http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/articles/index.php?view=article&aid=536
Martyn-Lloyd-Jones : The Call To Battle
Death Consumes
http://www.kirkcaldy-pathheadbaptist.co.uk/_pdf/Confession%20of%20Faith/zf.%20The%20State%20of%20Man%20after%20Death%20and%20the%20Resurrection%20of%20the%20Dead.pdf
∗ What happens the moment the final breath of air is expended? At that very
moment your soul enters into the holy presence of God. At that moment you are
perfected, - there is no shadow of sin upon the believer in Christ, the work of
Christ has been perfectly completed.
∗ Your redemption is accomplished. Chosen from before the foundation of the
world God has triumphantly done in your life all He had purposed to do and you
are standing before His throne in His righteousness because of His plan of
salvation He had for your life.
∗ What is the first thing you will do? Beyond any shadow of a doubt you will
look upon the face of your Saviour. He will be your Focus, the Centre of all
your concentration. He will be the first One you see!
∗ You are looking forward to seeing your loved ones but the first you will see
is your Saviour, - He will immediately take up all your attention.
∗ Shall we know one another in Heaven? It is a beautiful picture … but is it
true that we shall be gathered with our loved ones again?
∗ We need to be careful in these matters, Paul told the Corinthians, I Cor.
13:12 now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in
part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
∗ Some commentators would say the question is irrelevant and that we probably
won’t know each other in Heaven. They quote, for example, Mt. 22:30 in the
resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the
angels of God in heaven. They tell us that such relationships will be irrelevant
and a thing of the former days on earth. … What do you think?
∗ Some contend we shall know each other … using such verses as …....
---∗ The Scriptures do not teach universal salvation for every infant but the
point that many commentators make is that David is being comforted because he
would meet again in eternity with his son and the question is then asked ...
would there be any comfort for David if he met his son again and did not know
who he was? … It seems David was implying he would indeed know and recognise his
son.
∗ Will there be infants in Heaven? … No. Will there be deformed
people in Heaven, or blind people or deaf, or dumb? No. Will there be old people
in Heaven? No, there won’t be.
∗ These are things of the past; there will be no old age or infancy or infirmity
in Heaven, I Cor. 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible,
and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and
this mortal must put on immortality.
∗ What kind of a change will this be … describe it! I can’t, I Jn. 3:2 Beloved,
now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we
know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as
he is.
∗ The Bible doesn’t tell me exactly what Heaven will be like … how can it, I
wouldn’t understand! But Paul said all we need to know about it, Phil. 1:21 For
to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Christ is the sum total of my being
and the reason for my living, and death opens up to me a relationship that far
exceeds what I presently have.
∗ Yes, death comes and death consumes, but for the believer …
DEATH IS CONQUERED
∗ Confession, “The souls of the righteous, whose holiness is at death perfected,
are received into paradise, where they are with Christ, looking upon the face of
God, in light and glory, and waiting for the full redemption of their bodies”.
∗ God spoke to Hosea, 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I
will redeem them from death. Paul wrote, I Cor. 15:55 O death, where is thy
sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the
strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
∗ For the believer death is conquered … what does that mean, since the believer
must die and the unbeliever must die? What makes it different for the believer?
∗ Yes, there is pain and heartache, even for the believer. I have sat so often
with the saint whom God is soon ready to call home and they are filled with so
much hope, - it’s as if God gives them an extra abundance of grace to deal in
the situation (which, of course, He does). On some occasions though, the dying
saint has also told me of their concerns for their husband/wife/children …
natural concerns.....
∗ But I will be complete in Christ, - my eyesight will be perfect, my speech
won’t stutter, I won’t forget my words, everything about me God will perfect to
His honour and to His glory so that the praise He receives from me will be
worthy of a child whom He has saved and who belongs to the eternal and Almighty
King of kings. … Death is conquered.
DEATH CONQUERS Sadly, for all those who have chosen to reject Christ eternity
will be an everlasting horrendous experience. For the unsaved, death is an awful
and a terrible event. Unbelievably frightening.
∗ Despite what the unbelievers say, Hell is a reality. Some people tell you it
doesn’t exist, - God’s Word says it does.
∗ Even some of the theologians would lead you to believe in a doctrine known as
‘conditional immortalism’, i.e. the saved will enter glory while the sinner will
simply die and not suffer the eternal wrath of God.
∗ But it is not what the Bible teaches Jesus said, Mt. 13:41 The Son of man
shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things
that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace
of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
∗ There is no Limbo or Purgatory, no reincarnation or Nirvana or any other state
after death … except Heaven and Hell.
∗ For those outside of Christ … death conquers. Death becomes the gateway, - not
into eternal life through believing faith in Christ, - but death is the gateway
into eternal and everlasting punishment, worse than anything imaginable even
with the most intelligent of minds.
Conclusion There is so much in this subject of such great importance. Our
Confession of Faith, - along with many other evangelical and Reformed
Confessions of Faith, - plainly teaches the Biblical truth there is life after
death … and that it is lived in either the beauty and presence of God or the
horrors and suffering of an eternal Hell in which every occupant is fully aware
of its dreadfulness.
∗ But here is the hope in which we trust … yes, the Bible says, Heb. 9:27 it is
appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was
once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he
appear the second time without sin unto salvation.