An Outlet and an Inlet
Death is a positive experience for a holy man, serving as an outlet to earthly problems and an inlet to eternal joy and spiritual perfection.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes that for a holy man, death serves as both an outlet from the burdens of sin and suffering and an inlet to the eternal joys and pleasures of God. He describes death as a means of liberation from all earthly troubles, transforming grace into glory and faith into vision. Brooks reassures that death is not an end but a transition to a fuller, more satisfying existence in the presence of God. He encourages believers to view death as a welcome friend that ushers them into eternal life and immortality. Ultimately, he proclaims the victory over death through Christ, as stated in 1 Corinthians 15:54.
Text
"Death has been swallowed up in victory!"
1 Corinthians 15:54
DEATH is an outlet and an inlet to a holy man.
Death is an eternal outlet . . .
to all sins,
to all sorrows,
to all shame,
to all sufferings,
to all afflictions,
to all temptations,
to all oppressions,
to all confusions, and
to all vexations.
Death is an eternal inlet into . . .
the clear, full, and constant enjoyment of God,
the sweetest pleasures,
the purest joys,
the highest delights,
the strongest comforts, and
the most satisfying contentments.
Death is the funeral of all a holy man's sins and miseries--and
the perfection of all his joys, graces, and spiritual excellencies.
Death is not the death of the man--but the death of his sin.
Death is a Christian's discharge from all trouble and misery!
Death came in by sin--and sin goes out by death.
Death cures all diseases--the aching head and the unbelieving
heart; the diseased body and the defiled soul. Death will cure
the holy man of all natural and spiritual distempers.
Death is God's gentle usher to conduct us to heaven.
Death to a holy man, is nothing but the changing of . . .
his grace--into glory,
his faith--into vision,
his hope--into fruition, and
his love--into eternal rapture!
Oh, who would not go through death . . .
to heaven!
to eternal life!
to immortality and glory!
Death, to a Christian, is . . .
a welcome guest,
a happy friend,
a joyful messenger!
"Death has been swallowed up in victory!" 1 Cor. 15:54
Sermon Outline
- Death as an Outlet
- Death as an Inlet
- The Relationship Between Death and Sin
- Death as a consequence of sin
- Death as a means to escape sin
Key Quotes
“Death has been swallowed up in victory!” — Thomas Brooks
“Death is the funeral of all a holy man's sins and miseries--and the perfection of all his joys, graces, and spiritual excellencies.” — Thomas Brooks
“Death is God's gentle usher to conduct us to heaven.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- As a Christian, view death as a welcome guest and a means to escape sin and its consequences.
- Death is not the end, but a transition to eternal life and glory.
- Trust in God's plan for death as a means to spiritual growth and perfection.