A Look at Death through the Eyes of a Believer

by Thomas Miles
Published October 13, 2005

Death comes to all people, Christian and non-Christian alike. At no moment in life is the difference between Christian and non-Christian customs more diverse than in the interpretation of death. I would like to take a look at death from a Christian perspective.

Part One of Three:

Death is something that happens to humans. It makes no difference if we are Christian or non-Christian. Our bodies age and wear out. Sometimes we are involved in accidents that end in death. Disease often brings death to both Christian and non-Christian. One of the most diverse topics in human life deals with death and how it is viewed by the different cultures. I would like to present a look at the Christian perspective of death.

Genesis 3:3 “but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'"

Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.”

Romans 6:21 “What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.”

Romans 6:22 “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Ezekiel 18:4 “For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son--both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die.”

1. What is the situation or setting we find in Genesis 3:3?

We find that God had just finished creating the universe, the earth, and everything on or above the earth. Most importantly we find that God had just finished creating human life. God was also giving the life He created instructions as to how to live. God was asking for obedience from His creation.

2. How was man created? What could happen to change man's world?

Man was created without sin and there was no death. Man's world at this time was one of perfection. If man ate of the forbidden fruit a change would take place removing eternal life as God created. And we also find it very interesting that in Genesis 3:3 it says if the fruit were touched death would occur. So sin was not just in the action of eating the fruit but also in touching the fruit. In other words, God's Word must be obeyed totally; any violation of God's Word would bring death. God was setting a precedent for man to follow and that was simply obey Him and enjoy a full and wonderful life of never wanting or needing anything.

3. When sin entered the world through Adam and Eve what exactly took place?

When Adam & Eve sinned it brought into the world pain, sorrow, and death. Man now knew the feeling of heartache, he now knew what it was like to feel pain, man was now out of God's will.

4. Why do people die according to the scriptures we have read?

People die because of disease, accidents, and even self-inflicted death. God turned man over to the world when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden. With this came totally human life/death. Because of sin people die. God did not create man to die. Through sin though we brought death upon ourselves. And through love God gave us another chance at eternal life through Christ Jesus His only begotten son.

5. How should we as believers look upon the death of our loved ones and how should we look upon our impending death?

When God first created man He created him to live forever. God gave man everything he could ever want or need. Man though faced temptation and lost. When tempted and lied to man disobeyed his Creator and sinned. It makes no difference if it is our own death or the death of another it is caused by man's initial sin and our only hope is to find salvation through the cross of Christ. Purchased by the blood of Jesus is our ultimate deliverance from death.

Note, this is part one, two more will follow.

Viewed 489 times