The history of Death

The history of Death In the beginning, God created a world without death. Many have sighted the reality of death as an argument against the existence of a loving God.   But their argument is flawed.   God didn't create death.   A perfect God wouldn't do such a thing.   When God finished creating the world, the Bible says: "And God saw that it was good."   Genesis 1:25 Death is not part of God's original creation; the desire that we should die is not an inherent part of His personality, nor is it His will. "Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked."   Ezekiel 33:11 "The Lord is...not willing that any should perish."   2 Peter 3:9 "He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living."   Mark 12:27 No, death did not originate with God.   Its origin is found elsewhere . . .

Man rebelled against his Creator, necessitating death upon himself. Man became a sinful, rebellious creature and could no longer be allowed to live forever. Immediately after the fall of mankind, God said: "Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever."   Gen. 3:22    Death came as a direct result of man's sin: "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."   Romans 5:12 "The sting of death is sin."   1 Cor. 15:56 "...sin, when it is finished, BRINGETH FORTH DEATH."   James 1:15 Sin brought upon Death, but death puts an end to sin. When man fell, his immediate reaction to his new-found sin nature was to 'coverup' before God: "The eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons."   Gen. 3:7    God, however, seeing their unsatisfactory efforts at 'covering up sin' showed them what would actually be required: "Unto Adam also and to his wife did THE LORD GOD MAKE COATS OF SKINS, and clothed them."   Gen. 3:21 God was setting a precedence.   These "COATS OF SKINS" came off the backs of living animals.   Removing them, cost those animals their lives; and in killing them, God established this fact: "For the wages of sin is DEATH..." Rom. 6:23 "Without SHEDDING OF BLOOD is no remission [forgiveness]."   Heb. 9:22 Death is the only 'coverage' for sin that God will approve; it's the only payment He will accept.   The Bible clearly teaches that, "THE SOUL THAT SINNETH, IT SHALL DIE" (Ezek. 18:20).   God's holiness DEMANDS payment for sin.    However, God, not desiring that mankind should perish, is willing to accept a substitute on his behalf.   That's why He told the children of Israel that He was willing to accept, "For his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, A LAMB or a kid of the goats, for A SIN OFFERING."   Lev. 5:6 So throughout Jewish history, the Jews sacrificed lambs and bullocks as instructed by God.   He wanted to continuously remind them, as a people, that: "...without SHEDDING OF BLOOD is no remission [forgiveness of sins]" (Heb. 9:22).   However, these sacrifices could only 'roll back' sin, postponing God's wrath and eternal judgment. Mankind needed a permanent solution, one that would forever reconcile him back to

his Creator.   And one day HE ARRIVED!   When John the Baptist saw Christ approaching him, he said something that should have made something click within the mind of every Jew present that day.   John announced: "Behold THE LAMB OF GOD, which TAKETH AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD."   John 1:29 Christ's death and shed blood on the cross puts an end to sin, and thus, an end to death. Jesus is God's sacrificial lamb, the permanent solution to man's sin problem.   The Bible says of Christ: "But this man, after he had offered ONE SACRIFICE FOR SINS FOR EVER, sat down on the right hand of God."   Heb. 10:12 "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."   Rom. 5:8-9 "THE STING OF DEATH IS SIN; and the strength of sin is the law.   But thanks be to God, which giveth us THE VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST" (1 Cor. 15:56-57).    "For the wages of sin is death; BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE [HEAVEN] through Jesus Christ our Lord."   Rom. 6:23 "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...For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by ONE MAN, JESUS CHRIST, hath abounded unto many."   Rom. 5:12- 15 If we place our TRUST SOLELY IN CHRIST'S DEATH, AND SHED BLOOD, our sins will be paid for, and we'll be allowed in Heaven.   The Bible says: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus [i.e. REPENT], and shalt believe in thine heart [i.e. TRUST] that God hath raised him FROM THE DEAD, THOU SHALT BE SAVED" (Rom. 10:9). The choice is ours.   WE DON'T HAVE TO DIE.   We can have eternal life, if we repent and receive God's free gift of salvation: "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord SHALL BE SAVED."   Rom. 10:13 Death doesn't have to be a normal part of living; it was never meant to be in the first place.   That's why God provided a Saviour.   That's why God entreats us to accept that Saviour, Jesus Christ:    "Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have NO PLEASURE IN THE DEATH of the wicked; but that the wicked TURN FROM HIS WAY AND LIVE: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; FOR WHY WILL YE DIE, O house of Israel?" Ezek. 33:11

IF you were to die today, are you 100% SURE
you would go to Heaven?   The Bible says
YOU CAN BE SURE (1 John 5:13).

BUT FIRST, you must realize that what keeps you from going to Heaven are your sins, because:
"...your iniquities [sins] have separated between you and your God," Isaiah 59:2.
In fact, in God's eyes YOU ARE A SINNER: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Romans 3:23.

SECONDLY, you must realize that there is NOTHING you can do to save yourself and earn Heaven: "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."   Eph. 2:8-9   Baptism, good deeds, church membership, self-righteousness are all examples of good works that cannot save you, because: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he [Christ] saved us," Titus 3:5.

THE ONLY WAY you can get saved is through Jesus Christ.   He said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."   (John 14:6)   THAT'S WHY: "...while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."   (Rom. 5:8-9)

THEREFORE: You must REPENT (change your mind); admit that you are a Hell deserving sinner and can't save yourself.   And call upon Christ, and Him alone, to save you.   "if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus [REPENT], and shalt believe in thine heart [TRUST] that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."   Romans 10:9

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