DEATH
A. TYPES OF DEATH
1. Spiritual death - Separation from God in time, the penalty for sin; no fellowship with Him; unbeliever only. Gen 2:17 ("dying"); Prov 14:12; Ezek 18:4,20; Rom 5:12; 6:23; 1 Cor 15:22; Eph 2:1; Isa 53:9
2. Physical death - Separation of soul and spirit from body.
Gen 2:17 ("die"); Job 19:25-26; Psa 23:4; Job 11:25; Matt 8:22; Rom 8:38; 2 Cor 5:8; Phil 1:21; Isa 53:9 (watch out for bad Scofield note)
3. Second death - Separation from God for all eternity, perpetuating spiritual death. Lake of Fire. Heb 9:27; Rev 20:14,11-15
4. Positional death - Identified with Christ in His death. Retroactive positional truth. Rejection of Human Good. Rom 6:8,9,1-14; 8:1; Col 2:12,20; 3:3
5. Operational death - Faith without works; faith separated from the production of divine good. James 2:26; Rev 3:1
6. Temporal death - The believer out of fellowship because of unconfessed sin. Luke 15:24,32; Rom 3:2,5,13; 8:6-13; Eph 5:14; 1 Tim 5:6; James 1:15; Rev 3:1; 1 John 3:14
7. Sexual death - Incapable of procreating. Rom 4:17-21; Heb 11:12
8. Reversionistic Death. Believer under influence of evil and under the principle of the sin unto death. James 2:26; 1 Tim 5:6; Eph 5:14; Rev 3:1
B. REASONS WHY A BELIEVER DIES
1. His work is finished –
Luke 23:46—And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
John 19:30— When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
2 Tim 4:7—I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Rev 11:7—And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
2. To glorify God in a special way - John 21:19; Acts 7:51 ff; Phil 1:20-21; Luke 16:19-31; John 11:4,11-15,39,40-45
3. Because of the sin unto death (perpetuated carnality and refusal to confess sin)
1 Cor 3:17; 11:30-31; 1 John 5:16; 1:9; Psa 32.5; 2 Sam 12:13
4. Superimposing his will over God's will for his life -
a. Suicide
b. Violation of some divine law(s)
(1) Gravity (drive off a cliff) Acts 20:7-12
(2) Health (alcohol causing liver disease) (over eating causing heart problems)
(3) Murder (die of capital punishment, perhaps)
C. PRINCIPLES INVOLVED IN DEATH
1. Death in the human race does not terminate the human race
2. The living go on living while the dying are in the process of dying.
3. The living must understand that their loved ones (believers) are under the Lord's care of dying grace while they are dying. Job 5:26; Psa 23:4; 116:15.
4. Therefore, the living must not grieve because they consider the manner of death tragic. 1 Thess 4:13—“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
5. For the believer death is a promotion. Phil 1:21,23; Rev 21:4
6. The time of dying - Job 5:26
a. There is a right time and a wrong time to pick corn.
b. God is omniscient: He knows every detail in one's life
c. God is omnipotent and sovereign: His plan was perfect for that life.
d. When the corn is ripe it is picked.
e. God must decide the manner and time of the believer's death. We have no right to question His plan and His timing. We must only get with His plan and enjoy all the benefits that He has provided in that plan. Job 12:10; 14:5; Psa 31:15;
7. While we cherish the memory of a departed loved one, we cannot stop living because of his departure.
8. Death of a loved one must not hinder God's purpose and plan for those who live. As long as one is still alive, God still has a purpose for his life.
9. Death is a reminder:
a. Of the shortness of time; 100 years when compared to eternity is nothing. James 4:14; Job 14:1-2
b. Of the futility of details. Mark 8:36 ff
c. To be prepared for death. Acts 16:31
d. Of the certainty of divine judgment for unbelief. John 3:18,36; Heb 9:27
D. DYING GRACE
1. Dying Grace removes the fear of death
a. God's presence in death - Psa 23:4
b. Expecting to be face to face with the Lord. 2 Cor 5:8; Rev 21:4; Phil 1:21
c. Expectation of a future resurrection body - Phil 3:21
2. Dying Grace depends on who and what God is - Psa 116:15
3. Dying Grace promises inner peace - Job 5:21
4. Dying Grace gives comfort to those left behind Job 5:25
5. God takes the believer at the right time - Job 5:26; 2 Pet 1:14; Eccl 3:1-2
6. Know Dying Grace for your own good - Job 5:27; 1 Cor 15:55
E. DEATH FOR THE BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST MEANS:
1. No condemnation or judgment - Rom 8:1, 38-39; Heb 9:27
2. Death is the continuation of eternal life -
John 20:31; 11:25; Heb 9:15; 1 John 5:11-12; John 10:28
3. New home - John 14:1-6
4. Anticipate the resurrection -
Job 19:25-26; John 11:25; 1 Cor 15:51-57; 2 Cor 5:1-8; Phil 3:21; 1 John 3:1-2
5. Eternal inheritance - 1 Pet 1:4-5
6. No more death, sorrow, crying, regrets, etc., (too wonderful to be reduced to human language) - Rev 21:4; 2 Cor 12:4
7. Face to face with the Lord -
2 Cor 5:8