Man–Sin and Death
It is one of the undeniable facts of life–death. From our perspective we can rightly discern its universality though we rarely think about its eventual claim upon our own earthly existence. Scientists spend time and money on theories of man’s origins, but how many have any scientific theories about his end? Unlike science, God has not left us to face the inevitable in ignorance.
According to the Scriptures death operates in two realms–the physical and the spiritual. A man is physically dead when his spirit departs his body. James 2:26, “For as the body without the spirit is dead. . .” and Ecclesiastes 8:8, “There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of his death. . .”
A man is spiritually dead when he is separated from God because of his sin. Ephesians 2:1, “And you hath he quickened [made alive], who were dead in trespasses and sins.” Death, then, is a state of separation and not a state of annihilation; therefore, it is a beginning and not just an end.
So why is there death in the world? Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” And as we saw last time, Romans 5:12, “Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.“
Adam never would have experienced death if he had obeyed God. Genesis 2:17, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” He did eat, and he immediately died spiritually and began the slow but steady process of dying physically. As it was with him, so will it be with us. We are all born spiritually dead and are dying physically because of our sin.
Therefore, a man is unprepared for life if he is unprepared for death. Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Life insurance, wills, and pre-arranged funerals can be good means to take care of those you leave behind, but what Biblically prescribed preparations have you made for yourself against the day of your death? Luke 12: 19 –20,
And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years: take thine ease, eat drink and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee. . .
In John 5:28 – 29 Jesus Himself said these words,
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the grave shall hear his voice, 29 And they that have done good unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Proverbs 14:32, “. . . but the righteous man hath hope in his death.” Is that true for you? Do you know what lies beyond the grave for you? You can know, and indeed you must know because your departure from this life on earth to that in the eternal state is certain.
“These were more noble. . . in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so.” Acts 17: 11
