DEATH ENDS THIS LIFE—BUT ETERNITY FOLLOWS

DEATH ENDS THIS LIFE—BUT ETERNITY FOLLOWS

“BE SURE OF YOUR ETERNAL DESTINY TODAY”

Main Texts: Hebrews 9:27; Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:1–4; Ephesians 2:8–9; 2 Corinthians 5:1–8

Central Truth: Physical death is not the extinction of the person. Scripture teaches conscious existence beyond death, future resurrection and judgment, and eternal destiny. In the present Dispensation of Grace, the sinner should not prepare for eternity through religion or works, but by believing the Gospel of Christ revealed through Paul: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again.

INTRODUCTION — DEATH IS CERTAIN, BUT WHERE WILL YOU SPEND ETERNITY?

People prepare for almost everything.

We prepare for education.

We prepare for employment.

We prepare for marriage.

We prepare for retirement.

We prepare financially for our children's future.

Yet millions spend decades preparing for this temporary life while giving almost no thought to eternity.

 Hebrews 9:27 KJV

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

Death ends our earthly opportunity, but it does not mean that the person ceases to exist.

Paul could confidently say:

 Philippians 1:23

“...having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:”

For the saved believer, death means being with Christ.

But for the unbeliever, death does not provide another opportunity to hear and believe the gospel.

Therefore:

DON'T WAIT UNTIL DEATH TO THINK ABOUT ETERNITY.

SETTLE YOUR ETERNAL DESTINY WHILE YOU ARE ALIVE.

 DEATH IS CERTAIN

The appointment every person eventually faces.

 Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:22; Hebrews 9:27

The first reality we must confront is the certainty of death.

A. Death came because of SIN

 Romans 5:12

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin...”

Death was not man's original glory.

It entered through Adam's sin.

Adam's fall affected the entire human family.

B. Death reaches every SON OF ADAM

1 Corinthians 15:22

“For as in Adam all die...”

Rich people die.

Poor people die.

Pastors die.

Politicians die.

Religious people die.

Atheists die.

Being religious does not exempt anyone from mortality.

C. Death comes by divine SCHEDULE

 Hebrews 9:27

“...it is appointed unto men once to die...”

We normally do not know when that appointment will arrive.

Therefore, Scripture never encourages us to gamble with eternity.

 PREACHING LINE:

YOU MAY CANCEL AN APPOINTMENT WITH A DOCTOR—BUT YOU CANNOT CANCEL YOUR APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH.

DESTINY IS CONSCIOUS

Death separates the soul/spirit from the body; it does not annihilate the person.

 2 Corinthians 5:1–8; Philippians 1:21–23; Luke 16:19–31

From a Dispensational perspective, Paul's epistles give us especially clear doctrine concerning the believer's present hope.

A. The believer DEPARTS

 Philippians 1:23

Paul desired:

“...to depart, and to be with Christ...”

Notice that Paul did not say:

“To depart and cease to exist.”

He said:

“TO BE WITH CHRIST.”

B. The believer is DELIVERED into Christ's presence

📖 2 Corinthians 5:8

“...absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

The body may enter the grave.

But the saved person is with the Lord.

Therefore, we should distinguish the condition of the body from the conscious existence of the person.

C. The unbeliever faces a DIFFERENT destiny

Luke 16:19–31 presents conscious existence after death and an irreversible separation.

While we must rightly divide Scripture and recognize its setting, the passage still demonstrates an important biblical truth:

PHYSICAL DEATH DOES NOT MEAN PERSONAL EXTINCTION.

 PREACHING LINE:

THE GRAVE MAY HOLD YOUR BODY—BUT THE GRAVE DOES NOT END YOUR EXISTENCE.

 DANGER IS CONSEQUENT

After death, unbelief has eternal consequences.

 Romans 2:5–6; 2 Thessalonians 1:8–9; Hebrews 9:27

God is loving.

But God's love does not cancel His holiness and justice.

A. There is a coming RECKONING

 Romans 2:5

Paul speaks of:

“...the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;”

Sin matters because God is righteous.

B. There is eternal RETRIBUTION

 2 Thessalonians 1:8–9

Paul speaks concerning those who:

“...obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:”

and says they:

“...shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord...”

This is why gospel preaching is urgent.

C. There is no post-death REVERSAL

 Hebrews 9:27

The biblical sequence is:

DEATH → JUDGMENT

not:

DEATH → SECOND CHANCE → SALVATION.

Scripture gives us no basis for telling an unbeliever:

“You can settle this after death.”

 PREACHING LINE:

DEATH DOES NOT CHANGE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST—IT REVEALS THE ETERNAL CONSEQUENCE OF IT.

DELIVERANCE IS COMPLETE

Christ accomplished everything necessary to save the sinner.

 1 Corinthians 15:1–4; Romans 3:24–26; Romans 5:8–9

Here is the good news.

God does not merely warn sinners about judgment.

GOD PROVIDED THE SAVIOUR.

And according to the revelation committed to Paul, the heart of our gospel is not what sinners promise to do for God.

It is what Christ has already done for sinners.

A. Christ DIED for our sins

1 Corinthians 15:3

“...Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;”

Your sin debt requires more than religion.

Christ paid the price through His blood.

 Romans 5:9

“Much more then, being now justified by his blood...”

B. Christ was BURIED

 1 Corinthians 15:4

“And that he was buried...”

His burial confirms the reality of His death.

The payment was actually made.

C. Christ ROSE again

 1 Corinthians 15:4

“...and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

Christianity does not present a dead Saviour.

WE PREACH A RISEN CHRIST.

 Romans 4:25

He:

“...was raised again for our justification.”

 PREACHING LINE:

YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR YOUR SINS—CHRIST ALREADY PAID THE PRICE. BELIEVE THE GOSPEL!

 DECISION IS CURRENT

The time to believe the Gospel is while you are alive.

 2 Corinthians 6:2; Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 2:8–9

You cannot change yesterday.

You are not guaranteed tomorrow.

But you can hear God's gospel today.

A. HEAR the Gospel

 Ephesians 1:13

“...after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation...”

Salvation begins with God's message—not man's religious invention.

B. BELIEVE the Gospel

The same verse continues:

“...after that ye believed...”

Not:

after you joined a denomination.

after you were water baptized.

after you performed enough good works.

after you promised to reform yourself.

But:

“AFTER THAT YE BELIEVED.”

C. REST in God's salvation

 Ephesians 2:8–9

“For by grace are ye saved through faith... Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

And having believed, the believer is:

 Ephesians 1:13

“...sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.”

Salvation is received by faith.

Security rests upon God's work.

 PREACHING LINE:

DON'T PREPARE TO MEET DEATH—PREPARE TO MEET ETERNITY BY TRUSTING CHRIST TODAY!

 CONCLUSION — WHERE WILL YOU BE AFTER YOUR LAST BREATH?

Someday your possessions will belong to somebody else.

Your house will belong to somebody else.

Your money will belong to somebody else.

Your position will be filled by somebody else.

Your body will return to the earth.

But the question remains:

WHERE WILL YOU BE?

Paul could face death confidently because he knew whom he had believed.

For the saved:

 2 Corinthians 5:8

“...absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

Therefore the greatest preparation for death is not merely:

a funeral plan,

life insurance,

a cemetery lot,

or a last will.

Those may prepare others for what happens after you die.

THE GOSPEL PREPARES YOU FOR WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU DIE.

 CALL TO ACTION — THREE “B's”

1. BEHOLD your condition

📖 Romans 3:23

Recognize that you are a sinner who cannot save yourself.

2. BELIEVE Christ's Gospel

 1 Corinthians 15:1–4

Believe that Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose again.

3. BE SECURE in Christ

 Ephesians 1:13–14

Having believed, rest in God's promise and sealing—not in your own religious performance.

 FINAL THOUGHTS — REMEMBER THE FIVE “D's”

 DEATH IS CERTAIN

You cannot escape physical death if the Lord tarries.

 Hebrews 9:27

 DESTINY IS CONSCIOUS

The believer who departs is with Christ.

 Philippians 1:23

 DANGER IS CONSEQUENT

Rejecting the gospel has eternal consequences.

 2 Thessalonians 1:8–9

 DELIVERANCE IS COMPLETE

Christ died, was buried, and rose again.

 1 Corinthians 15:1–4

 DECISION IS CURRENT

Hear the gospel and believe while opportunity remains.

 Ephesians 1:13

 FINAL PREACHING DECLARATION

DEATH IS CERTAIN.

ETERNITY IS REAL.

SIN IS SERIOUS.

JUDGMENT IS COMING.

BUT CHRIST HAS PROVIDED SALVATION!

You don't need to wonder whether your good works will outweigh your bad works.

You don't need to trust religion.

You don't need to trust church membership.

You don't need to trust water baptism.

You don't need to trust your own righteousness.

 TRUST THE FINISHED WORK OF JESUS CHRIST.

1 Corinthians 15:3–4

CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS.

HE WAS BURIED.

HE ROSE AGAIN THE THIRD DAY.

DEATH ENDS THIS EARTHLY LIFE—BUT IT DOES NOT END YOUR EXISTENCE.

BE SURE OF YOUR ETERNAL DESTINY TODAY.