"AND DEATH SHALL HAVE NO DOMINION"
Psalm 116
Introduction: Consider the words of
Jesus in Matthew 16:18. Many people do not understand what Jesus meant by these
words. Some people believe that Jesus was saying that Satan will not prevail
against His church. We know this to be true in the ultimate sense (Rev. 20:10).
However, I do not believe this is what Jesus exclusively meant by His words.
A.
Consider the phrase "Gates of hell."
1.
HADES - The receiving place of departed spirits
of those who have died which includes both the blessed and the lost (Luke
2.
GATES - The forces that both keep in and keep
out; has come to stand for powers
B. The Lord's people will not give in to the
powers or dominion of Hades
1.
The forces of evil which encourage and bring about
apostasy will not prevail against the body of Christ
2.
Physical death itself will not be enough to
prevail against the body of Christ
C.
Satan has been using both of these tools to try
to overcome the church which Christ built
I.
Prior to the resurrection of Christ, one of the
greatest fears most people had was death (Heb.
A.
Mankind had been held by the power of death
1.
The power was Satan (Heb.
2.
Satan had to be defeated to wrest the power
(Matt.
B.
Now for the child of God death should not be
feared
1.
It's an appointment we all must keep (Heb.
2.
Jesus now has the power (Rev. 1:17-18)
C.
Such Jesus did in fulfillment of biblical
prophecy (Isaiah 42:7; 49:9; 61:1)
II.
Such was the result of Jesus having overcome
these powers (Acts
A.
Jesus could not be overcome by death because God had promised
1.
That Jesus would be redeemed from death's power
(Psalm 49:15)
2.
That Jesus would not see corruption (Psalm
B.
Thus the people of God have nothing to fear in
death (Rev. 1:17-18)
1.
Jesus reminded His people of His victory over
death
2.
He was raised to die no more
3.
He has authority over death and Hades
4.
Since Jesus rose victorious over death,
ultimately His people will do the same (1 Cor.
C.
Death will be destroyed and God's people will
live forever unharmed (Rev. 20:14; 21:4)
III. What is the
theology behind what Christ has accomplished in His death, burial and
resurrection that leads to the idea that death will have no dominion over his
glorious body?
A.
Sin results in death (Rom.
1.
Separates man from God (Isaiah 59:2)
2.
Every man has reaped sin's wages (Rom.
B.
The Devil has duped all men in order to destroy
God's purpose of allowing man to have dominion (Gen. 1:26)
1.
Satan wanted dominion and he got it
2.
Man had to get it back if he was ever to prevail
C.
Jesus had to pay the price to seize back what
God intended man to have
1.
Read Romans 5:13-21
2.
Death has no dominion over those who accept by
faith the grace of Christ (Rom. 6:3-9; esp. 7-9)
3.
Death has no dominion over those who no longer
yield to sin (Rom.
Conclusion: No, Hades gates won't
prevail against the