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LIFE & DEATH. ECCL. 3:1-2. LIFE & DEATH. Introduction 1. Eccl. 3:1-2 Life & death common to all men. 1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant,
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LIFE & DEATH ECCL. 3:1-2
LIFE & DEATH • Introduction 1. Eccl. 3:1-2 Life & death common to all men 1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
LIFE & DEATH • Introduction 2. Busy with life, but death intrudes • Individuals & family circle • School, workplace, community circle • National tragedies
LIFE & DEATH • Introduction 3. Eccl. 7:1-4 Death teaches lessons about life
1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth. 2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. 3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. 3. Eccl. 7:1-4 Death teaches lessons about life
LIFE & DEATH • Introduction 3. Eccl. 7:1-4 Death teaches lessons about life • How death entered the world • A time to live & a time to die • Man created for God’s purpose, not our own • Is death the end? • The hadean world • What God wants of us in this life
LIFE & DEATH I. How Death Entered the World A. God Created Man to Live • Gen. 1:27-28 Man in God’s image
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. In God’s image— To Live in Fellowship With God! • Gen. 1:27-28 Man in God’s image
LIFE & DEATH I. How Death Entered the World A. God Created Man to Live • Gen. 2:7-9 Tree of life in Garden of Eden
7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. 8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. • Gen. 2:7-9 Tree of life in Garden of Eden
LIFE & DEATH I. How Death Entered the World B. Satan Introduced Sin & Death • Gen. 2:16-17 God warned of sin & death 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
LIFE & DEATH I. How Death Entered the World B. Satan Introduced Sin & Death • Gen. 3:6-8 Sin brought spiritual death
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. • Gen. 3:6-8 Sin brought spiritual death
LIFE & DEATH I. How Death Entered the World B. Satan Introduced Sin & Death • Gen. 3:16-19, 22-24 Sin brought physical hardships & death 16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. • Gen. 3:16-19, 22-24 Sin brought physical hardships & death
22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. • Gen. 3:16-19, 22-24 Sin brought physical hardships & death
LIFE & DEATH I. How Death Entered the World B. Satan Introduced Sin & Death • Life: gift of God, protected by warning • Death: result of Satan’s temptation & man’s choice—do not blame God!
LIFE & DEATH II. A Time to Live & A Time to Die A. Struggle to Understand Experiences of Life • Eccl. 3:1-15 Man subject to life’s changes
1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; • Eccl. 3:1-15 Man subject to life’s changes
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. • Eccl. 3:1-15 Man subject to life’s changes
9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? 10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. 11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world [eternity] in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. • Eccl. 3:1-15 Man subject to life’s changes
12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. 13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. 14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. 15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past. • Eccl. 3:1-15 Man subject to life’s changes
LIFE & DEATH II. A Time to Live & A Time to Die A. Struggle to Understand Experiences of Life • Eccl. 8:16-17 Mysteries beyond man’s grasp
16 When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:) 17 Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it. • Eccl. 8:16-17 Mysteries beyond man’s grasp
LIFE & DEATH II. A Time to Live & A Time to Die A. Struggle to Understand Experiences of Life • Eccl. 9:11-12 Puzzling ironies of life
11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. 12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them. • Eccl. 9:11-12 Puzzling ironies of life
LIFE & DEATH II. A Time to Live & A Time to Die B. Paradox: Youth & Old Age • Eccl. 11:9-12:7 “Is this really me???”
9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. 10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity. • Eccl. 11:9-12:7 “Is this really me???”
1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; 2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: 3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, 4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low; • Eccl. 11:9-12:7 “Is this really me???”
5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: 6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. • Eccl. 11:9-12:7 “Is this really me???”
LIFE & DEATH II. A Time to Live & A Time to Die C. Life Has Real Meaning & Purpose • Eccl. 12:13-14 “Fear God” & serve Him 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
LIFE & DEATH III. Man Created for God’s Purpose, Not Our Own A. Purpose of All Things Determined by God • Rev. 4:11 The Creator determines purpose 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
LIFE & DEATH III. Man Created for God’s Purpose, Not Our Own B. All Things Reflect God’s Wisdom • Rom. 11:33-36 God: origin, agent, purpose
33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. OF HIM: Origin of All Things! • Rom. 11:33-36 God: origin, agent, purpose THROUGH HIM: Almighty Agent! TO HIM: His Purpose Fulfilled
LIFE & DEATH III. Man Created for God’s Purpose, Not Our Own C. God Controls Our Existence • Isa. 1:18-20 Man: free moral agent to make choices, but consequences follow
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. • Isa. 1:18-20 Man: free moral agent to make choices, but consequences follow
LIFE & DEATH III. Man Created for God’s Purpose, Not Our Own C. God Controls Our Existence • Rom. 9:20-21 Foolish to argue with God! 20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
LIFE & DEATH IV. Is Death the End? A. An Ancient Question! • Job 14:1-15 Man dies, does he live again?
1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. 2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. 3 And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? 4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. 5 Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; 6 Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day. • Job 14:1-15 Man dies, does he live again?
7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. 8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; 9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. 10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? 11 As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: 12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
I do not know when or how, BUT someday, somehow, God will call the dead! 13 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! 14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. 15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands. • Job 14:1-15 Man dies, does he live again?
LIFE & DEATH IV. Is Death the End? B. Christ Is the Answer! • 2 Tim. 1:10 Proclaims life & immortality 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
LIFE & DEATH IV. Is Death the End? B. Christ Is the Answer! • Mk. 16:1-7 “He is risen!”
1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. 3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? 4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. • Mk. 16:1-7 “He is risen!”
5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. 6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. 7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. • Mk. 16:1-7 “He is risen!”
LIFE & DEATH IV. Is Death the End? B. Christ Is the Answer! • 1 Cor. 15:51-58 “We shall all be changed”
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. • 1 Cor. 15:51-58 “We shall all be changed”
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. • 1 Cor. 15:51-58 “We shall all be changed”
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. • 1 Cor. 15:51-58 “We shall all be changed”
LIFE & DEATH V. The Hadean World A. Spirits of Dead Await Resurrection & Judgment • Heb. 9:27 Death & judgment certain 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: