Messages with Meaning


Sermons delivered at Sanlando Springs by Pastor Jack Parrott

Death is Not What it Used to Be

I Corinthians 15:50-56
Presented on March 23, 2008, © Dr. Jack Parrott
I. Introduction

  1. Three types of death mentioned in the New Testament:
    1. Physical death
    2. Spiritual death
    3. Eternal death
  2. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead changes death forever.
    Death is not what it used to be.
II. Physical death is not fatal
  1. Death destroys the body, but not the soul. In physical death our soul is separated from our body, but because of the power of the resurrection given to us in Christ we have the hope that even though the earthly body dies we shall live again. This is the message of Easter. See Romans 8:10
  2. In the resurrection believers will be given a new permanent body (built to last) because of God's righteousness. (I Corinthians 15.53, Phillips) "This decaying part of us must put on the body that can never decay, and this part once capable of dying must put on the body that can never die." See 2 Corinthians 5:1.
  3. Death, the great destroyer, is itself destroyed in the resurrection of Christ. Death has lost its sting.
III. Spiritual death is not final
  1. The reality of death is undeniable. Baring the return of Christ, everyone is going to die. Scripture says there is another universal reality that is equally true: outside of a relationship with Jesus Christ, every person is separated from God by our sin. We are spiritually dead. See Romans 5:12 and Romans 6:23
  2. Because of God's love and grace we are given the opportunity while we are alive to turn to Christ and be made alive through the Holy Spirit. See John 5:25.
IV. Eternal death is not future
  1. If we reject the love of Christ in this life, when we die and face the judgment of God we will be forever separated from God. This is eternal death or what the Bible calls "the second death." See 2 Thessalonians 1:9 and Revelation 20:14
  2. we are making this eternal decision right now. Christ has already told us what he wants for us. We must tell him what we want. See John 3:16-21
  3. As someone who is rejecting God's love and forgiveness, we stand condemned to eternal separation from God. It isn't that we will be condemned or that we could be condemned. We are condemned from day one because we reject God naturally. We must believe and turn to Christ if we are to escape God's judgment. See John 5:24 and Romans 8:1.
V. Conclusion
The death of Jesus on the cross and his resurrection three days later has changed death forever:
    1. In place of the torment of eternal death in hell Jesus raises us and ushers us into the joys of heaven.
    2. In place of the separation of spiritual death Jesus gives us the privilege of becoming the children of God by being born-again.
    3. In place of the decay of physical death Jesus promises us glorious bodies suited for an ever-lasting life in the kingdom of God.


    Click here to return and select other messages



    Don't miss out! Joint us at our services to get ALL the Word!

    Click here for details about our Worship Services