WHY IS MAN MORTAL?

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

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 4Example of Adam Example of the Lord Jesus Christ

Old man New man

Walking, in the vanity of their mind Renewed 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  

Lying Speaking truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

Stealing Labouring, 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