GRACE FOR TODAY Radio Message #480

 

                DELIVERANCE FROM THE FEAR OF DEATH

               

                Pastor Don Fortner

                Grace Baptist Church of Danville

                2734 Old Stanford Road

                Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438

 

 (Hebrews 2:14-15)  "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; {15} And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."

 

                The Lord Jesus Christ came into this world to deliver his elect from every form of bondage in which we were by nature held captive. He came to deliver us from the bondage of the law, the bondage of sin, and the bondage of Satan. He also came to deliver us from the horrible bondage of the fear of death. And he has done so. Through his incarnation, sufferings, and death he has delivered us, who, through fear of death, were all our lifetime subject to bondage. Death, formidable as it is, is no longer king of terrors to God’s elect.

 

                Believers have no reason to fear the death of this body. Trusting Christ, believing that we are in him, and having a good hope that we shall ever be with him, we choose to depart this life and be with the Lord at God’s appointed time. We know that to die is gain. In the prospect of death and eternity, we can sing with confidence and joy, “O death, where is thy sting! O grave, where is thy victory!” We both live and die in hope of the resurrection.

 

Moreover,  in Christ, we have no reason to fear the second, eternal death (Rev. 20:6). Being justified by his grace and redeemed by his blood, and born of his Spirit, the second death has no power over God’s elect. We who have experienced the first resurrection shall never die (John 11:25). The death of our bodies will be the beginning of perfect life with Christ in glory; and the second death has no power over us. For the believer, judgment day itself is not something to be dreaded, but something to be anticipated. We shall be rewarded with everlasting glory on that day because of Christ’s perfect obedience and righteousness, which is now ours by divine imputation.

 

“Bold shall I stand in that great day!

For who ought to my charge shall lay?

While through Thy blood absolved I am,

From sin’s tremendous curse and blame?”

 

Still there is more. The Word of God has something more to say about our liberty in Christ. There is a glorious liberty yet to be revealed. This is the liberty spoken of in Romans 8:21. This is the liberty which the sons of God shall have in the world to come. As soon as the believer dies, he is with Christ and with the spirits of just men made perfect. He is free from all sin. What a blessed hope that is! We will be free from all the corruption and defilement of sin. We will be free from the very being of sin! Yet, there is more. We will be free from all the consequences of sin! I do not pretend to know all that awaits us in heaven. But this I know - There we shall be free from everything associated with our sin! Free from all unbelief! Free from all doubts! Free from all fears! Free from all distresses! Free from all evil thoughts! Free from all temptations! Free from all punishment! Free from all pride!

 

                Then, when the Lord Jesus Christ comes again, our very bodies shall be raised to “The Glorious Liberty of the Children of God”! In the resurrection, these bodies shall no longer be sinful, but glorious. And they shall not even bear the scars and pains of sin! Our bodies shall be free from every pain and disorder. Our bodies shall be immortal. Body and soul shall be joined together in perfection. We shall be like Christ. We shall be with Christ. And we shall never be in danger of the bondage of sin again! This is “The Glorious Liberty of the Children of God”!

 

AMEN.