APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH
Hebrews 9:27-28
- Intro.
- there are some things that man does not like to face, and therefore tries to avoid – death
- there is one thing that is absolutely certain – death
- death is the result of sin – Eze. 18:4, Romans 6:23
- the Bible is full of warnings about death
- no matter how men feel about it, God’s Word deals with it honestly
- the Bible says more about death than nearly anything else
- in the Garden of Eden, before sin and death occurred, God gave a warning about death – Gen. 2:17
- Adam and Eve did eat, and they did die
- they died spiritually at that moment
- their bodies immediately began the process of decay and death
- the genealogy of Adam to Noah is full of the reminder of death – Gen. 5:5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 24, 27, 31
- when reading of the kings of Judah and Israel we are reminded of death [and he slept with his fathers]
- God warned Moses that he was going to die – Deut. 31:14
- when Christ preached, He often spoke of death
- Lazarus and the rich man (one in heaven, and one in hell)
- the poor rich fool – Luke 12:20 [Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee]
- Jesus warned the Pharisees about dying in their sins – John 8:24
- we can read of many dying at one time
- the flood
- Pharaoh’s army
- the rebellious Jews in the wilderness
- Sennacherib’s army (185,00)
- we can read of the death of many great people in the Bible (Abraham, David, Solomon, John the Baptist)
- death is the result of sin, and we will all die (man has an appointment with death)
- the reality of death is all around us
- cemeteries, hospitals, nursing homes
- young and old, rich and poor, famous and not so famous
- wars claim many peoples lives at once
- what happens at death [the judgment]
- the Christian death
- Lazarus was carried by angels into Abraham’s bosom (heaven)
- Jesus told the thief "today shalt thou be with me in paradise"
- death for save people means to be instantly in heaven with conscious and eternal joy
- death should have no terror for those who have been born again
- at death, the child of God must stand before God and be judged for his works – Romans 14:10-12
- the soul of a Christian will never be in jeopardy
- it is a judgment to determine the rewards that will be given – I Cor. 3:8
- some will receive a reward and some won’t – I Cor. 3:14-15
- death for many Christians will be the end of a wasted life
- death will mean that the time of soul winning is ended
- are we ready to die and leave a family member unsaved
- are we ready to die and leave a neighbor of friend unsaved
- if there is anyone that needs to be saved, we should do it soon
- we Christians need to prepare to die, for we are appoint to die
- the sinners death
- the unrepentant sinner will experience immediate, literal, conscious torment in hell
- after death there is no chance to repent and be saved
- after death comes only judgment and no mercy
- mercy and grace are offered on this side of the grave
- today Jesus is pleading for every sinner to accept His mercy and forgiveness – Isaiah 1:18
- Jesus wants to forgive and forget – Hebrews 8:12
- the door of mercy is closed at death, then the lost sinner will fall into hell without any hope
- the danger of sudden death
- more than half of the death in America are sudden deaths (accidents, murder, heart attack, stroke)
- sudden death means no time to pray, and no time to repent
- sudden death is often an unprepared death
- sudden death is the haunting monster of the unrepentant, Christ rejecting sinners – Proverbs 29:1
- good news for all sinners, Christ is the conqueror of death, hell, and the grave
- all must die once, but none need to die twice – Revelation 21:7-8
- the second death is the lake of fire
- the second death comes only to the unbeliever
- we are overcomers by faith in Jesus Christ – I John 5:4-5
- Jesus has born our sin so that we do not have to die twice – Hebrews 9:27-28
- He paid our penalty
- He suffered our hell
- today we can have victory over death through Jesus Christ our Lord
- ARE YOU PREPARED TO DIE?