On Death
Death is man’s enemy (1 Cor 15:26), and it results from man working for sin (Rom 6:23). Death is to be feared because it is appointed once for a man to die, and then comes the judgment (Heb 9:27). Without God’s salvation, there is a second death, when death and Hades will be thrown into the lake of fire (Rev 20:14). This is the eternal fire of God’s wrath where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in forever torment (Mt 25:41; Jude 1:7). This is the just punishment for unrepentant rebels and sinners against God’s infinite majesty.
Those who overcome this second death have died with Christ, who gives them eternal life (Rom 6:3–4; Jn 10:28), and this life is in God’s Son (1 Jn 5:11). The old man, dead in trespasses and sins, is brought into vital union with Christ. The apostle Paul is able to say both, “Christ lives in me,“ and “…raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph 2:6).”
The Spirit of Christ, the Giver of life, has made us alive, by bringing the life of God into us to indwell (Rom 8:9, 11). Death came by one man (Adam), and by one man (Jesus Christ) has come the resurrection from the dead (1 Cor 15:21–22).
The soul of the born again believer in Jesus has died with Christ, been buried with Christ, and she has been raised with Christ in His resurrection. Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures (1 Cor 15:3). Having been baptized into Christ, the Christian’s soul has died and been raised. This is evidenced by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).
The reprobate remains dead to God and to Christ, having not the Son of God (1 Jn 5:12). This spiritual deadness remains despite the animated life in her body of flesh. When the body of the unregenerate unbeliever dies, the pending judgment comes with its own resurrection (Jn 5:29; Heb 6:2).
In contrast, he who hears the Word of God and believes Him, who God sent, has passed out of death and into life (Jn 5:24). His dead soul, made alive, now only waits for his body of death to wear out. Then, his soul goes to be with God who gave it. When the resurrection comes to all souls, his soul will be joined with his resurrected body, now glorified in the likeness of the eternal Christ.
In the resurrection life of those in Christ, the perishable must put on the imperishable, and the mortal will put on immortality. Death will be swallowed up in victory, having lost its sting. Victory is in our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 15:53–56).
For the Christian, the Law has been satisfied in Christ. The reign of sin in death has been replaced by faith in the reign of Christ. God is always leading us in His triumph in Christ (2 Cor 2:14). There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1). Their debt of sin has been cancelled (Col 2:14). The declaration of “not guilty” has been issued. There remains no fear of death (Ps 23:4).
Eternal life has commenced in this new life in Christ, and the Christian shall never die because she has already died. She now lives forever.
Christian, you have died! The failure of your temporal body is anticipated, but your glorified body awaits you in the coming resurrection (Rom 8:30; 1 Jn 3:2). Remember your baptism, and live the abundant life in Christ, by faith granted to you, by His grace (Gal 2:20). His Spirit lives in you as a token of better things yet to come (2 Cor 5:5). Your lot in life is one who is an overcomer (1 Jn 5:4–5). Your life is but a vapor, and your suffering will soon end as when the night becomes the day. On that day, it will be day…forever. Sin, death, and darkness will be no more.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
October 29, 2021
