If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 2 Cor 5:17
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Go to the source! Discover what the Bible says about …
These pages are designed to aid study or investigation for Christian discipleship through individual Bible study, Cell groups, Home groups, or meeting one to one. The questions could be used alone allowing each person to use their own Bible.
As a person is alive physically when blood, which carries life is moving in the body, so a person is alive spiritually when the Spirit of God is moving in them.
In the Bible the terms life and death are sometimes physical, other times spiritual. These terms can confuse materialistic people who often assume they are only physical.
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How does the Bible describe spiritual life and spiritual death? Some texts to think through.
- Spiritual Life - Jesus defines it as knowing God and Himself.
- Spiritual Death - The absence of life destined for the grave.
- Start of life - God introduced life by breathing His life into people.
- Death to All - Because of our rejection of God, we all die spiritually.
- What is Spiritual death - More than absence of God, it is a force for evil.
- Made Alive - God intervenes to bring us spiritual life.
Jesus, while praying to His Father in Heaven spoke about spiritual life. John 17v1-3
- What does Jesus say about eternal life?
- How does Jesus define eternal life?
- What does this tell you about life and death spiritually?
John 17:1-3 1 After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you.2 For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him.3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.
Many say there is no spiritual life, we are just like animals. For those without spiritual life there is truth in this. Psalm 49v10-13 gives some insight.
- What outcome is described here for those who die?
- What does the passage say characterises those who die in this way?
- What does this tell you about life and death spiritually?
Psalm 49 10 Those who are wise must finally die, just like the foolish and senseless, leaving all their wealth behind.
11 The grave is their eternal home, where they will stay forever.
They may name their estates after themselves,12 but their fame will not last.
They will die, just like animals.
13 This is the fate of fools, though they are remembered as being wise.* .
The Bible does not leave things here. Following an evaluation, there is an outcome for those with life and those with death.
When the Lord made man He made them differently from the animals. Genesis 2:17&19
- What similarities and differences are there in the creation of man and animals?
- What is the essence of life in people?
Genesis 2v7&19 7 Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man's nostrils, and the man became a living person.. ... 19 So the LORD God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man* to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one.
Mankind was created with spiritual life. Death was soon to follow, and has infected us all. Romans 5v12. (For more on sin, and our failure before God - Failure and sin.)
- What is the origin of death?
- Why is the start point of all people death?
Romans 5v12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.
Death has an effect on people; a spiritual force. It is not just the absence of life. Paul writes on this in Ephesians 2:1-3.
- What is the cause and form of spiritual death?
- How does spiritual death impact a persons lifestyle?
- What is God’s attitude to those who live in death?
Ephesians 2:1-3 1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world.* He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God's anger, just like everyone else.
God knowing our state of death, took that death upon Himself, through Jesus’ death and resurrection, in order to bring us to life. We read this in Ephesians 2:4-10.
- Who is the source of spiritual life?
- How did Jesus make us alive?
- What is / is not our part in becoming alive?
- What is the purpose for making us alive?
Ephesians 2:4-10 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!)6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God.9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.10 For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago..
ON LIFE AND DEATH
