Randy Green's Blog - Posts Tagged "second-death"
Death warmed over
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins...Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh…But God…made us alive together with Christ [Ephesians 2:1-5].
Examine those excerpts from vv.1-5, if you will. Note the three classes of people listed. They are delineated by three different sentences.
The Hebrew Christian Paul the Apostle wrote to the Christians in the city of Ephesus. They were predominantly Gentiles, i.e., non-Jews. He distinguished them from the Jews by employing the word "you". YOU guys were dead in sins!
In the next sentence the Hebrew Paul identified the Jews as also being in like condition of death because of sins. He left off the "you" word and inserted the "us" word. We Jews were likewise dead in our sins, living for the lusts of our flesh.
Both those classes of people were once upon a time born dead to God, born with a sin nature which inclined them to live according to what seemed right in their own eyes. Each person perforce made his/her determinations of right and wrong on the basis of what seemed beneficial to self.
The third class of persons is identified in the third sentence, viz., "But God". Needless to say, but God was not born dead in sins! Truth be told, God wasn't born at all! God is eternal, and He is without sin and is the definition of holy.
So what did Paul teach the Ephesian Christians about God? Well, he taught them that while they were in sin, while they were at war with God—and the Jews too, which incorporates every last person ever on earth as being dead in sins—but God made some people "alive together with Christ".
The "some people" refers to Christians, to those who accept God's offer of salvation in Christ. Such persons are not only "born" in sin: they are also born again in Christ. Since Christ is without sin, those who are in Him are also without sin. The old life of sin has passed away. Behold, all things have become new. Being without sin, we Christians no longer have to pay the penalty of death for our sins. Christ paid the penalty for us on the cross.
We learn from this that some folks are born once and die twice. They are born dead to God and they die again at God's judgment because they refused God's deliverance in His Son Jesus Christ. Other folks are born twice (born again) and die once. They also were born dead to God, but they don't die again at God's judgment because they are in Christ and Christ in their stead.
The Bible uses the words "second death" to depict those who die twice. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire [Revelation 20:14-15].
You see, every person is born dead to God. Some folks receive God's new life through Jesus, and some folks reject Jesus and remain dead to God. When they enter eternity and stand before Him for judgment, their destination is the "second death".
This is not a pleasant topic, and it is not one we should take delight in. But it is the truth, so we should want to warn people of what awaits them on the other side of the curtain. To do so is not to be "judgmental". It is to share the Word of God, which He commands us to do. Nor is it to be callous and hateful to people. Rather, it is to share the love of God given us in Christ Jesus.
Let's be faithful to what the Lord calls us to do. Before we can do so, we must first be born again. Look intently into the mirror of God's Word and allow the Holy Spirit to give you discernment concerning these things.
Examine those excerpts from vv.1-5, if you will. Note the three classes of people listed. They are delineated by three different sentences.
The Hebrew Christian Paul the Apostle wrote to the Christians in the city of Ephesus. They were predominantly Gentiles, i.e., non-Jews. He distinguished them from the Jews by employing the word "you". YOU guys were dead in sins!
In the next sentence the Hebrew Paul identified the Jews as also being in like condition of death because of sins. He left off the "you" word and inserted the "us" word. We Jews were likewise dead in our sins, living for the lusts of our flesh.
Both those classes of people were once upon a time born dead to God, born with a sin nature which inclined them to live according to what seemed right in their own eyes. Each person perforce made his/her determinations of right and wrong on the basis of what seemed beneficial to self.
The third class of persons is identified in the third sentence, viz., "But God". Needless to say, but God was not born dead in sins! Truth be told, God wasn't born at all! God is eternal, and He is without sin and is the definition of holy.
So what did Paul teach the Ephesian Christians about God? Well, he taught them that while they were in sin, while they were at war with God—and the Jews too, which incorporates every last person ever on earth as being dead in sins—but God made some people "alive together with Christ".
The "some people" refers to Christians, to those who accept God's offer of salvation in Christ. Such persons are not only "born" in sin: they are also born again in Christ. Since Christ is without sin, those who are in Him are also without sin. The old life of sin has passed away. Behold, all things have become new. Being without sin, we Christians no longer have to pay the penalty of death for our sins. Christ paid the penalty for us on the cross.
We learn from this that some folks are born once and die twice. They are born dead to God and they die again at God's judgment because they refused God's deliverance in His Son Jesus Christ. Other folks are born twice (born again) and die once. They also were born dead to God, but they don't die again at God's judgment because they are in Christ and Christ in their stead.
The Bible uses the words "second death" to depict those who die twice. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire [Revelation 20:14-15].
You see, every person is born dead to God. Some folks receive God's new life through Jesus, and some folks reject Jesus and remain dead to God. When they enter eternity and stand before Him for judgment, their destination is the "second death".
This is not a pleasant topic, and it is not one we should take delight in. But it is the truth, so we should want to warn people of what awaits them on the other side of the curtain. To do so is not to be "judgmental". It is to share the Word of God, which He commands us to do. Nor is it to be callous and hateful to people. Rather, it is to share the love of God given us in Christ Jesus.
Let's be faithful to what the Lord calls us to do. Before we can do so, we must first be born again. Look intently into the mirror of God's Word and allow the Holy Spirit to give you discernment concerning these things.
Death Warmed Over
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins...Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh…But God…made us alive together with Christ [Ephesians 2:1-5]. Examine those excerpts from vv.1-5, if you will. Note the three classes of people listed. They are delineated by three different sentences.
The Hebrew Christian Paul the Apostle wrote to the Christians in the city of Ephesus. They were predominantly Gentiles, i.e., non-Jews. He distinguished them from the Jews by employing the word "you". YOU guys were dead in sins!
In the next sentence the Hebrew Paul identified the Jews as also being in like condition of death because of sins. He left off the "you" word and inserted the "us" word. We Jews were likewise dead in our sins, living for the lusts of our flesh.
Both those classes of people were once upon a time born dead to God, born with a sin nature which inclined them to live according to what seemed right in their own eyes. Each person perforce made his/her determinations of right and wrong on the basis of what seemed beneficial to self.
The third class of persons is identified in the third sentence, viz., "But God". Needless to say, but God was not born dead in sins! Truth be told, God wasn't born at all! God is eternal, and He is without sin and is the definition of holy.
So what did Paul teach the Ephesian Christians about God? Well, he taught them that while they were in sin, while they were at war with God—and the Jews too, which incorporates every last person ever on earth as being dead in sins—but God made some people "alive together with Christ".
The "some people" refers to Christians, to those who accept God's offer of salvation in Christ. Such persons are not only "born" in sin: they are also born again in Christ. Since Christ is without sin, those who are in Him are also without sin. The old life of sin has passed away. Behold, all things have become new. Being without sin, we Christians no longer have to pay the penalty of death for our sins. Christ paid the penalty for us on the cross.
We learn from this that some folks are born once and die twice. They are born dead to God and they die again at God's judgment because they refused God's deliverance in His Son Jesus Christ. Other folks are born twice (born again) and die once. They also were born dead to God, but they don't die again at God's judgment because they are in Christ and Christ in their stead.
The Bible uses the words "second death" to depict those who die twice. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire [Revelation 20:14-15].
You see, every person is born dead to God. Some folks receive God's new life through Jesus, and some folks reject Jesus and remain dead to God. When they enter eternity and stand before Him for judgment, their destination is the "second death".
This is not a pleasant topic, and it is not one we should take delight in. But it is the truth, so we should want to warn people of what awaits them on the other side of the curtain. To do so is not to be "judgmental". It is to share the Word of God, which He commands us to do. Nor is it to be callous and hateful to people. Rather, it is to share the love of God given us in Christ Jesus.
Let's be faithful to what the Lord calls us to do. Before we can do so, we must first be born again. Look intently into the mirror of God's Word and allow the Holy Spirit to give you discernment concerning these things.
The Hebrew Christian Paul the Apostle wrote to the Christians in the city of Ephesus. They were predominantly Gentiles, i.e., non-Jews. He distinguished them from the Jews by employing the word "you". YOU guys were dead in sins!
In the next sentence the Hebrew Paul identified the Jews as also being in like condition of death because of sins. He left off the "you" word and inserted the "us" word. We Jews were likewise dead in our sins, living for the lusts of our flesh.
Both those classes of people were once upon a time born dead to God, born with a sin nature which inclined them to live according to what seemed right in their own eyes. Each person perforce made his/her determinations of right and wrong on the basis of what seemed beneficial to self.
The third class of persons is identified in the third sentence, viz., "But God". Needless to say, but God was not born dead in sins! Truth be told, God wasn't born at all! God is eternal, and He is without sin and is the definition of holy.
So what did Paul teach the Ephesian Christians about God? Well, he taught them that while they were in sin, while they were at war with God—and the Jews too, which incorporates every last person ever on earth as being dead in sins—but God made some people "alive together with Christ".
The "some people" refers to Christians, to those who accept God's offer of salvation in Christ. Such persons are not only "born" in sin: they are also born again in Christ. Since Christ is without sin, those who are in Him are also without sin. The old life of sin has passed away. Behold, all things have become new. Being without sin, we Christians no longer have to pay the penalty of death for our sins. Christ paid the penalty for us on the cross.
We learn from this that some folks are born once and die twice. They are born dead to God and they die again at God's judgment because they refused God's deliverance in His Son Jesus Christ. Other folks are born twice (born again) and die once. They also were born dead to God, but they don't die again at God's judgment because they are in Christ and Christ in their stead.
The Bible uses the words "second death" to depict those who die twice. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire [Revelation 20:14-15].
You see, every person is born dead to God. Some folks receive God's new life through Jesus, and some folks reject Jesus and remain dead to God. When they enter eternity and stand before Him for judgment, their destination is the "second death".
This is not a pleasant topic, and it is not one we should take delight in. But it is the truth, so we should want to warn people of what awaits them on the other side of the curtain. To do so is not to be "judgmental". It is to share the Word of God, which He commands us to do. Nor is it to be callous and hateful to people. Rather, it is to share the love of God given us in Christ Jesus.
Let's be faithful to what the Lord calls us to do. Before we can do so, we must first be born again. Look intently into the mirror of God's Word and allow the Holy Spirit to give you discernment concerning these things.
Death Warmed Over
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins...Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh…But God…made us alive together with Christ [Ephesians 2:1-5]. Examine those excerpts from vv.1-5, if you will. Note the three classes of people listed. They are delineated by three different sentences.
The Hebrew Christian, Paul the Apostle, wrote to the Christians in the city of Ephesus. They were predominantly Gentiles, i.e., non-Jews. He distinguished them from the Jews by employing the word "you". YOU guys were dead in sins!
In the next sentence the Hebrew Paul identified the Jews as also being in like condition of death because of sins. He left off the "you" word and inserted the "us" word. We Jews were likewise dead in our sins, living for the lusts of our flesh.
Both those classes of people were once upon a time born dead to God, born with a sin nature which inclined them to live according to what seemed right in their own eyes. Each person perforce made his/her determinations of right and wrong on the basis of what seemed beneficial to self.
The third class of persons is identified in the third sentence, viz., "But God". Needless to say, but God was not born dead in sins! Truth be told, God wasn't born at all! God is eternal, and He is without sin and is the definition of holy.
So what did Paul teach the Ephesian Christians about God? Well, he taught them that while they were in sin, while they were at war with God—and the Jews too, which incorporates every last person ever on earth as being dead in sins—but God made some people "alive together with Christ".
The "some people" refers to Christians, to those who accept God's offer of salvation in Christ. Such persons are not only "born" in sin: they are also born again in Christ. Since Christ is without sin, those who are in Him are also without sin. The old life of sin has passed away. Behold, all things have become new. Being without sin, we Christians no longer have to pay the penalty of death for our sins. Christ paid the penalty for us on the cross.
We learn from this that some folks are born once and die twice. They are born dead to God and they die again at God's judgment because they refuse God's deliverance in His Son Jesus Christ. Other folks are born twice (born again) and die once. They also were born dead to God, but they don't die again at God's judgment because they are in Christ and Christ in their stead.
The Bible uses the words "second death" to depict those who die twice. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire [Revelation 20:14-15].
You see, every person is born dead to God. Some folks receive God's new life through Jesus, and some folks reject Jesus and remain dead to God. When they enter eternity and stand before Him for judgment, their destination is the "second death".
This is not a pleasant topic, and it is not one we should take delight in. But it is the truth, so we should want to warn people of what awaits them on the other side of the curtain. To do so is not to be "judgmental". It is to share the Word of God, which He commands us to do. Nor is it to be callous and hateful to people. Rather, it is to share the love of God given us in Christ Jesus.
Let's be faithful to what the Lord calls us to do. Before we can do so, we must first be born again. Look intently into the mirror of God's Word and allow the Holy Spirit to give you discernment concerning these things.
The Hebrew Christian, Paul the Apostle, wrote to the Christians in the city of Ephesus. They were predominantly Gentiles, i.e., non-Jews. He distinguished them from the Jews by employing the word "you". YOU guys were dead in sins!
In the next sentence the Hebrew Paul identified the Jews as also being in like condition of death because of sins. He left off the "you" word and inserted the "us" word. We Jews were likewise dead in our sins, living for the lusts of our flesh.
Both those classes of people were once upon a time born dead to God, born with a sin nature which inclined them to live according to what seemed right in their own eyes. Each person perforce made his/her determinations of right and wrong on the basis of what seemed beneficial to self.
The third class of persons is identified in the third sentence, viz., "But God". Needless to say, but God was not born dead in sins! Truth be told, God wasn't born at all! God is eternal, and He is without sin and is the definition of holy.
So what did Paul teach the Ephesian Christians about God? Well, he taught them that while they were in sin, while they were at war with God—and the Jews too, which incorporates every last person ever on earth as being dead in sins—but God made some people "alive together with Christ".
The "some people" refers to Christians, to those who accept God's offer of salvation in Christ. Such persons are not only "born" in sin: they are also born again in Christ. Since Christ is without sin, those who are in Him are also without sin. The old life of sin has passed away. Behold, all things have become new. Being without sin, we Christians no longer have to pay the penalty of death for our sins. Christ paid the penalty for us on the cross.
We learn from this that some folks are born once and die twice. They are born dead to God and they die again at God's judgment because they refuse God's deliverance in His Son Jesus Christ. Other folks are born twice (born again) and die once. They also were born dead to God, but they don't die again at God's judgment because they are in Christ and Christ in their stead.
The Bible uses the words "second death" to depict those who die twice. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire [Revelation 20:14-15].
You see, every person is born dead to God. Some folks receive God's new life through Jesus, and some folks reject Jesus and remain dead to God. When they enter eternity and stand before Him for judgment, their destination is the "second death".
This is not a pleasant topic, and it is not one we should take delight in. But it is the truth, so we should want to warn people of what awaits them on the other side of the curtain. To do so is not to be "judgmental". It is to share the Word of God, which He commands us to do. Nor is it to be callous and hateful to people. Rather, it is to share the love of God given us in Christ Jesus.
Let's be faithful to what the Lord calls us to do. Before we can do so, we must first be born again. Look intently into the mirror of God's Word and allow the Holy Spirit to give you discernment concerning these things.
