On Death and Dying

By Pastor Walt Scott, Let Go and Soar Ministry

‘Fear not, Christian brothers and sisters!’ This was actually the first thought that came to my mind after God told me to write this. My second thought was that this was much easier to say and think than to accept. But this is God’s ultimate truth and promise to us. Overcome the fear and apprehension with belief and faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We can and will receive eternal life in heaven.

Now, about death and dying-- they are actually two very different realities. One starts right where the other stops. This is how I see them, and you may see them quite differently. To non-Christians or Christians, dying is the process by which we stop breathing, our heart stops beating and we physically cease to be alive. This can be instantaneous or take a lifetime, and have multiple causes. Age is not a factor. When we cease to be physically alive, this is called death. We don’t usually know when, where or how. Non-Christians have various opinions that there is nothing after that, or a variety of religions have us going to some other after-life or spiritual existence.

As Christians, we understand that the body without the spirit is dead. Through belief and faith in the teachings of God and His son Jesus Christ, which are all found in the Bible, we will all inherit eternal life in heaven with the Father and Son, as co-heirs in His Kingdom.

1 Cor. 15:21-23

²¹ For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. ²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. ²³ But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

1 Cor. 15:54-56

⁵⁴ When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

⁵⁵ “Where, O death, is your victory?
    Where, O death, is your sting?”

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

Read Romans 5-8, and especially note--6:3, 4, 5, 23, 8:11-14  37-39:

ROMANS 5

Death through Adam, life through Christ

ROMANS 6

³ Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. ⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.

Cross references:

1. Romans 6:3 : S Mt 28:19
2. Romans 6:4 : S ver 6
3. Romans 6:4 : S Ac 2:24
4. Romans 6:4 : Ro 7:6; S 2Co 5:17; Eph 4:22-24; Col 3:10
5. Romans 6:5 : ver 4, 8; Ro 8:11; 2Co 4:10; Eph 2:6; Php 3:10, 11; Col 2:12; 3:1; 2Ti 2:11

²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

ROMANS 8

¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

¹² Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20

Moses said to the Israelites:

¹⁹ This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live ²⁰ and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Hebrews 2:14-15

¹⁴ Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— ¹⁵ and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

Ecclesiastes 7:1-2

A good name is better than fine perfume,
    and the day of death better than the day of birth.
² It is better to go to a house of mourning
    than to go to a house of feasting,
for death is the destiny of everyone;
    the living should take this to heart.

Proverbs 14:12

¹² There is a way that appears to be right,
    but in the end it leads to death.

2 Timothy 1:10

Paul Spoke to Timothy:

¹⁰ but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

1 John 5:16-18

¹⁶ If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. ¹⁷ All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.

¹⁸ We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.

Psalm 116:15

¹⁵ Precious in the sight of the Lord
    is the death of his faithful servants.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
² He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
³ He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

Revelation 14:13

¹³ Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”

“Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”

What I am trying to convey to anyone with any apprehension, large or small, of the life process of dying and or death, relax. Have confidence. Enjoy life, take care of yourself, and serve our God to the best of your ability. If you are a Christian, those verses should fortify you. If you are not a Christian, you should consider what Jesus Christ can do for you, learn about Him, and speak to Christians. We are all mortal and share the fact that our bodies will someday wear out. I do not believe that any of us actually die. Our bodies cease functioning and our spirits leave. Where we go from there is our free will choice. Let’s all have the guarantee of a celebration of our future life in the Kingdom of Heaven.

God bless and keep you all.

Walter C. Scott