Do You Know Why Death Occurs?

by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

After creating the first man, Adam, God forbade him from eating fruit of a particular tree, under penalty of death.

“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:17)

Adam and Eve disobeyed.  The passage above makes it clear that death occurred the very day they ate the fruit.  This death had both a spiritual and a physical dimension.  Adam and Eve displayed their spiritual death, immediately, when they began to hide from God instead of seeking His presence.

“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 3:8)

Since Adam lived, physically, for 930 years, it would have been his spiritual death which occurred immediately.  Perhaps his spiritual death initiated DNA changes which disrupted bodily functions responsible for keeping all body cells healthy.  Regardless of the mechanism (which God doesn’t explain) Scripture indicates that this death was passed on to all descendents.

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12)

Though not obligated, God chose to provide salvation.  Sin and death came through one man, Adam.  In contrast, God the Son, Jesus, became the one and only God-man to provide redemption through His sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection.

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-22)

Notice:  only those “in Christ” shall be made alive.

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:36)

Those not trusting Christ are already spiritually dead even though still physically alive.  You can see an example of this condition in 1 Timothy 5:6.  Unresolved, death becomes eternal.

Will you choose eternal life, or eternal death?

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