Death and life

by Mike Ratliff

1 And you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom we all also formerly conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. Ephesians 2:1-3 (LSB) 

I have been to many funerals in my 72 years. The hard ones are for those who were young and it seemed that they had not had the time to do anything in this life. Of course the hardest ones are of those we were sure were not believers. On the other hand, there have been those who were Christians who we served with for many years and some who came to the Lord as they neared their end. For instance, I led my uncle to the Lord the day before he died. What a difference that made at that funeral! Several years ago my nephew Travis developed brain cancer and eventually died from it. He was a good Christian man. I remember his funeral being more of a celebration than something mournful. Also, we had a good friend at our church who battled brain cancer for over  a year and ended up in hospice for several weeks before he died. He was a godly man. His funeral was somewhat sad because we all will miss him, but it was not a tragic thing for us nor for his family for he was much beloved and was a solid Christian leader. At his funeral many shared how his life had impacted them to draw them into a closer walk with the Lord. Yes there was weeping, but not that mournful thing.

The fallen nature of man does not understand death. Depending on culture, some fight to stay alive with their all. The correct understanding of death comes to us from God’s Word. The word death is used in three different ways in Sacred Scripture. The first is spiritual death, which is separation from God (Ephesians 2:1,2). Then, of course, there is physical death (Hebrews 9:27). Then there is eternal death, which is referred to as “the second death” in Revelation 20:11-15). While many would consider the topic of death to be a subject to be avoided, it is vital for us to have a clear understanding of all three manifestations in biblical terminology so that we will have a better foundation for sharing the Good News.

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (LSB)

The Greek word translated “death” in this passage is θανατος. It is pronounced thanatos. It refers to either physical or spiritual death. On the other hand, the word he used for death in Ephesians 2:1 (above) is νεκρους, which is pronounced nekros. This word also refers to either physical or spiritual death so we must determine Paul’s meaning from the context. At the fall, Genesis 3, all three aspects of death came with it. Before the fall, Adam was not subject to any form of death, but through his sin, death became a grim reality for the entire human race. The death Paul refers to in Romans 6:23 are spiritual death as well as eternal death, but not physical death. The wages of sin is separation from God both in the temporal and the eternal. However, Paul also gives us two absolutes about the reality of death and life in God’s economy. The first is that spiritual death and eternal separation from God are the wages for every person’s slavery to sin. However, the good news is that we have a second absolute, which is that eternal life is a free gift God gives undeserving sinners who believe in His Son (Ephesians 2:8-10).

Physical death is something none of can quite get our minds around. I have been to plenty of funerals of relatives and have lost friends to this enemy as well as I shared above. This also entered into the world at the fall.

 27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. Hebrews 9:27-28 (LSB)

The Greek word the writer of Hebrews used that is translated here as “to die” is αποθανειν, pronounced apothanen. In this context, it must refer to physical death. Therefore, this death takes a person from the temporal into the eternal.

The last form of death is the worst, for those who enter in to it will be there eternally.

11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sits upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 Then I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them, and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:11-15 (LSB) 

The word John used for death in v14 referring to the “second death” is θανατος, however, when describing “the dead” in vv12-13 he used νεκρους. The key for us my brethren is v15. Who is thrown into the lake of fire, which is the second death? Those whose names are not written in the book of life were thrown into the eternal flame. On the other hand, those not thrown in do have their names in this book. This book of ζωης or zoes or life contains all of the names of those who have believed God like Abraham, and who have believed in God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Until we too succumb to physical death, let us eagerly share our faith with all who will hear. We should gently lead them to see their sin and separation from God as well as the only way out from under His wrath, which is the way provided by our Lord Jesus on the Cross.

Soli Deo Gloria!