Joy in Death
My dear friend, Pastor Bob O'Bannon, prepared 3 sermons on Joy (related to difficulties and trials) as follows:
Joy in Suffering (Philippians 1:27-30)
Joy in Death (Phil 1:18-26)
Joy in Trials (Philippians 1:12-18)
Notes from his second sermon, Joy in Death, are below.
Joy in Death
Overall
The wages of sin is death - - - all will die (with the exception of the rapture and 2 people in the Bible)
So - - What is your personal mission statement in life?
Paul's life motto is this: - 1:21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
What is the way to live?
Paul is facing an upcoming trial where he may be executed as a result of his minsitry.
Paul is struggling with what will happen - - will he die soon or to continue living?
Paul decides he will live in v25 (next point)- - why? only for the good of others since dying would be much better...
Verse 25 - Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.
So - - - Paul lives for Jesus - v20 - 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
What do we think about when we consider our death? Undoubtedly, for me, it's selfish (how many people will come to the funeral?)- - but Paul only thought of exalting Christ!
There is a certainty in this life - - we will die.... SO - - Do we think about death?
Today, we think too much about what's unimportnat and too little on what's important.
Because we're still alive - - God has a purpose for you!
Your not too old, too disabled, too anything - - God has a purpose for you!
SO - - live like Paul - - live in a way that exalts Christ and makes a difference in the lives of others!
What is the way to die?
1. There is no "purgatory" because Paul says when he dies, he will be immediatley ushered into the presence of Christ (Purgatory is a Catholic term for a place where "leftover" sins are purged away.) The Bible says in Hebrews 10:10 - that we receive the righteousness in Christ by His work on the Cross. If we receive his righteousness - - how can there be leftover sins - - we either have the righteousness of Christ or we do not - - period....
2. We must reject reincarnation also. (Reincarnation is where a human soul passes through more than one bodily existence so the person has the ability to make things right. Reincarnation is a judgnent not a reward because you didnt get it right the first time you have to pass through another body!)
Consider what Paul says - - - effectively he says, when we die our souls go immediately to be with Christ! Verse 23 - - - 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
3. We anticpate the resurrection of the body - So - when we die, our soul goes to heaven; our body to the grave - - but later, when Jesus comes again, the resurrection of the body will happen and it will be reunited with the soul: - - this is called GLORIFICATION!
Phil 3:20-21 - 20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Romans 8:23 - 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
4. We are certain what will happen to us at death!
To die is GAIN for the Christian!
1 John 5:13 - 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
When we grasp this - - we are empowered to live in a new way!
Death only does one thing for the Christian - - it can usher you into the presence of Jesus - - and that's it!
