Transcription downloaded from https://yetanothersermon.host/_/kc/sermons/23161/christians-dont-die/. Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions. Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt. [0:01] Welcome. Thank you for choosing to listen to this Spirit-filled word by David Entry. When you catch a word, you have caught God. May you catch a word today that will cause God to change your story. [0:13] Be blessed. I want to go straight into the scripture and read from Genesis chapter 2 and verse 16 and 17. [0:26] And I'll read from 2 Timothy chapter 1 verse 9 and 10. Genesis chapter 2 verse 16. [0:39] And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it. [1:02] For in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die. The day that thou eatest of it, thou shalt surely die. [1:18] 2 Timothy chapter 1 verse 9 and 10. Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. [1:53] Here ends the reading of God's holy word. Let's pray. Father, thank you. Thank you for gathering us together around your word. Thank you for the privilege to be exposed to your word of grace, the word of truth, the word of life, the word of faith, and the word of hope. [2:15] As your word comes, we know you always send your word to heal us. Death has been defeated. And as your word comes, let life be introduced in every aspect of any life under the sound of my voice. [2:32] So death will be paralyzed and life will surge again. Life will surge again by the power of your word, which is a word of life. We thank you in Jesus name. [2:45] Amen. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. We give God praise for the word. Today I want to talk about how and why Christians don't die. [3:03] Christians don't die. Pastor, why are you saying Christians don't die? Because that's the fact. I have an auntie who's a Christian. She was a Christian. [3:14] She died. Okay. Let's find out what happened to her. In the earlier parts, what I read in Genesis chapter 2, verse 17, particularly the verse 17, the Bible talks about how God told Adam that there's a tree, there's a tree. [3:37] If you eat of it, you will surely. God, these are the words of God. You will surely, you will definitely die. You will die. [3:50] Adam ate it. The devil said, God is lying. You will not die. Chapter 3, verse 5. The devil said, God is lying. You will not die. The day you eat of it. God knows that when you eat, you'll rather be better. [4:04] You'll rather be better. That information technology will help you more. And when Eve saw that the tree was good for food and pleasant to die, a tree that will make you wise, she took it and ate it and gave it to her husband as well. [4:22] And they ate it. And what happened to them? They died. And their eyes were there. Isn't that what the devil said? The eyes of both of them were open. [4:33] And they knew they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together. So they covered themselves. They rather realized their state. They lost their innocence. [4:47] They were no more innocent about the state they were in. So it seems like what God said didn't really happen. Man was not created to die. [4:59] I believe that even science still finds death a bit of a mystery. Because when you are studying the human anatomy or the human nature itself, it looks like the body is supposed to rebuild itself, strengthen itself, recuperate. [5:17] And so the body is not meant to die. You should go on. Why is it that we can't just go on? Because death came in. So when God said you will die, the first death was what we see in Ephesians 2, verse 1. [5:35] It says that, and you who were dead in trespasses and sins. Okay. When you study the Bible very carefully, you will always see death going together with sin. [5:48] So sin is the mother of death. Where there is no sin, there cannot be death. So when they sinned by disobeying God and introducing themselves, exposing themselves to the wickedness of the devil, the devil sowed his nature into them, which is called sin. [6:13] The nature of the devil, the poison of the devil was sown into them. And because they also disobeyed God and sinned, Adam sinned, guess what? [6:25] Death came in. So death came on invitation. When sin came, sin said, death, let's go. Because sin moves with death. [6:36] James chapter 1, verse 15, it says that, and sin, when it has conceived, and desire, when it has conceived, it gives birth to sin. And then sin, when it's grown, you know, when sin grows, it grows beard. [6:50] The beard of sin is dead. Rather, is sin growing in you? Sister, is sin growing in you? Sin goes with death. [7:02] In 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verse 56 particularly, let's look at 56, we'll come to 55. It says, the sting of death is sin. [7:12] The sting of death is sin. So death needs sin to operate. Romans chapter 6, verse 23, the wages of sin is death. [7:31] The wages of sin is death. Sin always leads death. Sin is the forerunner of death. [7:43] You cannot have sin and not have death. Sin is the forerunner of death. So sin will promise you a certain level of enjoyment. [7:56] Like Eve saw that the fruit was good for food. Pleasant to the eye. And a tree that one desires to make one wise. [8:06] She saw that the tree was good for food. Say good for food. You know what I'm talking about. Sin looks always good. The tree was good for food. [8:21] It was pleasant to the eye. When you keep watching it, it's nice. It's nice. When you look at this thing, it's so nice to look at. Pleasant to the eyes. [8:34] And a tree desirable to make one wise. When you have it, it makes you look better than you. It seems to guarantee a change in status. [8:45] It seems to guarantee you or promise you a change in status. But all that is packaged to lead death. So it's a packaging. [8:57] Death comes in a package of attractions. Things that appeal to you. Things that you like. There is something inside you which Satan will always appeal to. [9:08] Or use to kill you. So, Bible says that sin introduced death to humanity. [9:19] But they didn't die. Death started. It says that you were dead in your transgressions. So, they became deadened to the nature. [9:30] The human nature became deadened in their spirits to God. So, that what happened is that when death came, death invaded not just the spirit. [9:43] It starts with the spirit. But invaded the entire human being. So, your soul and your body now also becomes susceptible to death. [9:55] And the entire human being caused man, it caused us to lose our function to relate, to react, to contact God. [10:06] Our function to contact God was dismantled. That is death. And it starts with the spirit. So, when you sin, you are losing God. [10:19] And you are gaining death. The soul that sinneth shall die. Satan doesn't want the preachers to talk about sin. [10:32] Because people are already struggling. It's the sin that is causing it. Satan doesn't want preachers to talk about sin. [10:44] So, it has a way of bullying preachers to not mention sin because people are already going through so much stress. It's the wages of sin. The cause of death. [10:58] The incipient death. Death has relatives. Or manifests in different, different ways. But ultimately, in Hebrews chapter 9 verse 27. [11:10] Death. Death became part of living. It's appointed unto men. You will die. But before you die, you are dead and you are dying. [11:24] Unless you come to Christ. So, look at this. Adam was meant to live permanently. [11:36] But because death came, he lost his ability to contact God. Man lost his ability to have interactions with God. [11:48] That's where death starts. And then, invariably, it begins to catch up with your entire being. And then, eventually, physically, man dies. Death is actually not termination. [12:00] It's separation. But I might not go too much into that. Now, watch this. So, then you come to Genesis chapter 5. I like something in Genesis chapter 5. [12:11] I just draw your attention. It talks about how Adam and his generations, God created them. He spoke about. It's like he's re-echoing the history of man. [12:23] So, God, the Bible begins to talk about the history of man, the first few generations. And he mentions Adam. And then, Adam had a child in his likeness after his image. [12:36] In verse 3, he called him Seth. And then, oh, the problem starts now. And the days of Adam, after he got Seth, was 800 years. And he begat sons and daughters. [12:48] And what happened? And verse 5 says, and all the days that Adam lived were 930 years. [12:58] Oh, no. What happened? He died. That's where the problem starts. Verse 7, Seth lived. Someone say Seth lived. So, verse 7, Seth lived. [13:11] Verse 8, Seth, and all the days of Seth. He lived, but the days were not unlimited. He lived, and he died. [13:22] Verse 8 says, he died. Verse 10, he not lived. Did you see that? And verse 11, the end of verse 7, and he died. Everybody was dying. [13:33] Verse 12, Canaan lived. Verse 14, and he died. Verse 15, Mahalel lived. Verse 17, and he died. Verse 18, Jared lived. [13:44] Verse 20, and he died. Then Enoch comes, and God takes Enoch. Bible said by faith. He was the one. He lived by faith, and faith excused him. But Methuselah comes, verse 25. [13:58] Methuselah lived. Verse 27, and he died. Verse 28, Lamech lived. And then verse 31, and he died. [14:09] So, everybody was dying. Why? Because Romans chapter 5, verse 12 explains it. Romans chapter 5, verse 12 says that, By one man, wherefore, as by one man, sin entered into the world. [14:23] Now, that word, world, is not talking about the cosmos or the galaxies. Excuse me. It's talking about, and it's not talking about, when the Bible says that, love not the world. [14:34] It's not talking about the systems, but it's talking about peoples. The people, humanity. Okay? So, for God, so, Romans, sorry, John 3, 16. [14:44] For God to love the world. The world is not, then, obviously, the Bible says, love not the world. So, why did God love the world? No. This world is different from love not the world. Loving not the world is the system. [14:56] The things Satan used to trick Eve that is pleasant for food, pleasure, and the things of the world. Bible says, the devil showed Jesus Christ all the glories, the kingdoms of the world. [15:06] In Luke chapter 4, Matthew chapter 4, he showed him the kingdoms of the world and the glories thereof. And said, bow to me. But Jesus didn't love the world. But here, when he said, God so loved the world, that world is humanity. [15:22] John 1, 29 says that, this, behold, the Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of what? The sin of the world. That world is talking about humanity. [15:35] So, in Romans chapter 5, verse 12 again, it says that, by one man, sin entered into the world. But humanity was introduced to sin. [15:47] And guess what? How did death come in? Death came by sin. Okay. Death operates by sin. [15:58] You might think that you are enjoying. Leave me, let me live my life. Let me do. Sin is introducing death into your marriage. Sin is introducing death into your health. [16:11] Sin is introducing death into your family. Sin is introducing death into your life. So, Romans chapter 8, it says that, I think there's 13, it said, if you live by carnality, you will die. [16:29] It says that, if you live according to the flesh, you will die. So, people are always dying. Death was not part of the deal from the beginning. [16:41] And death was introduced. And the ultimate of, first of all, spiritual death. Okay. You lose your function with God. Spiritual death. [16:52] We lose our function to contact God. That's spiritual death. So, anyone who is not in Christ cannot contact God. Simple. It doesn't matter how religious you are. [17:04] Religion is man's way of trying to contact God. But we don't have in ourselves what it takes to contact God. Because God is transcendent. [17:16] He's way beyond. Emmanuel is the imminent God. He has to take the step to come to us. Even though he was in the form of God. [17:27] Did not count equality with God. Something to grasp. But made himself of no reputation. And became man. Philippians chapter 2, verse 7. Became man. [17:38] So, in the likeness. He came in a likeness. So, God came on the earth. God came. He says that no man has seen the Father. John chapter 1, verse 18. [17:49] No man has seen the Father. But the only begotten of the. He. The only begotten son. Who is in the bosom of the. He is so much one with the Father. [18:00] He came. He came from the Father to declare the Father to us. When he came on earth. The Father was walking on earth. Colossians chapter 2, verse 9. Said in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. [18:15] Physically. The entirety of the Godhead. That is what Satan does not like. And strange religions. This is one thing they hate. The reason why they killed Jesus. Is because of this. [18:26] Because. I feel like preaching. The reason why they killed Jesus. Is because. He introduced. And he spoke the truth. That listen. I'm in the Father. [18:38] The Father is in me. I and the Father. John 10, 30. Are one. We are so much one. John chapter 14. Verse 9. He said. Have I been so long with you. [18:48] And you don't know me. He who has seen me. Has seen the Father. In John chapter 8. He told them. That I can't lie like you. If I say. I don't know him. [18:59] Verse 54. So. If I say. 53. 54. If I say. 53. John 8. 53. If I say. I don't know him. I will be. A liar like you. [19:09] But I know him. I came from the Father. They wanted Jesus. Oh my goodness. Yes. Listen. He says that. Look at the verse before. I will show you something. [19:21] Jesus answered. If I honor myself. My honor is nothing. It is the Father who honors me. Watch this. Of whom you claim. You are saying he is your God. Oh. [19:32] You say he is your God. He is honoring me. And he wants to kill me. Something. Something wrong. Something wrong. You don't. If you knew him. You will attempt to kill me. Because he is honoring me. [19:43] By manifesting himself in me. He is with me. And you say he is your God. That means that you are lying. He is not your God. So in the first place. [19:55] You are lying. Because you claim he is your God. He is honoring me. Look at 55. 55 says. Verse 55 says that. Yet. [20:06] You have not known him. But. You say he is your God. But you don't know him. And. But if. But I. I know him. And if I say I do not know him. [20:17] I shall be a liar like you. But I do know him. And keep it. I know God. He is with me. I am in him. So Jesus said. [20:28] I can't say otherwise. And so. As the conversation went on. They said. Are you claiming you are better than Abraham? Abraham our father. He said. Listen. What you are talking about? [20:39] Abraham saw my days. And he was glad. He said. Abraham. No. Not this one. Verse 56. And. Your father Abraham. Rejoiced to see my days. [20:50] And. He was. He saw it. And was glad. They said. You are not even yet 50. And you are claiming Abraham. Yeah. You are 50. And you have seen Abraham. He actually said. [21:01] Abraham saw his days. This is if you have seen him. But he said. You have seen Abraham. And Jesus said. What is big. Before Abraham. I am. That means. I am God. Even he claimed. He's claiming. [21:11] To be God. Is what made them kill him. The next verse. They pick up stones. To kill him. They took stones. Because he said. They took up stones. And. To throw at him. [21:23] But Jesus had to. Leave the. The territory. They want. The reason why they kill him. Because they said. He make. You be mad. Man. Make it yourself. Equal with God. [21:34] But the fact. That I'm saying is. Jesus is God. Who has actually. Become man. Watch this. This is very important. God. The conundrum. Yesterday. At outreach. [21:45] There was a gentleman. Who was. Who was saying that. How can Jesus be God. You are trying to say that. I mean. How can he. See. That's the conundrum. And Bible said. Great is the mystery of godliness. First Timothy chapter. [21:56] Chapter three. Great is the mystery of godliness. God became flesh. Verse 16. Without control. Great is the mystery. God was manifested in the flesh. That's not the problem is. For religion. How can you say. [22:07] God. Is man. How can you say. God. The creator. Becomes a creature. It's a conundrum. It's a mystery. Man will try and get his head around it. [22:21] It can never. So. God. Becomes man. How. But why. Would God become man. Why. Because. [22:32] Sin has entered man. And death. Is killing man. So. Now. And you can't. You can't relate with God. So. Watch it. [22:42] Because we were disconnected with God. In our spirits. God has to. Institute. Institute. A system. For a. A particular group of people. Who. [22:52] Keep his presence. And his activities. On earth. So. Because. Without human beings. God cannot operate on earth. So he needed a group of people. Called the Jews. [23:03] And to relate with them. But they are so sinful. He has to find a way. Of. Overlooking. Or covering their. He doesn't overlook sin. Covering their sins. Temporally. So he can deal with them. [23:15] Because. When sin comes. God. Goes. When sin comes in. God is inactivated. You inactivate God. When you. [23:25] When sins come. So. God has to find a way. Of suppressing. Or covering their sins. So he can be dealing with them. As though. Their sins. Did not exist. [23:36] Because. Earth. This. The engagement. Of God. So that. Earth. Will still. Retain. Some levels. Of blessing. And Satan. Cannot. [23:46] Overrun. Everybody. And so. God formed. A people. Called. The Jews. Through whom. He kept. His activities. Alive. And he gave them. So for him. [23:57] For them. To relate. With him. He had to give them. A system. Of relating. To him. So the law. Of Moses. Did not come. From man. It came. From God. [24:07] Because the law. Is holy. According to Romans. Chapter 7. The law. Verse 13. There. He said. The law. Is holy. The law. Is pure. There's nothing. Wrong. [24:17] With the law. Therefore. The law. Is holy. And the commandments. Are holy. Just. And good. So it is good. So what is. The problem. God gave the law. [24:27] Because it came from him. So through the law. Man can. Find a way. Of relating to him. Temporarily. Until the issue. Of sin. Is permanently. Dealt with. [24:38] Because. Without sin. Being dealt with. Death. Will reign. And so. God gave them the law. But guess what. There's a personality. In man. [24:49] Causing. Who took. Advantage. Of God's law. And used it. Rather. To produce. More death. People killed. Quickly. So Bible says. In Romans 7. 9. [24:59] And it's very interesting. 9. And 11. It talks about how. I was alive. Without the law. But when the commandment came. Sin revived. And I died. [25:10] Verse 11. It says that. For sin. Taking occasion. By the commandment. Deceived me. And by it. Killed me. So he says. The commandment is good. [25:21] The law is good. So what is the problem? 14. Says that. I am a man. So. He said. For I know that the law is spiritual. But I am carnal. Sold under sin. [25:32] So because. Sin has. Sin has become my master. Sin has become my master. Anything God tries to even do with me. So long as the law is concerned. [25:43] Sin. Seemed to be reigning. Sin became a problem. And death was reigning. Sin. So in Romans chapter 5 again. Verse 12. It talks about how death reigned. [25:54] Death actually was reigning. Therefore just as through one man. Sin entered the world. And death through sin. And death spread to all men. Because all sinned. [26:07] So death spread to all men. That is why Lamech lived. But died. That is why Methuselah lived. But died. That is why Enos lived. But died. [26:17] That is why Noah lived. But died. That is why Jared lived. But died. That is why Canaan lived. But died. They were just dying. [26:28] Enos lived. But died. They were just living. But died. Lived. But died. We were supposed to live. And continue living. But they lived. And died. They lived. And what was the problem? Sin came in. And death was not ruling. [26:40] Death passed on to all men. So death has become the problem. Death has become the problem. And the law which was meant to help man relate with God. [26:50] Because we are so sinned. Sin inside us was even using the law to make us look so sinful. And that. So Bible says the law came that sin might abound. Make us look so sinful. [27:01] So in Romans chapter 7 verse 24. It talks about I am sold under sin. No it said the body of who will deliver me from this body of death. [27:12] This body of death. Death has taken over. Death has taken over. Death has taken over. And it starts with death. Deadliness. [27:23] Our spirits will become deadened towards God. So deadliness is introduced because of sin. And then eventually physical death catches up. [27:34] So death has always reigned. Death has always been around. And people kept dying. People kept dying. People kept dying. [27:46] And the greatest enemy of man is death. According to 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 26. 1 Corinthians 15 verse 26 talks about how the last enemy that will be destroyed is death. [28:04] So death is the last enemy. The ultimate. The ultimate enemy of man is death. That is why every human being anywhere in the world fears death. [28:16] And the coronavirus was killing people. And so at the cost of commerce. At the cost of national economies. [28:30] Lockdown had to be introduced. Even though nations. Cities. People were losing money. It was necessary to save life at the cost of money. [28:41] At a high cost. Because money. What is money if you are dead? What is money to you? When you are dead? You know what I did? And so. It cost their global economy trillions. [28:55] But why? Everybody. We have to fight this death. We have to fight this thing called coronavirus. That is killing people. Taking away people's breath. Why? Because life is important. And death is an enemy. [29:06] We have to fight death. But we have been fighting death. And have never been able to overcome. But I have good news for you. That the Christian has overcome death. [29:17] What do you mean? That is where we are going. And so now. Death was destroying lives. Death had become the biggest enemy. [29:27] The biggest challenge of man. The biggest thing we fear. Is death. The biggest thing everybody fears. Is death. [29:39] No one will say. Death is okay for me. No one. Even people who want to commit suicide. Sometimes are careful. It's when they are lost all hope. [29:50] Well. Let me just. Because everything is gone. Let me embrace the ultimate then. But death. If life is going on. You don't want to die. Who wants to die? [30:03] People who want to die. Is it because of hopelessness? There's nothing. There's nothing. Actually most people who embrace death. Die before embracing death. Because there's no sense of living. [30:15] I'm giving up. But the point I'm making is that. Death has become the ultimate terrorist. Terrorist. That's why terrorists use death. Because if they're using death. [30:25] Man. Everybody must be careful. So. Ultimate terrorist of humanity. Is death. The ultimate terrorist of humanity. Is death. Death. [30:36] And so. Bible says that Jesus Christ. This is where the thing is kicking in now. Since. His brethren. Were flesh and blood. Blood. Hebrews. Chapter 2. [30:47] Verse 14. And 15. Look at what it says. Since. We. Were flesh and. In as much as the children. Have partaken of flesh and blood. That's we. The children of God. We are partaking. [30:58] Of flesh and blood. He himself. Talking about Jesus himself. In the same. Likewise. Shared in the same. He also became. Physical. Human nature. He took on the human. [31:09] God had to take on the human nature. For a purpose. That. Why did he take on the human nature? That through death. He will destroy the devil. Who has the power of death. [31:20] Okay. So. He became. Human being. So as to die. Because God. Has not got sin. And so. He cannot die. But. [31:31] Sin. Is in the flesh. So. If you partake of the flesh. You can die. Ah. I'm saying that again. God cannot die. [31:42] Because. There is no sin in God. But. Death. The flesh. Has become infested. And sin. Has checked in. [31:52] In fact. When you read Romans. Chapter 7. It personifies. Sin. Chapter 7. Verse 9. It says that. Romans chapter 7. Verse 9. Chapter 7. [32:02] Verse 11. Chapter 7. Verse 17. Chapter 7. Verse 20. It's all the. Look at. Chapter 7. Verse 9. It says that. Sin revived. Ah. Sin revived. It's like a personality. [32:13] Look at verse 11. So. Sin. Takes occasion. Of the commandment. And sin can deceive. No. No. No. That's not an action. That's a personality. Sin. Sin revived. [32:24] Sin deceived. Sin. Said. Romans chapter 6. Verse 14. Said. Sin shall no longer have dominion. So. Oh. So. Sin. It revives. It can. It can deceive. [32:35] It can have dominion. It can be active. Sin. Thus. It revives. It can. It can also. It can also. It can also cause you to. Act against your will. Chapter 7. Verse 17. [32:47] Sin can make you act against your will. So. It's not just. But now. It is no longer I who do it. But sin that is living in me. Verse 20. Verse 20 says that. Now. If I do. [32:57] What I will not do. It's against my will. It is no longer I. But sin. So. Now. This is. Sin has taken authority in the flesh. So. It is not. [33:07] It's a nature of the devil more than an action now. So. It's different from sins. This is why sin becomes a personality. So. That. Anyone who partakes in the flesh. Will also have sinned to a certain degree. [33:20] Trying to reign. But Jesus took part of the flesh. And guess what? He condemned. In Romans chapter 8. Oh. I feel like preaching. In Romans chapter 8. Verse 3. [33:31] What's the law of God? Because he was trying to relate with man. He gave the law. But the law. We were actually dying more. Because we can't keep up to the standard of God. What the law could not do. [33:42] In that. It was weak through the flesh. There's a problem with the flesh. What's the problem of the flesh? Sin lives in the flesh. It was weak through the flesh. God did it by himself. [33:53] By sending his own son. In the likeness of sinful. See the word? Sinful flesh. That phrase. Sinful flesh. So he came like sinful flesh. On the account of sin. [34:05] He condemned. He condemned sin in the flesh. No one has been able to do this. Because he condemned sin in the flesh. He now said. [34:16] I have lived a sinless life. Even though I still had the flesh. He came in the likeness of sinful flesh. And yet. Was able to condemn sin in the flesh. [34:27] And you know what he did? Now I have condemned sin in the flesh. I have to do the ultimate purpose. For which I came. He had to go to the cross. So. Hebrews chapter 2 again. [34:39] Verse 14. Since. Thank you Jesus. The children have been partakers of flesh and blood. He himself likewise. Shed in the same. That through death. [34:51] He might destroy. Him who has the power of death. The devil. And look at the verse 15. And release. Hallelujah. This is the key word. [35:02] Release. Those who through fear of death. Were all their lifetime. Subject to bondage. When you are Christian. You have been released. From the fear of death. [35:14] Yeah. You have been released. From the fear of death. Because. Ha. First Corinthians. Chapter. 15. Verse. [35:25] 56. He said. Verse 55. Let's go to 55. 55 says. Oh death. Where is your sting? Oh grave. Where is your victory? Then he goes. [35:37] Says. The sting of death is sin. And the strength of sin. Is the law. You see. The law. Thing I mentioned. But look at verse 54. I think we should go to it. But thanks be to God. 54 says. 54. [35:47] So when incorruptible shall put on. Corruptible shall put on incorruption. And mortality shall put on immortality. Then shall be brought to pass. [35:58] The saying. Which is written. Death has been swallowed up in victory. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Death has been swallowed up in victory. Not when we die. Whilst we are on earth. [36:11] Death has been swallowed up. In victory. That's where we are going. Yes. Death has been swallowed up. In victory. Death has been swallowed up. In victory. [36:22] Death has been swallowed up. In victory. Death and all incipient death. Has been swallowed up. In victory. Death has been swallowed up. In victory. [36:33] How did that happen? Because Jesus Christ. First of all. Condemned sin in the flesh. And when he. When he condemns sin in the flesh. [36:44] Now some of you get something in a minute. You understand. The reason why Jesus. When he said. I have. He has to go to Jerusalem. Matthew chapter 16. From verse. [36:56] 20 downwards. He said from that time forward. 21, 22, 23. He began to tell them. The son of man. Has to go to Jerusalem. And suffer many things. And from the elders. [37:07] And the chief priests. And what? And what? Be killed. And be killed. Peter took him aside. And started rebuking him. You can't go and die. [37:18] Ah. So Jesus said. Get behind me Satan. Because you are just talking like man. You don't know the program of God. Because the main reason. [37:29] Why Jesus came on earth. Is not to just condemn sin in the flesh. But to die. Why must he come and die? Because death is our ultimate enemy. [37:42] But some of us must be released. From the sting of death. Must be released. From the power of death. From the terrorism of death. [37:54] From the fear of death. That makes us subject to bondage. He came to release his sons. He came to release his brethren. And so Jesus of necessity had to die. [38:08] He had to die. His dying was not martyrdom. His dying was dealing with the one who had the power of death. [38:20] Which was the devil. And he overcame death. Now let's see what happened. This is going to be a bit more serious. [38:32] I would like us to go to John first. And then we will come. Now look at John chapter 11 verse 25 and 26. This is when Lazarus died. [38:44] And Martha came to Jesus. And Martha said, Lord, if you were here, my brother would not have died. He wouldn't have died. And Jesus said, don't worry. [38:55] Your brother will live again. And then Martha got theological. He said, I know at the resurrection. I know that he will rise again at the resurrection at the last day. [39:07] Jesus said, me. The one talking to you. I am the resurrection. You are not waiting for a day. Once I come, resurrection has come. He said, I am the resurrection and the life. [39:20] Watch this. Watch this. Don't miss this. Christians. Don't miss this. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. Now, that's the mystery. [39:33] Though he may die, he shall live. Once you put your faith in Jesus Christ, there is a certain hold of death that cannot have you. [39:44] Physically, you might cease to be, but you are actively alive as anybody. Alive and life is thriving. [39:56] Because death is not termination. It's separation. So, you physically have been separated. You have been separated from the physical world. You need physical body to exist on this earth. [40:10] So, when your body, you leave your body, you can't exist on this earth. That is why when God wanted to exist on this earth, he needed a body. He had to clothe himself with humanity. [40:23] He clothed himself with humanity. And he looked so much like us, they missed him as God. If he came as God, no one could have said hello. [40:33] Because everybody would be falling. Anywhere he goes in time, they would be falling. So, that's why on the Mount of Transfiguration, just an iota of his goodness burst forth through his humanity. Matthew chapter 17 from verse 3 downwards. [40:45] It burst forth through his humanity. And the disciples, Peter, James, and John, couldn't stand. They fell. They fell because they feared. It was so radiant. They were so afraid. Now, can you imagine if he was walking on earth like that? [40:58] How many people? He said, let the children come to me. They would run from him. No one can go. So, God couldn't. We couldn't have encountered God in his goodness. So, he had to come to us in our manness. [41:11] Ah, ah. That's the Christian gospel. Jesus came to us. God came to us in the form of a man. And that is, anytime you hear the word Jesus Christ, he's talking about God captured in the flesh. [41:26] God captured. That's Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ. That's why before Abraham, he was. But he wasn't existing in flesh. But he has always been. [41:37] Because he's the God of Abraham. He's the God of David. He's the God of all creation. So, he came on earth to come and deal a fatal blow to the ultimate enemy of man, which is death. [41:55] But the sting of death is sin. So, he first of all has to overpower sin in his flesh. [42:06] So that now he can die sinlessly. Hey, hey, hey. He can die without sin. And then death. In death, he said, now you death. [42:18] Finally, I've taken hold of you. He overpowered death. Now, watch this. Watch this. Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he dies, he will live. [42:33] And watch this. Look at the next verse. And whosoever lives and believes in me. Hey. So, why won't believers die? Do you believe this? [42:46] That's Jesus' words. Do you believe this? He who believes in me. He who lives and believes in me. Shall never. Never means never. [42:59] Never means never. Shall never die. So, pastor. So, Christians are supposed to never die. Yes. But people are dying. They are not dying. They are not dying. [43:11] Hey. We can't die. We can die. We can die. We can die. We can die. Because we are believers. We can die. We check out. But we don't die. We sleep. Paul puts it this way. [43:23] I write to you. So, you don't sorrow over those who sleep. 1 Thessalonians chapter. Chapter 4 verse 16. Writing these things to you. So, concerning those who sleep. [43:34] He used the word sleep. Sleep. Sleep. Sleep. Sleep. Because believers don't die. They fall asleep. How many of us are afraid to fall asleep? [43:45] No. No. Sometimes you look for it. Some of you. I know. Sometimes you can't wait to go to bed. Yeah. [43:57] You've had a long day. And you say, ah. I miss my bed. How many of you sometimes miss your bed? Sometimes you actually miss your bed. And so he said, I miss my bed. I can't wait to go and sleep. [44:07] Ah. I can't wait. You can't wait to sleep? Yes. Why? Because it's good for me. I'm tired. I just want to sleep. [44:19] And when I'm going to sleep, what do you say? Good night. Why good night? Because I'll say good morning in a few hours. Ah. I'll say good morning. [44:30] So, we beat our believers who depart. We beat them good night. Wow. Wow. We beat them good night. Not really bye. No. You don't say bye to mom when you are going to your room to sleep. [44:43] Mom, I'm going to bed. Bye-bye. No, you don't do that. You don't. You say good night. You kiss your daughter. You kiss your son. You kiss your child. Good night. Good night. Then you pull the cover over him. [44:56] Good night, baby. And then in the morning. Good morning, mommy. Good morning, daddy. We sleep. We fall asleep. [45:09] Why? One. Two things I want to draw attention to. Why don't we die? And what is the difference? Watch this. This is very important. What is the difference between the believer in departing this earth and the unbeliever in departing? [45:26] So two people are dying. Let's, okay, what we all say scientifically, are dying. One is a believer. The other one is not a believer. Is there a difference? Is there a difference? [45:38] They all, let's say, they all had sickness. They were in hospital. Let's say terminally ill. Whatever. And then they all die the same day. Is there a difference? [45:49] Because if it's cancer that kills this one, it's also cancer that kills this one. It might be the same cancer, but there is a massive difference between the way a believer, when a believer is dying and when an unbeliever is dying. [46:01] There is a massive difference. The difference is as massive as day and night. That's why Jesus said, if you don't believe I am here, you will die in your sins. [46:11] You don't have to die in your sins. Because sin is actually going to kill you properly. But if you don't have sins, you won't die. You will continue to live. [46:22] You will just sleep. Okay, how do you fall asleep? Now, watch this. This is very important. In 2 Timothy chapter 1, verse 8 and 9. [46:35] And then the real thing is verse 10. Verse 10 said, don't be ashamed of me, of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, me is prisoner, but share with me the suffering for the gospel according to the power of God. The next verse. Who has saved us? [46:46] God saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us. Where? In Christ Jesus. How long ago? Before time began. [46:57] So we were called and given grace and God's purpose before time began. We were called and given grace and God's, we were called according to God's grace and purpose in Christ Jesus before time began. [47:12] Before, in Christ Jesus before time began. But when Christ came, all these things that were given to us, that were done, accomplished by God before time began, were manifested. [47:23] So he said, in Christ Jesus before time began, verse 10, which, but is now revealed, another translation say manifested, by the appearing, manifestation, appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ. [47:36] What did he do? Who did what? What did Jesus do? Can you see that? Look at it. Jesus did what? Excuse me. I know you haven't noticed that. [47:49] Jesus abolished death. Huh? Yeah. That's why he said, if you live and believe in me, you won't die. Why? Because I have abolished death. Jesus has abolished. [48:00] Another translation say he has annulled. He's neutralized. He's nullified death. Who has annulled death? And made death of no effect. [48:13] Death has lost its power. Jesus came to abolish death. Excuse me. He didn't only come to die for our sins. [48:23] He came to abolish death. He came to abolish death. He came to abolish death. He came to abolish. What does he mean to abolish? Render useless. [48:37] Render non-effective again. Abolish, another way, is no more allowed. It's banned. Death is not allowed for the Christian. You are not getting me. [48:51] I said death is not allowed for the Christian. It's disallowed. It has been abolished. Slave trade was abolished. And so if you try and engage in slave trade, you are breaking an international law. [49:04] If you try and enforce death on a Christian, you are breaking a cosmic, eternal law. Oh, my God. It's unacceptable. And it doesn't work. Christians cannot die. [49:17] Christians don't die. Christians don't die. Christians don't die. Because Christ has abolished death. Oh, and look at this. He didn't just abolish death. [49:28] He brought, hey, hey, he brought life. Hallelujah. He introduced life. And not only life, an immortality to light. Through the gospel. Do you know what immortality is? [49:42] Undyingness. Undying. The ability to not die. The ability to not die. Which scientists have you looking for? [49:54] It has already been brought by Jesus Christ to light. He's brought it to light. In other words, he has activated it. He has made it a reality. He brought inability to die. [50:06] Undyingness. My own coin words. Undyingness. Not dyingness. He brought it to reality. He brought it to light. [50:18] When they say the evil or some of the injustice that were done has been brought to light. Now it has been uncovered. People can now see that this thing is real. Now Jesus brought life. [50:29] Not just life. But immortality to light. How? Through the gospel. Jesus brought life and immortality to that light. [50:42] But before he did that, he had to abolish death. That is why Satan wanted to stop him in a way from going to the cross through Peter. And Jesus took it very personal and very serious. [50:56] He turned to Peter and rebuke him. What do you mean by I can't die? What do you mean by I can't go and die? Get behind me, Satan. Get behind me. That's why when he was arrested, the pointeous pilot. [51:09] He said, listen, I have power to kill you. He said, no, no. You can't kill me unless it's given to you. Jesus said, I laid down my life. In John chapter 10 verse 18. He said, I laid down my life and I pick it up again. [51:20] Like the way you remove your shoes and put your feet back in it. He said the same. He said, I laid down my life, myself. I have the power to lay it down. And I have the power to take it up again. And in John, he told the pointeous pilot, you can't kill me if it has been given to you. [51:35] You can't kill me. And he says that you have to do it. Greta is the sin of the one who delivered me to you. You have to do your job because Jesus had to die. [51:47] He said, you could have no power at all against me unless it had been given to you from above. Therefore, the one who delivered me to you has greater sin. Look at verse 10. Look at verse 10. [51:58] The empire said, are you not speaking to me? Answer me. Don't you know that I have power to crucify you? He said, look at you. Look at you. He wasn't talking. [52:09] So this man said this foolish thing. He said, let me tell you, excuse me. Let's set the record straight. You can't kill me. You cannot kill me. You cannot kill me. You can't. [52:20] You don't have what it takes to kill me. I lay down my life and I pick it up. Do you know why I said you can't kill me? Because there's no sin in me. There is no sin in me. [52:33] There is no sin in me. So you can't kill me. I will have to lay down my life. And because there is no sin in me. Watch this. Watch this. Because there is no sin in me. According to Acts chapter 2 verse 24. [52:46] It was not possible that the grave should hold him. Because it was not possible. Because there's no sin in him. There's no sin in him. [52:59] There's no sin in him. In Acts chapter 4 also it talks about how you will not suffer your holy one to see corruption. Huh? Holy. [53:09] Holiness and corruption don't go together. Oh. You see what sin is doing against you. Even though you are born again, you are entertaining sin. The soul does sin and shall die. It's killing a lot of potential in you. [53:20] You are believing God for breakthrough. But instead you are getting breakdown. Why? Why? And he said the pastor's prayer is not strong enough. It doesn't need pastor's prayer. It needs your holy cooperation. [53:33] Alright. Let's go back to the text. So Jesus Christ abolished death and brought life. I like this text. Never forget this text. It's so Christian. It's so Christian. [53:45] It's so Christian. Unbelievers can't understand this. Because they don't know what we are talking about. They don't have a working knowledge of what we are talking about. Unless you are born again. You can't see the King of God. You can't understand these things. This is no academic exercise. [53:56] This is not academic. It's enlightenment. Spiritual insight. We are dealing with spiritual insight. You are also talking about information. This is no information. This is revelation. This is revelation. [54:09] You can do it. You can be a theological guru. And do any kind of research. You won't find it. [54:20] Because your eyes have been covered. Satan has blinded the eyes, the minds of those who believe. But listen to this. So Christ has brought, has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light. [54:37] That is why it says that then the same shall be true. And 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 54 says that mortality has been swallowed up by immortality. [54:47] That is in your Bible. It says that so then corruption has put on incorruption. And this mortality has put on immortality. How did it come? Because Jesus brought immortality. [54:59] Non-dying, not dyingness. He brought it to light. So then because of the cross, when you are in Christ, there is an immortality. Immortality, that has been, that has been introduced into you. [55:11] That is why John, John 11, 26 says that he who lives and believes in me shall never die. Shall never die. Because he came to abolish death. [55:23] Abolish death. Now, I submit to you. When he says shall never die, that phrase, that he said shall never die. Another way of putting it is shall not taste death. [55:36] Actually, some translations put it, will not taste death. I'm talking about John chapter 11 verse 26. He said, he who believes in me, he who lives and believes in me shall never die. [55:53] Another way of putting it is shall never taste death. What does that mean? Let's go back to John chapter 8 verse 51 to 53. [56:03] I think we have to go back to John 8. This is Jesus. Most assuredly, I say unto you, if anyone keeps my word. [56:15] Excuse me. What did you say? Keeping your word will do what? You shall not see death. Oh. Oh. Oh. If anyone. [56:26] Anyone means anyone. Doesn't matter your past. If you can keep my word. Another way of saying keep my word is believe in me. And live by my word. He shall never see death. [56:38] Look at the next verse. Okay. I'll go back to that. Before I come to the next verse. I think this scripture just popped in my spirit. Let's go to it. John chapter 5 verse 24. John 5 24. [56:49] Most assuredly, I say unto you, he who hears my words and believes in him who sends me has everlasting life. And shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. [57:03] You have crossed. You have changed level, though. Hey. Sister. Being born again is not about getting new shoes. No, no. Come on. It's not about getting married. [57:14] Come on. Those things are just petty. The key things of life is you have changed levels. You have changed what? Serious level. From life. Sorry. From death to life. [57:25] You have passed from death to life. Anyone who is not. It's already dying. That's why death has grips over anyone who is not in Christ. Death is reigning. Death is reigning. Death is reigning. [57:37] Because you are not in Christ. But once you come in Christ, you change levels. Let me say it like some African man will say. Your level don't change. Your level. [57:49] Not level. Your level. Your level don't change. Your level don't change. I'm telling you. You are born again. Don't feel sorrowful. Don't feel sorrowful. [58:00] Because your level don't change. Now, because God told Adam the day you eat it, you will die. If he repeated the same thing. God said if he eat it, you will die. 3, 3. Genesis 3, 3. [58:11] The day we eat it, you will die. If he repeated. God said the day we eat it. But they ate it the day they didn't die. Why? Because the death started from their spirit. Disconnection from God. In the same way, life starts from your spirit. Connection. [58:21] Reconnection to God. And then with time, it begins to catch up with every aspect of your life. Every aspect of your life is catching up. Every now. Your marriage. But how can you get that? [58:32] There are people who have come to church and they want what life brings. But they don't have life. Hey. How the hell is that going to happen? How? How can you make babies with your dead girlfriend? [58:46] Or your dead boy? No. It can't happen. So the person must live first. He must live first. People have come to church. They want the breakthrough. Prosperity. [58:57] Financial fever. A miracle. They want that one. But they don't want the Christ and the Lordship of Christ. But the thing starts with life. [59:08] When you pass to life, then all other aspects of your life begin to experience Zoe. The life of God. I feel like preaching. The life of God. [59:19] The life of God. Now, Jesus said you have passed from death to life. Now, let's go back to John chapter 8 verse 51. If you keep my word, you shall never see death. [59:31] Then the Jew said, you see, we know you have a devil. The Jew said to him, now we know that you have a demon. Don't worry when preachers are being blasted. Because Jesus, in fact, they said he had a demon by Jewish authorities. [59:46] People who had the law of God. They said Jesus. So don't worry if some theologians, someone who calls himself a theologian, calls himself a bishop. Calls himself a prophet. And he's blasting someone who is expounding God's word in truth. [59:58] So all these people are charlatans. Are charlatans. Are charlatans. And you, even though you claim not to be charlatan, you are leading more people to hell. [60:10] It's a sign that you are actually a chief capital charlatan. You are not even just a seller. You are, you are 419. Fake. Fraud. [60:23] All right. So, in fact, Jesus said that Pharisees, I think in Matthew 23, he said, you go heaven and earth. Nothing is to convert people, to make them children or sons, children of the devil. [60:36] Can you imagine? Say, woe to you. Matthew 23, I think. Matthew 23 or so. Woe to you, you Pharisees, you scribes and Pharisees. You go heaven and earth or at any length to convert a person with them. [60:48] And you make them sons of the devil. Yeah. So, sometimes you can look like you are a priest or you are a pastor. You are a bishop for God. But you are making many. You are raising more sons of devils. [61:00] Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees. Hypocrite. For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte. And when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourself. [61:15] All right. Because of my time, let's go back to the key point. So, verse 52. They said he has a devil. Abraham is dead. The prophet had a... Was it true? Yes. [61:25] Why was Abraham dead? Because all men were dying because of sin. Bible says, as we read again, Romans chapter 5 verse 12. Death came upon all men because of one man's sin. [61:37] Because of one man's obedience, sin entered the world and death through sin. And death spread to all men. So, Adam died. They were dying, as I showed. They lived and then they died. [61:48] They lived. Abraham too came, lived and died. Moses came, lived and died. Everybody was dying. All the prophets, even though they were mouthpieces of God, they still died. So, these Jews were saying to Jesus, Abraham died and the prophets died. [62:03] And you, you are saying if anyone keeps your word, he shall never what? They used the right word. There are people who have never tasted alcohol. [62:17] Some people who have never tasted wheat. They've never tasted something. They don't know how it feels like. Some people have never tasted divorce. [62:28] They don't know how it feels like. Some people have never tasted poverty. They don't know what it means. Like Prince William. He can never know what it means to be poor. If he tries to speak for the poor, he doesn't even know what it really means to be poor. [62:42] There are people who have never tasted some things. Now, watch this. You, Jesus, are saying anyone who believes in you, they will not taste death. But death is a common commodity for all men. [62:54] How come you say anyone who believes in you will not taste death? You have a devil. You have a demon. And then look at what Jesus said. In the next verse. He said, are you greater than our father Abraham who is dead? [63:10] And the prophets who are dead. Who do you make yourself out to be? Excuse me. Who do you think you are? What are these on? [63:20] So when you go and preach Jesus, people, some people get offended. Excuse me. Why are you telling me this nonsense about this Jesus? Oh, you're making him. Yeah, he is. He is. Who do you make yourself to be? [63:31] Abraham died. Abraham is the patriarch. The patriarch of the Jews. He died. And these great, great prophets who through whom God has sustained his move on this earth through the Jews, in the Jews, among the Jews. [63:43] They are dead. You just came. We know how you were born. A carpenter, son. You are coming to tell us that anyone who believes in your word should not taste death. Excuse me. You have a devil. [63:55] But why did he say that? He meant it. You won't taste death. That's, I'm ending now. Christians are not meant to taste death. Why? You don't, you won't know how death feels. Let me quickly finish. Hebrews chapter 2, verse 9. [64:06] He says that, but now we see Jesus. We see Jesus. We see Jesus. Who for the purpose of death, for the suffering of death, was made, was, who was made a little lower than the angels? [64:18] Why? For the suffering of death. Okay. So the reason why he was, he became human, so he can die. For the suffering of death. Crowned with glory and honor. [64:30] That he, by the grace of God, might do what? Tastes death for everyone. That's why he said, if you are in Christ, you won't taste death. Because he has taste. Do you know? Do you see how Jesus died? [64:41] He, he, he, he. He, he. They beat him. His death was brutal. So that when you are in Christ, the difference between the cancer patient, Christian cancer patient, and unbeliever cancer patient, when they are all dying, the difference is that the unbeliever, the believer, he just falls asleep. [65:06] He's not, he just, you won't, you actually, the, the grimness, the, the, the wickedness, the terror of death, you will never taste it if you are in Christ. It doesn't matter how they try to kill you. [65:18] You won't taste it. You will just check in and sleep. How many of you have fallen asleep before? You, you, you, are you threatening to fall asleep? You are sitting there by the time, you realize, sometimes you can be driving, and you see you aren't even dozing off. [65:28] You are, you are in church. As I'm preaching, somebody might be dozing off. You know, it's not, that's how. We just slip into sleep. We slip into, so when the believer is dying, nothing, nothing, dramatically terrifying. [65:42] No. Because what? Jesus has tested death for all of us. He tested death. That's why he came. He came, Bible says that for, for, he, he was meant little lower than angel for the suffering of death, that he might test death. [65:57] Hallelujah. Yeah. Death. Death. For everyone. That everyone doesn't mean humanity. It means those who are in him. That's why I say, if you believe in me, you will never taste death. [66:08] You will never, why? Because I have tasted it. I have tasted it for you and I've quenched its power. The victory of death has been taken. So he says, as in Adam all die, so in Christ. [66:21] First Corinthians chapter 15 verse 22. So in Christ all shall live. You shall live. You shall live. You are not dying. Christians don't die. [66:33] Christians just slip into sleep. They slip into sleep. They fall asleep. Christians fall asleep. Unbelievers are the one who taste death. Oh. Oh. [66:44] Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. That Christian. I heard a story of one guy who doctors told him he has a week to die. He's a strong Christian. [66:55] He was going through treatment. Afterwards, they said he got a week to die. He wrote letters and he went home. He wrote letters to all his loved ones years ago. And he said, everybody come. Family, loved one, come. [67:06] Come and see how a Christian dies. It's so sweet. He wasn't afraid of death. He died so sweet and peacefully. He went. Because for me to live is Christ. [67:17] To die is gain. Death is not my truth. Death is not my truth. He who believes in me shall never see death. Shall never taste death. [67:29] And he said, do you believe in this? Now it's up to you. That's what shows whether you're a real believer or not. Do you believe in this? When you're a Christian, you don't taste death. [67:41] Christians don't die. Christians don't die. Christians don't die. Because death has been conquered by our foreigner, Jesus. [67:55] Who is a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. Who is a high priest by the commandment of an indestructible life. By a commandment of an indestructible life. [68:09] Hebrews 7.25. He said, we have a high priest. Since he ever liveth to make ends. Because he doesn't die, he ever liveth. He's a foreigner. He's made a high priest by the commandment of an endless life. [68:25] Indestructible life. An indestructible life. According to the law of flesh. But he, verse 16. One who will become high priest on the basis of a regulation. [68:37] But Jesus. On the basis of a power of an endless life. Indestructible life. He's got it. And when we come into him. We have that life. [68:49] It says that he who lives and believes in me. He shall never die. He who believes in me. Though he dies. He's still alive. When he didn't die. Christ has tasted death. [69:00] Said if you believe in my words. You will never see death. Thank you for listening to this message by David Entry. When God speaks, works show. And the works will surely show in your life. [69:14] To hear more from David Entry. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn. And subscribe to Karis Church on YouTube. Don't forget to share and subscribe to our podcast. [69:25] So you're always up to date. Be blessed.