How can I Face Death with Confidence (Chantilly and Linton Hall)

Hebrews 2:15 CSB – those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.

2 Corinthians 15:26 CSB – The last enemy to be abolished is death

2 Corinthians 5:1-5 CSB – For we know that if our earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands. ² Indeed, we groan in this tent, desiring to put on our heavenly dwelling, ³ since, when we have taken it off, we will not be found naked. ⁴ Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.

Be Honest about Reality—life on earth is increasingly difficult

Psalm 90:9-10 CSB – 

For all our days ebb away under your wrath;
we end our years like a sigh.
¹⁰ Our lives last seventy years
or, if we are strong, eighty years.
Even the best of them are struggle and sorrow;
indeed, they pass quickly and we fly away.

2 Corinthians 5:1 CSB – For we know that if our earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands

2 Corinthians 5:4 CSB – Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are

1 Samuel 20:3d CSB – David said, there is but a step between me and death.

2 Corinthians 5:4 CSB – Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent,

Psalm 90:10 CSB – Our lives last seventy years
or, if we are strong, eighty years.
Even the best of them are struggle and sorrow;
indeed, they pass quickly and we fly away.

Understand What to Expect When You Die

The Soul Departs from the Body

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 CSB – So we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. ⁷ For we walk by faith, not by sight. ⁸ In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

2 Timothy 4:6 CSB – For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close.

Matthew 10:28 CSB – Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

2 Corinthians 5:6 CSB – know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:8 CSB – ….to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Immediately We are in the Presence of the Lord

1 Corinthians 6:11 CSB – But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

1 John 1:9 CSB –  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Acts 7:59 CSB – While they were stoning Stephen, he called out: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”

2 Timothy 4:7-8 CSB – I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing

Philippians 1:21-23 CSB – For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. ²² Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me… ²³ I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ—which is far better—

Psalm 13:3 CSB – I will sleep the sleep of death

David slept with his fathers…

Solomon slept with his fathers

2 Corinthians 5:3b-4 CSB – we will not be found naked. Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life.

In Heaven, We Will Receive Eternal, Glorified Bodies

1 Corinthians 15:35-37 CSB – But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? What kind of body will they have when they come?” ³⁶ You fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. ³⁷ And as for what you sow—you are not sowing the body that will be, but only a seed, perhaps of wheat or another grain. ³⁸ But God gives it a body as he wants, and to each of the seeds its own body

1 Corinthians 15:40-44 CSB – There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is different from that of the earthly ones. ⁴¹ There is a splendor of the sun, another of the moon, and another of the stars; in fact, one star differs from another star in splendor.

⁴² So it is with the resurrection of the dead: Sown in corruption, raised in incorruption; ⁴³ sown in dishonor, raised in glory; sown in weakness, raised in power; ⁴⁴ sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

1 Corinthians 15:51-57 CSB – Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality. ⁵⁴ When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place:

Death has been swallowed up in victory.
⁵⁵ Where, death, is your victory?
Where, death, is your sting?

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

2 Corinthians 5:9-10 CSB – Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

We Must All Appear Before the Judgment Seat of Christ

Romans 6:21 CSB – He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (to be a sin offering)

2 Corinthians 5:10 CSB – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Jesus’ descriptions of Hell

A place….

• of eternal torment (Luke 16:23),
• of unquenchable fire (Mark 9:43),
• where the worm does not die (Mark 9:48),
• where people will gnash their teeth in anguish and regret ( 13:42),
• from which there is no return, even to warn loved ones (Luke 16:19–31)

2 Corinthians 5:11, 14 CSB – 

Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people.

For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: If one died for all, then all died.

2 Corinthians 5:9 CSB – Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to him. 

We will experience perfection for eternity

John 14:2b-3 CSB – I am going away to prepare a place for you. ³ If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.

Eagerly Look Forward to Your Eternal Home!

“The books or the music in which we thought the beauty was located will betray us if we trust to them; it was not in them, it only came through them, and what came through them was longing.

These things….are good images of what we really desire; but if they are mistaken for the thing itself they turn into dumb idols, breaking the hearts of their worshippers.

For they are not the thing itself; they are only the scent of a flower we have not found, the echo of a tune we have not heard, news from a country we have never yet visited.” – C.S. Lewis

2 Corinthians 5

v. 2, we groan in this tent, desiring to put on our heavenly dwelling,

v. 4, we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life.

v. 5, Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God

1. v. 8, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Four Words That Make Us Long for Heaven

1) Permanence

2 Corinthians 5:1 CSB – Now if this tent we live in is destroyed we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands.

2) Perfection

3) People

4) Praise

Place Your Confidence Completely In Jesus

2 Corinthians 5:1 CSB – For we know…, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands.

2 Corinthians 5:5 CSB – the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.

2 Corinthians 5:6 CSB – So we are always confident and know…

v.7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

v.8,  In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Romans 10:9 CSB – If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Mark 16:16 CSB – Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot;
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt;
Fightings within, and fears without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!