When the Bible says, "Dead", what does it mean?

[marks]

Ephesians 2:1-5 LITV
1) and you being dead in deviations and sins,
2) in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience,
3) among whom we also all conducted ourselves in times past in the lusts of our flesh, doing the things willed of the flesh and of the understanding, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as the rest.
4) But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5) even we being dead in deviations, He made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are being saved),

Romans 6:7 LITV
7) For the one that died has been justified from sin.

What are these passages telling us? What does "death" mean in the Bible?

Colossians 2:13 LITV
13) And you, being dead in the deviations and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all the deviations,

Colossians 3:1-5 LITV
1) If, then, you were raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is sitting at the right of God;
2) mind the things above, not the things on the earth.
3) For you died, and your life has been hidden with Christ in God.
4) Whenever Christ our life is revealed, then also you will be revealed with Him in glory.
5) Then put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil lust, and covetousness, which is idolatry;

Romans 7:4-6 LITV
4) So that, my brothers, you also were made dead to the Law through the body of Christ, for you to become Another's, to the One raised from the dead, so that we may bear fruit to God.
5) For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sin were working in our members through the Law for the bearing of fruit unto death.
6) But now we have been set free from the Law, having died to that in which we were held, so as for us to serve in newness of spirit, and not in oldness of letter.

Romans 6:11 LITV
11) So also you count yourselves to be truly dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Truly dead! Truly?

If Death only means the cessation of life, and you are alive if you are standing, and when you die you just drop and that's the end, how you account for the sayings of these passages? And many more like them?

Much love!

 

[marks]

Revelation 20:12 LITV
12) And I saw the dead, the small and the great, standing before God. And books were opened. And another Book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged out of the things written in the books, according to their works.

James 2:26 LITV
26) For as the body is dead apart from the spirit, so also faith is dead apart from works.

2 Timothy 4:1 LITV
1) Then I solemnly witness before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, He being about to judge the living and dead at His appearance and His kingdom:

Romans 8:10 LITV
10) But if Christ is in you, the body indeed is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Much love!

 

[amigo de christo]

Exactly my friend .

 

[amigo de christo]

IN the day that ye eat thereof YE shall DIE .
OH BUT PRAISE GOD FOR JESUS CHRIST for iN HIM we are MADE ALIVE AGAIN .
YES indeed my friend . Those who know not Christ are still dead in their sins
and the dead shall only find the second death at their end . ITS WHY WE PREACH JESUS TO ALL that has breath .

 

[amigo de christo]

I give you the TRUE BREAD , which giveth life unto the world . A man that eats of that bread shall NEVER DIE
and though he were DEAD yet shall he live . OH YES . THE BREAD OF LIFE THAT GIVETH ETERNAL LIFE .

 

[amigo de christo]

Now let all that has breath just put those hands up and praise the LORD .

 

[Angelina]

Revelation 20:12 LITV
12) And I saw the dead, the small and the great, standing before God. And books were opened. And another Book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged out of the things written in the books, according to their works.

James 2:26 LITV
26) For as the body is dead apart from the spirit, so also faith is dead apart from works.

2 Timothy 4:1 LITV
1) Then I solemnly witness before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, He being about to judge the living and dead at His appearance and His kingdom:

Romans 8:10 LITV
10) But if Christ is in you, the body indeed is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Much love!

Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

Revelation 21:8
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

 

[Bob Carabbio]

What are these passages telling us? What does "death" mean in the Bible?

Depends on the context. Inall cases the your references are to SPIRITUAL death - i.e. you're totally BLIND and unaware of anything beyond your physical senses.

Being Born Again is a DEATH - of the "OLD MAN" with his lusts, and appetites. Our "Old Man" WAS CRUCIFIED with Christ which is what sets us free from the LAW - the law has no effect on something dead. We allowed the LAW to "judge us" find us guilty, and kill us (in Christ). so the life we NOW live is Christ's life in us. so essentially in your cites, SPIRITUAL DEATH, or Death of the OLD MAN is the issue. UNFORTUNATELY, the "Old Man" is still alive in your human nature, and you're to DESTROY (render inneffective) the lusts of the flesh by refusing (with God's help) to follow the urges when they come.

There WILL BE an ultimate "Physical death" of course.

So Death in general is simply a failure to react to stimuli. Somebody wrongs you, and your natural FLeshly reaction it is to "Make them pay" - If you don't and simply forgive, you've crucified your Human nature-your "Old Man".

 

[Angelina]

Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

Revelation 21:8
But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

The first ressurrection implies that there is a first death which is our physical body....as Paul says in -

2 Corinthians 5:
5 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

 

[marks]

The first ressurrection implies that there is a first death which is our physical body....as Paul says in -

2 Corinthians 5:
5 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

That raises a good question, what are the deaths we might die?

There is the initial death of separation from God, spiritual death, Adam died the day he sinned.

There is the death of when our soul leaves the body, physical death, Jesus was separated from His body when He died on the cross.

There is the death of being crucified with Christ, being separated from our flesh, when we are baptized into Christ.

There is the putting to death our members upon the earth, separating our thoughts and behaviors from the fleshy drives.

There is the death of the lake of fire, forever separation from God.

Much love!

 

[APAK]

Depends on the context. Inall cases the your references are to SPIRITUAL death - i.e. you're totally BLIND and unaware of anything beyond your physical senses.

Being Born Again is a DEATH - of the "OLD MAN" with his lusts, and appetites. Our "Old Man" WAS CRUCIFIED with Christ which is what sets us free from the LAW - the law has no effect on something dead. We allowed the LAW to "judge us" find us guilty, and kill us (in Christ). so the life we NOW live is Christ's life in us. so essentially in your cites, SPIRITUAL DEATH, or Death of the OLD MAN is the issue. UNFORTUNATELY, the "Old Man" is still alive in your human nature, and you're to DESTROY (render inneffective) the lusts of the flesh by refusing (with God's help) to follow the urges when they come.

There WILL BE an ultimate "Physical death" of course.

So Death in general is simply a failure to react to stimuli. Somebody wrongs you, and your natural FLeshly reaction it is to "Make them pay" - If you don't and simply forgive, you've crucified your Human nature-your "Old Man".

Insightful..
And the cessation of physical life here on earth is the separation of the living soul of the spirit that gives breath departing from the flesh.

As Christ the son of man and of God required his Father for resurrection to new life so we also require the same.
When Christ died as any human being his body was preserved however and transitioned into an intermediate state prepared for his later ascension to heaven.

Nevertheless it was his Father who would have to raise him up.
God the Father raised Jesus (Acts 2:24, 32; 3:15, 26; 4:10; 5:30; 10:40; 13:30, 33, 34, 37)
God raised Him up again (Rom. 4:24; 6:4 [through the glory of the Father]); 10:9; 1 Cor. 6:14; Gal. 1:1; Col. 2:12).

 

[Angelina]

That raises a good question, what are the deaths we might die?

There is the initial death of separation from God, spiritual death, Adam died the day he sinned.

There is the death of when our soul leaves the body, physical death, Jesus was separated from His body when He died on the cross.

There is the death of being crucified with Christ, being separated from our flesh, when we are baptized into Christ.

There is the putting to death our members upon the earth, separating our thoughts and behaviors from the fleshy drives.

There is the death of the lake of fire, forever separation from God.

Much love!

Interesting indeed! 1 Corinthians 15:

26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

29 Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? 30 Why are we in danger every hour? 31 I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! 32 What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”

 

[marks]

26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.”

Interesting the things one notices at different times! "The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For God has put all things in subjection under His feet."

"For" shows causal relationship. Because God has subjected all things to Christ, the last enemy to be destroyed is death.

1 Corinthians 15:24-31 LITV
24) Then is the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God, even the Father, when He makes to cease all rule and all authority and power.
25) For it is right for Him to reign until He puts all the hostile ones under His feet;
26) the last hostile thing made to cease is death.
27) For He subjected all things under His feet; but when He says that all things have been subjected, it is plain that it excepts Him who has subjected all things to Him.
28) But when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who has subjected all things to Him, that God may be all things in all.
29) Otherwise, what will they do, those being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not at all raised, why indeed are they baptized on behalf of the dead?
30) Why are we also in danger every hour?
31) Day by day I die, by your boasting, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I think I want to read over the passage some more, meditate on it a bit.

What do think Paul meant when he said, "I die daily"?

Much love!

 

[marks]

Nevertheless it was his Father who would have to raise him up.

Interestingly,

John 2:19-22 LITV
19) Jesus said to them, Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.
20) Then the Jews said, This sanctuary was forty six years being built, and do You raise it up in three days?
21) But He spoke about the sanctuary of His body.
22) Then when He was raised from the dead, His disciples recalled that He said this to them. And they believed the Scripture, even the Word that Jesus spoke.

How did Jesus raise Himself? It's as if physical death was not the end of Jesus' existence.

Matthew 12:39-40 LITV
39) But answering, He said to them, An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign, and a sign shall not be given to it, except the sign of Jonah the prophet.
40) And even as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish three days and three nights, so shall the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.

So then, where was Jesus while His body lay in the tomb?

Much love!

 

[marks]

The first ressurrection implies that there is a first death which is our physical body....as Paul says in -

2 Corinthians 5:
5 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

Something very interesting in this passage, if our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, eternal in the heavens.

What could Paul have meant when he said, "while we are still in this tent", I mean, where else could we be?

Ephesians 2:5-6 LITV
5) even we being dead in deviations, He made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are being saved),
6) and raised us up together and seated us together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus,

Colossians 3:3 LITV
3) For you died, and your life has been hidden with Christ in God.

Much love!

 

[APAK]

Interestingly,

John 2:19-22 LITV
19) Jesus said to them, Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.
20) Then the Jews said, This sanctuary was forty six years being built, and do You raise it up in three days?
21) But He spoke about the sanctuary of His body.
22) Then when He was raised from the dead, His disciples recalled that He said this to them. And they believed the Scripture, even the Word that Jesus spoke.

How did Jesus raise Himself? It's as if physical death was not the end of Jesus' existence.

Matthew 12:39-40 LITV
39) But answering, He said to them, An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign, and a sign shall not be given to it, except the sign of Jonah the prophet.
40) And even as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish three days and three nights, so shall the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.

So then, where was Jesus while His body lay in the tomb?

Much love!

I've answered these queries several times over a few years now marks. For a novel change you go first and use the scripture you wrote to answer them. I don't think I've actually seen you answer this type of query head on, as a scripture commentary before, even it may be short.

 

[quietthinker]

Ephesians 2:1-5 LITV
1) and you being dead in deviations and sins,
2) in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience,
3) among whom we also all conducted ourselves in times past in the lusts of our flesh, doing the things willed of the flesh and of the understanding, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as the rest.
4) But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5) even we being dead in deviations, He made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are being saved),

Romans 6:7 LITV
7) For the one that died has been justified from sin.

What are these passages telling us? What does "death" mean in the Bible?

Colossians 2:13 LITV
13) And you, being dead in the deviations and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all the deviations,

Colossians 3:1-5 LITV
1) If, then, you were raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is sitting at the right of God;
2) mind the things above, not the things on the earth.
3) For you died, and your life has been hidden with Christ in God.
4) Whenever Christ our life is revealed, then also you will be revealed with Him in glory.
5) Then put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil lust, and covetousness, which is idolatry;

Romans 7:4-6 LITV
4) So that, my brothers, you also were made dead to the Law through the body of Christ, for you to become Another's, to the One raised from the dead, so that we may bear fruit to God.
5) For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sin were working in our members through the Law for the bearing of fruit unto death.
6) But now we have been set free from the Law, having died to that in which we were held, so as for us to serve in newness of spirit, and not in oldness of letter.

Romans 6:11 LITV
11) So also you count yourselves to be truly dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Truly dead! Truly?

If Death only means the cessation of life, and you are alive if you are standing, and when you die you just drop and that's the end, how you account for the sayings of these passages? And many more like them?

Much love!

Interpreting language as it is intended is the realm of wisdom, marks. The same word can be applied as literal or figurative. Context reveals its intent.

 

[marks]

I've answered these queries several times over a few years now marks. For a novel change you go first and use the scripture you wrote to answer them. I don't think I've actually seen you answer this type of query head on, as a scripture commentary before, even it may be short.

The Scripture does in fact answer.

Jesus in fact did raise Himself from the dead, because He was among the dead, and returned to His body. He was the firstborn from among the dead ones, meaning He raised back to life first.

Jesus said, speaking of His life, "I have the power to lay it down, and the power to take it up again". Then we should just believe that this is true, and not dispute that Jesus raised Himself from the dead just like He said He would.

And obviously this means Jesus did not cease to exist when He died on the cross. He went to the heart of the earth for those three days and nights, exactly like He said. And as other passages affirm as well.

What does it mean that He ascended but that He first descended into the lower parts of the earth? And He returned to His body in resurrection life, just as He said, I will raise it in 3 days, the power to take it up again, even as the Father also raised Him from the dead, and even as the Spirit quickened Him, having died in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.


You wrote,

I don't think I've actually seen you answer this type of query head on,

That's hard for me to imagine, but OK, and hopefully this short post will suit you.

Much love!

 

[marks]

Interpreting language as it is intended is the realm of wisdom, marks. The same word can be applied as literal or figurative. Context reveals its intent.

That's all well and good until you read "dead" meant literally, but you say, it's figurative. When exaclty is "death" not intended to mean actual death?

I suggest to you that dead means the same thing in each place, and that thinking death is ONLY when "someone stops existing because their physical body stops functioning" will remove the fundamental meaning of a great many passages which instruct us in the nuts and bolts of living our resurrection lives.

So for instance,

Romans 6:7 KJV
7) For he that is dead is freed from sin.

What's the meaning of this?

After we die, when we are no longer living under the sun in this world, then we will be free from sin?

Or does it mean, our death in Christ is a figurative death, and so we don't "see" sin the same way?

Or does it mean, we've been separated from our flesh, and therefore our flesh has no more power over us to cause us to sin?

I suggest that "death" is separation, and when we are crucified with Christ, we are actually separated from our flesh, made alive in Christ, and that this is a real separation, and the flesh really has been rendered powerless. Just like the Bible says.

Much love!

 

[quietthinker]

Ohhh marks, I'm not stating a position one way or the other in my post......but it's clear from your reply that you think I'm affirming whatever you imagine I'm affirming. Herein is an example of how one hears.
Allow me to expand on this. You have taken my words and pulled them through your filter instead of stepping back and hearing them objectively.
Can you hear what I'm saying?