it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; {44} it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

Burial is a process of grief relief and say our good byes to the dead / family - John 11:32-35 -  When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." {33} When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. {34} "Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied. {35} Jesus wept.

Buried Ananias - Acts 5:6 - Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

Buried Sapphira - Acts 5:10 - At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

Buried Stephen - Acts 8:2 - Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.

Buried David - Acts 2:29 - Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

Buried John the Baptist - Mat 14:12 - John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

 

Buried foreigners - Mat 27:7 - So they decided to use the money to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners.

Buried my family Members - (Exo 20:12 NIV)  "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”  How do we honor our parents and grandparents after they did, go out to the cemetery of love where they are and put flowers on the graves and think about them.  It keeps their memory alive.