Death is inevitable. Man on his own cannot overcome death
because it is beyond his own power. Man must
come to the reality that he must die the
righteous death for the eternal benefit of
his soul otherwise, he will die like a beast
or animal.
48I.1 Is
there a kind of death that that the Bible teaches that all men should aspire for?
In Numbers 23:10, this is written:
The descendants of
Israel are like the dust-- There are too many of them to be counted.
Let me end my days like one of God's people; Let me die in peace like
the righteous." (TEV)
This is the death of the righteous or to
die as one of God's people.
48I.2
What is needed for a man to die
righteously or as one of God's people?
In Psalm 49:20, the reason is written:
Human beings who have wealth but lack
understanding
are like the beasts that perish. TNIV
The same verse in another
version of the Bible:
Man who is in
honor, yet does not understand, Is like the beasts that perish.
(NKJV)
Man need to understand something, so he
can die righteously or as one of God's people.
48I.3 What
does a man need to understand, so he can die righteously or as one of God's
people?
In Jeremiah 9:23-24, it is explained:
This is what the LORD
says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man
boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches,
but let him who boasts about this: that he understands and knows me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on
earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD. (NIV)
The same verses in another version of the
Bible:
The Lord says: Let not
the wise man bask in his wisdom, nor the mighty man in his might, nor
the rich man in his riches.
Let them boast in this alone: That they truly know me, and understand
that I am the Lord of justice and of righteousness whose love is
steadfast; and that I love to be this way. (LVB)
The Lord says that man should truly know
and understand God. This is the wisdom that will make him die
righteously and as one of God's people.
48I.4
How can anyone truly know and
understand God?
In 1 John 2:3-4, it is written:
Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His
commandments. Someone may say, ``I know God!'' but if he does not obey
God's commands, then that person is a liar, the truth is not in him.
(IEB)
Simply said, those who know God will keep
His commandments and the truth is in them.
48I.5 Who are
considered righteous before God?
In Ezekiel 18:26, it is written:
When righteous people turn from being good and start doing
sinful things, they will die for it. Yes, they will die because of their
sinful deeds. (NLT)
Those who are righteous before God are are those who have done no sin.
48I.6 Is there a group of people in the Bible who are considered
righteous despite their sins?
In
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 & 21, Apostle Paul
explains:
18. Everything comes from God. He
uses Christ to bring us back to Himself.
God gave us the work of bringing
people back .
19. When God was bringing the people
of the world back to Himself in Christ,
He was not counting their sins against
them. God gave us the message about
how He brings men back to Himself.
21. Christ never sinned, but God
caused him to become sin for us, so that
we could be right with God in Christ.
(IEB)
Certainly,
there are those who are considered righteous
despite their sins. They are those who are in Christ Jesus
because He uses Christ to bring them back to
Himself.
When God was bringing the people
of the world (sinners) back to Himself in Christ,
He was not counting their sins against
them.
Christ never sinned, but God
caused him to become sin for them, so that
they could be right with God in Christ.
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. . . . . .
Let me end my days like one of God's people;
Let me die in peace like
the righteous." (Numbers
23:10, TEV)
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