How Does The Christian Die?

I. Introduction.

A. How we face death says something about how we live - Heb. 11:35.

a. Hebrews 11:35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.

b. Aristeides (ar-e-sti-dez)(125 AD) wrote a friend about new religion: "If any righteous [one] among the Christians passes from this world, they rejoice & offer thanks to God. They escort his [the] body with songs & thanksgiving as if he [she] were setting out from one place to another NEAR BY." (cf. 1 Ths. 4:13)

c. Live as saint - Die with thanks.

d. Live in sin - Die in darkness and despair!

2. Death of saints precious (valued, prized). Psa.116:15 -

3. How do you view your death? How does the Christian die?

I. THE CHRISTIAN DIES IN HOPE -

Philip. 1:21-23

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. [22] If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. [23] I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.

Col. 1:3-5

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, [4] since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, [5] because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel,

1 Thes. 4:13-16

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. [14] For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. + For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. [16] For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

A. With The Joy Of Eternal Salvation.

1. Delivered from wrath by Jesus.

1 Thes. 1:10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

2. We live with Christ now - death won't destroy that - Enhance it!

1 Thes. 5:9-11

For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, [10] who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. [11] Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

B. With An Expectation Of The Resurrection Of Life - Jno. 5:28-29.

1. John 5:28-29 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice [29] and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

2. Because of Jesus' resurrection.

a. 1 Cor. 15:20-22 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. [21] For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. [22] For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

3. At last trump - Incorruptible / Immortality

1 Cor. 15:51-53

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. [53] For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

4. Power of God at work!

1 Cor. 6:14

And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.

C. With A Desire For Heaven.

1. Heavenly house.

2 Cor. 5:1

For we know that if the tent, which is our earthly home, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2. Mansions prepared.

John 14:2-3

In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

3. Pilgrims / strangers seeking their own country - Heavenly city.

Hebrews 11:13-16

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. [14] For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. [15] If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. [16] But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

II. THE CHRISTIAN DIES IN COMFORT - 1 Ths. 4:16-18.

1 Thes. 4:16-18

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. [17] Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

-(Not that pain will not attend the Christian's death. But that knowledge of what awaits him gives assurance, not fear.)

A. With The Assurance That God & His Christ Are In Control.

1. - Power over death in resurrection.

1 Cor. 15:24-26

Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. [25] For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. [26] The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

a. Removes fear of death.

Hebrews 2:14-15

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, [15] and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

b. Gospel reveals His power!

2 Tim. 1:10

and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

2. Christian lives by faith in His power -- Death is not the end!

Rev. 1:17-18

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, [18] and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

3. Fear of death need not overtake us!

B. There Is Victory Over Death In Jesus.

1. Freedom from trials, temptations, burdens & despair - REST (Rev. 14:13).

Rev. 14:13

And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Blessed indeed," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!"

2. Death does not defeat the Christian!

Romans 8:38-39

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, [39] nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

III. THE CHRISTIAN DIES IN FAITH - Heb. 11:13.

A. Confidently Believing In A Future Judgment.

1. He is ready for his appointment.

Hebrews 9:27

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

2. Adversaries of Christ face a fearful judgment of fire!

Hebrews 10:26-27

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, [27] but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

3. A time of righting wrongs - Of rest and vengeance.

2 Thes. 1:3-9

We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. [4] Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. [5] This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— [6] since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, [7] and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels [8] in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. [9] They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

B. Confidently Believing In A Future Reward - 2 Tim. 4:6-8.

1. Reserved in heaven. 1 Pet. 1:4 -

2. Glory with Christ when He comes Col. 3:4 - (cf. Matt. 25:31-34, 46).

IV. Conclusion

1. We must live so as to prepare for death!

2. When you die & go to meet the Lord, will you be meeting a stranger or a friend?! - Heb. 10:30-31

MODIFIED FROM Joe Price lesson.