FOUR TRUTHS ABOUT DEATH
8/24/08 John 8:21-24 Hope Baptist Church
1. Death Subject most try to avoid
a. All who are going to die – Pls Stand
b. all who know the day/month/hour – pls be seated
c. all who want to die right now remain standing!
1. PEOPLE DIE
A. Scriptural
1. 3xs in 4 Vs. Jesus said You shall die
a. underline Vs. 21; twice in Vs. 24
b. 3 is the number of completeness
Hebrews 9:27 (KJV)
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 (KJV)
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
Job 14:1-2;5 (KJV)
Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. 2 He comes forth like a flower, and is cut down: he flees also as a shadow, and continues not. 5 Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with You, You have appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
B. Universal
1. Richard Nixon was a true survivalist
a. Checkers Scandal – end of his political carrier
b. ran for Gov. was defeated only to run for pres/elect
c. Watergate – resigned as President
d. Stroke – “He’s doing fine” – died within hours
2. Kurt Corbin – rock band Nirvana
a. survived drugs/debauchery
b. songs bragged ‘how death had no claim’
c. death that guided hand- moved his finger
Ecclesiastes 8:8 (KJV)
8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither has he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.
Psalms 89:48 (KJV)
48 What man is he that lives, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah
Psalms 49:10 (KJV)
10 For he sees that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
C. Unpredictable
1. Jim Fixxe – creator of jogging craze
a. jogging in Central Park middle of NYC
b. pain in chest – grabbed heart – dead - hit ground
2. Barbara Schoenes 40 yr old Housewife – jogging
a. noise – Mt. Lion – sprang & knocked to ground
b. struggled to feet – knocked down again
c. fought valiantly – jaws crushed skull – dead!
3. Eugene Christian – ‘How to live to be 100’
a. Best seller- coveted talk show guest
b. until he died at the age of 69
D. Personal
1. Person next to you – He/she is going to die
2. Hand over heart – one day it will stop & You will die
2. PEOPLE DIE IN THEIR SING
A. What does it mean to ‘die in your sins?’
1. Presence of Sin is not removed
a. in – encircled; surrounded
Revelation 21:27 (KJV)
And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination, or makes a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
2. Poison of Sin not removed – guilt for eternity
a. rich man in Lk 16 – son remember – and he did
3. Penalty of Sin is Not Removed
a. Jesus Pd – but you must accept
b. greatest torture of hell – vivid picture of Calvary
B. What would cause you to die in Your sins?
1. Rejection of Jesus Christ
a. v. 24 if you believe not
b. John 3:16 – what does vs 18 say??
John 3:18 (KJV)
He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
2. Procrastination V. 21
Revelation 3:7 (KJV)
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things says he that is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David, he that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens;
Noah preached for 120 yrs – no one came until!!!
Genesis 7:16 (KJV)
And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.
3. PEOPLE WHO DIE IN THEIR SINS CAN’T GO WHERE JESUS IS!
A. Place Called Paradise
1. Thief on the cross – Lord Remember me
a. Jesus said This Day You will be with me in Paradise
B. Place Called Heaven
Acts 1:11 (KJV)
Which also said, You men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Vs 21; 22 YOU CANNOT COME!!
4. YOU DON’T HAVE TO DIE IN YOUR SINS!!
a. Eternity Determined by a Decision
1. 80 Soldiers – Ft. Dix NJ fighting raging fire
a. communication was impossible
b. beating at flames – digging trenches
c. not aware flames were rapidly encircling
d. pilot of small craft saw what was happening
3xs dropped weighted note
one narrow flame lined channel
look up & follow him – lead to safety
e. w/o hesitation dropped shovels – looked up
and were saved!!!!
John 1:12-13 (KJV)
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Acts 16:30-31 (KJV)
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and You shall be saved, and your house.
PEOPLE DIE
PEOPLE DIE IN THEIR SINS
PEOPLE WHO DIE IN THEIR SINS CAN NOT GO WHERE JESUS IS
YOU DON’T HAVE TO DIE IN YOUR SINS!
