LESSON 106: LIFE & DEATH

  LOGOS BIBLE STUDY

LESSON 106: LIFE AND DEATH

INTRODUCTION – Genesis 2:7

God Breathed His Spirit into man (Adam) and he became a living soul. This means man possessed the rational, moral and spiritual qualities of God - God's character and nature. Life, as God gave it to man, required God's Spirit residing in man. Without God's Spirit in man there are no moral or spiritual qualities; no more of the character and nature of God, which is real and eternal life. Without God's Spirit residing in a person all he has is a mortal, rational existence. All rationale is then focused on self-preservation and gratification, which is the base, carnal nature that is under the influence of the devil. Life and death affects both the natural and spiritual realm.

I. Three words are translated "life" in the New Testament - each has a different meaning.

A.  ZOE - the life principal; absolute life; life as God has it; as Christ represents it and came to give to us -
John 10:10.

1. This is spirit, or spiritual, life - eternal life.

2.  ZOE is entirely a spiritual, God given and God directed eternal and righteousness of life.

3.  Zoe life is RIGHTEOUS, it does not sin – 1 John 3:9.

a. Zoe life is born of God and makes those that receive it the sons of God – John 1:12.

  B.  BIOS - (biological) physical, organic - a living organism.

1. Manner and substance, (composition) of life.

a. Mortal, fleshly, carnal natural life of a living creature or being.

i. Species, life is lived in differing forms.

C.  PSUCHE - (soul, mind, heart) the individual personality and makeup of a unique functioning organism; rational life.

1. The psuche is the carnal life; soulish, material and emotional life of a self.

a. Animal sentiment with appetites governed by a fleshly nature, not by God.

b. It is based on self-preservation and self interest - LUSTS.

i. I'll do it MY way - selfishness.

2. Psuche is one's social status in life, the level to which he attains and lifestyle which he lives.

a. Incorporates affections, desires, feelings and character.

i. The manner of life or how you live.

3. The psuche life is unrighteous, it sins because of its lusts.

a. This is where human carnal weakness is centered.

      D. BIOS and PSUCHE are tied together and compose natural man's mortality and morality, which is the body and soul.

1. These are the factors determining the substance and quality of material (soulish) life.

       E. Error is taught when the wrong "life" is used as a basis of doctrine.

1. John 10:10 does not refer to material or physical life, but only to spiritual life.

2. ZOE vs BIOS/PSUCHE is the difference between the spiritual/eternal realm and the natural/temporal life.

    F. By God's edict, "Life is in the blood" - Leviticus 17:11-14.

          1. Blood represents physical life - bios.

a. Thus the requirement for blood of a righteous innocent lamb (Jesus) to atone for the sins of the unrighteous - Romans 5:6-11, 18-19 and Hebrews 9:12-16.

II. SCRIPTURAL USAGE - an evaluation by Word Study.

A. ZOE - about the spiritual/eternal life.

1. Eternal - Luke 10:25.

a. Not material - Luke 12:!5   (see vs 22-23)

2. Spiritual - John 1:4

a. Everlasting - John 3:15-16, 36

b. Not judged - John 5:24

i. Who is judged? Revelation 20:11-13.

c. Life of God, life as God has it - John 5:26, 29, 39-40.

e. Eternal/spiritual life comes only through Christ - John 6:27, 33, 35, 40, 47, 48, 51, 54, 63, 68.

i. Spiritual bread (life) is not eaten physically but is received (eaten, or taken in) spiritually when accepted by faith - John 3:5-6.

3. Life of Christ - 2 Corinthians 4:10-12, also see 16-18.

a. His life in you is to be seen more than your own soulish and material life - Colossians 3:1-4.

                    i. His LIFE in us is the "NEW MAN" - Ephesians 4:24, Colossians 3:10.

b. When God looks at a believer He sees Christ’s life in you.

i. Your life is hid in Christ – Colossians 3:1-3.

4. Jesus - the ZOE of John 14:6.

a. Reveals the true life - Acts 2:28.

b. He is the ruler (prince) of life - Acts 3:15.

c. This life must be taught and learned - Acts 5:20.

d. ZOE is universal, available to all - Acts 11:18; 13:46.

e. This is life from the Father to us through Christ - 1 John 1:1-2.

5. Adam and Eve had zoe before sin entered through disobedience which exalting self-will above God's will.

a. They lost this spiritual level of life.

6. Biblically, zoe is used to refer to the following:

a. Eternal life
b. Tree of life
c.  Crown of life
d. Book of life
e.  Fountain of life
f.  Water of life
g.  Spiritual life

B. BIOS - bodily, material, physical/mortal life in this world; what you are and what you possess, (all of which will pass away - Matthew 24:35).

1. Needs-based, to remain alive & support the physical viable life; preoccupation with material/physical preservation - Luke 8:14.

a. What life is not - Luke 12:15 & 22.

2. Manner, material, physical lifestyle, behavior, comfort - Acts 26:4 and  2 Timothy 2:2.

3. Material pursuits, preoccupations and priorities - Timothy 2:4.

i. Basic human pursuits of provision, protection and pleasure which equals selfishness.

   C. PSUCHE - qualities of the soul: likes, dislikes, emotions, personalities, self gratification of fleshly, personal, lustful selfish individual soulish mind; which is your particular and peculiar nature – what makes you
YOU.

1. The rational personal life - Matthew 2:20.

a. Preservation of self-will - Matthew 6:25-33; the "I want, I will and I am" (see Mt. 13:22).

i. Fleshly desires, beyond basic needs of Bios - Ephesians 2:2-3.

b. Matter of preference in preservation - Matthew 16:25.

i. Lifestyle - status and social level.

ii. What one wants to do, to achieve or obtain.

c. HIS personal life, his "self" - Matthew 20:28.

i. Exchange His righteous character & nature for our sinful character and nature.

2. HIS "self", all he is personally - John 10:11, 13, 15, 17.

a. Material life vs spiritual life - John 12:25.

b. His "self" existence, which wants to be preserved.

c. Self is vulnerable to enticement by enemy - LUSTS!

III. APPLICATIONS AND RESULTS

    A. ZOE vs BIOS/PSUCHE - spirit vs flesh - Romans 5:10; 17-18, 21.

          1. Two distinct lives can be lived - Romans 6:4, 22-23.

a. The Law of God distinguishes the two - Romans 7:9-12.

2. These two life forms are opposites - Romans 8:1-9.

a. Destructive qualities of the flesh (self-ish) life - Galatians 5:16-26.

b. Definite results based on which lifestyle you nurture – Galatians 6:8.

i. Nurture the flesh - Ephesians 4:18.

ii. Nurture the spirit - Philippians 2:16.

c. They that are Christ's have died to self - Galatians 5:24. (More on this in the next section)

i. The self (flesh) opposes the spirit (new man/nature) preventing positive spiritual maturity until it is removed as an opposing force - Galatians 5:16-17.

3. The BIOS/PSUCHE life leads to death and destruction, while the ZOE leads to eternal life - Romans 8:2, 6, and 10-11.

a. "Quicken" is ZOEN, from ZOE which means "vitalize", to make alive.

i. The spirit is the true life source - 2 Corinthians 3:6.

4. Where are your heart's desires - Colossians 3:1-4.

a. If not renewed and made spiritual, they remain carnal - Colossians 3:5-10.

5. Ability to live the spiritual (zoe) life that comes from God – 2 Peter 1:3-4.

6. Churches can be BIOS/PSUCHE or ZOE - carnal or spiritual - 1 Corinthians 3:1-4.

a. God cannot do anything with carnal churches or carnal Christians because they won't listen with their spirit.

i. They think they are fine because of natural, carnal, man-made success - Revelation 3:14-22.

b. All their efforts are derived from natural or fleshly (carnal) means.

i..Utilizing strictly human resources.

IV. HOW TO LIVE THE ZOE (SPIRITUAL) LIFE

A. Recognize the value of the spiritual over the natural material things –Romans 8:5-8.

1. Deal with the selfish desires - Romans 6:4-14, Galatians 2:20; 5:24, and 1 Corinthians 9:27.

a. This part has to die (covered in next section).

2. Feed, nurture, cultivate and develop your spirit qualities – Galatians 6:8.

a. This allows that which is in your spirit to move into your soul (mind).

i. Feed your soul with spirit food, food that is KINGDOM centered; the bread of Life (spiritual food) - John 6:63.

ii. Avoid feeding the fleshly appetites (lusts) that is WORLD or carnally centered.

3. Learn to "HEAR" from the spirit (your spirit, where His Spirit dwells) - Matthew 13:9-16.

a. Develop an attentive, listening inner ear - Mark 4:18-24, (to hear).

b. His sheep (followers) hear, others don't - John 10:3-4.

4. Practice scriptural principles of life, obedience - Matthew 7:21-27.

a. The outward manner of life reveals what is in the heart and in the level of spiritual quality you are walking in - 1 John 2:3-6, and 3:24.

5. Practice self-control and order your priorities - Matthew 6:33.

a. He gives you the strength to do this - Ephesians 3:16-19.

6. Maintain communion and fellowship with the Lord through prayer and meditation on/in His Word.

a. You will find yourself focusing your attention on the Spiritual and kingdom things resulting in "walking in the spirit"

i. Other Christians (carnal ones) will accuse you of being a fanatic; too spiritual.

ii. "So heavenly minded you're no earthly (worldly) good" - this is actually a great compliment.

B. Jesus gave His life FOR us, but He also gives His life TO us.

1. His life is to have dominion over our soulish and selfish life.

a. Ours must die and be "put off" - Ephesians 4:22, Colossians 3:8-9.

i. Denying "self" is only the beginning of the walk of a disciple, followers of Jesus.

ii. Death to "self" is the next level beyond denying "self".

aa. To deny self means to deal with selective issues in our soulish life.

bb. To die to "self" deals with ALL issues in our soulish life.

b. Then His life is to be "put on" - Ephesians 4:24.

2. His life is the character and nature of God - Galatians 5:22-23.

a. As revealed in the change in attitude and behavior.

i. The carnal, selfish "old man" behavior - Ephesians 4:25-31 and Galatians 5:19-21.

ii. The Christ-like and righteous "new man" behavior – Ephesians 4:31-5:10 and Galatians 5:22-24.
3. Reckoning required - Romans 6:11.

a. Reckon means to consider as; to conclude; to regard as.

i. Consider or conclude your selfish old nature "dead".

aa. You must keep is under control, dead, inactive by no longer activating, stimulating or
  feeding it.

ii. Consider or conclude that His life and nature resides within and motivates you.

bb. You must keep your focus on Him, His Word His will and His way and it will motivate you and be seen in you.

b. We must "reckon" or "recognize as if it is passed away", because we are not yet dead to self in experience; nor are we yet alive unto God in experience.

i. This is by faith and faithfulness (obedience).

ii. Our spiritual position after "new birth" is that we are living and walking in "resurrection life
NOW by faith and obedience.

iii. Desiring "His will" be done instead of ours.

4. The NEW MAN life (zoe) cannot die; it cannot sin; it always does the "will" of God

a. We walk in this life by the Spirit - Galatians 5:16-17.

i. Romans 8:1, 5-9.

C. In conclusion, remember that zoe is life as God has it and wants us all to have. The word "life" in the
  following is translated from the Greek word ZOE.

1. This ZOE is eternal - 1 John 5:20.

2. This is the tree of ZOE - Revelation 2:7 and 22:14.

a. The same tree that was in the Garden of Eden - Genesis 2:9.

3. This is the promised crown of ZOE - Revelation 2:10.

4. This is the promised water of ZOE - Revelation 21:6; 22:17.

5. This is the Spirit of ZOE from God - Revelation 11:11.

a. This is what causes the resurrection of the just - Romans 8:11.

6. This is all confirmed in the Book of ZOE - Revelation 20:12; 21:27

D. It is all a matter of choices that we each have to make.

1. Are we going to do things our way or God’s way.

a. Are we going to be led of the spirit of God or by the natural ability (flesh) of man.

NOTE: The life of the NEW MAN must manifest itself through our SOUL or mind; but the soul has its own "life", a selfish or self-centered one. The same "mind that can receive the thoughts and revelations of God is capable of producing its own thoughts and imaginations (and prophetic utterances). The same mind is able to receive thoughts and imaginations of the "old man" and demon spirits (fiery darts of the wicked). The soul as source of life must be denied until that particular aspect of it finally dies, ceases to be responsive and function. We must exchange the "life of the soul" for the "life of the Spirit". This brings us to the topic of DEATH.

V. WHAT IS DEATH?

NOTE: God never intended for man to die. This is why they lived so long in the first thousand years of man's existence (it also took that long for physical consequences of sin to take effect). Physical death resulted from the corruption and deterioration of moral life.

A. Death - To cease to be alive, to come to an end of life.

1. Where does life come from?

a. From God - Genesis 2:7

i. God breathed His Spirit in man.

b. The spirit from God is the life force from the life source – Zechariah 12:1.

B. Death is separation from the LIFE source.

1. Separation of the spirit (life force) and soul (human consciousness) from the body - James 2:26.

a. As in the case of Jesus - Luke 23:46.

2. When the spirit is re-united with the body it comes alive, which is resurrection - Luke 8:54-55 and
  Romans 8:11.

a. The spirit "quickens" - makes alive - 1 Corinthians 15:45.

3. When the spirit departs from the body it returns to God's for final disposition - Ecclesiastes 12:7.

1. God has the final say about your eternal place.

C. The first mention of death - Genesis 2:15-17.

1. The original death was spiritual; separation from God (the life source) because of disobedience - Deuteronomy 24:16.

a. This is also the second death referred to in Revelation 20:14-15.

i. This separation (death) is why Jesus came; to restore us back to God and to remove the barrier of separation (resulting from sin) between us.

2. Man died spiritually as a result of sin - death is the result of sin, the penalty for turning against God - James 1:14-15.

a. The serpent talked of physical death which was totally unknown at the time - Genesis 3:4.

i. This was deception, a half truth of the enemy.

b. Physical death was the end result because the life force (spirit) was cut off from the life source.

c. Since man's spirit could no longer sustain him as it was no longer drawing from God, his life span steadily decreased from more than 600 years down to 70+ years – Psalm 90:10.

THEORY: Since the time of the fall, man and animals had to draw on life by taking it from other living creatures. God no longer sustained them as before. Blood now had to be shed and the bodies of animals was eaten in order to sustain their own life. Before the fall man and animals were vegetarians - Genesis 1:29-30. After the fall, life for one creature now meant death for another. The curse was now in force. This is why all creation (creatures) groan waiting for the culmination of the age - Romans 8:19. The means of sustaining life in this age does not compare to God's means of sustenance.   After Christ's return, all will be as before the fall. Man and animals will again be vegetarians; even lions - Isaiah 65:25. No more need to take the life of another to sustain your own.

3. God is the source of both spiritual and physical life.

a. Spiritual life is restored by Christ - John 20:22.

b. Jesus came to restore, redeem and reconcile the spiritual separation.

VI. WHAT HAPPENS AT PHYSICAL DEATH ?

A. Both the spirit (life force) and the soul (real you - intellect, personality, emotions, desires, etc.) leave your body.

1. The body goes into the grave and returns to the natural elements from which it was made -
Ecclesiastes 12:7.

2. The soul/spirit goes to one of two places to await judgment.

a. The righteous goes to paradise to be with the Lord – 2 Corinthians 5:1-9.

b. The wicked go to "hell", a place of torment.

B. A true account (since Jesus couldn't lie) - Luke 16:19-26

1. The beggar (being righteous) went to a place of rest called "Paradise" (where Abraham and other saints were).

a. They waited as captives in a compartment called Paradise until Christ's resurrection when He took all these souls with Him to Heaven - Ephesians 4:9-10.

i. The thief that called to Jesus was promised to join Christ there – Luke 23:39-43.

2. The rich man died and went to a place of torment called hell – Luke 16:39.

a. Both compartments were in the same locality within the earth, but they were separate - Luke 16:26.

i. They were visible to one another.

b. Paradise is no longer in the earth with hell, but in heaven where the risen Lord is - John 14:3b.

3. Full consciousness and awareness with all sense faculties still exist because the soul and spirit are immortal - Luke 16:24.

a. It was the conscious souls of both men that went into their respective waiting places.

b. All faculties of physical awareness still work because it is the mind (soul) that interprets and responds to input picked up by the body's senses.

i. The mind is now functioning with more acuteness than ever before, so all that is perceived in hell is even more real than any earthly physical sensation.

ii. The soul's qualities of awareness still function receiving input and responding.

4. Full conscious soul awareness is the reason for torment being felt (perceived) in hell.

a. Likewise, the righteous have the same conscious awareness of their delightful surroundings.

i. The souls of these with Christ await the resurrection when they will be re-united with their renewed immortal bodies.

VII. DEATH TO THE OLD

A. Death = separation; or "to die to...." - Romans 6:8-11.

1. New life requires death of the old man and its fallen nature – Romans 7:4-6.

a. A recognition or awareness of what has occurred in the spirit/faith realm.

b. Though you receive a new life when you accept Jesus, that new life does not replace the old carnal one.

i. It must be "put to death" by an act of your will and obedience to God.

aa. This is what water baptism symbolizes.

2. Resurrected life is new life in Christ, not continuing the old selfish life in this world - Galatians 2:20 and Colossians 3:1-3.

B. The world is dead (separated) in sin - Ephesians 2:1.

1. True believers find themselves out-of-phase with the world.

a. Separated when Christ is Lord of their lives - John 15:18-21.

VIII. THERE ARE THREE INTERNAL DEATHS (in addition to physical and spiritual death).

A. Death to the world - Galatians 6:14

1. Separation from being preoccupied with worldly affairs.

B. Death to sin - Romans 6:6.

1. Separation from ungodly activity and behavior.

a. The righteous no longer practice sin - Romans 6:11-14.

2. This requires elimination of the part of human consciousness that makes you vulnerable to the temptings of the enemy.

a. Self, also known as the flesh; the carnal nature of the "old man" that governs everyone's soul.

C. Death to "self" life (soulish selfishness)- Galatians 2:20.

1. To deny self is to deny our soulish life - selfish way of living – Luke 9:23.

a. Cease feeding desires/lusts - the "I WANT, I WILL and I AM".

b. To not deny self is to not deny our SOUL life.

i. To not deny the soul life is to save or preserve it – Matthew 16:24-25.

             2. Only when we stop drawing on our own life can we begin to draw upon the Life of God (zoe) placed within.

a. Soul life, no matter how religious it becomes, is still centered on itself - selfish.

3. Self life is preoccupied with things of the flesh - Galatians 5:19-21.

Self-importance: causes us to hold ourselves in high esteem, usually with no regard for the needs and feelings of others.

Self-vindication: causes us to demand our own rights and makes us announce when we have been wronged. Causes us to always defend ourselves.

Self-seeing: causes us to only see situations or things from our own perspective or point of view rather than from God's perspective.

Self-affection: causes us to love most those who love us.

Self-consciousness: causes us to always be worried about what others think of us; an inordinate preoccupation with "image".

Self-confidence: having confidence in or own abilities and wisdom instead of deferring ot God's wisdom and abilities.

Self-complacency: an unholy contentment with our present spiritual state or level of maturity.

Self-glorying: causes us to seek the praise of men instead of or in addition to the praise of God.

Self-righteousness: deceives us into believing that we are "good" and in fact, better than others.

Selfish cares & fears: keeps us continually concerned about how situations or events will affect us; will it cause me pain and suffering or deflate my ego?

Selfish pleasures: partaking of (morally acceptable) pleasures or past times that please us but not God. Wasting God's time on spiritually unprofitable enterprises.

Selfish giving: doing things for others, or giving things to others, (or to God), in order to get something in return.

Selfish possessions: makes us clutch our possessions; an unwillingness to give of our money or material goods, freely.

Sensitiveness: causes us to be easily offended; makes us unable to receive constructive criticism. godly rebuke, or (spiritual or natural) discipline and correction.

Selfish sorrows: having wounded pride or ambitions; causes us to be greatly pained if we do not get what we desired and leads to depression.

Selfish-sacrifice: denying some aspect of self in order to satisfy or glorify another aspect of self; rather than to satisfy and glorify God.

Selfish spirituality: remaining spiritually in the same place because of a blessed experience or the spiritual blessing we enjoy there.

Selfish charities and gifts: giving to receive the praise of men; giving to satisfy self.

Selfish Christian works: ministering for the sake of power, glory (fame), money, or other motive than to simply please God.

NOTE: Religious knowledge will never produce the image of Christ. Religious works and ministry will never produce the image of Christ. The only thing that can bring forth the image of Christ in a person is as he denies (dies to) his own selfish desires of this life and allowing the life of Chirst, the vine, to show forth - John 15:5. This is the warning Jesus gave in the parable of the sower of the seed – Matthew 13:22-23 (which actually refers to the reproducing of Christ likeness in our lives – some 30%, some 60% and some 100%).

4. Most New Testament references to "flesh" mean the carnal SELF.

a. The part of human consciousness that is vulnerable to temptation of the enemy resulting in sin.

b. No longer live by the dictates of your own will (selfishness) and desires.

i. These are the desires of the "old man".

              c. Self, the old man nature needs to die since it is the source of man's  corrupt carnal nature - Romans 6:11.

NOTE: Why do we have to "reckon" ourselves dead? Because we are not yet literally dead in our experience. Our position in Christ is that we have already been "planted together with Him"; but we have yet to walk in the reality of this truth. Therefore we have to "reckon it" which means to recognize the spiritual truth and apply it to our lives.

D. Death to SELF allows you to walk by His Spirit that is in you.

1. To be led of the Spirit and live as a true son (offspring) of God – 1 John 3:1-3.

a. With self out of the way you can learn to overcome sin and live in  sinlessness - 1 John 3:9; 5:18.

COMMENTARY:

    We Christians are willing to do anything FOR God except to "Die to Self" and let Jesus live His life through us. God cannot live through us if WE are living OUR own (selfish) life, which gets in the way - Galatians 2:20.
How do you die to SELF? by denying SELF will, desires, wants; by refusing to gratify, justify and defend your SELF, (the flesh or carnal nature) . Know that you have NO RIGHTS except to obey God's Word and to be led by His Spirit - Hebrews 4:12. As Jesus said, "Not MY will, but they will be done" - Mark 14:36.

    We must bring contrary thoughts captive to Christ, not entertaining or meditating on such ideas that enter into our minds - 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.  Dying is not pleasant; its painful - it really hurts the SELF - 2 Corinthians 12:10.

IX. WHAT HAPPENS AT SPIRITUAL DEATH? The Second/Eternal death

A. The eternal or Second death is separation from God, being cast into the "lake of fire" - Revelation 2:11; 20:6, and 11-15; 21:8.

1. This is spiritual death, the final conclusion.

X. SYMBOL OF DEATH - The cross

A. Jesus died there to bring us life.

1. He died physically to bring us spiritual (eternal) life.

B. We die there to our own desires in order to pick up His life.

1. We die to self life so His life can function is us – Romans 6:3-11.

a. His image is to be formed is us and we are to live and function with Him at the helm - Colossians 1:27; 2:10 and Galatians 4:19.

XI. EVERYONE DIES – Hebrews 9:27.

A. Death can occur from various different means.

1.  Such as: sickness/disease, accident, murder, war, execution, etc.

2.  It does not make any difference how death occurs, the end result is always the same – loss
of physical life.

B.  What is most important about death is what happens afterward - judgment.

1. The Judgment Seat of Christ for true believers – See Lesson 104 C.

a. For the “born-again” Christians.

2. Or the Great White Throne Judgment of God for unbelievers – See Lesson 104 C.

a. For those who did not accept Jesus Christ as the atonement for their sins.

C. The dead body is disposed of referring to the grave.

1. Return from which we our physical bodies are made – Genesis 18:29.

a. Whether to ashes or to dust – Ecclesiastes 3:20.

2. Awaiting the resurrection – Lesson 104 B.

D.  The resurrected body is of a different composition but the same in general appearance –
1 Corinthians 15:42-44 and 54.

1.  No carnal flesh or blood – 1 Corinthians 15:50.

E. Death is not to be feared by true believers – 1 Corinthians 15:55-56.

1. Those who have not relationship with Christ fear death.

a. They use the threat of death to coerce their enemies (Christians).

b. Their threat is shallow because they are actually threatening you to meet Jesus –
which is our ultimate goal.

2. Therefore the sting or pain of death does not exist for true believers.

a. Also the grave has not victory because of the promised resurrection.

3. Consider also that you will have a family reunion with those who have preceded you in death
if they were true believers.

a. At death you do leave a void in the lives of those remaining.

i. So make sure your relatives have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.