SS - What is Death
Notes
Transcript
Death
Ordo Solutis
last week sanctification & perseverance
God is doing a work in you to make you look more like Jesus
God who starts a good work in you will bring it to completion
Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
For the believer, sanctification ends at death.
Death is not “natural”
God did not make mankind to die, or get sick, or experience suffering
Why do Christians die?
Death is not a punishment for Christians
Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
All wrath & condemnation for sin is paid for by Christ. God only has favor for us now
However, we don’t experience all the benefits of salvation at once
We still:
sin, get sick, suffer loss, experience evil & injustice, and die
2. Death is the final outcome of living in a fallen world
We do not receive all the benefits of salvation immediately
Similarly, he has not removed all the evil from the world immediately
Christ has defeated death but death is the last enemy to be destroyed
1 Corinthians 15:25–26 “For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”
3. God uses our death to complete our sanctification
We still suffer
Sometimes suffering is a result of living in a fallen world
Some of what we may suffer is discipline, NOT PUNISHMENT
Heb 12 - The lord disciplines the one he loves… that we may share his holiness
Aging, weakness, sometimes sickness
Our sanctification would be furthered
Paul thought about the way Jesus died
Philippians 3:10 “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,”
Wanted to trust and obey god even facing death
Philippians 1:20 “as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.”
Obedience to God is more important than life itself
As a Christian, preserving life & comfort is not our highest goal
Acts 20:24 “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
Acts 21:13 “Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.””
Because of this paul would
Go back into the city after being stoned and left for dead
Beaten many times
Sufferings & dangers
Peter & apostles courage facing death
Acts 5:29 “But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”
Revelation 12:11 “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”
We can face martyrdom & remember that
How should we view death
Our death
The bible encourages you not to view death with fear
Hebrews 2:14–15 “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”
2 Corinthians 5:8 “Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
Philippians 1:21 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Philippians 1:23 “I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.”
Death doesn’t separate us from God
Romans 8:38–39 “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
When Christians die, we feel the sorrow and grief
Acts 8:2 “Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.”
John 11:35 “Jesus wept.” (Lazarus death)
Our grief is not without hope
1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.”
When christians die we ought to worship
Davids child dies and he worships
2 Samuel 12:20 “Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate.”
Jobs Children die
Job 1:20–21 “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.””
When non-Christians die
There is not hope like with a believer
Romans 9:2 “that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.” (fellow jews who rejected Christ)
However - We do not know someones heart and the spiritual state of their soul. They could have come to genuine repentance & faith
When an unbeliever dies, we ought not give indication to others that they’re in heaven
It is appropriate to speak with thankfulness about the good qualities in their life
David did about king saul - 2 sam 1 19-15
What happens when we die?
Temporary cessation of bodily life and seperation of the soul from body
2 Corinthians 5:8 “Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
Philippians 1:23 “I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.”
Luke 23:43 “And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.””
We continue to be ourselves
Luke 23:43 “And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.””
Not reincarnation
Purgatory - not taught in scriptures
Soul sleep - not biblical
sleep is used to show death is temorary
We should not pray for the dead
Their souls go immediately to eternal punishment, but their bodies remain the ground until Christ’s return, when they will join sould for final day of judgement
Rich man & Lazarus
Luke 16:24–26 “And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’”
Hebrews 9:27 “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,”
The bible does not encourage us to think people have a second chance
Quite the opposite
rich man & lazarus
Luke 16:24–26 “And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’”
Annihilationsim - cease to exist
Unbelievers bodies will be raisedon the final day of judgement
Matthew 25:31–33 ““When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.”
John 5:28–29 “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”
Glorification
When Christ returns it will be the final step in the application of redemption
Romans 8:23–24 “And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?”
Perfect, glorified bodies will be reunited with souls
As christ was raised so we will be
1 Corinthians 15:22–23 “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.”
Our new bodies
perfect
will not wear out
will not decay
no disease or sickness
no aging
