If A Man Dies, Shall He Live Again?
Introduction:
The patriarch Job suffered as few men ever did. He lost all his
possessions in one day. (Job
1:13-16)
He lost his seven sons, three daughters, and his servants. (Job
1:17-19)
His body was covered with painful boils. (Job
2:7-8)
Then three of his friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, came to mourn
and comfort him. But they basically claimed that all of his pain and
suffering were the result of his sin. (Job
11:5-6)
It is in the midst of his response to Zophar that he asks the question,
“If a man dies, shall he live again?” (Job
14:14)
Body:
I.
Immortality
·
Job observed that a fallen tree would sprout again. (Job
14:7-9)
But he had never seen a man rise from the grave. (Job
14:12)
Certainly Job wanted an end to his suffering, but he did not want to
remain in the grave. (Job
14:15)
·
Men through the ages, when visiting a cemetery or attending a funeral,
have asked, “Where is he?” Some answer, “Nowhere.” Man ceases to exist.
But notice
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.” NKJV
Others may say, “He’s sleeping.” But the story of the rich man and
Lazarus refutes that. (Luke
16:19-31)
·
The Bible clearly teaches that the soul is immortal. The soul continues
to exist forever and is conscious of his existence. It seems that
originally man was created with potential to live indefinitely in his
physical body. (Genesis
3:22)
But Adam and Eve’s sins in the garden brought death. (Genesis
2:17, Romans 5:12)
This was both physical and spiritual death.
II.
Body and Soul
·
Read
Genesis 2:7,
“formed”, is like a potter molding clay into a particular shape. When
breathed into him life, it was physical, mental, and spiritual. (Genesis
3:19, I Corinthians 15:47)
·
“Breath of life” (Job
33:4)
·
Man is made in God’s image. (Genesis
1:26a)
Since God is spirit, man also is spirit. (Ecclesiastes
12:7)
God formed man’s spirit. (Zechariah
12:1)
·
Physical death occurs when the soul and the body are separated. (James
2:26)
·
Spiritual death occurs because of our sins. *A separation from God (Isaiah
59:1-2)
*Dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians
2:1-3)
*Can be made alive (Ephesians
2:4-6)
III.
Resurrection
·
Our Savior proclaimed that everyone would experience a bodily
resurrection. (John
5:28-29, Acts 24:15)
·
Our physical bodies must be raised and changed to be fit for our eternal
home. (I
Corinthians 15:35,42-44,51-53)
·
Our new bodies will be reunited with our spirits to live through
eternity.
Conclusion:
“If a man dies, shall he live again?” Yes, he will. Where he shall live
all depends upon the decisions he made while on earth.
Reference:
“If A Man Dies, Shall He Live Again?” W. Terry Varner, Warren
Apologetics Center
Bobby Stafford
December 22, 2013