I've been dealing with death since August; beset all around me. And an interesting thought came to mind when I awoke from sleep yesterday and I thought it may be an interesting new topic to discuss or debate...but knowing this forum, it probably was already discussed in one form or another, but I'd like to see what folks think about Death.
- Scripture says death is the price to be paid for sinning.
- Scripture says because of Adam's sin all people die.
- Scripture says because we sin we die.
- But scripture also says Christ paid the price, suffering once for all.
Again the price of sin is death...and Christ died for the believer, paying the price. Christ paid the price of sin...which is he died...for one who believes...So why do we believers still die? Did Christ pay the price or not?
Maybe a more provocative question would be: Why do we believe we still must die? If we "walk by faith and not by sight" why do we still believe in what we see when it comes to death?
Scripture says "And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without sin, to those who eagerly await Him."
...again, the price of sin is death...and Christ bore those sins...and died. Price paid.
- Scripture says whoever believes in Christ "will not perish/die but have everlasting life".
- Scripture says Christ is the life.
- Scripture says "I have been crucified with Christ on the Cross; that it's not me but Christ who lives in me"
- Scripture says "I was baptized in Christ's death, and as he was resurrected we walk in new life"
- Scripture says "...and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
Yet we still believe we all will die even though we say we believe in Christ who is the life who saves us from death, the price of sin...the sin that he bore; we already dying with him on the cross. Or is it a thing where because we continue to sin we continue to die, which would mean Christ didn't pay for *all* of our sins right?
So these are my questions if you please:
1. If the price of sin is death, did Christ pay it for us or not? If so, why do we still die?
2. Or, if we still die because we still sin, then wouldn't that mean Christ didn't pay for *all* sins (past and future) but rather only paid for our past sins up to the point of confession, that it's on us to live righteously and not sin?
3. Or if he really did pay the full price (i.e. for *all* sin), is it simply a matter of our lack of faith that causes us to continue to die? Why don't we believe the price - death - was paid in full or believe we died with Christ (still believing we must ourselves also pay with a live...seems like double jeopardy)? Why do we still believe in the life we constantly see (death), instead of have faith in life we've never seen before (everlasting life) as Hebrews 11 defines faith...if indeed we are saved through faith? Would it even make a difference? Why or why not?
I'm just trying to frame my questions as best as possible, but I'd appreciate your thoughts on this subject (supported by scripture).
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As a qualifier, here's the definition of "death" I follow from scripture:
Adam came from the earth, not heaven. And when he sinned God said Adam would "die" and defined it as "return to the dust of the earth from where he came". Adam was made a living person/soul *not* a (life-giving) spirit, like Christ is. There is a difference between a soul and a spirit. So Adam wasn't a spirit, that means no one born from Adam is a spirit either...only when one is "born again" in Christ (2nd Adam) is one a spirit. "That which is born of flesh is flesh...and that which is born of Spirit is spirit."
This tells me anyone who does not believe in Christ is still not spirit either, they're still a soul from Adam and must continue to go to where Adam went when he died...back to the dust of the earth.
Thanks in advance.
- Scripture says death is the price to be paid for sinning.
- Scripture says because of Adam's sin all people die.
- Scripture says because we sin we die.
- But scripture also says Christ paid the price, suffering once for all.
Again the price of sin is death...and Christ died for the believer, paying the price. Christ paid the price of sin...which is he died...for one who believes...So why do we believers still die? Did Christ pay the price or not?
Maybe a more provocative question would be: Why do we believe we still must die? If we "walk by faith and not by sight" why do we still believe in what we see when it comes to death?
Scripture says "And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without sin, to those who eagerly await Him."
...again, the price of sin is death...and Christ bore those sins...and died. Price paid.
- Scripture says whoever believes in Christ "will not perish/die but have everlasting life".
- Scripture says Christ is the life.
- Scripture says "I have been crucified with Christ on the Cross; that it's not me but Christ who lives in me"
- Scripture says "I was baptized in Christ's death, and as he was resurrected we walk in new life"
- Scripture says "...and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
Yet we still believe we all will die even though we say we believe in Christ who is the life who saves us from death, the price of sin...the sin that he bore; we already dying with him on the cross. Or is it a thing where because we continue to sin we continue to die, which would mean Christ didn't pay for *all* of our sins right?
So these are my questions if you please:
1. If the price of sin is death, did Christ pay it for us or not? If so, why do we still die?
2. Or, if we still die because we still sin, then wouldn't that mean Christ didn't pay for *all* sins (past and future) but rather only paid for our past sins up to the point of confession, that it's on us to live righteously and not sin?
3. Or if he really did pay the full price (i.e. for *all* sin), is it simply a matter of our lack of faith that causes us to continue to die? Why don't we believe the price - death - was paid in full or believe we died with Christ (still believing we must ourselves also pay with a live...seems like double jeopardy)? Why do we still believe in the life we constantly see (death), instead of have faith in life we've never seen before (everlasting life) as Hebrews 11 defines faith...if indeed we are saved through faith? Would it even make a difference? Why or why not?
I'm just trying to frame my questions as best as possible, but I'd appreciate your thoughts on this subject (supported by scripture).
------
As a qualifier, here's the definition of "death" I follow from scripture:
Adam came from the earth, not heaven. And when he sinned God said Adam would "die" and defined it as "return to the dust of the earth from where he came". Adam was made a living person/soul *not* a (life-giving) spirit, like Christ is. There is a difference between a soul and a spirit. So Adam wasn't a spirit, that means no one born from Adam is a spirit either...only when one is "born again" in Christ (2nd Adam) is one a spirit. "That which is born of flesh is flesh...and that which is born of Spirit is spirit."
This tells me anyone who does not believe in Christ is still not spirit either, they're still a soul from Adam and must continue to go to where Adam went when he died...back to the dust of the earth.
Thanks in advance.