THE REALITY OF DEATH

"Wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Romans 5:12

We have an appointment with physical death because we have sinned against God, but we do not have an appointment with Spiritual Death unless we should die in a sinful state. I am Charles Burke, a minister in Sedona, Arizona. Let me illustrate the characteristics of death both physical and Spiritual so that we can learn more about the greatness of our own divine nature of life.

THE NATURE OF DEATH

I. Physical death is the separation of our Soul and Spirit from our physical body. "The body (the physical body) shall return to the earth as it was: and the Spirit and Soul shall return unto God who gave them. For as the body (the fleshly body) without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." Ecclesiastes 12:7, James 2:27

II. Spiritual Death is the separation of our Spiritual Body, and our Eternal Eternal Soul and Spirit from the Lord our God. "Fear not them which kill the body (the physical body), but are not able to kill the soul (the inner Man): but rather fear him (God) who is able to destroy (to punish) both soul and body (Spiritual Body) in hell." Matthew 10:28

THE REASONS FOR DEATH

I. Sin causes physical death. "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." Genesis 2:17

Now, we do inherit from Adam and Eve a physical body which has the curse of death pronounced upon it. Therefore, we don't inherit from Adam and Eve an Eternal Soul and Spirit which has the curse of Spiritual Death pronounced upon them because we must die physically in a state of sin before our Soul and Spirit will have the curse of Eternal Death pronounced upon them.

II. Sin will bring about Spiritual Death. "The soul (the person) that sinneth, he shall die (a Spiritual Death). The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. For the wages (the dividends) of sin is death (Spiritual Death), but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Ezekiel 18:20, Romans 6:23

Now, Spiritual Death is a conditional state because we must live and die in a state of sin. Therefore, we are only responsible for our own acts and deeds which we do in this life.

THE REALITY OF DEATH

I. In being a New Testament Christian, we have an appointment with physical death because that is the law of God. "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Hebrews 9:27

Now, when we are born into the world, God appoints unto us a day in which we must die in a physical way. That day can be determined by the acts and deeds which we do upon the earth. Therefore, Spiritual Death will come to those who are in rebellion against God after the day of judgment because they will have to spend eternity separated from the Lord our God.

II. In being a new creature in Christ, we do not have an appointment with Spiritual Death because our Lord abolished Spiritual Death for us. "Who (God) hath save us (through Christ), and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ who hath abolished death (Spiritual Death for the righteous), and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel". 2 Timothy 1:9-10

Now, we must die in a physical way because that is the law of God. However, we do have to die in a Spiritual Way because we can accept the terms of the gospel plan of salvation. Therefore, we can made preparations for the coming judgment and be prepared to meet our God.

PREPARING FOR DEATH

I. If we will obey the gospel of Christ, we will be prepared for physical death. "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death (Spiritual Death), or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine (the gospel of Christ), which was delivered unto you. Being then made from from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness" (being prepared to meet God in judgment). Romans 6:16-18

II. If we are seeking to save the lost, we will be prepared for physical death. "When I say unto the wicked, thou shalt surely die, and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will require at thine hand; Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which convereth the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death (Spiritual Death), and shall hide a multitude of sins." Ezekiel 3:18-19, Galatians 6:1, James 5:19-20

Now, the Lord wants us who are spiritual to evangelize the world which is lost in sin because God would have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Thus, the Lord want us to convert out brother who has been overtaken in a fault because we could save a soul from spiritual death. Therefore, if we will try to save the lost, we will be prepared for the coming judgment.

III. If we are living a godly life upon the earth, we will be prepared for physical death. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and world lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." Titus 2:11-13

Now, it is the will of God that we live a righteous life upon the earth because we have been created and redeemed for that very purpose in life. Therefore, if we will live a God-fearing life upon the earth, we will be prepared for physical death and the judgment to come.

THE RESULTS OF DEATH

I. If we are unrighteous, Spiritual Death is a curse because we would have to exist eternally with the Devil and his angels in hell. "And to you which are troubles rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9

II. If we are righteous, physical death is a blessing because we can live eternally with the Lord our God in heaven. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their words do follow them." Psalm 116:15, Philippians 1:21, Revelation 14:13

THE CONCLUSION

I. We have an appointment with physical death because we have received from Adam and Eve a physical body which has the curse of death (physical death) pronounced up it.

II. We do not have an appointment with Spiritual Death because we can obey the gospel of Christ and be prepared for that world which is to come.

THE BEING OF OUR LIFE #6

If you will study the following disclosure of life, you will discern the preciousness of your own being of life because you in being a New Testament Christian possess a created and a redeemed nature of life. For instance:

WE MUST KNOW THE LORD GOD WHO IS OUR CREATOR
AND
WE MUST KNOW THE LORD GOD WHO IS OUR RULER

The Bible says, "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord (Ruler) of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring (the sons) of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and mans's device." Acts 17:24,29

I. Is the Lord God the being of three equal Persons who are called the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit in being our Creator?

A. The Lord God is the being of the three equal Persons who are called the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit in being our Creator because the Lord God in being the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit created our own divine nature of life free of sin. Moses said concerning our own creation of life, "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. John said concerning those three Persons who equally are called the Lord God in being our Creator, "For there are three (Persons) that bear record (of our creation) in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit: and these three (Persons) are one" (equal) in power, rule authority because They equally possess the same Personage, Powers, Nature and Attributes of the one and only Lord God in reference to Their Own Individual Nature of life. Genesis 2:7, 1 John 5:7

B. Equality signifies that those three Persons who are called the Lord God in being the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit are equal in power, rule and authority because They equally possess the same Personage, Powers, Nature and Attributes of the one and only Lord God in matters of Their Own Individual Being of life. *Personage means possessing a Spiritual Body, and an Eternal Soul and Spirit. *Powers signify being Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent. *Nature reveals being eternal, impartial, perfect, spiritual and etc. *Attributes indicate being lovable, righteous, merciful, faithful and etc.

II. Why should we learn that the Lord God is being of three equal Persons who are called the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit in being our Creator?

Now, we should learn that the Lord God is being of three equal Persons who are called the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit in being our Creator because we possess the Divine Characteristics of the Lord God who is the being of three equal Persons that are called the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit in matters of our own creation of life. This makes us to be a god in matters of our own creation of life because we are the offspring of God. Our Lord said, "It is written in your law, I said, Ye (created men) are gods. If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken." John 10:34-35 Therefore, since we are a god in matters of our own creation of life, this greatly magnifies the whole being of our own created nature of life because in that world which is to come we can become a Family Member of that God-Family who lives in heaven. Paul said concerning the Name of God, "Of whom (God) the whole family in heaven and earth is named." Ephesians 3:15

WE MUST KNOW THE LORD GOD WHO IS THE FATHER OF CHRIST THE LORD
AND
WE MUST KNOW CHRIST THE LORD WHO IS THE SON OF THE LORD GOD

The Bible says, "And I (the Lord God) will put enmity between thee and and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; he (Christ the Lord) shall bruise thy head, and thou (the Devil) the shalt bruise his heel. For unto you is born this day in the city of David as Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. Blessed be the God and Father (Originator) of our Lord Jesus Christ. What think ye of Christ, Whose Son (Offspring) is he?' Genesis 3:15, Luke 2:11, Ephesians 1:3, Matthew 22:42

I. What is the meaning of the Father and the Son Relationship which exist between the Lord God and Christ the Lord?

Now, the Father and the Son Relationship which exist between the Lord God and Christ the Lord is the being of a Father-head Figure and an Offspring Status Relationship instead of being two Person because the Lord God (a God-Person) was born Christ the Lord (a God-Man) upon the earth so that He could do the Divine Work of human redemption. This enabled those three God-Persons, who are called the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit in being our Creator, to equally make Themselves to work and rule in the Title Name of Christ the Lord in being called the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit so that They could be our Redeemer. This was achieved because "The Lord (God) said unto my Lord (Christ), sit thou on my right hand, until I make the foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that the Lord God (who was the being of the Father and the Holy Spirit in heaven) hath made that same Jesus (who was the Incarnated Word upon the earth), whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." Jesus (who was made both Lord and Christ in being our Redeemer) said concerning those three Persons who equally would be called Christ the Lord in matters of our own redemption of life, "Go teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:34-36, Matthew 28:18-20 Therefore, the Father and the Son Relationship which exist between the Lord God and Christ the Lord is the being of a Father-head Figure and an Offspring Status Relationship instead of being two Persons because the Reign of the Lord God brought the Reign of Christ the Lord into being upon the earth so that sinful man could be redeemed.

II. Why should we learn that the Father and the Son Relationship which exist between the Lord God and Christ the Lord is the being of a Father-head Figure and an Offspring Status Relationship instead of being two Persons?

Now, we should learn that the Father and the Son Relationship which exist between the Lord God and Christ the Lord is the being of a Father-head Figure and an Offspring Status Relationship instead of being two Person because the Lord God and Christ the Lord are the two Title Names in which three Persons who equally are working and ruling in matters of our own creation and redemption of life. Therefore, the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit are the three Persons who equally are called the Lord God in being our Creator; whereas those same three Persons are equally made to be work and rule in the Tile Name of Christ the Lord in being called the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit so that that They can be our Redeemer. "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. For there are three (Persons) that bear record (of our creation) in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit: and these three (Persons) are one" (equal) in power, rule and authority. "Go teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Colossians 3:1, 1 John 5:7, Matthew 28:18-20

WE MUST KNOW CHRIST THE LORD WHO IS OUR REDEEMER
AND
WE MUST KNOW CHRIST THE LORD WHO IS OUR RULER



The Bible says, "The Lord (God) said unto my Lord (Christ), Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that the Lord God (who was the being of the Father and the Holy Spirit in heaven) hath made that same Jesus (who was the Incarnated Word upon the earth), whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." Jesus (who was made both Lord and Christ in being our Redeemer) said concerning those three Persons who equally would be called Christ the Lord in matters of our own redemption of life, "Go teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Paul said, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creatures: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." Acts 2:34-36, Matthew 28:18-20, 2 Corinthians 5:17

I. Is Christ the Lord the being of three equal Persons who are called the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in being our Redeemer?

A. Christ the Lord is the being of three equal Persons who are called the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in being our Redeemer because Christ the Lord in being the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit redeemed our own divine nature of life from the guilt of sin. This is why we in being an alien sinner must be baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins by being baptized in the name (the authority) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit so that we can become a New Testament Christian. Our Lord said concerning those three Persons who equally would be called Christ the Lord in being our Redeemer, "Go teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Paul said, "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Matthew 28:18-20, Galatians 3:27

B. Equality signifies that those three Persons who are called Christ the Lord in being the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are equal in power, rule and authority because They equally possess the same Personage, Powers, Nature and Attributes of the one and only Christ the Lord in matters of Their Own Individual Being of life. *Personage means possessing a Spiritual Body, and an Eternal Soul and Spirit. *Powers signify being Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent. *Nature reveals being eternal, impartial, perfect, spiritual and etc. *Attributes indicate being lovable, righteous, merciful, faithful and etc.

II. Why should we learn that Christ the Lord is the being of three equal Persons who are called the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in being our Redeemer?

Now, we should learn that Christ the Lord is the being of three equal Persons who are called the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in being our Redeemer because we possess the Divine Characteristics of Christ the Lord who is the being of three equal Persons that are called the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in matters of our own creation of life. This makes us to be a divine person in matters of our own redemption of life because we can become a partaker of the Divine Nature of God in our Heavenly Home. Peter said, "God hath given unto us many exceeding great and precious promises; that by these (promises) ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption (the pollution) that is in the world through lust." 2 Peter 1:4 Therefore, since we are a divine person in matters of our own redemption of life, this highly amplifies the total sum of our own divine nature of life because in that world which is to come we will be called by the Name of God. Our Lord said, "Him that overcometh (the forces of evil) will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name." Revelations 3:12

THE CONCLUSION

I. The Lord God is the being of three equal Persons who are called the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit in being our Creator because the Lord God in being the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit created our own divine nature of life free of sin.

II. The Father and the Son Relationship which exist between the Lord God and Christ the Lord is the being of a Father-head Figure and an Offspring Status Relationship instead of being two Persons because those three God-Persons, who are called the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit in being our Creator, equally made Themselves to work and rule in the Title Name of Christ the Lord in being called the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit so that They could be our Redeemer.

III. Christ the Lord is the being of three equal Persons who are called the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in being our Redeemer because Christ the Lord in being the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit redeemed our own divine nature of life from the guilt of sin.

IV. The Lord God and Christ the Lord are the two Title Names in which three Persons who equally are working and ruling in matters of our own creation and redemption of life because we have been created and redeemed by three equal Persons who are called the Lord God and Christ the Lord in being our Creator and our Redeemer so that in that world which is to come we can become equal (having power, rule and authority) with Them.

A. We will become equal (having power, rule and authority) with those three Persons who equally are called the Lord God and Christ the Lord in being our Creator and our Redeemer because in heaven we will possess Their Spiritual Personage of life which will be a Spiritual Body, and an Eternal Soul and Spirit in matters of Our Own Individual Nature of life. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is sown a nature body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. Who (our Lord) shall change our vile body (our fleshly body), that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body (His Spiritual Body), according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. And as we have borne the image of the earthy (the earthy man who possesses a physical body, and an Eternal Soul and Spirit), we shall also bear the image of the heavenly" (the Spiritual Person who has a Spiritual Body, and an Eternal Soul and Spirit). 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 1 Corinthians 15:44, Philippians 3:21,1 Corinthians 15:49

B. We will become equal (having power, rule and authority) with those three Persons who equally are called the Lord God and Christ the Lord in being our Creator and our Redeemer because in heaven we will possess Their Divine Powers of life in reference to Our Own Individual Being of Life. "If we suffer, we shall also reign (rule) with him (the Lord our God). If we deny him, he also will deny us. To him that overcometh (the forces of evil) will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. And to him will I give power over the nations. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And they shall reign (rule) for ever and ever" (over the powers of Satan). 2 Timothy 2:12, Revelation 3:21, Revelation 2:26-27, Revelation 22:5

C. We will become equal (having power, rule and authority) with those three Persons who equally are called the Lord God and Christ the Lord in being our Creator and our Redeemer because in heaven we will possess Their Divine Nature of life in matters of Our Own Individual Nature of life. "It is written in your law, I said, Ye (created men) are gods. If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scriptures can not be broken. God has given unto us many exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Him that overcometh (the powers of Satan) will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. Of whom (God) the whole family in heaven and earth is named." John 10:34-35, 2 Peter 1:4, Revelation 3:12, Ephesians 3:15

D. We will become equal (having power, rule and authority) with those three Persons who equally are called the Lord God and Christ the Lord in being our Creator and our Redeemer because in heaven we will possess Their Divine Attributes of life in reference to Our Own Individual Being of life. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Be ye also merciful, as your Father also is merciful. He that overcometh (the powers of sin), the same shall be clothed in white raiment (having his Divine Attributes Perfected): and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angles. For there shall in no wise enter into it (the Heavenly City) any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." Matthew 5:48, Luke 6:36, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 21:27

E. We will become equal (having power, rule and authority) with those three Persons who equally are called the Lord God and Christ the Lord in being our Creator and our Redeemer because in heaven we will possess Their Immortality of life in matters of Our Own Individual Nature of life. "Which in his times he shall shew who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords: Who only hath immortality (the Lord in all of His Power and Glory only has immortality, but the Lord has promised to give unto us those same Spiritual Blessings of Immortality), dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. To them (the Christians) who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life." 1 Timothy 6:15-16, Romans 2:7

THE APPLICATION

I. We can't Scripturally make a centralized head (a ranked hierarchy) to rule in the New Testament Church because we are all equal in matters of our own creation and redemption of life. This is why the clergy and the laity class of people can not Scripturally exist in the New Testament Church because no one redeemed person can Scripturally rule a congregation of the Lord's Church. Therefore, we should not call any redeemed person: Reverend or Father because those are Divine Titles which belong unto the Lord our God (not redeemed man). "Holy and reverend is his name. Call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven." Psalms 111:9, Matthew 23:9

II. We can't Scripturally make any created person to be any greater than we are in a created way, nor can we Scripturally make any created person to be any less than we are in a created way because we are equal in matters of our own creation of life. This is why no one race of people is any greater than another race of people because we are all equal in reference to our own creation of life. Therefore, we should not respect any one person above another person because God is no respecter of persons. "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. If ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors, For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilt of all." Acts 10:34-35, James 2:9-10

III. We can't Scripturally make any redeemed person to be any greater than we are in a redeemed way, nor can we Scripturally make any redeemed person to be any less than we are in a redeemed way because we are all equal in matters of our own redemption of life. This means that no one priest, elder, or bishop has any more power, rule and authority than another priest, elder or bishop because no one redeemed man can Scripturally rule a congregation of the Lord's Church. Each congregation of the New Testament Church is autonomous (self-ruled) because of the equality of our own creation and redemption of life. Therefore, Christ (not a redeemed man) is the head of the Church. "Christ is the head (the ruler) of the church; and he is saviour of the body: the Church." Ephesians 5:23

PLEASE E MAIL ME YOUR RESPONSE TO THESE ARTICLES.

May the Lord continue to bless you and your loved ones.

Charles Burke
 


© Copyright 2000 by Charles Burke. You May Copy And Use Any Of The Above Articles Any Way That You Wish.

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