Come Now and Let Us
Reason Together
About:The Fear
of
Death
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins
be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like
crimson, they shall be as wool." Isaiah 1:18This is God's open invitation to anyone seeking a Bible answer to
questions concerning salvation. In the following conversation we see
someone partaking of God's offer after having heard a Bible preacher's
sermon . . .Preacher, I don't appreciate your scare tactics!
Excuse me, ma'am, but what was it about my sermon that scared you?
You talked about death too much. You were obviously trying to scare the
people who were listening.
Would you have preferred that I didn't mention Death at all?
No, but did you have to mention it so many times?
The Bible does. It's mentioned over 380 times. Jesus Christ Himself had
a lot to say about it.
That may be true, but you should address more the problems we have in
life. People have enough to worry about without having to worry about
death.
Actually, people should think more about death than they do about life.
What?! Why do you say that?
Because anyway you look at it they will spend more time dead than alive.
The Bible clearly bears this out:"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your
life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then
vanisheth away." James 4:14No one knows exactly how long they will live, but compared to eternity it
will only last a moment. That's why it's important to consider where our
souls will spend eternity.The woman was now quiet, the preacher's point had been made but her
reaction was to walk away.Wait! Please don't go. Have you considered where you will spend
eternity?
No, sir, I can't say I have. You see, I've always avoided the thought of
dying. I've always been frightened by it.
Everyone is! It's a very common reaction to fear death. Part of it is
due to the unknown and part of it is because of guilt.
Guilt?
Yes, the guilt that comes from having to face God with our sin. The Bible
says:"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them
who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the
world may become guilty before God." Romans 3:19
We are all under God's law and accountable to it and whether we admit it
or not we have all violated it.
You mean everyone has broken some of the Ten Commandments?
Not just some, we have broken them all!"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point,
he is guilty of all." James 2:10
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Romans 3:23.Our sins have offended a just and holy God and we can't hide our guilty
state from Him. Like the psalmist said:"O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from
thee." Psalm 69:5It is no wonder people fear death since it opens the door to God's wrath
and judgment:"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the
judgment:" Hebrews 9:27.Preacher, you've put your finger on why I'm so afraid of dying.
Well, God's word has some good news for your fearful, guilty state - the
gospel - the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through His
death Christ has conquered the fear of death for us.
How?
By dying in our place. He took our judgment upon Himself. He sacrificed
Himself on our behalf and the result was to:"deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime
subject to bondage." Hebrews 2:15This means that we no longer have to spend the rest of our lives fearing
death if we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.
But why would Christ die for my sins?
That's God's grace in action. Even though we don't deserve it, God offers
forgiveness because of His love."But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by
his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." Romans 5:8-9God hates sin but He loves us and doesn't want us to die lost and end up
in Hell. So Christ suffered God's wrath on our behalf and in doing so the
Bible says:"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the
day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world."
I John 4:17When we trust Christ as Saviour we no longer have to fear judgment at
death. We can have boldness and assurance on that day because our Saviour
took our judgment upon Himself.
Why does it say "as he is, so are we in this world"?
Because when we trust Christ as Saviour we become a child of God (John
1:12) just like Him. We become adopted."For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but
ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba,
Father." Romans 8:15You see, as children of God there is no more fear of condemnation. We can
approach God without fear of judgment. Therefore, there is no more fear
of death. In fact, death means that we will finally go home to be with
our Heavenly Father!
How does one accept Christ as Saviour?
By admitting you're a lost hellbound sinner and repent, turn from
sin toward God, and place your trust in Christ as Saviour.
But how do I know that Christ actually paid for my sins?
Because God says that He did. We have His word. Take it by faith. Trust
in Him when He says it's paid for (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8,9;
Galatians 2:16).
Preacher, thank you. I've learned a lot.
Good, now you see why it's so important to preach about death.
Remember:The real problem is not that life is too short, but that death is
too long. Therefore, you are not truly ready to live until you are
ready to die.The person wanted to know more about GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION so the
preacher showed her the following from God's Word.FIRST THE BAD NEWS:
1. We must realize that we are lost, sinners that are spiritually
dead.
* "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was
lost." Luke 19:10
* "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
Romans 3:23.
* "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
John 3:3
* "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born
of the Spirit is spirit." John 3:6
2. As spiritually dead, lost sinners, God's judgment and wrath
are upon us.
* "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the
judgment:" Hebrews 9:27.
* "For which things' sake [sin] the wrath of God cometh on the
children of disobedience [sinners]:" Colossians 3:6.
3. Our good works can't stop this judgment and wrath. God
demands death as payment for sin.
* "Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8,9
* "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:" Romans
3:10.
* "the soul that sinneth, it shall die." Ezekiel 18:4
* "For the wages of sin is death;" Romans 6:23.NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS!!
4. God is willing to accept someone else's death in our place.
That someone is Jesus Christ.
* "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the
man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be
testified in due time." I Timothy 2:5-6
* "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were
yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
5. Jesus has bought salvation for us and now
God can offer it as a gift by grace.
* "Ye are bought with a price;" I Corinthians
7:23.
* "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and
that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not
of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians
2:8,9
How does someone accept this gift? Through
repentance and faith.
REPENTANCE: means to change your mind
and adapt an attitude of not sinning against God.
FAITH: means to simply take God at His word,
i.e., believe the verses you have just read.
* "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the
Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith
toward our Lord Jesus Christ." Acts 20:21
* "For whosoever shall call upon the name of
the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13
6. Upon being saved and born again
spiritually, we become converted to a new
creature in Christ.
* "And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be
converted, and become as little children, ye shall
not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matthew
18:3
* "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a
new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new." II
Corinthians 5:17For more information please contact:
CALVARY BAPTIST
CHURCH
2030 West Main Street
Valley City, North Dakota 58072
701.845.9220
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