Death and the Intermediate State
The Reality of Death
The Wages of Sin
Description
Death entered the world through sin—by one man sin entered, and death by sin. It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment. Death is the separation of soul from body, the dissolution of our earthly tent. Yet for the believer, death has lost its sting. Christ has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. For the Christian, death is gain—to depart and be with Christ is far better. The last enemy to be destroyed is death itself, which will be swallowed up in victory at the resurrection.
Key Verses
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.