Today Is A Good Day To Die

Today is a good day to die.

Warning (Spoiler?). Today’s message is going to be morbid-focused on death.

I’ll confess, I’m a Star Trek fan,

And there is a species in the series that is very focused on warrior virtues.

Any episode where there is a battle, and there seems to be a likelihood of death, inevitably, one of the Klingons will say

“Heghlu’meH QaQ jajvam”

Today is a good day to die.

The heavy metal band Metallica has a song “Now That We’re Dead”

Now that we're dead, my dear

We can be together

Now that we're dead, my dear

We can live, we can live forever

I don’t know if they had a biblical perspective while writing that song, but the sentiment seems to echo some biblical themes. . . . the Bible has a lot to say about death.

The Outline of my message this morning is simple

It’s

C

O

R

P

S

E

Yes. Corpse=dead body.

Jesus said

“The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. Luke 9:22-24

The Cross-

If you were to see a man in Jesus day carrying a cross, you would immediately know he was on his way to die. But

Jesus says

Daily.

We are to live a life that is constantly on the way to the Cross-dying to ourselves, living in Him. As Paul said:

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. Romans 8 12-13

Paul personalizes this commitment:

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 5:20

But Paul doesn’t limit this commitment to himself. He invites all believers to follow in the footsteps of Christ, on the way to the Cross.

(the focus of this message)

Colossians 3:1-17

3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. is a Corps

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

The alcoholic-if a man is an alcoholic he is drawn to drink. A bar is like a magnet to iron. But if that same man dies, he is no longer tempted by drinks-he’s dead. You can walk up to his corpse & offer him the best lager, or brandy, or wine, or sake or vodka. He will not even respond. A dead man is free from temptation.

We are in Christ-covered not just by His blood, but covered by Him.

People these days say “gotcha covered”. Characters in hero movies where firearms are used will say “cover me”. We are covered by Christ-better than bullets, safer than the in any protection.

the C of Corpse

Cross, Covered, a Corpse is Free

Back to Colossians 3

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.

The C of Corpse, Covered, a Corpse, Free. The O

Obedient in sex

1 Corinthians 7:9

The place of sex in the Bible

In all the list of sins in the New Testament, sexual sin is almost always first. Why?

1. The 1st Commandment

Many people think the first commandment is “Thou shalt worship no other gods before Me” or “Thou shalt love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength”. But the first time God gives instructions to humanity is in Genesis chapter 1 (!) the very beginning-before the Fall- “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth”.