Life After Death – Bro. Jim Martin

by | Sep 20, 2022 | Sermons and Sermon Notes | 0 comments

Life after Death

Ephesians 2:1-5; Romans 6:1-13

From Death to Life, by Grace, via Faith! – Ephesians 2:1-5 …

 

The Origin of Life – Genesis 2:7 John 1:1-4

The Origin of Death – Genesis 2:16-17; Genesis 3:6

What have we Done?!?

  • This choice to disobey God in favor of our own will infects every member of the human species! Romans 3:23
  • The disobedience was called SIN.
    • Sin, as does every choice, has consequence:

Romans 6:23  … the wages of sin is death…

  • “But wait! Adam & Eve lived 100’s of years after!”
    • Did they?

Life and Death – another view

  • Death in Scripture is not cessation but rather separation from that which is life.
    • We tend to think of life as biological function
    • God sees it as spiritual viability.
    • We see death as an irreversible biological condition;
    • God sees it as the need for His intervention.
  • His intervention is called “being born again.” – John 3:3

Born … anew

  • The word translated “again” is ἄνωθεν,
    • can be understood as temporally (a second time), or
    • locationally (from above).
  • Nicodemus understood the former,
    • Jesus meant the later in their discussion.
  • The “Teacher of Israel” was so fixed on the present and the physical that he missed the eternal, spiritual reality.
    • Jesus “met him where he was” and tried to open his mind to Truth.
    • By implication, he finally did understand, three years too late
      • John 7:50; 19:39

Physical Analogies …

•      •The “natural” person is expected to grow, and

•      take increasing responsibility to look after himself, and

•      to contribute to his community in a positive way.

 

•      The spiritually alive person is expected to grow in maturity by the Word of God and by the Holy Spirit.

•      We become caring, contributing members of the Kingdom of God.

•      We take His message to the world.

The Flesh vs. the Spirit

  • The “Walking Dead” have no desire to please God –
    • Romans 8:6-8
  • They are besieged by 3 forces: Ephesians 2:2-3
    • The “World”
    • The devil, and
    • The “Flesh”

The “World”

  • The “World System” is the secular, humanistic world-view
    • It challenges God’s sovereignty and seeks to supplant it in man’s “reasoning.”
  • We know that it has a three-pronged approach in seducing us (1 John 2:15-17):
    • The “lust of the flesh” – seeking physical pleasure / satisfaction – 1 Cor. 9:27
    • The “Lust of the eyes” – Greed; the hunger for more – 4:11
    • The “pride of life” – seeking to be “#1” at the expense of others. 2:1-4; 1 Peter 5:5-6

The devil

  • A real, powerful spiritual being,
    • a displaced and exiled angel
    • He seeks to destroy the works and steal the glory of God.
    • He is the embodiment of evil,
    • but he is not all-powerful.
  • He has no real power over the Child of God – 2:14
    • We are to resist him – 1 Peter 5:8-9; James 4:7
    • We are to give him no opportunity for division or disruption – Ephesians 4:27

The “Flesh”

  • “The flesh” represents the natural desires of a person
    • These desires are not, in themselves, evil
  • Because we are essentially spiritual beings
    • we have the capacity by Grace…

…to suppress (master) these desires –

  • when they lead us away from God’s
  • plan,
  • purpose, and

1 Peter 4:1-2

A Forever Relationship

  • When we have been made alive by the grace of God, we are forever joined together with God.
    • Never again to be separated from Him!

Romans 8:1,38-39

 

We are New & Improved!?! 2 Cor. 5:17

  • Christians are brand-new people on the inside.
    • The Holy Spirit gives them new life, and they are not the same anymore.
    • We are not
      • reformed,
      • rehabilitated, or
      • reeducated—
    • we are re-created (new creations),
    • living in vital union with Christ (Col_2:6-7).

The New Life: New Purpose, Plan, Desires

  • At conversion we do not merely “turn over a new leaf”
    • Rather, we begin a new life under a new King.
  • Our new King is not a “titular head of state”
    • Our King is absolute Sovereign of the universe,
    • And He now calls us His children!

John 1:12; 1 John 3:1

As Children of our King…

  • Our Purpose is to make Him known throughout the world.
    • We are to glorify Him in every aspect of our lives
      • In our most intimate personal life
      • In our homes and families
      • In our community relationships
      • In our work
    • Our plan / strategy: We are to make disciples of all nations – Matthew 28:18-20
    • Our Desires – the driving forces of life –
      • To please Him and not ourselves
      • To show His love to every person He brings
      • To care for those who cannot look after themselves

 

Matthew 6:33 But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.  [CEV]