Topical Encyclopedia
Natural death, as understood within the Christian tradition, refers to the cessation of physical life, a consequence of the Fall of Man as described in Genesis. The Bible presents death as an enemy, a result of sin entering the world through Adam and Eve's disobedience (
Genesis 2:17;
Romans 5:12). However, the New Testament reveals that through Jesus Christ, natural death has been conquered, offering believers the hope of eternal life.
The Origin of DeathThe concept of death is first introduced in the Bible in the context of God's command to Adam in the Garden of Eden: "but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die" (
Genesis 2:17). This death was both spiritual and physical, marking the separation from God and the eventual physical demise of the body.
Death as an EnemyScripture consistently portrays death as an adversary. In
1 Corinthians 15:26, Paul writes, "The last enemy to be destroyed is death" . This depiction underscores the unnaturalness of death in God's original creation and the need for its ultimate defeat.
Christ's Victory Over DeathThe New Testament proclaims the victory over death through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In
1 Corinthians 15:54-57, Paul declares, "When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.' 'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" . This passage highlights the transformative power of Christ's resurrection, which nullifies the finality of death for believers.
The Promise of Eternal LifeThrough faith in Jesus Christ, believers are promised eternal life, transcending the limitations of natural death. Jesus Himself assures this in
John 11:25-26: "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?'" . This promise offers profound hope, affirming that physical death is not the end but a transition to eternal communion with God.
The Resurrection of the DeadThe doctrine of the resurrection is central to the Christian faith, affirming that believers will be raised to new life. In
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Paul provides a vivid description: "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord" . This future resurrection underscores the complete victory over death achieved through Christ.
Living in the Light of Christ's VictoryBelievers are called to live in the light of Christ's triumph over death, embracing the hope and assurance it provides.
Romans 6:8-9 states, "Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has dominion over Him" . This passage encourages Christians to live with the confidence that death has been defeated and eternal life secured through Jesus Christ.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Romans 6:9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death has no more dominion over him.
Torrey's Topical TextbookRevelation 1:18
I am he that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for ever more, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Library
Was Christ's a Real Death?
... with a restoration of Christ by natural means from ... it that he, as Messiah, had conquered
death, and was ... Moreover, if it be true that Christ's sufferings caused ...
/.../section 297 was christs a.htm
The Power of Christ's Resurrection
... such a person as Alexander, who conquered the world ... We may throng and crowd about
Christ, and call him ... by his quickening Spirit from our natural death, in which ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/the power of christs resurrection.htm
The Death of Christ
... circumstances is the result of their natural weakness ... the monument to His victory
over death, the assurance to all that He had Himself conquered corruption and ...
/.../athanasius/on the incarnation of the word/chapter 4 the death of.htm
The Death of Death
... that sleep does not mean unconsciousness any more than natural sleep does ... enlarge,
to express the great Christian thought that death has conquered man but ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/the death of death.htm
"For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus Hath Made Me ...
... He conquered, and by his power obtained this supreme ... from sin a declaration of freedom
from death, then all ... heart and hath something like a natural instinct in ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon ix for the law.htm
"For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus Hath Made Me ...
... of ignorance and darkness, should now be conquered in the ... are under a law of sin
and death, that hath ... Satan's kingdom, that rule in every natural man,"either ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon viii for the law.htm
Life and Death
... death has not conquered life, but life has conquered and WILL ... raised in power; we
are sown a natural body, and ... now are of the earth earthy, after death and the ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon iii life and death.htm
The Resurrection
... it. The natural property of fire is to burn. ... teaching. Then he will see
how impotent death is and how completely conquered. Indeed ...
/.../athanasius/on the incarnation of the word/chapter 5 the resurrection.htm
About the Time of Christ, in Accordance with Prophecy, the Rulers ...
... nation, came to an end, and as a natural consequence the ... and established himself
as king there, until conquered by Herod ... Upon the death of his father, bc 4, he ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter vi about the time of.htm
Galatians v. 16, 17
... of the flesh; and therefore having conquered their diseased ... word, and thinking of
life and death and judgment ... work thine; that as, through thy natural laws, my ...
/.../arnold/the christian life/lecture viii galatians v 16.htm
Resources
What is the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2)? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about near death experiences? | GotQuestions.orgHow can I overcome the fear of death? How can I stop being scared of dying? | GotQuestions.orgDeath: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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