"IF A MAN DIE, SHALL HE LIVE AGAIN?"
A. PAUL TEACHES THAT, "THE LAST ENEMY THAT SHALL BE DESTROYED IS
DEATH" - 1 Cor. 15:26
- Death is an enemy:
- It gives no consideration to our state of readiness - Luke 12:20
- Has no pity on those who are affected by it.
- Respects no environment.
- Lays all into the dust, kings and great men, poor and needy.
- Cuts man off from all opportunities of life.
- Does death end all? Is there no hope beyond the grave?
- As to this present life, yes, death ends all - Eccl. 9:1-10; There can be no return - Job. 7:7-10
- But death and the grave do not end it all for their victims -- Job's answer - Job 14:15
B. THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT THE DEAD WILL BE RAISED
- "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body
shall they arise": Isa. 26:19
- No, death does not end it all; there will be a resurrection of the dead - 1 Cor. 15:12-18
- The voice of the Son of God will call the dead out of their dusty beds - John 5:28, 29
- God's promise is sure - Hos. 13:14
- There will be two resurrections, however:
- The dead in Christ will be raised first, at the second coming of Christ - John 5:28, 29; 1 Cor. 15:22, 23
- The wicked dead will be raised a thousand years following the first resurrection - Rev. 20:4-6
- But there will be a different reason for the resurrection
of the righteous and the wicked:
- Some to everlasting life,
- Others to everlasting shame and damnation - Dan. 12:2
- All will rise to receive their reward for the things done in their bodies - 2 Cor. 5:10
C. YES, FRIENDS, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WAY PEOPLE
LIVE AND THE WAY THEY DIE
- They who sow to the flesh shall reap of the flesh damnation: Gal. 6:7-9
- They who sow upon the spirit shall reap eternal life:
- Tell me how you live and I know how you are apt to die and how you will be raised:
- Let us ever keep in mind that death does not end it all; there will be a resurrection for all good or bad, saints or sinners:
- How will eternity affect you?