Devo: "Foundations of Understanding Death, Part 1"
Foundations of Understanding Death, Part 1
Our God is working to redeem and make everything beautiful and good. Two weeks ago, we established our God is inviting us to work with Him in this beautifying work. The first thing our God is working to beautify is our soul, our hearts and minds. God is working in us so that our lives reflect that very image and likeness of Jesus. One of the ways our God is working to beautify our lives and transform us into the likeness of Jesus, is to work with us to turn the adversities of this life into markers of redemption and beauty.
One of the most painful adversities everyone must face at some point in time is death. Our God’s heart is to empower us to work with Him to overcome the effects of death.
What is death?
*It is a condition of separation and decay:
*Physical death: Separation from body: 2 Cor. 5:6-8; Phil. 1:21-24
*Spiritual death: Separation from God: 2 Thes. 1:8,9; Rev.20:14,15
*There is a demonic spirit of death: 1 Cor. 15:24; Rev. 6:8; 20:14;
From where did death come?
*From Man: Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:21
Sin: 1 Corinthians 15:56; Romans 5:12
Why: Adam had authority and he sinned: Genesis 1:26,28; Romans 5:12
Who has the power of death?
*Jesus has the keys of death & Hades: Revelation 1:18
*Keys are used to unlock; but soon there will not be a prison to unlock.
*Death is an enemy of God: 1 Corinthians 15:24-26
*It will be the last enemy to subjected to Jesus: Hebrews 2:8
*Death will be totally subjected to Jesus after the resurrection and judgment: Rev. 20:14; 1 Cor. 15:54-ff
*The devil currently has the power of death, but: Hebrews 2:14
*Jesus has and is working to make it powerless: 2 Tim. 1:10; Acts 2:24
What does that mean for Us?
*Jesus came to deliver us out of this world and age: Galatians 1:4
*Satan & cohorts’ rule: Jn.12:31; 14:30; 16:11; 2 Cor. 4:4; 1 Jn. 5:19
*B.C. people were stuck in this world and age: Psalm 89:47-48
*Jesus has shut the door on spiritual death: Jn. 11:24,25; Rom. 8:10
*He will shut the door on physical death: Rom. 8:11; 1 Cor. 15:21
*We win: To be absent from our bodies is to be with the Lord: Phil.1:21-24; 2 Cor. 5:6-8