01 What are life & death and why should I care?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:42 — 24.8MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | RSS | More

Understanding the gospel means we must understand the problem that the gospel solves.  While the word gospel means “good news,” understanding the gospel begins with bad news: death.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:23 NASB

What is death?

• Our modern concept of death is the end of biological viability.
• The New Testament concept of death is the process of physical decay that brings about the end of life.
• Death includes both physical and moral “entropy”.
• We are governed by death because of our rebellion to God.
• Death is the inevitable consequence of sin.
• We are unable to escape this rule of death by ourselves.
• Sin inevitably leads to death.

What is life?

• Life is the opposite of death.  It is an existence free from the power, presence and consequences of death.
• “Eternal life” is life in the age of ages which will be an existence free from death.
• Holiness is having a character ruled by life.
• Holiness is the goal of salvation.
• God is the sole source of life because He alone is Holy and can give holiness.
• Holiness inevitably leads to life.

The problem is how do we escape death and gain life.

Next: 02 What is justification and why do I need it?

Part of the series: What is the Gospel?

Photo by Julia Caesar on Unsplash