What Does The Bible Say About Death?

There are two inevitable appointments in life. One is birth; we don’t have a choice when we are born, whether it’s time, place, manner, health status, or to whom we are born. The next unavoidable event for man is death. No one really has control over death except God (Ecclesiastes 8:8). We can only delay or try to make it less painful (Psalm 89:48 What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah. ). Death has always been seen as a painful and terrifying experience for mankind, and it brings sorrow to those who are left behind.

In the New Testament, the Greek word for death is Thanatos, which means the separation of body and soul. This definition refers to physical death. Physical death is a temporary condition we experience here on earth. Paul describes it in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 as like “sleeping” and not to be viewed as entirely hopeless. 

But there is a certain kind of death that happens even while a person is still physically alive. This is what is called spiritual death. It is most important to be aware of this kind of death. Spiritual death is the separation between our soul and God and has eternal consequences. The first spiritual death happened when Adam and Eve sinned against God in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3). Before this, God had commanded Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil or they would surely die (Genesis 2:17 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. ). They did not physically die immediately but they were banished from the garden and, most significantly, from the presence of God (Genesis 3:22-24). From then on, man lived a miserable life separated from the presence of God, for only a dead man can see God face to face (Exodus 33:19-20).

Ultimately, man’s sin is what causes all to die physically, spiritually, and even eternally. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death”….” This means that, regardless of gravity, for every sin – in our thoughts, hearts, or deeds – we die. And no good deed can ever pay such a huge debt. If you think about it, since there is no perfect human being, we all must pay for our sins eternally in hell.

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: [11] There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. [12] They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. [13] Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: [14] Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: [15] Their feet are swift to shed blood: [16] Destruction and misery are in their ways: [17] And the way of peace have they not known: [18] There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

(Romans 3:10-18 KJV)

But the good thing is that even spiritual death is not hopeless, and eternal death in hell doesn’t have to be an inescapable, final destination. If you continue reading Romans 6:23 it says:

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

(Romans 6:23 KJV)

If death came upon us because of one man’s sin (Adam), in Christ we are made alive by His sacrifice. All our sins were laid upon Him when He died on the cross ( Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 1 Peter 2:24), we were made righteous because of Him (2 Corinthians 5:21), and we will also be resurrected like Him (Romans 6:5). Because of Christ, death is no longer scary and painful, as written in 1 Corinthians 15:54-57. All of this is because God loves us so much; we only need to believe in Him and receive Christ’s sacrifice for us, for only through Him comes eternal life.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. [18] He that believeth on him is not condemned…”

(John 3:16-18 KJV)