The Bible has much to say regarding the death of a believer. From these passages, we can be encouraged that if we know Christ as our Saviour, we have a blessing prepared for us that no eye can see or mind can comprehend. Be encouraged.
- Death is seen as a natural event, BUT it is actually the result of sin and a fallen world
Romans 5:17 “because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man,” - All humans will die unless Jesus returns first.
Romans 5:12 “just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men[fn] because all sinned—“ - Death is seen as the ENEMY
1Cor 15:25 “For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be eliminated is death” - Christ defeated the fear and uncertainty of death and set the example of the new life and glorified body.
Heb 2:14-15 “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” - Sharing in the victory that Christ obtained is the benefit of being adopted by His redemption
Romans 6:5 “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” - Unrepentant reap only what is deserved
Roman 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Believers have a Promise of Resurrection
2 Cor. 5:1-9 “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile, we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. - A believers death is seen as a time to rejoice since they come into the presence of their Saviour
1Thess 4:13-14 “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” - Jesus promises that he would take us our heavenly home
John 14:1-3 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.“ - Jesus has provided a state of being forgiven and declared worthy for heaven
Romans 8:1“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” - It is better to be with the Lord than continuing to stay in this corrupt world
Philippians 1:19-26 “For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labour; yet what I shall choose I can not tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.“ - A believer is now able to claim that their citizenship is in heaven
Phil. 3:20-21 “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” - Being the presence of the Lord is our waited Inheritance
I Pet. 1:3-5 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” - Our heavenly home is a guaranteed event for the believer
Rom. 8:39 “neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - The moment we die a believer is in the presence of the Lord.
2 Cor 5:8 – immediately in His presence – There is no intermediate state. “We are confident, I say and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. - The spirits of the saints are in heaven and they have been made perfect.
Hebrews 12:23 “the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect” - Believers in Heaven are conscious and aware of their surroundings, as unbelievers in hell are the same but they cannot communicate with earthlings.
Luke 16:19-31 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue because I am in agony in this fire.’ “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ - Heaven is awaiting the Judgment day
2 Corinthians 2:5 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” - Believers in heaven have no physical body but will receive a glorified body when they return with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord, himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.“