The Day Death Dies

Introduction

1 Corinthians 15:50–55 “Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?””

Sometimes we become so focused on living that we forget, we’re dying.

Death is inescapable

James 4:14 “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”

Psalm 90:5–6 “You have swept them away like a flood, they fall asleep; In the morning they are like grass which sprouts anew. In the morning it flourishes and sprouts anew; Toward evening it fades and withers away.”

Ecclesiastes 3:2 “A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.”

Death is not racist, feminist, PNM or UNC, it is indiscriminate

The only sensible thing to do, is get prepared for when it comes.

One of the things that should really empower the believer is knowing that one day, death will die.

The Finality of Death

This means that there are things that come to an END when death comes.

Friendships

Earthly pursuits

Careers

Worries and concerns

Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”

The Fear of Death

Since death is final and unknown. No one knows what it is like to be dead!

Hebrews 2:15 “and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”

It is something that we cannot escape and with all the advancements in technology and science, no one has found the cure for death.

The Foe of Death

Death however, is afraid of one thing; losing it’s power - And there is one person that can make that happen.

Jesus! He stripped death of its power

John 11:25–26 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?””

Hebrews 2:14–15 “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”

1 Corinthians 15:54–55 “But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?””

What brings joy is knowing that Jesus took away the sting of death

How did He do it? Ironically, He had to die

Acts 2:24 ““But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.”

Death is no match for Jesus!

Death cannot hold you forever if you’re in the hands of Jesus

How do I get to a place where death has no power over me?

Ironically, you (like Jesus) need to die

Romans 6:3–5 “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,”

Romans 8:37 “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” - What did I conquer through Christ?

Romans 8:38 “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,”

1 Corinthians 15:26 “The last enemy that will be abolished is death.”

The comfort in this is that “in Christ” I know death is not the end of the story

1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.”

Revelation 14:13 “And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.””