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The Power of Death.

 Hebrews 2:14-18

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.


Death is real, and if you are not a Christian, the Bible says that the devil holds you in slavery to the fear of death. It also says that Satan holds the power of death. While it is true that Jesus Christ conquered death, he also delivered us from the power of death that Satan holds. What is implied here is that he also delivered us from the penalty of death, which is hell itself. This is not true for the unbeliever, and by their actions and behaviours, it can be seen that this power is not broken in their lives. 


As Christians, I believe it is wrong to glorify death and hell. That power over us has been broken in Christ. Even if we die, God promises us when Christ comes back, we will be delivered from death itself, so even our physical death isn’t permanent. Satan holds unbelievers under sin’s penalty because they haven’t been saved yet. To them the things that Christian’s are ashamed of are things that they practice everyday. The bible teaches that we too were once dead in our trespasses and sins, in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience. All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath. (Ephesians 2:1-3)


The Bible also teaches us that because of God’s grace and mercy we were set free from our shameful ways, But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved! And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4-7)


It’s a wonderful hope that we have when we trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. We are freed from the penalty of sin, which is death, and we are also freed from death’s penalty which is hell. One day, if we die in Christ, we will be physically resurrected to new life, and death will be defeated (1 Corinthians 15:55). We have this hope because Christ conquered death, by rising again. This is Mike.


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