SERMON BRIEF
Date Written: February 2003
Date Preached: February 26, 2003
Church: BBC (PM) Wednesday
FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENTS
Series: What the Bible Says…
Title: About Death
Text: Revelation 21:1-4
Introduction:
The fact that there are so many different theories about what happens to our souls when we die… that tells us that as humans we really want to know and understand about this event that ends every life… the event we call DEATH.
Now we have heard many phrases that try to explain or give a name to death and what happens after death, phrases such as “The other life” “life in the next world” “life after death” “life on the other side”
You may ask the question, “Does the Bible speak to the particular issue?” And my answer to that is an emphatic YES! But not only does it speak to this issue… the Bible gives believers Scriptural answers to provide them with hope when we are faced with the death of our loved ones… or even our own death.
First, let’s look at the question, “What is death?” Webster’s dictionary defines death as: The permanent cessation of all vital functions : the end of life.
But let’s look a little closer at this issue from a perspective of God’s Word. In Rom 5:12 (read passage) we find that death is a direct result of the sin in the world.
When Adam and Eve broke God’s command in the Garden, death became their companion and b/c of what they did… death was passed on to all of their descendents.
The died spiritually when this occurred as their relationship with God was severed. They had had a fellowship with God in the Garden, but that was not gone… it was dead.
And the principle of death became a very operative part of their physical lives as they began to DIE physically. The deterioration of the physical body is a direct result of the sin that Adam and Eve brought into the Garden.
In the book of Hebrews we find that death is something that we ALL have to look forward to. Let’s read what it says (read passage).
For the human, death is inescapable. From the day we are born our cells are dying. Eventually our bodies cannot keep up with the rate of dying and then our bodies give way to death.
This death the Bible speaks of is the death that is defined in Webster’s definition… it is that which terminates our life functions. It is the means by which our temporal (earthly) life is ended. We find this in Eccl 9:10 (read passage)
Our bodies do not survive thru death as the Bible tells us that our bodies will return to the dust of the earth from which it came. (read Gen 3:19)
Death is also described in Gen 25:8 when Abraham dies and the Bible says he goes on to where his anscestors have gone… meaning that they all ceased to breathe and with that comes death.
In the book of Philippians 1:23 we read how the Apostle Paul saw death as a departure from this world to the next. (read passage).
Finally in Matt 17 we can read the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus and during that wonderful event, we read about 2 men who had died…(read v. 3-4)
We find that the dead have been recognized by the living. No it was NOT their ‘heavenly nametags’ but it was a spiritual recognition that Peter , James and John had.
Finally in 1 Cor 13 we find Paul describing that what we do not understand here in this world will be made abundantly clear in the next. Like us looking into a dirty, poor quality mirror and seeing a dim and distorted reflection… in heaven that image will be crystal clear to us.
Now that we have looked at what the Bible says about death itself, I want us to look in at what I would call ‘the state of death…’
When we look in the OT and before the resurrection of Christ the dead apparently when to a place called Sheol.
In the story about the rich man and the beggar Lazarus in Luke 16, the rich man suffered in a place of torment, but was able to look across a great chasm and see the beggar Lazarus in paradise with Abraham.
Also we find a reference to Paradise when Jesus was dying on the Cross he told the thief that that day he would be with Him in Paradise.
However, after the resurrection of Jesus Christ… the Bible is very clear about where believers go after this life. In 2 Cor 5:8 (read passage) we find Paul telling the Corinthian church that to be absent from the body (in other words to die… to leave our body) we are present with the Lord.
In the NT we find death viewed as a sleep while the soul immediately goes to be with the Lord. In Revelation, John describes believers who die as being ‘happy’ b/c they are able to ‘rest from their labors’
Paul actually believed that death was a GAIN for the believer. Let’s look at Phil 1:21 (read passage). For Paul, death was nothing more than the final victory the believer had over self and temptation.
Paul also looked forward to the rewards that awaited him in heaven AFTER he was to die. We find him sharing this with Timothy in his 2nd letter to Timothy (read 2 Tim 4:8)
Paul’s attitude here toward death was not a morbid desire he had to die and escape life… but rather it was his knowledge of the joys that awaited him when he got to heaven
Paul knew that what awaited him in heaven far outweighed what he had to experience here in this world and he longed to be in heaven with his Savior and to experience those joys.
Now we have defined death as per the Bible and we have looked at the state of those who die… what should the Christian’s attitude toward death be…
Again, I take you back to what Paul said in Phil 1:23 when he said that he was torn between 2 things. He knew God was using him here on this earth for the Kingdom and that was wonderful feeling knowing that He was serving God in that way.
However, Paul also understood how much MORE wonderful it would be if he were actually IN the presence of God. It was a difficult thing for Paul, but he knew that when God called Him he would be ready.
The Christian must also have the attitude toward those who have died that the resurrection will raise them to new life. Even though we believe their soul/spirit is with Christ, we also know that one day their body will be raised and re-united with their soul and they will be given an NEW body.
Many of the early believers were worried about the believers who died BEFORE the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ… that they would be left out. Paul reassured them that those believers would be the 1st to rise to meet Jesus.
So we know that death is when life in our body ceases and we breathe no more. WE also know that in being dead the believer is transported from the shell we call a body into the very presence of God where it awaits the final day of the resurrection.
Finally tonight we can see that the attitude we are to have is that we are not to fear death, but we are to look forward to seeing our Savior. We are not to dread death, but know that after death our place is with God in heaven.
While physical death is not something we normally look forward to, as believers we must understand that God regards death (and so should we) as the glorious homecoming for His children.
Jesus told his disciples that there was plenty of room for them in heaven as he said, “… in my Father’s house there are many rooms…” Meaning that there is an unlimited supply of room for whoever wants to be part of God’s family… God will turn NO one away.
He is in heaven right now and he is preparing a place for all who have accepted Him as Lord and Savior… and He has promised us that when it is time… He will come again and take us to be in that place He has prepared.
That includes those who are alive when He comes again, but it also includes all who have died before that happens. For the Christian, death is no longer an enemy, it is merely a transition from this incomplete and imperfect life we have here on this earth… to the totally complete and perfect life we shall have in heaven… in that place that Christ has prepared for us.
