Death
Death has many faces in our culture, most of them ugly. There's a reason
for that: Death was not part of God's plan. When God created us, he intended
for us to live forever in perfect harmony with him. But when Adam and
Eve sinned, death became a fact of life because the consequence of sin
is death. Sin and death separate us from God because God's holiness cannot
permit even the smallest imperfection to enter his presence. Those who
don't know God are alienated from his love, guidance and spiritual protection
all their lives. Physical death seals the sentence of permanent separation
from him.
But Christians never have to experience death as the world does. Christ
came to take upon himself the penalty for our sins and to remove the barrier
between God and us by dying in our place. If we believe and trust our
lives to him, we can experience a relationship with God here on earth.
The Bible says that when Christ comes into our lives, our sinful self
dies., and we immediately receive a new life. We receive a new identity
as a child of God. And because Christ overcame death by coming back to
life, we too can live with him after death. For followers of Christ, death
is no longer a defeating end, but the victorious beginning of life in
the physical presence of God.
Death is the
penalty for sin.
Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-24
Romans 6:23
Christ took the punishment for our sins.
Isaiah 53:4-12
Romans 5:6-8
Colossians 2:13-14
1 Peter 2:24
Because of Christ's resurrection, we have eternal life with him.
Isaiah 25: 6-8
John 17:1-3
Romans 6:5-8
1 Corinthians 15:12-26, 54-57
Philippians 3:20-21
2 Timothy 2:11
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