Facing Death (Part 1)

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Facing Death I. The purpose of this study 1. Every one of us is going to die if Christ doesn't return first. 2. Those of us who do not die suddenly are going to have to face the prospect of impending death. 3. All of us should be preparing for death now, but most people, including many Christians, don't even want to think about it. 4. The purpose of life on earth for a child of God is to prepare to die, meet God, be judged, and live in heaven (Amo 4:12). A. The reason that most people are not ready to die is because they have not spent their lives thinking about it and preparing for it. B. Unexpected things are always the hardest to deal with. C. Most people, including old people, don't expect to die anytime soon, and therefore they are not prepared. D. The purpose of this study is get you thinking about your own death and to help you to get prepared for it. II. Facing death as an unbeliever 1. Unbelievers fear death (Heb 2:15). A. And they should because they have sinned against God, and He is angry with them (Psa 7:11). B. When a wicked man dies his expectation and hope perishes (Pro 11:7). C. All a wicked man has waiting for him is eternal wrath (Rom 2:5-9). D. It's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb 10:31). 2. What should an unbeliever do if he is fearful of death and God's judgment which follows? A. Repent, believe and obey the gospel, and get baptized (Mar 1:15; Mat 3:2, 5-6; Act 2:38). B. By doing so he is fleeing the wrath to come (Mat 3:7), and is showing the evidence that he is a child of God saved by grace who shall not come into condemnation (Joh 5:24). C. Knowing the terror of the Lord I persuade men (2Co 5:11) to repent and believe the gospel that Jesus Christ died to justify sinners and save them from God's wrath (Rom 5:8-9). D. All who believe are justified (are righteous in the sight of God) by Jesus Christ (Act 13:39). E. If you truly believe that Jesus is the Christ, you are born of God (1Jo 5:1). 3. If you fear God and trust and obey Him, there's no reason to fear death. III. Facing death as a Christian 1. A Christian should not fear death. A. Jesus Christ destroyed Satan who has the power of death (Heb 2:14). B. Jesus delivered us from the bondage of the fear of death (Heb 2:15). C. Jesus abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (2Ti 1:10). D. Through His resurrection Jesus triumphed over the grave and is the first fruits of the resurrection (1Co 15:20). E. Our bodies will be raised from the dead at His coming like His was (1Co 15:22-23). F. Therefore, death has been vanquished and its sting has been taken away (1Co 15:52-57). G. No Christian should therefore fear death or spend their lives trying to prevent it or stave it off. 2. A Christian should look forward to death. A. To die is gain (Php 1:21). B. To depart and be with Christ is far better (Php 1:23). C. Our father Abraham was not focused on this life, but on the next (Heb 11:8-10). i. Abraham was a sojourner (Heb 11:9), a stranger (Heb 11:13), and a pilgrim (Heb 11:13). a. Sojourn v. - 1. intr. To make a temporary stay in a place; to remain or reside for a time. b. Stranger n. - 1. a. One who belongs to another country, a foreigner; chiefly (now exclusively), one who resides in or comes to a country to which he is a foreigner; an alien. c. Pilgrim n. - 1. One who travels from place to place; a person on a journey; a wayfarer, a traveller; a wanderer; a sojourner. ii. Like a traveler passing through, Abraham was not concerned with making himself a permanent dwelling on this earth. iii. He was just passing though all the while desiring his final destination. iv. He looked forward to being in the heavenly city (Heb 11:10) and country (Heb 11:14). v. Abraham is now in the present heaven still waiting and desiring a better country on the new, resurrected earth (Heb 11:16). vi. We should follow in the footsteps of our father Abraham and have our sights set on heaven and look forward to dying and getting there. 3. A Christian should be ready to die. A. Paul was confident and willing to be absent from the body and present with the Lord (2Co 5:8). B. Can you say the same? C. Paul thought it was far better to die and go to be with Jesus in heaven (Php 1:23). D. Do you? E. Paul didn't count his life dear unto himself (Act 20:24). F. Can you say the same? G. Paul was ready to die throughout his life (Act 21:13; 2Ti 4:6). i. Paul is our example to follow (1Co 4:16; Php 4:9). ii. Are you ready to die like Paul was? H. Those who are nearing age 70 should especially be ready to die. i. The reason? Because your time could come any day. ii. If you're in your mid-60s or older and you are still talking about all the things you're going to do in the next 10-20 years, you need to get your thoughts aligned with the scriptures.