Conquering the Fear of Death Through Christ

Devotional

Day 1: The Bondage of Death's Fear

The fear of death is a universal experience that often manifests as denial and distraction. Many people live their lives avoiding the contemplation of their mortality, surrounding themselves with distractions to escape the fear that lurks beneath. This fear acts as a subconscious slave master, driving individuals to live in a state of bondage. The law of God is written on every human heart, serving as a reminder of our need for reconciliation with Him. Without this reconciliation, the fear of death remains a silent yet powerful force in our lives. For those not reconciled with God, this law becomes a source of fear and bondage, highlighting the urgency of seeking peace with God. [05:09]

Hebrews 9:27-28 (ESV): "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him."

Reflection: What distractions do you use to avoid thinking about your mortality, and how can you begin to confront this fear with God's truth today?

Day 2: Christ's Incarnation and High Priesthood

Christ's incarnation was essential for Him to become our merciful and faithful high priest. Unlike the Old Testament priests who offered animal sacrifices, Jesus offered Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. His death propitiates God's wrath, satisfying divine justice and rendering Satan powerless. Through His incarnation, Jesus fully identified with humanity, experiencing our temptations and suffering. This identification allows Him to be a compassionate high priest who understands our struggles and intercedes on our behalf. The incarnation is not just a historical event but a profound truth that impacts our daily lives, offering us hope and assurance in our relationship with God. [12:22]

Hebrews 4:14-16 (ESV): "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Reflection: How does knowing that Jesus is your high priest who understands your struggles change the way you approach Him in prayer today?

Day 3: The Powerlessness of Satan's Accusations

Sin is the only weapon Satan has to condemn us. However, when our sins are covered by Christ's sacrifice, Satan's accusations hold no weight. Jesus' death and resurrection have nullified the power of sin, freeing us from the fear of death and the bondage of guilt. This truth is a source of immense comfort and assurance for believers, as it means that Satan's attempts to accuse and condemn us are rendered powerless. In Christ, we are forgiven and justified, and no accusation can separate us from the love of God. This freedom allows us to live confidently and boldly in our faith, knowing that our standing before God is secure. [19:29]

Colossians 2:13-15 (ESV): "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you still feel condemned by past sins, and how can you embrace the truth of Christ's forgiveness today?

Day 4: Jesus' Compassion in Our Suffering

Jesus understands our suffering and temptations, having experienced them Himself. He promises to aid us in our struggles, providing grace and strength in our time of need. This assurance is a profound source of comfort for believers, as it means that we are never alone in our trials. Jesus' empathy and compassion are not distant or theoretical; they are real and present in our daily lives. As we face the challenges and sufferings of life, we can trust in His promise to be with us, offering His presence and help. This truth encourages us to rely on His strength and grace, knowing that He is always ready to support us in our time of need. [22:08]

Isaiah 53:3-4 (ESV): "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted."

Reflection: How can you invite Jesus into your current struggles and allow His compassion to guide you through them today?

Day 5: Daily Grace and New Mercies

Today's grace is sufficient for today, and God's mercies are new every morning. As we face the fear of death and the challenges of life, we can trust in His promise to provide the strength and mercy we need when the time comes. This truth encourages us to live one day at a time, relying on God's provision and faithfulness. Each day is an opportunity to experience His grace anew, trusting that He will equip us for whatever lies ahead. This perspective frees us from the anxiety of the future, allowing us to focus on the present and live in the fullness of His grace. [23:32]

Lamentations 3:22-24 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.'"

Reflection: What specific area of your life do you need to trust God's daily grace and new mercies, and how can you begin to do so today?

Sermon Summary

In this message, we explore the profound truth that the only lethal weapon in Satan's arsenal is our sin. The fear of death holds humanity in bondage, but through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, this fear is dismantled. Hebrews 2:14-18 reveals how Christ's death removes our sin and liberates us from the fear of death. Death is indeed a terrifying prospect if we are not right with God, as it signifies an impending judgment by a holy and just God. However, for those who are in Christ, death loses its sting because Jesus has made propitiation for our sins, satisfying God's wrath and rendering Satan powerless.

The fear of death often manifests as a subconscious slave master, driving people to live in denial and distraction. Many avoid contemplating their mortality, surrounding themselves with distractions to escape the fear that lurks beneath. Yet, the law of God is written on every human heart, either condemning or affirming us based on our relationship with God. For those not reconciled with God, this law becomes a source of fear and bondage.

Christ's incarnation was necessary for Him to become a merciful and faithful high priest, offering Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. Unlike the Old Testament priests who offered animal sacrifices, Jesus offered His own blood, a once-for-all sacrifice that propitiates God's wrath. This act of propitiation is the means by which Satan's power is nullified. Sin is the only weapon Satan has to condemn us, and when our sins are covered by Christ's sacrifice, Satan's accusations hold no weight.

For those struggling with the fear of death, Jesus not only covers our sins but also promises to aid us in our suffering. He understands our temptations and fears, having experienced them Himself. As we face the process of dying, He assures us of His presence and help. Today's grace is sufficient for today, and when the time comes, His mercies will be new, providing the strength we need to face death without fear.

Key Takeaways

1. The fear of death is a universal bondage, often manifesting as denial and distraction. Yet, the law of God written on our hearts reminds us of our need for reconciliation with Him. Without this reconciliation, the fear of death remains a silent slave master. [05:09]
2. Christ's incarnation was essential for Him to become our high priest, offering Himself as the ultimate sacrifice. His death propitiates God's wrath, satisfying divine justice and rendering Satan powerless. [12:22]
3. Sin is the only weapon Satan has to condemn us. When our sins are covered by Christ's sacrifice, Satan's accusations hold no weight, and we are freed from the fear of death. [19:29]
4. Jesus understands our suffering and temptations, having experienced them Himself. He promises to aid us in our struggles, providing grace and strength in our time of need. [22:08]
5. Today's grace is sufficient for today, and God's mercies are new every morning. As we face the fear of death, we can trust in His promise to provide the strength and mercy we need when the time comes. [23:32]
** [23:32]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:18] - The Lethal Weapon of Satan
[01:01] - The Fear of Death
[02:19] - The Terrifying Reality of Judgment
[03:03] - Bondage to the Fear of Death
[04:12] - Denial and Distraction
[05:31] - The Law Written on Our Hearts
[07:01] - Freedom from Fear
[08:10] - The Defeat of Death
[09:18] - Christ's Incarnation and High Priesthood
[10:44] - Propitiation and Satan's Defeat
[12:22] - The Ultimate Sacrifice
[14:15] - Understanding Propitiation
[16:06] - The Wrath of God Satisfied
[17:45] - Sin: Satan's Only Weapon
[20:36] - Jesus' Aid in Our Suffering
[22:55] - Grace for Today

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading
- Hebrews 2:14-18

Observation Questions

According to Hebrews 2:14-18, what was the purpose of Christ's incarnation and death? How does this relate to the power of Satan? [00:37]
What does the sermon suggest is the only lethal weapon in Satan's arsenal? How does this weapon affect humanity? [17:45]
How does the sermon describe the fear of death as a form of bondage? What are some ways people try to escape this fear? [03:03]

Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of propitiation in Hebrews 2:17 help us understand the defeat of Satan's power? What does this mean for believers? [10:44]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that Jesus' experience of human suffering and temptation aids believers in their struggles? [22:08]
How does the sermon explain the relationship between sin, God's wrath, and the fear of death? What role does Jesus' sacrifice play in this context? [14:27]

Application Questions

The sermon mentions that many people live in denial of their mortality. Reflect on your own life: Are there distractions you use to avoid thinking about death? How can you confront this fear with faith? [04:52]
Consider the idea that Jesus' sacrifice nullifies Satan's accusations. How does this truth impact your daily life and your response to guilt or shame? [19:29]
The sermon emphasizes that Jesus understands our suffering and promises to aid us. Can you recall a time when you felt Jesus' presence in your struggles? How did it change your perspective? [22:08]
Reflect on the statement "Today's grace is sufficient for today." How can you apply this mindset to a current challenge or fear you are facing? [23:15]
The sermon suggests that the fear of death can be a subconscious slave master. How can you actively seek reconciliation with God to break free from this fear? [05:09]
Jesus' role as a merciful and faithful high priest is central to the sermon. How can you deepen your understanding of this role and its significance in your spiritual journey? [12:22]
The sermon encourages believers to trust in God's promise of new mercies every morning. How can you remind yourself of this promise in your daily routine? [23:32]

Sermon Clips

Death is sad and death is terrifying if there's a holy, just God who's going to call everybody to account. If you don't believe in God, if there is no God, and death is simply the end of a long summer, it's just sad. It's sad because life as we know it in this world is the basis of everything that makes us happy: family, friends, leisure, food, sex, job, work, meaning. If you don't have life, you got none of that, and to lose that feels sad. [00:01:01]

If Billy Graham is right and there's a holy, just God of truth who has a law, who has a glory, and we will one day give an account to that God, and we will render good or evil for everything good or evil we've ever done, or he will render that to us, then death is terrifying if we're not right with God. The existence of God in relationship to death is a terrifying thing. [00:02:11]

I think even people who don't believe in God and who on the surface are not feeling terrified are subconsciously ruled by the fear of death one way or the other. It's a silent slave master. One of its main forms of slavery is by putting you in the dream world of denial. Now, you don't experience it this way, but the way you can tell if you're in it or not is by what you are willing to think about. [00:03:50]

Much denial of the death that terrifies manifests itself in all kinds of ways of escaping from having to think long or much about your mortality and about your death. It's one thing that Americans will not let themselves think long about, and therefore we surround ourselves with all kinds of distractions and narcotics to escape from what we know we'd be afraid of if we thought about it. [00:04:34]

Romans 2:14-15 says that the law of God is written on every human heart, your conscience bearing witness with that law either condemning or affirming. So that I, on the authority of the Bible that Billy Graham holds up, and he seems to get a lot of approval, that same Bible says everybody in this room, everybody that will go to the Dome tonight or has been there, has the law of God written across your heart. [00:06:01]

The offering that the high priest Jesus offers for us is himself. Had he brought any other offering, we would not be saved. The blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin. Only one blood shedding can take away sin: the Divine Son of God incarnate in Jesus Christ. So when it says he had to become like us in order to do the high priestly work of propitiating sins, it's because this high priest is going to offer no other sacrifice than the high priest. [00:11:56]

Jesus and he has in his mind, I'm going to do a high priestly work one time and it's over. No more Temple sacrifices when I'm done because the blood I'm taking is not the blood of a bull, the blood of a goat, the blood of a lamb, the blood of a dove. It's my blood, infinitely valuable blood, and I'm going to pour it out one time. [00:13:04]

The aim of his death is to make propitiation for the sins of his people, verse 17, and the aim of his death is to destroy or nullify the power of the devil and his power over death in verse 14. Christ strips the devil of his power in death by propitiating sins. [00:13:46]

There is only one Lethal Weapon in the artillery of Satan. If you've ever thought about this, listen carefully. There's only one lethal, deadly, final destructive weapon in the artillery of Satan. You know what it is? Your sin. Nobody goes to hell because of being harassed by the devil. Nobody goes to hell because of being possessed by the devil. [00:17:33]

If you're covered by the blood of Jesus, if you're clothed with the righteousness of Jesus Christ, you can look him right in the face and say, be gone, Satan. Or if he rages against you, such as to put you in jail or to make you sick or to kill you, you can smile back at him and say, I'm free from the fear of this thing. Your power's gone. [00:18:36]

He became a man not only so that he could die but so that he could enter the process of dying for us so that when he comes out on the other side and he reigns today and we cry out to him in the midst of this kind of pain and fear and struggle, and we wonder, will I lose my senses? Will I be humiliated with senility? Will there be excruciating pain that no pills can fix? [00:22:04]

Today's grace is sufficient for today, and if you're scared right now that in a year, two, or five, or 10, or 50, you won't have grace to die well, that's okay. Sufficient under the day is the evil thereof, and the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies are what? Every morning new. It's going to be there, folks. This promise is going to come true for you in Christ. [00:23:32]

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Conquering the Fear of Death Through Christ

Devotional

Day 1: The Bondage of Death's Fear

Day 2: Christ's Incarnation and High Priesthood

Day 3: The Powerlessness of Satan's Accusations

Day 4: Jesus' Compassion in Our Suffering

Day 5: Daily Grace and New Mercies

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Conquering the Fear of Death Through Christ

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