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    Life and Death in the Bible

www.bibleone.net

 

 

Life

 

The first and greatest gift that God gave to His creation of triune man (1 Thessalonians 5:23) was independent life, the feature of self-determining dynamic animation, the true “image” of God Himself (Genesis 1:27).  Why the “greatest” gift?  Because without it, nothing else exists or matters.  Whereas God also provided a degree of animation to other aspects of His creation, e.g., animal and plant life, it was only in man that He bequeathed “free will” relative to stimuli requiring moral and/or rational conclusions. 

 

Life in the absolute sense (unqualified – without a beginning or an ending) only applies to God. He is described in Scripture as the living God (Jeremiah 10:10), a designation that requires an understanding that all other perceptions (material or otherwise) on or off earth that are thought of as “gods” are dead, as are those who depend on them for life.  Only the living God of Scripture can give and sustain life and is therefore the Lord of both life and death.

 

The ownership of life is solely in the hands of God and He allows no one to guiltlessly end a person’s life unless such a termination is in accordance with His Word (Exodus 20:13).  This being the case, i.e., the fact that life belongs to God; Scripture also reveals that even the life of animals is valued by God for man is to abstain from the consumption of blood, the vehicle of life (Genesis 9:4).

 

The quality of man’s physical life is beneficially improved when one finds and utilizes wisdom, that which is in accordance with Scripture.  Specifically, wisdom embodies the moral teachings of God’s Word (Proverbs 3:1, 2).  From the beginning, post man’s “spiritual fall” in the Garden of Eden, God gave man the choice of a true and full life, one predicated solely upon love of Him and adherence to His Word.  Unfortunately, man chose another way.

 

Due to this abysmal decision by man, God made available to him the grace-gift of eternal life, i.e., life associated with the coming age (the Messianic Era) and eternal life beyond this age.  Scripture makes it clear that this life is solely within Christ.  He is identified both as the origin and sustainer of eternal life (John 14:6).  As God incarnate, Christ made eternal life a reality for man.

 

This life of “endless duration” may only be obtained when man exercises his “free will” by making the decision to place faith in Christ for his personal and eternal salvation (John 3:14-16; 11:25; Ephesians 2:8, 9).  Upon this decisive moment in one’s time, he may be assured of the reality that he will never ever spiritually die.  He will ever be known in Scripture as a “Christian,” a “saint,” and a follower of “the Way.”

 

Furthermore, the quality of this life, this grace-gift of God purchased by Christ on the cross of Calvary, affords a distinct advantage during one’s corporeal term of existence provided its recipient chooses it.  A Christian who matures in “the faith,” i.e., gains an understanding of the “mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens,” also described as the “word of the kingdom” (Matthew 13:11, 19), a process of receiving “with meekness the implanted Word” (James 1:21; Hebrews 10:39; 1 Peter 1:9) and which results in the salvation of his soul (a salvation quite different from one’s spirit-salvation in that it is based on “works” and only affects one’s life during the Messianic Era, a period of one thousand years), will experience an intense relationship with Christ during this lifetime resulting in a glorious hope (firm expectation) of what is soon to come.  Such godliness is beneficial in every way, in this life and the life to come (1 Timothy 4:8).

 

Christians should know that in their temporal life just as Enoch “walked with God; and he was not, for God took him” (Genesis 5:22-24; Hebrews 11:5), they have the same opportunity to “walk in Christ,” in the same manner (by faith) they have received Him (Colossians 2:6).

 

Scripture records the concept of life in various ways.  The following passages illustrate several points previously discussed:

 

 

Life Passages in the Bible

 

Genesis 1:20

Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” (cf. Isaiah 45:18; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 11:3)

 

Genesis 2:7

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. (cf. Genesis 1:26-28; 3:19; 7:22; Job 33:4; 34:14,15; Psalms 139:13-15; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Isaiah 43:7; Matthew 19:4; Acts 17:25; 1 Corinthians 15:45)

 

Genesis 9:4

But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. (cf. Leviticus 3:17; 17:10-14; Deuteronomy 12:23-25)

 

Genesis 9:5, 6

Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every mans brother I will require the life of man. (6) Whoever sheds mans blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man.

 

Leviticus 17:11

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. (cf. Leviticus 17:14; Genesis 9:4; Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Romans 3:25; 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14, 20; Hebrews 9:22; 13:12; 1 Peter 1:2; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5)

 

Leviticus 18:5

You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the LORD.

 

Deuteronomy 5:26

For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? (cf. Deuteronomy 4:23)

 

Deuteronomy 8:1-3

Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers. (2) And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. (3) So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD. (cf. Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4)

 

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, (16) in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. (17) But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, (18) I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. (19) I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; (20) that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.

 

Job 33:4

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

 

Psalm 27:1

A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

 

Psalm 36:9

For with You [God] is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light. (cf. Jeremiah 2:13; John 4:10, 14; 1Peter 2:9)

 

Psalm 66:8, 9

Oh, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard, who keeps our soul among the living, and does not allow our feet to be moved.

 

Proverbs 3:1, 2

My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; (2) for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.

 

Proverbs 3:13, 18

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding . . . (18) She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her.

 

Isaiah 38:19, 20

The living, the living man, he shall praise You, as I do this day; the father shall make known Your truth to the children. (20) The LORD was ready to save me; therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments all the days of our life, in the house of the LORD. (cf. Deuteronomy 6:7)

 

Jeremiah 10:10a

But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God . . . . (cf. Deuteronomy 5:26; Acts 17:25; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; 1 Timothy 3:15; 4:10; 6:17)

 

Luke 12:15

And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for ones life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” (cf. Deuteronomy 8:1-3; Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4; 1 Timothy 6:7-11)

 

John 3:14-16

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, (15) that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. (16) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (cf. John 5:24; 20:31; 1 John 2:25; 4:9; 5:11; Ephesians 2:8, 9)

 

John 6:35

And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” (cf. John 6:48)

 

John 10:10

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

 

John 11:25

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” (cf. John 1:4; 3:36; 5:21; 6:35, 39, 40, 44; 14:6; Colossians 3:4; 1 John 1:1, 2; 5:10-11)

 

John 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (cf. John 1:4, 17; 8:32; 11:25; Acts 24:14)

 

Acts 17:24-26

God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.  (25) Nor is He worshiped with mens hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.  (26) And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwelling.

 

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (cf. Romans 5:17, 21; Ephesians 2:8, 9)

 

Romans 14:7-9

For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. (8) For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lords. (9) For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:1, 2; 1 Thessalonians 5:10; 1 Peter 4:1, 2)

 

1 Corinthians 15:45a

And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” . . . .

 

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (cf. Romans 6:6; 2 Corinthians 5:15; Galatians 1:4; 5:24; 6:14; Titus 2:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:10; 1 Peter 4:2)

 

Philippians 1:21

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

 

Colossians 3:4

When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (cf. John 11:25; 14:6; 1 Corinthians 15:43; Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2)

 

1 Timothy 4:8

For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. (cf. Psalm 37:4; 84:11; 112:2, 3; 145:19; Matthew 6:3, 33; 19:29; Mark 10:30; Romans 8:28; 1 Timothy 6:6)

 

James 4:14, 15

Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.  (15) Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”   (cf. Genesis 3:19; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Psalm 89:47, 48; 102:3; 103:15, 16; James 1:10; 1 Peter 1:24)

 

1 Peter 4:1, 2

Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, (2) that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

 

Death

 

Death is the cessation of life.  It is not the normal conclusion of a natural process.  Rather, it is the confirmation and reassertion that the most important aspect of God’s creation has gone awry.  Furthermore, its introduction and very existence is the direct result of man’s violation of God’s Word (Genesis 2:16, 17; 1 Corinthians 15:21, 22).  It is indeed an enemy of God that eventually will be placed under the feet of Christ, and it is the last enemy of God that He will destroy (1 Corinthians 15:24-26).

 

The Bible presents death in three distinct but interrelated categories — physical, spiritual, and eternal.  While the thought of death is abhorrent to the natural (non-spiritual) man, it holds no fear or negativity to one who has both (1) placed his faith in Christ for his eternal (spiritual) salvation and (2) matured in the Word of God, specifically the “word of the kingdom” (Matthew 13:19), to achieve the salvation of his soul. 

 

The writer realizes that the term and concept of  soul-salvation is foreign to many, if not most Christians — a fault not so much of them as it relates mostly to “ministers” of the Word — it is therefore recommended that the reader should study the matter at the following link: http://bibleone.net/SOS.htm.

 

Death Passages in the Bible

 

Genesis 2:16, 17

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; (17) but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

 

Genesis 3:19

In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return. (cf. Ecclesiastes 3:20)

 

Exodus 20:13

You shall not murder. (cf. Deuteronomy 5:17; Matthew 5:21; Romans 13:9)

 

Psalm 89:48

What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave?

 

Matthew 10:28

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (cf. Isaiah 8:12, 13; Luke 12:4; 1 Peter 3:14)

 

John 5:24

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. (cf. John 8:51; 11:26)

 

John 8:44a

You are of your father the devil . . . He was a murderer from the beginning . . . . (cf. 1 John 3:8)

 

John 11:11

These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” (cf. Daniel 12:2; Matthew 9:24; Acts 7:60; 1 Corinthians 11:30; 15:18, 51; 1 Thessalonians 4:15)

 

Romans 5:12-21

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned — (13) (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. (14) Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. (15) But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one mans offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. (16) And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. (17) For if by the one mans offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) (18) Therefore, as through one mans offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Mans righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. (19) For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Mans obedience many will be made righteous. (20) Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, (21) so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  (cf. Matthew 20:28;  26:28; Romans 3:20; 4:15; 6:23; 7:8; 1 Corinthians 15:21, 22, 45; Galatians 3:19, 23; Hebrews 2:9; 1 John 3:4)

 

Romans 6:4-14

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, (6) knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. (7) For he who has died has been freed from sin. (8) Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, (9) knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. (10) For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. (11) Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (12) Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. (13) And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. (14) For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. (cf. John 8:34; Romans 6:2; 7:4-6; 8:2, 11; 12:1; 2 Corinthians 13:4; Galatians 2:19; 5:18; Colossians 2:12; 3:5, 10; 2 Timothy 2:11; James 4:1; 1 Peter 2:24; 4:1, 2; 2 Peter 2:19)

 

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (cf. Romans 5:17, 21; 6:20, 21; Ephesians 2:8, 9)

 

Romans 7:5, 6

For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. (6) But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. (cf. Romans 2:29; 6:2, 13, 21; 7:4; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Galatians 5:19; James 1:15)

 

Romans 7:10-13

And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. (11) For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. (cf. Leviticus 18:5; Ezekiel 20:11, 13, 21; 2 Corinthians 3:7)

 

Romans 7:23-25

But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (24) O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? (25) I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. (cf. Romans 6:13, 19; 1 Corinthians 15:57; Galatians 5:17)

 

Romans 8:1, 2, 6

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. . . . (6For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (cf. John 8:36; Romans 6:18, 21, 22; 7:24-25; 8:4, 7, 13; 1 Corinthians 15:45; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Galatians 2:19; 5:1, 16, 25; 6:8)

 

Romans 8:38, 39

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, (39) nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (cf. Ephesians 1:21; 6:12; Colossians 1:16; 2:15; 1 Peter 3:22)

 

1 Corinthians 15:20-26

But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (21) For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. (22) For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. (23) But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christs at His coming. (24) Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. (25) For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. (26) The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. (cf. Daniel 7:14, 27; Psalms 110:1; John 11:25; Acts 2:34, 35; 26:23; Romans 5:12, 17; 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:20, 23; Ephesians 1:22; Colossians 1:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 2 Timothy 1:10; Hebrews 1:13; 10:13; 1 Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:5; 20:14)

 

1 Corinthians 15:54-57

So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory. (55) O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” (56) The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. (57) But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (cf. Isaiah 25:8; Hosea 13:14; Romans 4:15; 5:13; 7:5, 13, 25; 2 Corinthians 5:4; Hebrews 2:14-15; 1 John 5:4, 5; Revelation 20:14)

 

2 Corinthians 1:9, 10

Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, (10) who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us. (cf. Jeremiah 17:5, 7; 2 Peter 2:9)

 

2 Corinthians 5:8

We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. (cf. Philippians 1:23)

 

2 Corinthians 7:10

For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. (cf. 2 Samuel 12:13; Proverbs 17:22; Matthew 26:75)

 

Ephesians 2:1

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins. (cf. John 5:24; Ephesians 2:5; Colossians 2:13)

 

Philippians 1:21

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (cf. Philippians 1:23)

 

Philippians 2:8

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (cf. Matthew 26:39, 42; John 10:18; Hebrews 5:8; 12:2)

 

Philippians 3:8-11

Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ (9) and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; (10) that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, (11) if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. (cf. Isaiah 53:11; Jeremiah 9:23-24; John 17:3; Acts 26:7; Romans 1:17; 3:21, 22; 6:3-5; 8:17; 9:30; 10:3, 5, 6; 1 Corinthians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 4:10, 11; Galatians 2;16; Colossians 2:2; 2 Timothy 2:11, 12; 1 Peter 4:13)

 

Colossians 1:21-23

And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled (22) in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sightif indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. (cf. Luke 1:75; John 15:6; Acts 1:17; Romans 10:18; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 4:1; 5:18; Ephesians 1:4; 2:1, 2, 12, 15, 16, 19; 3:7, 17; 4:18; 5:27; Colossians 1:6, 25; 2:7; 1 Timothy 2:7; 1 Thessalonians 1:7; 4:7; Titus 1:15, 16; 2:14; Jude 1:24)

 

1 Timothy 2:5, 6

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, (6) who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (cf. Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45; Romans 5:6, 8; 1 Corinthians 1:6; Galatians 4:4; Ephesians 1:7, 9; 3:5; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; 2 Timothy 1:8; Titus 1:3; 2:14; Hebrews 2:6; 9:15)

 

2 Timothy 1:10

But has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (cf. Romans 3:29, 30; 10:12; 16:26; Galatians 3:20; 1 Corinthians 15:54, 55; Ephesians 1:9; Colossians 1:26; Hebrews 2:14; 1 Peter 1:20)

 

Hebrews 2:9

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. (cf. John 3:16; 12:32; Acts 2:33; Romans 5:18; 8:32; 2 Corinthians 5:15; Philippians 2:7-9; 1 Timothy 2:6; 1 John 2:2; Revelation 5:9)

 

Hebrews 2:14, 15

Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, (15) and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (cf. Luke 1:74; Romans 8:3, 15; 1 Corinthians 15:54, 55; Philippians 2:7; Colossians 2:15; 2 Timothy 1:7, 10)

 

Hebrews 9:13-15

For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, (14) how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (15) And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. (cf. Leviticus 16:14, 16; Numbers 19:2, 17; Luke 1:74; Romans 1:4; 3:25; 5:6; 6:13, 22; Ephesians 5:2; Titus 2:14; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 1:3; 3:1; 6:1; 7:22, 27; 8:6; 10:22; 12:24; 1 Peter 1:19; 3:18; 4:2; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5)

 

Hebrews 9:27

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:12-15)

 

Hebrews 11:5

By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, and was not found, because God had taken him; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. (cf. Genesis 5:22, 24)

 

James 1:9, 10

Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, (10) but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. (cf. Job 14:2; Psalm 37:2; 90:5, 6; 102:11; 103:15; Isaiah  40:6; 1 Corinthians 7:31; James 4:14; 1 Peter 1:24; 1 John 2:17)

 

James 1:15

Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. (cf. Job 15:35; Psalm 7:14; Romans 6:21, 23)

 

James 4:14b

. . . For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. (cf. James 1:10; 1 Peter 1:24)

 

James 5:19, 20

Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, (20) let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. (cf. Proverbs 10:12; Matthew 18:15; Romans 11:14; 1 Corinthians 9:22; 1 Timothy 4:16; 1 Peters 4:8)

 

1 Peter 3:18

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit. (cf. Romans 1:4; 5:6; 8:11; 2 Corinthians 13:4; Colossians 1:21, 22; Hebrews 9:26, 28; 1 Peter 2:21; 4:1)

 

1 John 3:14

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. (cf. 1 John 2:9-11)

 

1 John 5:16, 17

If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. (17) All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death. (cf. Job 42:8; Jeremiah 7:16; 14:11; Matthew 12:31, 32; Mark 3:29; Luke 12:10; John 17:9; Hebrews 6:4, 6; 10:26; James 1:27; 5:14, 15; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 3:4 ,9)

 

Revelation 1:18

I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. (cf. Psalm 68:20; Romans 6:9; Revelation 4:9; 5:14; 20:1)

 

Revelation 2:10

Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (cf. Matthew 10:22; 24:13; James 1:12; Revelation 3:11)

 

Revelation 20:6

Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. (cf. Isaiah 61:6; 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6; 2:11; 5:10; 20:4; 21:8)

 

Revelation 20:14

Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

 

Revelation 21:4, 8

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. . . . (8) But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. (cf. Isaiah 25:8; 35:10; 61:3; 65:19; 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10; 15:26, 54; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:5; 1 Timothy 1:9; Hebrews 12:14; Revelation 7:17; 20:14)

 

Concluding Comment

 

Human beings actively place the highest value on maintaining life.  This is seen by and through the enormous efforts, finances, and structures established throughout the countries of this world, which emphasize and contribute to the longevity of life.  Even when one reaches an older age that markedly decreases one’s physical (and at times mental) abilities, great effort and expense is normally expended by an individual to continue on as long as possible.  And the same may be said regarding the individual who comes down with a debilitating or deadly disease.

 

To humans, life is indeed precious.  Without it, nothing else can be experienced, felt, or enjoyed.  This being the case, it confounds this writer how the majority of this earth’s occupants can willingly ignore the one true   faith that places the highest value on life – both corporeal and eternal – Christianity.