VICTORY OVER DEATH

The arch of the gospel rests upon these two great pillars:  the death of Christ and the bodily resurrection of Christ.  Paul defines the gospel:  “For what I received I pass on to you as first importance:  that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,  that He was buried,  that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures and that he appeared to Peter,  and then to the twelve.  After that He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time...” (1 Cor. 15: 3-6)  Both His death and His resurrection are essential to the salvation of all who believe.  “He [Jesus] was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.“ (Romans 4: 25)

The bodily resurrection of Jesus is one of the central doctrines of the Christian faith.  It is the heart of the gospel.  The early church dwelt upon it constantly.  “He is risen!” (Mark 16: 6)  is the thrilling message which saved many out of a sinful generation in the Roman Empire and is still saving many today. 

If God holds off the return of Christ for another 120 years,  all of us alive today will have died.  Every person is destined to die once  and after that to face judgement. (Hebrews 9: 27) The Bible says all have sinned.  (Romans 3: 23)  People die because they are sinners and the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6: 23)  

The Bible speaks of three deaths.  1.) Physical death:  The separation of a man’s spirit from the body.  It is when a person ceases to exist bodily on this earth. (1 Cor. 15: 21-26) 2.) Spiritual death:  The separation of a man’s spirit from God while he is still living and walking upon earth.  (Ephesians 2: 1)  He is a natural man living in this present world,  but said to be dead to the Lord and spiritual matters.  3.) Eternal death:  The separation of man from God’s presence forever. This death comes to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1: 8-9)

If you don’t know Jesus as Savior and Lord then you are spiritually dead right now and you will someday experience physical and then eternal death.

“But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus...” (Romans 6: 23)  Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life,  he who believes in Me will live even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die...” (John 11: 25-26) Christians will someday get a resurrected body just as Jesus did. (1 Cor. 15: 50-58)  They will someday be saying “Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?”  “If Christ is in you,  your body is dead because of sin,  yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you,  He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit,  who lives in you.” (Romans 8: 10 -11)

Jesus said that there are people who will go to eternal punishment and others to eternal life. (Matt. 25:46)  You can have the assurance of victory over death through repentance and receiving Christ.

Invite Jesus into your heart and life!