THE FINAL FEAR: THE FEAR OF DEATH
Hebrews 2:14-15 – 14Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
I. We Are ALL Going to Die
• Death is certain.
Romans 5:12 – Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus DEATH SPREAD TO ALL MEN, because all sinned.
• Life is shorter than we think.
James 4:14 – whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
• Death is not a natural part of life.
1 Corinthians 15:26 – The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.
II. We AVOID Facing the Realities of Death
• It has governed us for a lifetime.
• We put off the planning for our INEVITABLE death.
Isaiah 38:1 – In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.’”
• We prepare for everything except the one date that is certain.
Luke 12:19–20 – 19And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.’ 20But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
III. What We Fear Is What Is Beyond the Grave
• After death comes judgment.
Hebrews 9:27 – And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this THE JUDGMENT.
Romans 14:11-12 – 11For it is written: “As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” 12So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.
• Sin is what gives Death its Sting.
• This is why death carries Dread and not just Sadness. The Bible names the source.
1 Corinthians 15:56 – The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
Romans 3:23 – for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• Death without Christ is not the end – It’s the Second Death.
Revelation 21:8 – But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
IV. We Cannot Fix It Ourselves
• Being good will not fix it.
James 2:10 – For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
Isaiah 64:6 – But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
• Church will not fix it.
Matthew 7:21-23 – 21Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Ephesians 2:8-9 – 8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast.
V. Jesus Did for Us What We COULD NOT DO for Ourselves.
• He entered death on purpose.
Hebrews 2:14 – Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.
Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
• He took the Sin that gives Death its Sting.
2 Corinthians 5:21 – For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 – 3For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
• He was resurrected to prove His sacrifice was accepted.
Revelation 1:17-18 – 17And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”
1 Corinthians 15:55 – “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”
1 Corinthians 15:57 – But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
DEATH WAS NOT CANCELED – IT WAS DISARMED
VI. The Release Gives Us a Verdict, a Home, and a Life.
• The Verdict: No Condemnation!
John 5:24 – Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, AND SHALL NOT COME INTO JUDGMENT, but has passed from death into life.
Romans 8:1 – There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
• A HOME: Death Becomes Gain
Philippians 1:21 – For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
2 Corinthians 5:8 – We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
• A LIFE: Fear No Longer Has to Steer Us
Hebrews 13:6 – So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
Acts 20:24 – But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
WHEN DEATH LOSES ITS HOLD ON US, NOTHING ELSE CAN HOLD US.
VII. His Death Saves Only Those Who Receive It
• You must think differently about Jesus.
Mark 1:15 – and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Acts 16:30-31 – 30And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
• Confess Him as Lord and call on Him.
Romans 10:9-10 – 9That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, YOU WILL BE SAVED. 10For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:13 – For “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord SHALL BE SAVED.”
• There is one way, and the stakes run both directions.
Acts 4:12 – Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
Galatians 2:21 – I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.
John 3:36 – He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.
• Don’t wait! Do it Now!
2 Corinthians 6:2 – For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Proverbs 27:1 – Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.