Biblical solutions to the problems of death

updated: Thursday 19-06-2008

Dear Reader,
There are many types of fears facing all human beings in various degrees today. These fears include fear of the unknown, fears of various dangers, fear of what to eat, drink, etc. But there is no doubt in my mind that the greatest fear of most human beings is the fear of physical death that normally terminates the life of every human being on earth, no matter how long or how well a person may have lived his/her life on earth. It has therefore pleased the Holy Spirit of God to lead us to examine briefly this rather sober topic, titled “Biblical solutions to the problem of death.”

The poser: Whether a person is great or small, rich or poor, learned or illiterate, healthy or sickly, happy or sorrowful, strong or weak, old or young, and whether a person has lived well or not, even whether one believes and worships God or not, Mr. Death will surely come knocking one day. Modern science and doctors can do a great deal to prolong life. The human life span is lengthening, but that is merely postponing the day of death. We must all realise that this world is not our home; we are all pilgrims on earth, and are just passing through. The earthly stay of every man or woman is purely transient, temporary, and relatively short. We are ”appointed to die”.(Heb. 9:27). We are born with an appointment to meet death, and we all must keep that appointment! This being so, then, what permanent and peaceful solutions does the holy Bible have to offer us concerning the problems of physical death and eternal life?

Creation and fall: Source of death: In the beginning of creation, God told man the whole truth as to how to prevent physical death and eternal death. But the first family on earth, namely Adam and Eve his wife, did not fully believe it. In Genesis 2:16,17, the Bible says: “And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; (17) but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”

But on the contrary, in Genesis 3:4, 5, “Satan the old Serpent said to the woman, you will not surely die.(5) For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” As a result of this deceit, the first family on earth failed by disobeying God, and sin and death consequently entered the world. One preacher said, “If one person had previously been killed by death as a result of disobeying God’s word may be Adam and Eve would not have failed.” Another preacher also wondered if it should take a man a thorough pre-knowledge of the consequences of obeying or disobeying God before compliance. The conclusion was that God must be obeyed in all things by faith before the positive blessings of God begin to flow to the person

Redemption through faith in Christ’s Gospel: In Romans 1:17 the Bible says,”… the just shall live by faith.” The gospel shows us both how righteous God is in His plan for us to be saved, and also how we may be made fit for eternal life. By trusting Christ, our relationship with God is made right. “From first to last”, God declares us to be righteous because of faith and faith alone. As we trust God, we are saved; we find life both now and forever.

Our Faith in God’s Word is demonstrated by our obedience to God’s Word. And this is the source of man’s victory and the solution desired. Abel believed and obeyed God in the correct way he offered sacrifice and thus pleased God. Cain did the contrary and displeased God. He sinned against God and suffered the consequences. Enoch walked with God; he did what was right in the sight of God, and God took him to heaven without him tasting death (Gen. 5:24). The generation of Noah was destroyed by the great flood, except Noah and his family, as God found him alone righteous before Him (Gen. 6:9). Shadrack, Meshack, Abednego, Daniel, Joseph, the O. T. prophets, Apostles, and other saints exercised genuine faith in God through their obedience to God’s Word, and He glorified Himself in their respective lives through miraculous victories over fires, lions and other agents of death.

Since Adam and Eve brought sin into this earth, death inevitably followed, but God voluntarily became man and shed His sinless blood for the redemption of humanity. Romans 6:23 says: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God’s word says, “Do not practise idolatry, sorcery, witchcraft, cultism, murder, sexual immorality, stealing, and other sins.” (Gala. 5:19-21; Rev. 21:8). Are you obeying God’s word, in which you claim to believe? This is the only biblical solution to the problems of death and loss of eternal life.

The Bible says that all human beings are sinners, and that there is none righteous: not even one. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. And the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. It is only through Him alone that forgiveness of sins can be achieved. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life. (Rom. 3:10, 12, 23; 6:23; Acts 4:12; John 3:16).

For further information, counselling, prayer and other help, please contact me at once, on telephone numbers 02-8100301, 8100248 or 08037878711; write to E-mail: ehlolusheye@yahoo.co.uk or write to G.P.O. Box 530, Ibadan.

The Holy Spirit in the church (2)

By Pastor S.S.Jemigbon

PSA 33:6 says, "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth." All creation is the work of the Trinity. God the Father created all things by Jesus Christ. This psalm says that creation was done by the Holy Spirit. In Gen1:2,we read, "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." I find it abominable to say, "I believe in God the Father, maker of heaven and earth." The Scriptures do not teach this. God did not make the heavens and the earth. He created them. The difference is that you make something out of something. Creation means to bring something forth out of nothing.

In this sense, all that is in the universe is included. PSA 50 (10-12) says: "For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof." Certainly, all these things were created for their mutual glory, but there is also a special treasure in which the Father, Son and Holy Spirit have mutual joy. 2TI 2:19 says: "Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." This distinguishes those who are Christ’s. They are those who have repented. They are those who have had a change of heart, who desire to live to the glory of God. It is a selfish religion that only seeks to escape the consequences of sin.

Through our marriage union with Christ, we come into a relationship with the Father. We have alienated ourselves from God. This is what took place in the Fall. We are citizens of this nation, but we have gone to another nation and joined it. We alienated ourselves from the Lord and from His kingdom and from his service and have become citizens of the world by nature. GAL 4:4-7 says:"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

(To be continued)

Pastor S.S. Jemigbon,
Tel: 01-7741673,
01-4966033,
01-4965264.
E-Mail: taclawna@hyperia.com