Two Everythings (Part 12) - Two Perishings (Eternal and Temporal)
Submitted by Pastor Chad Wagner on Wednesday, October 19, 2016.For a paperback book in outline form which addresses over 150 difficult verses that Arminians use against Sovereign Grace, check out: Problem Texts for Sovereign Grace: Rooting Arminianism Out of Every Verse.
Watch the video of this Bible study on YouTube: Two Everythings (Part 12) - Two Perishings (Eternal and Temporal)
For a master copy of the outline, click here: Two Everythings
To listen to the previous sermon in the series, click here: Part 11
To listen to the next sermon in the series, click here: Part 13
14. Two perishings
A. There is both a physical, temporal perishing and an eternal, spiritual perishing.
i. Perish v. - 1. a. intr. To come to a violent, sudden, or untimely end; to suffer destruction; to lose its life, cease to exist, be cut off. b. (Chiefly Theol.) To incur spiritual death, be lost. Of a nation or community: To suffer moral or spiritual ruin.
ii. The primary definition shows both types of perishing.
B. Eternal, spiritual perishing
i. There is an eternal perishing that the wicked will experience.
1. 2Pe 2:12 - But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
ii. The unregenerate who perish cannot understand the gospel because it is foolishness to them, being spiritually dead.
1. 1Co 1:18 - For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
iii. Jesus died for the sins of His elect so that they shall not perish eternally, though they will obviously perish (die) physically.
1. Joh 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
2. Joh 10:27 - My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
3. Joh 10:28 - And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
C. Temporal, physical perishing
i. There is a temporal perishing that both the righteous and the wicked will experience.
ii. This perishing can simply be physical death due to natural causes.
1. Mat 8:25 - And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
2. This perishing is obviously not eternal perishing in hell, but rather dying at sea.
iii. This perishing can also be physical death due to sinful causes, which can be prevented by repentance.
1. Mat 26:52 - Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
2. Luk 13:4 - Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
3. Luk 13:5 - I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
4. Jesus here is clearly speaking of physical death which comes about because of sin.
iv. It is not the Lord's will that any of His elect perish temporally (physically die) because of their sin, and therefore He is longsuffering toward them and gives them plenty of opportunity to repent and be spared temporal punishment.
1. 2Pe 3:9 - The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2. This verse is not speaking of all mankind, but rather to "us-ward", who were the elect who had already obtained like-precious faith with the apostles.
a. 2Pe 1:1 - Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
b. 1Pe 1:1 - Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
c. 1Pe 1:2 - Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.