THE FEAR OF DEATH

HEBREWS 2:1

A. "FORASMUCH THEN AS THE CHILDREN ARE PARTAKERS OF FLESH AND BLOOD, HE ALSO HIMSELF LIKEWISE TOOK PART OF THE SAME; THAT THROUGH DEATH HE MIGHT DESTROY HIM THAT HAD THE POWER OF DEATH THAT IS THE DEVIL; AND DELIVER THEM WHO THROUGH FEAR OF DEATH WERE ALL THEIR LIFETIME SUBJECT TO BONDAGE"
  1. The apostle Paul sets forth some of the basic reasons for our Lord's humanity:
    1. The taking of the nature of the seed of Abraham
    2. The partaking of flesh and blood the same nature that the children have
  2. The suffering and the death on the cross of Calvary was:
    1. For destroying him that had the power of death
    2. And through death, deliver the children from the fear and bondage of death B. THE FEAR OF DEATH
  3. "Death" according to Paul, is an enemy, "the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death" - I Cor. 15:26
    1. Death is an enemy, because of its effects upon men
    2. It cuts men off from life and that which is a part of life - Eccl. 9:5,10
    3. It breaks the union of marriage and leaves loved ones in sorrow and deep grief - John 11:31
    4. It cuts men off of all the opportunities for service and usefulness
    5. It set the pace for the judgment to come - Heb. 9:27; 2 Cor. 5:10
  4. The sting of death:
    1. What men are fearful of death is sin - the real cause of death - Gen. 2:16-17; 3:17-18; Rom. 6:23; 5:12
    2. It is a consciousness of sin that makes the thought of dying so painful - "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" - Rom. 3:23 - Examples: Belshazzar and the fear of death - Dan. 5:5-7; Felix and the fear of death - Acts 24:25; Judas and the fear of death - Matt. 27:1-5 C. CHRIST CAME TO DELIVER MEN
  5. From the bondage of sin and the power of the devil:
    1. "Thou shalt call his name Jesus; for Hi shall save His people from their sins" - Matt. 1:21
    2. "Unto you first God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you in turning away every one of you from his iniquities" - Acts 3:26
    3. Sin has made men bondservants - John 8:34-36
  6. The Son of God came to set us free, not only from the power of sin, but also, from the effects of sin:
    1. Separation from God the fountain of life - Ps. 36:9; Jer. 2:13; Is. 59:1-3
    2. Death - man's last enemy - I Cor. 15:26
  7. To do all this:
    1. The Son of God had to taste death for all men - Heb. 2:9
    2. What is more; He died on the shameful cross of Calvary - Rom. 5:10; Col. 1:22
  8. Christ came to deliver us, not only from sin, but also from the sting of sin:
    1. The sting of sin is our knowledge that we have broken God's law and are therefore subject to the judgment - Heb. 9:27; 2 Cor. 5:10
    2. The sting of sin is the charges that are in the books of heaven against us - Rev. 20:11-12
    3. The sting of sin is the fear of leaving behind us the influence that may lead others to be lost; Examples: Think of the influence of Jeroboam on the House of Israel - 2 Kings 17:21; of Jezebel who led all Israel to worship Baal - I Kings 18:1-41
  9. Truths that give complete deliverance from the fear of death:
    1. The knowledge that we have forgiveness of sin is a great reason for our deliverance from the fear of death - Luke 23:42-44
    2. The knowledge that Jesus Christ is not the Divine conqueror over Satan, sin, and death Rev. 6:2; Rev. 19:1; Matt. 28:18; John 17:2; Rom. 1:4
    3. The promise of God that there will be a resurrection of the dead - Is. 26:20; I Cor. 15:12-18
    4. The knowledge that Jesus is life and the resurrection - John 11:23


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