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Our feline friends allegedly possess nine lives. Their human masters may indeed experience more than one kind of death. In fact, God\u2019s Word reveals that each person may undergo as many as four deaths.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Those who are living in sin are said to be dead in sin. <\/strong>Two groups of people may suffer from this death. Those who are intelligent enough to be responsible for their own actions, but who have not obeyed the Gospel are one of these groups. Paul describes the Ephesians before they obeyed the Gospel as \u201cdead in trespasses and sins\u201d (Eph 2:1). This phrase simply indicates that they were separated, alienated from God because of their sins and were thus under condemnation of God because He abhors sin. Those who have become Christians, but who have ceased to serve the Lord comprise the other group. Both individuals and entire churches become spiritually (Rev. 3:1). Christians who live in sinful pleasures are \u201cdead while they live\u201d (1 Tim. 5:6). Although physically alive, such folk are spiritually dead and will be eternally separated from God if they don\u2019t repent (Jam. 5:19\u201320). The doctrine of the impossibility of apostasy is nowhere taught in the Bible.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Because of God\u2019s mercy and Jesus\u2019 sacrifice, men can die to sin. <\/strong>Paul asked fellow-Christians the rhetorical question, \u201cWe who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?\u201d (Rom. 6:2). The sinner, having put sin to death in his repentance, is then buried in the water-grave of baptism, from which he is raised\u2014sins now forgiven\u2014to serve his Savior in \u201cnewness of life\u201d (vv. 3\u20134; 2 Cor. 5:17; Acts 2:37\u201328). In one\u2019s obedience to the Gospel, he dies unto sin<\/strong> that he might live unto righteousness (1 Pet. 2:24). One dies to sin when he is \u201cmade free from sin\u201d through obeying the doctrine of Christ (Rom. 6:17\u201318) as earlier set forth (i.e., vv.2\u20134). Without thus dying to sin, one will suffer \u201cthe second death\u201d (Rev. 20:14\u201315).<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 God\u2019s \u201cdeath sentence,\u201d including physical death<\/strong>, was triggered by Eve\u2019s first bite of the forbidden fruit (Gen. 2:16\u201317; 3:19). This death applies without choice to rich and poor, good and evil, rulers and those ruled, for, \u201cit is appointed unto man once to die\u2026.\u201d (Heb. 9:27). \u00a0This death brings sorrow because it severs earthly ties with loved ones. However, through Christ the promise and hope of a glorious resurrection awaits the Lord\u2019s faithful ones (1 Cor. 15:54\u201357).<\/span><\/p>\n The worst of all deaths is the irremediable death of the soul<\/strong>. Jesus warned men of it (Mat. 10:28). John described it as \u201cthe second death\u201d (Rev. 20:14\u201315). Eternal death (i.e., separation from God and consignment to unending torment with Satan and his angels [Mat. 25:41]) is the fate of those who \u201cobey not the Gospel\u201d (1 The. 1:7\u20139). Each person has the power to determine whether he or she will suffer this death (Rev. 2:11).<\/span><\/p>\n [Note:<\/strong>\u00a0I wrote this article for, and it was published in the \u201cBible Thoughts\u201d Column for the Hood County News<\/em>, Granbury, Texas, November 19, 1978.]<\/span><\/p>\n Attribution:<\/strong> From thescripturecache.com<\/em>; Dub McClish, owner, administrator, and curator.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Views: 1 [Note: This MS is available in larger font on our Brief Articles 2 \u00a0page.] Our feline friends allegedly possess nine lives. Their human masters may indeed experience more than one kind of death. In fact, God\u2019s Word reveals that each person may undergo…<\/p>\n