Q85: Death, being the wages of sin, why are not the righteous delivered from death, seeing all their sins are forgiven in Christ?
A85: The righteous shall be delivered from death itself at the last day, and even in death are delivered from the sting and curse of it;[1] so that, although they die, yet it is out of God's love,[2] to free them perfectly from sin and misery,[3] and to make them capable of further communion with Christ in glory, which they then enter upon.[4]
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- (1Co 15:26) The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
- (1Co 15:55-57) "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
- (Heb 2:15) and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
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- (Isa 57:1-2) The righteous man perishes, and no man takes it to heart; And devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from evil, He enters into peace; They rest in their beds, Each one who walked in his upright way.
- (2Ki 22:20) "Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place." So they brought back word to the king.
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- (Rev 14:13) And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Write, 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them."
- (Eph 5:27) that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
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- (Luk 23:43) And He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."
- (Php 1:23) But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;