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“Hell” Miscellaneous Verses, Luke 16:19-31

“The Last Four Things”

A Sermon Series

“Hell”

Miscellaneous Verses, Luke 16:19-31

Introduction

Defining Hell

Let’s begin our study at the beginning, in the Garden of Eden. What was the purpose of creation? Humanity was created to be in perfect relationship with God. “Human beings were designed to live eternally with God.”[1] Sin entered the created order which caused a complete corruption – that which was perfect, now has become broken and damaged. The only way to correct that is to get rid of sin. After the great white thrown judgement there will be a great separation of those who want to be with God – and those who have chosen not to have a relationship with Him.

Man’s Purpose Is To Have a Relationship With God.

There are several images that the Bible uses to depict the future state of those who do not place their faith in Jesu Matt. 25:41 says, “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” That state is described in Matthew 8:12 “thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” It will be permanent, torment, and a type of punishment. But the most devastating of all is that it will be an eternal separation from God. It is an intense anguish because there is an absence of God’s presence there.

Jesus taught that one should take drastic measures to make sure that you don’t end up in hell. “Mark 9:43-48 “And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’”

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Drew are you trying to scare people into follow Jesus? I don’t know of a better motive! Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (of knowledge, of understanding).” We should tremble before the Lord God. As the book of Hebrews 10:31 says: “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. . . 12:29 “For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 11:7 “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household.”

Prayer: Lord, your word tells us of a literal and eternal place called hell. It is a place of torment and anguish it is a place reserved for those who have chosen not to follow you. This morning give us a renewed passion for the lost and help us to understand that this is their ultimate destination without a relationship with you.

The Reality of Our Purpose (vv. 19-21)

“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.”

During this time it was commonly believed that if God was pleased with you and your life that he would bless your life in that you were wealthy, or healthy. So whenever a person was born with a disability, or a family was poor, or disaster struck a person it was believed that they were being punished for something.

This man’s richness is described in two ways, his dress and his diet. Purple is a symbolic color of royalty and linen was very expensive. Every day of this man’s life he lived enjoying himself. No worries, no needs – his only concern was having to look at a beggar outside of his gate.

“And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus,” – literally “had been cast.” This poor man covered in sours is thrown down in front of this man’s home, everyday. While this is a parable, Jesus chooses to call the beggar “Lazarus” which means “He (whom) God has helped.

The poor man longed to eat anything that fell from the rich man’s table. Bread crumbs, just a little piece of meat left on a bone, anything would have made him happy. Dogs during this day were seen as disgusting scavengers, dirty (or unclean), and this was the lowest of the low – for a dog to come by and lick his ulcers and wounds. This poor man’s life was miserable.

The reason this rich man eventually goes to hell is not so much because he did not help the poor man, but because he did not see it that he had no concern for what God desired to do through his life. He thought his life, his rich’s were all for him to enjoy to do with as he pleased.

This man went to hell because he missed having a relationship with God that would have enabled him to see why he was on the planet to begin with. Our purpose in this life is to have a growing relationship with God.

The Reality Of Missing that Purpose (vv. 22-25)

“The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 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.’ 25 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.”

While there are rich and poor, young and old, popular and unpopular, smart and not so smart, – everybody dies. Hebrews 9:27 “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”

The fact that the poor man enters into heaven is not because he simply was poor and had a miserable life. If that was all that was required to go to heaven then why did Jesus have to die on a cross. It would be simple enough just to give everything away, and be miserable.

The poor man at some point in his life, trusted and loved God. But, why would anyone want to trust a God who leaves you to beg, and desire scraps from others tables, and allow you to have sours, and for dogs to lick you like some kind of lucky bone dog treat?

This poor man who lived everyday with sours, and was thrown aside to beg every day, this man has a name, Lazarus – but the rich man who had everything his heart ever desired, and stepped over the poor and lame at his gate – has no name.

God knew the poor man – and the poor man knew God. The poor man knew that this life is but a short period of time that there would be an eternity where he would live with his God. James 4:14 “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons vin your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

A careful study of the scriptural uses of the words “life” and “death” will show that the root ideas are, respectively, union and separation. Physical life is union of the spirit with the body. Spiritual life is the union of the spirit with God. And everlasting life is this life consummated and perfected until all eternity.

Similarly, physical death is the separation of the spirit from the body. Spiritual death is the separation of the spirit from God. And eternal death is the perpetuation of this state. And for all who have not experienced the second birth, the second death becomes inevitable, for he who is only born once dies twice. But, he who is born again dies only once.

In Mark 9:43-48, our Lord speaks of “the fire that shall never be quenched”—“where the worm does not and the fire is not quenched.” He was using the common Jewish metaphors for Gehenna, taken from the perpetual fire that burned in the Valley of Hinnom, to destroy the refuse, and the worms that fed upon the unburied corpses that were cast there, It was used by the city of Jerusalem as a dumping ground. The city’s inhabitants would put anything they wanted to burn into this valley, and the fires burned continuously.

This teaching gives us several descriptions of hell, I says “In hell, where he was in torment,” Hell is a place of torment. The rich man goes on to says, “I am in agony in this fire” Hell is a place of agony.

‘Child, remember – this will be one of the worst torments that will be inflicted upon a person in hell. They will constantly remember how God showed them grace by bringing people across their path, or sermons they may have heard, or resources that were put in their hands – but like the rich man stepping over the poor man they will remember. They will remember all the sin, all the times when they could have given Christ their lives but chose not to. “Child remember.”

Without Christ people go to hell to live for eternity in torment and they will remember “in their lifetime” all the opportunities to receive Christ’s gift of forgiveness and to have eternal life – but rejected it.

The Reality of A Loving Permanent Plan (vv. 26-31)

“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.’ 27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

It says that a great chasm “has been fixed.” We learn from this that once a person finds themselves in hell, there is no return, no relief, no escape and no way to warn others who are still alive. A person is fixed in that situation for all of eternity.

Abraham’s response to the rich man’s request for someone to go and tell his brothers is that someone already has and is continuing to do so right this very moment. The verb is given in the historical present – “‘They have Moses and the Prophets.” They have the Bible, they have testimonies by godly men who tell them about God.

The rich man argues that this is not enough. Moses and the Prophets is a reference to the Old Testament. The man is pleading for someone from the dead to go and tell them about hell. The Bible tells us that God did just that – Jesus went into death and came back to tell us of a plan so that we don’t have to be in hell forever.

We who have broken God’s laws, we who are liars, thieves, adulterers, blasphemers, coveters, rapists and murderers can escape the flames of hell through Christ’s death on the cross – he died in our place.

The rich man says, it someone from the dead tells them “they will repent” To repent means to turn from your sin, as though you are driving down a road and you turn 180 degrees around and drive in the opposite direction. It is a willingness to turn away from sin. And it is a turning toward God.

Unbelief and the refusal to repent are not the results of lack of evidence (or lack of a sign) but due to a stony heart. God has given us a conscience that has God’s law written upon it, He has given us nature around us, He has given us the Bible, and He has sent His Son Jesus who rose from dead. There is the transformed life of Christians (like the apostle Paul).

For those who refuse to accept God’s gift of forgiveness and refuse to repent of their sin – hell is their destination. While it is true that God is love (John 4:8), he is also just (Nehemiah 9:32, 33; 2 Thessalonians 1:6) and eternal (Psalm 90:2; 1 Timothy 1:17). God will punish the evil doer and this punishment will be eternal.

Hell in other passages of Scripture is described as “shame and everlasting punishment” (Daniel 12:2), “Everlasting punishment” (Matthew 25:46), “Weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 24:51), “Fire unquenchable” (Luke 3;17), “”indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish” (Romans 2:8,9), “Everlasting fire. . . the blackness of darkness forever” (Jude 7, 13).

Abraham replies back to the rich man, “If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.” A person has to make a choice to give up their sin and follow God, receive his free gift of salvation or continue to live their live the way they see fit and live unconvinced of God’s grace.

This morning if you are lost, or have never given your life to Christ then your ultimate destination is more horrible than you could ever imagine. You can trust God’s Word, which gives clear directions as how to get to heaven.

“We should observe that God does not send anyone to hell. He desires that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9). God created humans to have fellowship with him and provided the means by which they can have that fellowship. It is human’s choice to experience the agony of hell. His or her own sin sends them there, or his or her rejection of the benefits of Christ’s death prevents escape.

C. C. Lewis said, “sin is the human being saying to God throughout his life, “Go away and leave me alone.” Hell is God’s finally saying to the human,” You may have your wish.”

Your response to God’s Word today is 1) I would like to receive God’s grace and be forgiven of my sin, I want to have a relationship with God. Or 2) “go away God, leave me alone.” God gives you the dignity and freedom as a created being to choose.

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[1] Millard Erickson, Christian Theology, Second Edition (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Baker Academic, 2007) 1247.

“The Judgement of God” Miscellaneous Verses, Revelation 20:11-15

Drew Boswell Ministries

“The Judgement of God” Miscellaneous Verses, Revelation 20:11-15

00:00 / 00:42:51

“The Judgement of God” Miscellaneous Verses, Revelation 20:11-15

“The Last Four Things”

A Sermon Series

“The Judgement of God”

Miscellaneous Verses, Revelation 20:11-15

Introduction

(Review from “Death”) – There is a time while we are physically alive (we are born spiritually dead, the soul separated from God), that we can be made spiritually alive (to be born again) or remain spiritually dead, and in that state (while physically we perish) we transition on to eternal life (to be connected to God forever), or we transition to eternal death, the second death, where we remain apart from God forever. While we are alive physically we can choose spiritual life (eternal life) or remain in spiritual death, and upon our physical death we remain in that state for eternity (the second death).

Since the beginning of time, one of Satan’s lies, which he continues to tell to this day, is that there is no consequence for how you choose to live your life. Satan’s lie to Eve was, “you surely will not die!” (Genesis 3:4). His lie to us “you surely won’t have to have to stand before God and given an account of your actions.” Hebrews 9:27 says, “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, . . .”

Defining Judgment Day

When Jesus returns it will begin a series of events (which theologians call eschatology) especially the great final judgement.[1] “The final judgement is not intended to ascertain our spiritual condition or status, for that is already known to God. Rather, it will manifest to make our status public.”[2]

It will be Jesus who does the judging, because the Father has delegated this to the Son (John 5:22). No one is better qualified than Jesus for this task. “Having done all that could be done to save men, He is the One whom those who rejected Him must now face as their judge.”[3] And to some degree, “believers will sit on thrones and judge the world (1 Cor. 6:2-3; Rev. 3:21; 20:4).”[4]

All humans will be judged (Matt. 25:32; 2 Cor. 5:10; Heb. 9:27). Paul says in Romans 14:10, “For we will all stand before God’s judgement seat” In his sermon in Athens Paul says, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but know he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead” Acts 17:30-31.

The Romans 14 passage goes on to say, “. . .So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.” So even while Christians have had their sins forgiven, everyone will have to give an account of how he lived his life.

We will stand before God in our resurrected bodies, “equipped for eternity.” Both saved and unsaved will receive their resurrection bodies, which is given to them for eternity.

For the believer, our sins are pardoned and forgiven but our work will be evaluated, “each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15).[5] So, for the believer, this will be a time a reward for the faithfully lived Christian’s life. There also seems to be degrees of reward, depending on one’s faithfulness.

So for the Christian there should be no fear of God’s judgement. Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” There is no punishment (Jesus already took care of that on the cross), only reward for a life lived for Him. Our judgement will be the evaluation of our life lived for Him.

The basis of the judgement will be God’s Word. John 12:48 “The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.” Once God’s judgement has been given, it is permanent. The righteous and the unrighteous will be sent in different directions to their final places Matthew 25:46 “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

There will also be no grumbling or complaining or anyone saying that God is not just; once our lives are laid out in God’s righteous judgement it will be abundantly clear. 1 Peter 1:17 says that God “judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, . . .” No one will complain about how God has not treated them fairly, or has not given grace, or opportunities to respond to God’s Word.[6]

“There will be no debate over the guilt or innocence. There will be a prosecutor, but no defender; an accuser, but no advocate. There will be an indictment, but no defense mounted by the accused; the convincing evidence will be presented with no rebuttal or cross-examination. There will be an utterly unsympathetic Judge and no jury, and there will be no appeal of the sentence He pronounces. The guilty will be punished eternally with no possibility of parole in a prison which there is no escape.”[7]

This day of judgement will come suddenly, unexpectedly, and with disastrous consequences for the unprepared – the gospels describe it like a thief in the night. There won’t be time to prepare, and the opportunity to repent won’t be there once this day

The Great White Thrown Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15 )

“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

This is what is often referred to as the Great White Throne Judgement. John’s vision of the GWTJ follows those of the Millennium (20:1-10), and the Second Coming (19:11-21), and immediately precedes that of the new heaven and the new earth (21:1ff.).

The universe as we know it has come to an end; the end of history has arrived. God’s power and the importance of the throne is seen by its size “great” and everything flees because of God’s righteousness and holiness, “From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.” The fallen world – the old heaven and the old earth—have no place, they are a thing of the past. It describes the “uncreation” of the universe. The reverse of creation takes place – and then there will be something new.[8]

As this is happening it will pass away with “a roar,” and this is word that sounds like what it means. It describes the loud, whistling, cracking, rushing sound that will result when the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up – down to the basic building blocks of matter – all of creation is destroyed. The scientific principle[9] that states that matter can neither be created or destroyed will no longer be in effect. All that was created (except humanity) is destroyed; there is a void, nothingness, and we will stand between the previous creation and the new creation that is to come.

Then all of the dead (no one at this point is “living”) are called to appear before this great throne to face judgement. This judgement is for everyone, “great and small.” No one is forgotten. For the believer, the lady who taught a first grade Sunday School class for twenty years, that no one remembers from generations ago – she will be remembered. The man who took a life, the murder never solved on this side of eternity – his brutality will be remembered. No one is so big to avoid judgement; no one is so small to be forgotten.

(v. 13) John says that the sea gave up its dead, and Hades and Death gave up their dead – showing that everyone in every place that has ever died, now appear before this great throne.

The basis of each person’s judgement are “books.” John tells us “the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.” So the books are accounts of each person’s life.

(v. 12b) “another book was opened, which is the book of life.” (v. 15) “if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”[10] This phrase “connotes the careful search of the records to be sure that no mistake is made.”[11] Everyone’s name who have faith in God is found in this book. Moses knew his name was in God’s book, In Exodus 32 when the Israelites had sinned against God by making the golden calf said, “But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.” So every person of faith has their name recorded there.

Grace and works are in tension at judgement. It is only by God’s grace that one’s name is added to the Lamb’s book of life. But there is also works recorded in the other books – our actions in this life do matter. Grace and works go hand-in-hand. When our lives are read, the sin is blotted out, remembered no more, and our works remain (which are tested “as though by fire.”) Our works “is (are) the test as the fruit of the tree.”[12] “When the time of eternal judgement comes, men will stand in two classes: redeemed and unredeemed.”[13] And all will have works – or deeds that they have done.

(v. 14) “Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.” Jesus has defeated these enemies of creation and finally their reigns are done. Death will not be a part of eternal life. Matthew describes the place of punishment as a “fiery furnace,” a place of “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:42, 50). John also makes it clear that the wicked suffer torment forever; they will never enjoy rest (Rev. 14:9-11). Mathew confirms this same idea for the righteous will enjoy “eternal life” while the wicked will suffer “eternal punishment” (Matt. 25:46).

Genesis describes how paradise was lost, and how the cunning and power of the devil brought sin into the world. The final judgement shows how paradise will be restored, and how the evil one will be bound and hurled into the lake of fire. Genesis pictures man fleeing away from God and hiding himself from God’s presence. Revelation shows us the close relationship between God and those who have been redeemed, “Behold, the tablernacle of God is with men, and he shall tabernacle with them.” Genesis show how man was kicked out of the garden, and angels with fiery swords prevented them from having access to the tree of life. Revelation restores to man access to eternal life, Revelation 22:14 “that they may have the right to come to the tree of life.”[14]

Moral Applications: The Final Judgement . . .

Satisfies our inward desire for justice.[15] God keep accurate records, and the great judgement reveals that God is fair, and just, and wrongs will be punished. No one gets away with injustice, there will be a day of judgement. Revelation 20:12 discusses books being opened, “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.”

Our forgiveness and mercy play a part in God’s judgement against us. Matthew 7:10 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.”

Matthew 18:32-35 is Jesus’ parable of the unmerciful servant, “Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Gives us a motive and incentive for righteous living. When we understand that being faithful and doing good works don’t earn us salvation, but they are a means for earning greater eternal rewards. Matthew 6:20 “. . . lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” The books are still being written. Until Jesus returns or you die, you have an opportunity to change what judgement day looks like for you.

Encourages us to remain faithful in our sharing of the gospel. While a person is still physically alive, there is still hope that they will give their lives to the Lord and seek His grace – that they may receive the gospel. There is no softening the phrase, “if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” Let us be faithful to keep as many from this awful destiny as possible because we have shared the hope of salvation with them.

Bellevue Baptist Church exists to make disciples of Jesus Christ.

The beginning of every person’s discipleship process is to give their lives to Jesus, to have their names added to the Lamb’s book of life.

The Bible only gives us two states of being after death; one of blessedness in the presence of the Lord, the other of eternal punishment. We are either laying up treasures for ourselves in heaven, or building up the wrath of God against us.

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[1] See Matthew 25:31-46.

[2] Millard Erickson, Christian Theology, Second Edition (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Baker Academic, 2007) 1207.

[3] Lehman Strauss, The Book of Revelation (Neptune, New Jersey; Loizeaux Brothers1979) 341.

[4] Erickson, 1208.

[5] See also 2 Corinthians 5:10

[6] See also Psalm 9:7-8; Romans 2:5

[7] John MacArthur, The John MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Revelation 12-22 (Chicago, Illinois; Moody Press, 2000) 247.

[8] See also 2 Peter 3:10-13.

[9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservation_of_mass

[10] See also Rev. 3:5; 13:8; 17:8

[11] John F. Walvoord, The Revelation of Jesus Christ (Chicago, Illinois; Moody Press, 1966) 309.

[12] Archibald Thomas Robertson, Word Pictures In The New Testament, Volume VI (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1933) 464. See also Matt. 7:16, 20; 10:32f.; 25:31-46; John 15:6; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Rom. 2:10; Rev. 2:23; 2012; 22:12.

[13] Ray Summers, Worthy is the Lamb, An Interpretation of Revelation (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1951) 209.

[14] W. Hendrikson, More Than Conquerors, An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Baker Book House, 1978) 237.

[15] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing, 1994) 1147.

“The Sting of Death” 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

Drew Boswell Ministries

“The Sting of Death” 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

00:00 / 00:39:12

“The Sting of Death” 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

“The Last Four Things”

A Sermon Series

“The Sting of Death”

1 Corinthians 15:50-58

Introduction

This four-week series helps us understand what the Bible says about the end of life and what follows after death. The congregation will finish the series confident that God is just and has good plans for those who love him.

Sarah Winchester’s husband had acquired a fortune by manufacturing and selling rifles. After he died of influenza in 1918, she moved to San Jose, California. Because of her grief and her long time interest in spiritism, Sarah sought out a medium to contact her dead husband. The medium told her, “As long as you keep building your home, you will never face death.”

Sarah believed the spiritist, so she bought an unfinished 17-room mansion and started to expand it. The project continued until she died at the age of 85. It cost 5 million dollars at a time when workmen earned 50 cents a day. The mansion had 150 rooms, 13 bathrooms, 2,000 doors, 47 fireplaces, and 10,000 windows. And Mrs. Winchester left enough materials so that they could have continued building for another 80 years.

Today that house stands as more than a tourist attraction. It is a silent witness to the dread of death that holds millions of people in bondage (Heb. 2:15).

Hebrews 2:15 “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, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”

Death Defined

We begin our study at the beginning of creation, man was originally designed to live forever, but because of Adam and Eve’s sin of rebellion they were cursed by God, Genesis 3:22-23 “Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” 23 therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken.” Adam lived 930 years but eventually died. Death became apart of every person’s life because we all inherit a sin nature from Adam – and we cannot take of the tree of life.

Death is God’s grace so that we don’t have to live in a fallen state forever.

Death is inescapable, so in wisdom we face it as a reality. For most people death comes slowly, it the end of a process of decay or our mortal bodies. We are born, grow up, reach a physical peak, then we begin a downward progression. Out strength fades until the body fails. For some it comes quickly, and unexpectedly.

Jesus says in Matthew 10:28 (Luke 12:4-5), “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” In our being we have a physical body, and a soul. Ecclesiastes 12:7 “and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” So at death there is a separation of the physical body, and the spirit. James tells us that the body separate from the spirit is death (James 2:26). So death is not the end of one’s existence, but a transition from one state of existence to another.

“In addition to physical death, Scripture speaks of spiritual and eternal death. Physical death is the separation of the soul from the body; spiritual death is the separation of the person from God; eternal death is the finalizing of that state of separation – one is lost for all eternity in his or her sinful condition.”[1] Both happened to Adam and Eve when they partook of the forbidden fruit; physical death hundreds of years later, spiritual death happened immediately after they sinned. From that point on, something had to die in order to cover their sin and shame.

Ephesians 2:1-2 tells us that apart from the work of the Holy Spirit in drawing us unto salvation, we are spiritually dead “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—” Apart from a relationship with Jesus, you are spiritually dead (in your trespasses and sins).

The eventual eternal death is what Revelation 21:8 calls “the second death.” “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

There is a time while we are physically alive, that we can be made spiritually alive or remain spiritually dead, and in that state (while physically we perish) we transition on to eternal life (to be with God forever), or we transition to eternal death, the second death, where we remain apart from God forever. While we are alive physically we can choose spiritual life or remain in spiritual death, and upon our physical death we remain in that state for eternity.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” All have sinned and fall short of God’s requirements to enter His presence and to live with Him in eternity. But in His grace He offers as a gift, eternal life through faith in His Sin Jesus. We earn death (eternal spiritual separation from God) because of our sin – God offers salvation through faith, by His grace. But again, the ability to choose eternal life is limited to this life, while we are alive.

For the unbeliever death is a curse, a penalty, an enemy.[2] Because it is what locks them into their state of rebellion and sin forever. That person is cut off from God not only in this life (the curse of sin), but also in the next (the curse of death). For the believer death still happens but the curse of death is gone. Jesus became the curse for us by dying on the cross (Gal. 3:13). When the believer transitions into eternal life, they are free from the curse of sin and death; they go to be with their heavenly Father.

In chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians, after a lengthy discussion about Christ’s resurrection he turns his argument to praise and celebration. Once we understand that death has no hold on us, we sing this victory song with Paul.

1 Corinthians 15:50-58

I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

In this passage Paul is discussing Jesus’ return, and the resurrection of the dead. But it is also the final end for death. In order for believers to inherit eternal life, “There must be a change by death from the natural body to the spiritual body.”[3] Jesus after His resurrection appeared to the disciples, and His body was changed (Heb. 2:14) before He returned to the Father. So flesh and blood, that which is perishable cannot inherit the kingdom of God that which never perishes or diminishes.

51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

Paul is telling us mystery, not all who believe in Jesus will die. When Jesus returns, all those who are alive will not die, but he says, “we shall all be changed.” Those who are believers will receive the resurrection body. But this also includes all who have put their faith in Christ and have already died. They too will be changed.

(v. 52) “in a moment,” this is from the word “atom” – which at the time was thought to be the smallest indivisible There will be a moment in time when Jesus returns.[4] There are three phrases used, “in a flash,” “in the twinkling of an eye,” and “at the last trumpet.” All are instantaneous (not a process). When you hear the war[5] trumpet everything changes. When the trumpet blasts, instantly all those Christians will be given incorruptible bodies – prepared for eternity.[6]

1 Thessalonians 4:16; “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.” Matthew 24:31 “And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”[7] 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?[8]”

There has to be a time in the future when every believer must change from this earthly body, and “put on,” to put on as a garment, their new spiritual body. They will move from perishable to imperishable.

(v. 55) When Jesus was raised from the dead, he broke the power of death for those who put their faith in Him. But it still remains our enemy. It breaks up relationships, it causes grief and loss, it disrupts families, etc. We don’t fear death, but it still torments us.

But upon Jesus;’ return, we will say “O death, where is your sting,” – scorpions have stingers, bees have stingers, snakes have fangs with poison, “the serpent death has lost his poison fangs. “Death still stings because of sin and the law, and death continues to reign over the believer in this age; but God promises the final victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (15:57).”[9]

Paul is giving us a vision of “a stingless death because Jesus has absorbed the sting on the basis of how his death and resurrection addresses the problem of human sin and law.”[10] Christians still die, but we go to be with God, the sting of consequences of sin have been removed. The fangless serpent death strikes, but it has no fangs.

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

(v. 56) “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.” Where there is law, there is rebellion against that law, which is sin. The law tells us what sin is, and we are not able to keep the law. Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because wall sinned—” Sin means “to miss the mark;” the mark is set by the law.

So, we cry out to God in thanks, that we have victory over sin through Jesus. “We cannot live sinlessly and thereby fulfill the law, nor can we remove sin once we have committed it, or remove the consequences, which is death. But on our behalf Jesus lived a sinless life, fulfilling the law, removed our sin by Himself paying the penalty for it, satisfying God with a perfect sacrifice; and conquered death by being raised from the dead.” [11]

(v. 57) “who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Paul is not referencing a future victory over sin and death, when Jesus returns and we enter into eternity – instead, God gives us the victory, and even better “he keeps on giving us the victory” “The victory is bestowed upon us hour by hour.”[12] God keeps giving and our proper response is thankfulness, “But thanks be to God.”

(v. 58) Therefore, “be steadfast, immovable,” “to continue on, keep on becoming steadfast, unshaken.”[13] It has the idea of being seated, motionless. We approach the mission that God has given us with a steadiness and assurance. There is nothing that can pull us away from, “always abounding in the work of the Lord.” We are pulled away by false doctrine, fear of death, or the sense of failure. Our hope in Jesus’ resurrection and in His return is our motivation to remain faithful. Don’t allow your heart to be drawn away from the work of the Lord – be steadfast in it.

We must remain connected to our moorings in faith because we know that “your labor is not in vain.” Revelation 22:12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.”

Paul’s view on Death

Philippians 1:20-23 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.”

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[1] Millard Erickson, Christian Theology, Second Ed. (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Baker Academics, 1998) 1175.

[2] Erickson, 1177.

[3] Archibald Thomas Robertson, Word Pictures In The New Testament, Volume IV (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1931) 198.

[4] Robertson, 198.

[5] W. Robertson Nicoll, The Expositor’s Greek Testament, Volume II (Grand Rapids, Michigan; WM B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1967) 941.

[6] See Acts 7:59; Phil. 1:23

[7] Isa. 25:8

[8] Hos. 13:14

[9] Mark Taylor, The New American Commentary, 1 Corinthians (Nashville, Tennessee; B&H Publishing, 2014) 411.

[10] Taylor, 414.

[11] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, 1 Corinthians (Chicago, Illinois; The Moody Bible Institute, 1984) 446.

[12] R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of St. Paul’s First and Second Epistles to the Corinthians (Minneapolis, Minnesota; Augsburg Publishing House, 1963) 751.

[13] Robertson, 199.