The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed from the tape, GC 1301-D, titled "Bible Questions and Answers Part 6."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE.  ©1976. All Rights Reserved.

Question

Death is referred to in the Bible as an enemy (1 Corinthians 15:26). If it is an enemy, how is it that it results in "...being present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8, "Absent from the body, present with the Lord.").  How can we say that death is an enemy if it means that we are present with the Lord?  How is it an enemy?

Answer

It's an enemy in several ways. 

1.  It never came in the "picture" until the Fall.  So it is associated with sin and anything associated with sin is the enemy of holiness.  So just from its theological context it is an enemy. 

2.  But beyond that, death is an enemy in this sense: It is certainly an enemy to every man, because it is actually the thing which sweeps men into hell--so, it's an enemy.

3.  It is also an enemy to Jesus Christ, for it was the one enemy that Christ finally put down, but it cost Him His life and His blood and the bearing of the sins of all those who sinned.  So death was an enemy to Christ as it is an enemy to all men. 

4.  I think there is a sense in which death is an enemy to the Christian.  It's only in the sense of the pain of it, wouldn't you say?  That's all.  I certainly don't fear death and yet I wouldn't want to go and be chopped, starting at my toes, one inch at a time.  I mean, I don't look forward to the pain that may be associated with death. 

So death is an enemy in the sense that it was an intruder into man's paradise.  It's an enemy in the sense that it sweeps men into hell.  It's an enemy in the sense that it pays the wages of sin.  It's an enemy in the sense that it caused our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ the suffering and pain of the cross.  And yet I hasten to add that it is a defeated enemy of which Paul said, "Death, where is your sting?"  The sting has been removed because of Christ.  So it is a defeated enemy.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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