Death
What is the purpose of death in the Christian life? What happens to our bodies and souls when we
die?
A. Why Do Christians Die?
1. Death Is Not a Punishment for Christians
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
(Rom. 8:1 NAS)
2. Death Is the Final Outcome of Living in a Fallen World
The last enemy that will be abolished is death (1 Cor. 15:26 NAS)
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?" (1 Cor. 15:54-55 NAS)
3. God Uses the Experience of Death to Complete Our Sanctification
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who
love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Rom. 8:28 NAS)
For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom
He receives." (Heb. 12:6 NAS)
For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He
disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the
moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been
trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness (Heb. 12:10-
11 NAS)
Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He
suffered. (Heb. 5:8 NAS)
For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all
things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation
through sufferings (Heb. 2:10 NAS)
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some
of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten
days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Rev. 2:10 NAS)
that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of
His sufferings, being conformed (summorphizo) to His death; in order that I may
attain to the resurrection from the dead (Phil. 3:10-11 NAS)
according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I shall not be put to shame
in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ shall even now, as always, be
exalted in my body, whether by life or by death (Phil. 1:20 NAS)
and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all
their lives. (Heb. 2:15 NAS)
4. Our Experience of Death Completes Our Union with Christ
and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we
suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him (Rom. 8:17 NAS)
but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so
that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation (1 Pet.
4:13 NAS)
that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of
His sufferings, being conformed (adapt or conform oneself to new or different
conditions) to His death (Phil. 3:10 NAS)
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set
before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the
right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:2 NAS)
For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you,
leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps (1 Pet. 2:21 NAS)
5. Our Obedience to God Is More Important Than Preserving Our Own Lives
Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For
I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of
the Lord Jesus." (Acts 21:13 NAS)
"If then I am a wrongdoer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I do
not refuse to die; but if none of those things is true of which these men accuse
me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar." (Acts 25:11 NAS)
"But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, in order that I
may finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to
testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24 NAS)
Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as if insane) I more so; in far more labors, in
far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of
death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was
beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and
a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers
from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from
the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea,
dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many
sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure
(2 Cor. 11:23-27 NAS)
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my
departure has come. (2 Tim. 4:6 NAS)
Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not
accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection;
(Heb. 11:35 NAS)
'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast
some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation
ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Rev. 2:10
NAS)
"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the
word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death. (Rev.
12:11 NAS)
B. How Should We Think of Our Own Death and the Death of Others?
1. Our Own Death
we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and
to be at home with the Lord. (2 Cor. 5:8 NAS)
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh,
this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am
hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with
Christ, for that is very much better; (Phil. 1:21-23 NAS)
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, "that they may rest from their
labors, for their deeds follow with them." (Rev. 14:13 NAS)
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor
things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any
other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is
in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:38-39 NAS)
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for
Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. (Ps. 23:4 NAS)
and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all
their lives. (Heb. 2:15 NAS)
2. The Death of Christian Friends and Relatives
And some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.
(Acts 8:2 NAS)
and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing
at the right hand of God." (Acts 7:56 NAS)
And they went on stoning Stephen as he called upon the Lord and said, "Lord
Jesus, receive my spirit!" (Acts 7:59 NAS)
Jesus wept. (Jn. 11:35 NAS)
And they began to weep aloud and embraced Paul, and repeatedly kissed him,
grieving especially over the word which he had spoken, that they should see his
face no more. And they were accompanying him to the ship. (Acts 20:37-21:1
NAS)
For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and
not on him only but also on me, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. (Phil.
2:27 NAS)
who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together
with Him? (1 Thess. 5:10 NAS)
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, "that they may rest from their
labors, for their deeds follow with them." (Rev. 14:13 NAS)
Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His godly ones. (Ps. 116:15 NAS)
So, David arose from the ground, washed, anointed himself, and changed his
clothes; and he came into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he came
to his own house, and when he requested, they set food before him and he ate.
(2 Sam. 12:20 NAS)
Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground
and worshiped. (Job 1:20 NAS)
3. The Death of Unbelievers
I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience bearing me witness
in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I
could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my
brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, (Rom. 9:1-3 NAS)
"Your beauty, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How have the mighty fallen!
(2 Sam. 1:19 NAS)
C. What Happens When People Die?
1. The Souls of Believers Go Immediately into God’s Presence
a. The Bible Does Not Teach the Doctrine of Purgatory
b. The Bible Does Not Teach the Doctrine of “Soul Sleep.”
c. Did Old Testament Believers Enter Immediately into God’s Presence?
d. Should We Pray for the Dead?
2. The Souls of Unbelievers Go Immediately to Eternal Punishment
