Death: Lost Man’s Victorious Enemy… The Christian’s Defeated Foe (Part #3)

The Bible’s usage of the term “death” involves the basic foundational principle of separation.  There are three different types of death that are described in God’s Word:
1. Physical death – this is the condition of the spirit when it is separated from the body
2. Spiritual death – this is the condition of the spirit when it is separated from God hereby it is lacking acceptance by, communion and accompaniment with God
3. Eternal Death – this is the permanent condition of the spirit when it is separated from the presence of God for an eternity while suffering torment in the Lake of Fire.
As you can see from the above, there is no aspect of death that is friendly to mankind.  This is why death is said to “sting” us bringing about harm and pain upon each one of us.
In our study for today, we will be looking at how our Lord Jesus Christ has won the victory over the spiritual and eternal death of His people and through His work offers to us eternal life.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6zkCPFivPQ ]
THE SCRIPTURES:
20) For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
21) What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things [is] death.
22) But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23) For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
 (Romans 6:20-23)


THE STUDY:

Do you remember the three different types of “death” found in the Bible?
Our Lord, Jesus Christ, has gotten the victory over all three types of death (we have previously looked at His victory over physical death, we will now look at His victory over…

2. Spiritual death – this is the condition of the spirit when it is separated from God hereby it is lacking acceptance by, communion and accompaniment with God

And….

3. Eternal Death – this is the permanent condition of the spirit when it is separated from the presence of God for an eternity while suffering torment in the Lake of Fire.

In Romans 6:20-23, we find that Christ has won the victory over spiritual death and eternal spiritual death that we all face as a part of fallen mankind….

Romans 6:20-23…
For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
Prior to the salvation experience, all of lost mankind is described as being the “servants of sin”.  This description helps us to understand the domination and control that sin exercises in the life of the lost individual.  Apart from the saving grace of God, the lost individual is incapable aligning himself with the laws of God, performing any sinless act, or pleasing God in any way …

“But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”   (Isaiah 64:6)

“An high look, and a proud heart, [and] the plowing of the wicked, [is] sin.”   (Proverbs 21:4)

“ … for whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin.”   (Romans 14:23)
What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things [is] death.
Because of the lost’s inability to please God, or find His acceptance, the fruit that a lost person bears is shameful and it only works physical, spiritual, and eternal death in their life.
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” 
 (Galatians 5:19-21)
“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”   (James 1:14-15)

“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:”   (Romans 5:12)

“Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”   (Ezekiel 18:4)

“The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.”   (Ezekiel 18:20)
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God,
Following the Lord’s gracious intervention in the life of a lost person granting them life, forgiveness and peace with Him, we find that the saint is now released from sin’s bondage and made servant of the living, true, God.  For the very first time in his life, He is able to please His Lord and willingly submit to His Lordship.
This is the Lord manifesting His victory over spiritual death in our lives.  It is shown to all by our newly found, willful, longing to please Him and submit to His desires for our lives…
[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
(Romans 8:1-4)

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”   (Galatians 5:13-14)
“As free, and not using [your] liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.”  (1 Peter 2:16)

ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
In direct comparison to the fruits of the spiritually dead that are shameful and result in death, the fruits of the saved person are separated from the sinful acts of the world and are made complete in the experience of eternal life.
This shows us Christ’s victories over our spiritual death and eternal death that awaits the lost.  But now bearing fruits unto holiness, we can see the Lord’s victory over the condition of spiritual death, by everlasting life now awaiting us, He is showing His victory over the eternal death for which we were previously destined.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”   (Galatians 5:22-24)

 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God.  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful….”  “… And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.”    (Revelation 21:1-5, 27)

“Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.  For without [are] dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”   (Revelation 22:14-15)

THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION:
What wonderful truths to know that our Lord Jesus has won the victory over physical, spiritual, and eternal death.  How did He gain that victory over death?  It was through His work on the cross as He took our sins, and their punishment, upon Himself.  It was this suffering for our sins that allows us to enjoy communion and union with the Father, both now and throughout eternity.
Christ, was a perfect sacrifice, fully completing the work of salvation for His people while hanging on the cross. His work does not need to be repeated, nor re-applied. He has saved us from our sins past, present and future and now is constantly making intercession for the sins that we continue to commit…

Hebrews 9:24-28…
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, [which are] the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:  Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;  For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Why did He do this for us?  Because He placed His love upon us from eternity past, not because of anything we would do, nor because of who we would be, but He did all this based upon His own purposes and grace.   It was through His self-sacrificial love that He died for us and gave us life (displaying His victory over spiritual death) and immortality (displaying His victory over eternal death).  It is simply through placing our faith in Him as our Lord and Savior that we can receive this gracious gift of spiritual life, eternal life and participate in the upcoming resurrection of the saints…
2 Timothy 1:8-12…
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;  Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,  But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:  Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.  For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Won’t you trust in Christ today making Him Lord of your life and Savior of your soul?

May the Lord bless you as you seek His truth.

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May the Lord bless your study of His Word.  Like God’s Word… may your soul’s salvation and your life’s faithfulness be “Settled in Heaven.”