LIFE AND DEATH

Acts 3:12–16 NASB95

12 But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk?

13 “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him.

14 “But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

15 but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.

16 “And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

Hebrews 2:14–15 NASB95

14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

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CATEGORIES OF LIFE AND DEATH

Life—The three categories are spiritual life, physical life, and eternal life. In each place where the Bible uses the word life, life is the result of a union. All three categories of life come through and from Jesus Christ, the almighty God incarnate.

Death—The three categories of death are spiritual, physical, and eternal. In each place where the Bible uses the word death, it speaks of separation. In relation to humans, the word never means ceasing to exist. Regardless of which category of death we examine, its origin goes back to sin and Satan (Romans 5:12-21).

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SPIRITUAL DEATH

In studying the following passages of Scripture, we should keep in mind the context of the verse. The human soul is immortal; it never sleeps or ceases to exist.

1. “The soul that sins, it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4, 20). (See also Jeremiah31:30.) Some interpret this statement to mean that if we live in sin then when we die physically our soul dies. Nothing could be further from the truth. Rather, God declares, as He did to Adam, that if we sin or rebel against His Word, our soul will die or be separated from God and His covenant promises. Repentance and obedient faith will restore that union, causing the separation or spiritual death to cease (Ezekiel 3:16-21; 18:19-32).

2. In the story of the prodigal son, the father declared upon his son’s return, “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found” (Luke15:24). The boy was never dead physically. He was separated from his father; it was a spiritual death.

3. James 5:19–20 “19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” In no way could this possibly refer to physical death; this is a fellow believer who has been separated from God because of sin.

4. Ephesians 2:1 “1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,” (See also Ephesians 2:5-6; Colossians 2:13.) Paul described our condition before we found God through salvation.

5. Romans 8:6 “6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,” 1 Timothy 5:6 “6 But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives.”

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SPIRITUAL LIFE

1. 1 John 3:14 “14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.”

2. John 5:24 “24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”

3. 2 Corinthians 1:10 “10 who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us,”

4. John 8:51 “51 “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death.””

5. Ephesians 2:1 “1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,”

6. John 11:25–26 “25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?””

7. Acts 11:18 “18 When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.””

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PHYSICAL DEATH

1. Humans are destined, through the curse placed upon them, to return to the dust of the ground from which they were taken (Genesis 3:19).

2. Because of the disobedience of one man, we were made sinners, with physical death being passed on to us (Romans 5:12-21). Salvation does not exempt us from physical death, nor does physical death indicate alack or weakness in our relationship with God. God decreed, “In Adam all die”(I Corinthians 15:22). Physical death is the last enemy Jesus Christ will put under His feet (I Corinthians 15:26).

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PHYSICAL LIFE

1. God created humans in His own and likeness (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:7).

2. Even our very    is in the hand of God (Daniel 5:23; Acts 17:25).

3. Job declared that our and breath is in the hand of God (Job 12:10).

4. In Him we live, move, and have our (Acts 17:25-28).

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SECOND DEATH

1. James 1:15 “15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.” Sin, unrepented of, eventually brings us to the second death.

2. Revelation 2:11 “11 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’”

3. Revelation 20:6 “6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.”

4. Death and hell are cast into the lake of fire; this constitutes the second death (Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8). This will be the eternal abode of the lost. From this sentence there is no reprieve or remedy. The inhabitants of the lake of fire are forever separated from God, beyond the reach of His mercy and grace. This is the final destiny of the lost, Satan, the Beast, and the false prophet.

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ETERNAL LIFE

1. We come forth to the of life (John 5:28-29).

2. We shall be Him (I John 3:1-3).

3. We shall be clothed upon with our house from heaven (II Corinthians 5:1-4).

4. We will be crowned with a crown of (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10).

5. We will go to the place He has gone to for us (John 14:1-3).

6. We will enjoy the indescribable glories foretold in Revelation 21-22.