Ephesians 4

Outline  Decay  What is mortality / immortality  What the Bible says about mortality  Why do we die?  What is sin?  Why do we sin?  How do we overcome Sin & Death

Decay

“Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.” (Psalm 49:20) “No man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” (John 3:13)

What is mortality / immortality  To be mortal means that we decay, die and cease to exist  To be immortal means that we live for ever  Although many teach the immortality of the soul – the phrase “Immortality of the soul” never occurs in scripture

The (im)mortality of the soul “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:4) “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.“ (Ezekiel 18:20)

The death state  “For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?“ (Psalm 6:5)  “for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10)

Where did mortality start? When God made man he was “very good” “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day” (Genesis 1:31)  God made mankind with free will

The first sin  Genesis 2:9 - The tree  Genesis 3:3 – The command  Genesis 3:4-5 – The test  Genesis 3:6 – The desires lust of eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life  Genesis 3:6 – God’s law broken (sin)

The curse  There are consequences to disobeying God  Genesis 3:7-8 – immediate consequences  Genesis 3:9-13 – They try to pass blame The curse  Genesis 3:14-18 – Suffering in life  Genesis 3:19 – Eventual death

We do exactly the same  We look at something  We desire the thing, because it will be good for the animal  Our conscience tells us, God has said not to take it  And mostly we disobey God and take it anyway  When confronted we blame others for what we have done, even blaming God & human nature  The Christian is someone who says no to disobeying God

What does the Bible say about mortality “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12) “one man” - Adam “passed upon” – death is a judgement “all men” – the human race

What does the Bible say about mortality – Ephesians 4 Example of AdamExample of the Lord Jesus Christ Old manNew man Walking, in the vanity of their mindRenewed in the spirit of their mind; Having the understanding darkened,, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart: Having learned Christ... heard him... taught by him... the truth is in Jesus: Given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness... corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; Having put off the former way of life the old man LyingSpeaking truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. StealingLabouring, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Corrupt communication proceeding out of the mouth Communicating that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

What does the Bible say about mortality “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” (Romans 7:23)

Why do we die? “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” (1 John 3:4)

Why do we sin? An animal’s needs / desires:  Food  Water  Shelter  Reproduction

Why do we sin? An animal’s needs / desires:  Food – it may kill another animal  Water – it may drink and another starve  Shelter – it may take the home of another  Reproduction – a male may force a female - the mate of another may be taken

Why do we sin? A humans needs / desires:  Food – it may kill another animal  Water – it may drink and another starve  Shelter – it may take the home of another  Reproduction – a male may force a female - the mate of another may be taken

Why do we sin? A humans needs / desires:  Food – it may kill another animal God calls this murder  Water – it may drink and another starve God says put others first  Shelter – it may take the home of another God calls this stealing  Reproduction – a male may force a female God calls this rape - the mate of another may be taken God calls this calls this covetousness THIS IS THE LUST OF THE FLESH – AND WRONG

Why do we sin?  The lust of the eyes  The lust of the flesh  The pride of life “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” (1 John 2:16)

Why do we sin?  We have MORALS / CONSCIENCE  In Genesis terminology: “The knowledge of good and evil”  With knowledge comes responsibility

How do we overcome sin and death?  Baptism  A new life  Grace  Romans 6