Results 1 - 2 of 2
|
|
|||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Did Jesus die spiritually? | 2 Cor 5:21 | John Reformed | 83133 | ||
Dear Mommapbs, You asked: " In Gen 2:17 God told Adam and Eve the consequences of sin: "in the day that you eat from it you will surely die." Did they die physically or spiritually?" Of course they died spiritually and physically. But what was the effect upon Adam and Eve of spiritual death? ".....What does Paul mean when he says that we were dead in our trespasses and sins? Let's look at the context first. There is a phrase in verse 3 that shows the seriousness of deadness. At the end it says, "We were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind." In other words the things we have done to bring the wrath of God upon us we have done by nature. We need a Savior not just because we have sinned, but because we have sinned by nature. We are by nature sinners. At the end of verse two it says that we are "sons of disobedience." Which is another way of saying that disobedience is in our spiritual genes. Rebellion runs in the human family. It is part of our sinful nature. Now what does that have to do with being dead? It sounds like we were very much alive and active in our rebellion and disobedience. Indeed we were. But in being alive to disobedience we were dead to obedience. In being alive to rebellion we were dead to submission. In being alive to unbelief we were dead to faith. We had no living spiritual nature to incline us to do anything for the glory of God and in reliance on his power. And lacking that spiritual nature we were dead: dead to righteousness, dead to holiness, dead to obedience, dead to faith. Spiritually speaking I was dead. Without a Savior I had no spiritual inclinations at all. For there was no spiritual life at all. And therefore I needed a Savior not only to forgive me for my sins, but also to give me spiritual life so that my heart would incline to trust him and obey him." John Piper http://www.desiringgod.org/library/sermons/85/120885.html Perhaps our conception of what the Bible calls "spiritual death" is too simplistic. As another poster reminded me, even the spirits of the damned live on through eternity. I have more questions than answers at this point. John |
||||||
2 | Did Jesus die spiritually? | 2 Cor 5:21 | Mommapbs | 83153 | ||
John - I agree, there are MANY more questions than answers - but we KNOW THE ONE WHO KNOWS ALL and in that there is great comfort and confidence . . . as I ponder all this discussion, I am wondering if we should focus our attention upon the "wrath" of God. I suspect that this Divine response to evil is directly connected with spiritual death - or as I understand it, separation from God. In Jer 7:20, God declares that His wrath will be poured out and . . ."it will burn and not be quenched." This sure sounds like an eternal consequence to me! However, the ETERNAL condition or state of those who are under the WRATH of God has not yet been realized - but indeed it is a certain and sobering reality that we should be mindful of. Satan (the accuser of the brethren) still has access to the Throne of God, but not much longer . . . the cosmic battle rages, yet victory is in sight as we see our redemption drawing ever nearer. To me, the eternal separation of sin from my nature that Christ won, gives me hope and confidence that one Day, I will live in intimate communion with Him! Yes, as you observed, "even the spirits of the damned live on through eternity", but evil WILL BE banished, eternally removed from the presence of the Lord and His family. Heaven . . . dare we long for it! mommapbs |
||||||