Mortality

Mortality is the human state of being subject to death and decay. God did not create human beings to be like this; mortality is the consequence of sin and is countered by the gospel promise of eternal life in Jesus Christ. 

Mortality Originated in the Fall

Ge 2:16–17 – And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” 

(1) Death is a judgment from God. 

Physical death. Ge 3:19 – In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.” Ge 6:3; Ps 90:3; Ps 90:5  

Spiritual death. Ro 5:12 – Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and      death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned. Ro 5:15–19  

(2) Death is worldwide. 

Ec 3:20 – All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust. 1 Co 15:22

(3) Death is unescapable. 

2 Sa 14:14 – For we will surely die and become like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again…. Job 30:23; Ec 3:2; Ro 6:23. 

(4) Death leads to judgment. 

Heb 9:27 – And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 2 Co 5:10 

Mortality Spreads to the Creation 

Ro 8:20–21 –  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 

(1) Human beings compared to the animals. 

Ec 3:19 – For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity. 

(2) Human beings compared to the grass. 

Ps 90:5–6 – You carry them away like a flood; They are like a sleep. In the morning they are like grass which grows up: 6 In the morning it flourishes and grows up; In the evening it is cut down and withers. Ps 103:15–16; Is 40:6–7; 1 Pe 1:24; Jas 1:10

Reaction to Mortality

(1) The natural reaction to mortality 

• A sense of cruelty
  Job 10:8–9 - Your hands have made me and fashioned me, An intricate unity; Yet You would destroy me. 9 Remember, I pray, that You have made me like clay. And will You turn me into dust again?
• Happy-go-lucky life
  1 Co 15:32 - If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!” Is 22:13

(2) The godly reaction to mortality 

• Humility
  Ps 22:29 – All the prosperous of the earth Shall eat and worship; All those who go down to the dust Shall bow before Him, Even he who cannot keep himself alive. Job 20:6–11; Ps 89:48; Ec 3:21–22
• Trust
  Lk 12:25 – And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  The pursuit of wisdom
• The pursuit of wisdom
    Ps 90:12 – So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom. 
• Search for God
  Is 55:6 – Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Ps 39:4–8; 2 Co 6:2 
• Death is not the end 

 The New King James Version (Ps 22:29). (1982). Thomas Nelson.