![]() |
First, it is important to answer the question, “What is death?” Very simply, death is separation. The Bible speaks of three types of separation: physical, spiritual, and eternal.
- Physical death is the separation of body and soul. “The dust [the body] returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit [the soul] returns to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7).
- Spiritual death is the separation of the soul from God. “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins” (Ephesians 2:1).
- Eternal death is the separation of the soul from God’s presence and blessings forever in hell. “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels’ ” (Matthew 25:41).
Evaluate the statement: “This life is hell!”
Why death and what is God’s plan?
The death rate is 100 percent because all people are sinful (Romans 5:12). When Adam and Eve fell into sin, Martin Luther called it a “divine and holy irony. God is good and hates evil. They are evil and hate good.”
Because God did not want Adam and Eve to remain evil and hate good, he cast humankind out of the Garden of Eden so they could not eat from the tree of life and live forever in a sinful condition. God had a better plan. God took the sting of sin out of death by crushing death with Jesus’ resurrection!
For what reasons is the phrase “God has made death a natural part of life” so dangerous?
Read 1 Corinthians 15:20,22,55-58
Respond to someone who says, “You don’t need to believe in the physical resurrection of Jesus.” (Be sure to explain the comfort you have because Jesus is risen!)
What will eternal life be like?
Read Philippians 3:21 and 1 Corinthians 15:35,54. Our resurrected bodies will be imperishable, glorious, powerful, spiritual . . . but what will we look like? We don’t know, but it will be like a Christmas present from people you love. You may not know what it is, but you know it will be good because they love you.
Read Revelation 21:3,4
It is interesting that the Bible often describes what will not be in heaven (i.e., death, mourning, pain, tears, etc.), and then tells the one thing that will be there: Jesus. Why? Because we have no experience to compare with heaven. It is a comfort knowing that the effects of sin will be gone and we will be face-to-face with our Savior!
Agree/disagree: The Christian doesn’t fear death. Explain your answer.
Author: David Scharf
Volume 107, Number 06
Issue: June 2020
- Psalm 103: When you count your blessings
- Psalm 91: When God lifts you up on his lap
- Psalm 4: When you draw nearer to the end
- Psalm 42: When you ask, “Where is God when I’m hurting?”
- Psalm 32: When you need forgiveness
- Psalm 130: When rocks fall
- Bible study: Freedom in service
- What does this mean for me? Article 6
- Bible study: Spiritual gifts
- What does this mean for me? Article 5
- What does this mean for me? Article 4
- Bible study: Rejoice in your status!
- Bible study: Baptismal blessings
- What does this mean for me? Article 3
- What does this mean for me? Article 2
- Bible study: Gifts of tongues and miraculous healing
- What does this mean for me? Article 1
- Bible study: Jesus is everyone’s Savior
- Bible study: Love one another
- Bible study: Above all things!
- Bible study: The comfort of God’s providence
- The book of James: Waiting for Christ’s return
- Bible study: Precious grace
- The book of James: Active in using prayer
- Bible study: Rewards of grace
- The book of James: Active in showing love
- The book of James: Correctly evaluating riches
- Bible study: What’s going to happen on the Last Day?
- The book of James: Avoiding loveless judging
- Bible study: Interpretation practice
- The book of James: Taming the tongue
- Bible study: The Bible’s attributes
- Bible study: The importance of the family altar
- Bible study: God’s attitude is grace
- Bible study: The Bible’s account of Easter morning
- Bible study: Different types of sin
- Bible study: God’s inspiration
- Bible study: Giving God glory
- Bible study: Judge for yourself
- The book of James: Using the Word of Truth
- Bible study: The need for the Bible and worship
- Bible study: Citizens of two kingdoms
- The book of James: Active in good works
- The book of James: When battling temptation
- Bible study: God cares
- Bible study: God made the world
- The book of James: When facing trials
- Bible study: A loving God saved people from hell
- The book of James: A blueprint for living out our life of faith
- A Bible story just for me: Guilt
- Bible study: God provides victory over death!
- A Bible story just for me: Anxiety
- Bible study: God forgives and refuses to remember our sins
- A Bible story just for me: Grief
- Bible study: God helps those who cannot help themselves
- A Bible story just for me: Depression
- Bible study: God has not grown soft on sin
- Bible study: Only one path leads to God’s presence
- A Bible story just for me: Trauma
- A Bible story just for me
- Bible study: God wants me in heaven
- Bible study: The incarnation of our Lord