May 9, 2022 DEATH ABOLISHED
2 Timothy 1:9-10 “who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our own works, but according to Him and His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,”1 Corinthians 15:55 “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”
John 11:25 “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even he dies.”
1 Corinthians 15:55 “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is the victory?”
Because man has an inborn survival instinct, death appears to be an enemy, something to be dreaded and feared. Death came as a result of the sin of Adam and Eve; death was not a part of God’s plan for mankind. For certain, when a loved one dies, there is sadness and grief-and that is normal; however, the resurrection of Jesus sheds new light on death. We may see death as being final, or the end; but the resurrection meant that death was no longer final-Jesus abolished death! Jesus brings “life and immortality to light through the gospel.” Man has a narrow view of what life is; he believes that our physical bodies-living and breathing-is life. However, we are spiritual beings; we are not a body with a spirit, but a spirit with a body. Our temporary, physical body will die, BUT the real us-our spirit will live on. The sting of death is taken away when we come to believe that even though we die physically, we live on. The good news that we must not miss is that Jesus gives life; not just when we die-but gives life while we live. Romans 6:11 tells us “And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” When I read this verse, I am reminded that even though we are alive physically, we can in a sense be dead. The life that Spirit of God, the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, is life indeed. The life that He gives is unlike the life of those who do not know Christ; His life is abundant, full, joyful, optimistic, and peaceful-and the list goes on. Experiencing His life takes away boredom, aimlessness, depression, doubt and fear. His life does not exempt us from trials and difficulties, BUT His life causes us to overcome whatever adverse circumstance we face. So, Jesus has abolished death; both the finality of physical death, as well as the type of death one can experience even though he lives physically. If we are in bondage to the fear or death, or if we are not experiencing life to the fullest, let us come to know in our spirit that God is the giver of life; death is not a part of the kingdom of God. When Jesus walked out of the tomb, He conquered death not only for Himself, but for you and I as well. No longer does death have a sting and no longer is the grave the victor.
1 Corinthians 15:53 “For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.”
2 Corinthians 5:1 “For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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