The Biblical View of Death

I’m prompted to address the subject theologically so that we will have hope as we grieve, be ready for death ourselves, and help others prepare likewise. In the Bible, death from God's perspective, is understood as a consequence of sin and a separation physically, spiritually, and eternally. Paul teaches, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). Adam and Eve experienced both spiritual and physical death as a consequence of their disobedience in eating the forbidden fruit. They died spiritually the moment they ate it, becoming separated from God, and their physical bodies also began a process of breakdown and decay that eventually led to physical death (see Genesis 2:16-17). Also, the biblical view asserts that death is not the end of a person’s existence. Like some other non-Christian views, the Christian view agrees that humans do not simply die like other organisms, but there is a non-body component of our personhood which lives on after the body has died. Namely; the soul, or spirit, lives on. While physical death is the separation of the soul from the body, spiritual death is the separation of the soul from God due to sin, and eternal death is the separation of the soul from God forever. However, for believers in Jesus, death is also seen as a transition to eternal life with God, a victory over physical, spiritual, and eternal death through the resurrection of Jesus (see 1 Corinthians 15:52-57). Paul teaches that the souls of believers are either in our bodies and “away” spatially from the Lord, or our souls are “away” spatially from our bodies and “at home” or “present” with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). There is no conceivable third option. To avoid the consequences of death, be encouraged and believe on the great God and Savior, Christ Jesus!

Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D., Bible teacher & expositor