Why Must I Still Die?

Q. Since Christ has died for us, why do we still have to die?

Now, if we share in Christ’s payment, why must we still die? 

• Isn’t Christ’s payment enough? 
• Indeed, His payment is all- sufficient and is payment in full.

Believers must never view their death as a payment for sin. 

• Then death would be something fearful. 
• However, as Paul says, death has lost its sting. 
• For believers, death is no longer a punishment for sin. 

What is it then? 

• For believers, death is a dying to sin and an entering into eternal life. 
• For the believer, death is nothing more than a gateway into the perfect life of bliss. 

In this life 

• we are still plagued with our old nature. 
• Our depravity has not yet been fully removed. 

In this life 

• we still commit sins 
• which cause us great sorrow and sadness. 

At death 

• we leave behind our sins and our sinful tendencies. 
• We throw them off like dirty and defiled clothing, 
• and we enter into that life wherein we can serve God with perfection.

Furthermore, 

• there are in life the miserable consequences of sin, such as sickness and physical deformities. 
• Some people must suffer a great deal of pain in this life, 
• but all these miserable consequences of sin are left behind at the gate leading to eternal life.

Adapted Excerpt from Only By True Faith by Van Delden

From the Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 16

Q. Since Christ has died for us, why do we still have to die? 

A. Our death is not a payment for our sins, but it puts an end to sin and is an entrance into eternal life.

For the Bible Tells Me So...

John 5:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life…. 

Philippians 1:21-23 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 

1 Thessalonians 5:9,10 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.