“And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."”
Genesis 3:19 “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."
Eph. 2:1-2 “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.”
The first-time death is mentioned is in the book of Genesis was a warning to Adam and Eve. Perhaps the first couple had no idea what death was, for nothing had died since sin did not come into the world. There is no indication that animals died in the paradise environment created by God, but when God took the animal’s life to clothe Adam and Eve after sinning, death became very real.
First, death is physical. God warned that one came from dust and would return to dust or ground. If we are to understand death from a Biblical perspective we begin with the understanding of separation. James 2:26 says, “The body without the spirit is dead.”
When man was created in the image of God, Genesis tells us that He breathed into man the breath of life. With breath man became a living soul. It is the way man was intended to be in the garden in a full relationship with God.
There is also spiritual death which separates us from God. Therefore, each person is spiritually dead because of sin. We become new people, reborn spiritually alive. For us it is by faith. It is believing and following Jesus Christ to be our savior and Lord.
"…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Rom. 3:23, “But the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 6:23. All men are spiritually dead - separated from God, who is the source of spiritual life. Everyone who has not been redeemed by Christ is spiritually dead
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matt 10:28
there is an eternal death when we are both dead physically and, in an afterlife, forever separated from God.
The good news is that God has done something about making us spiritually alive. There is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. There is resurrection from the dead. There is eternal life. To be alive to God means the Holy Spirit comes into us. We have that seal from God to be forever with Him.
Prayer: Father, thank you for your supernatural work of
