The Living Dead

I. Introduction
   A. It sounds like something right out of a horror movie-- the 
      living dead!
   B. Evokes images of zombies or mummies walking around or some 
      such thing
   C. We all know, of course, that such things are not "real"
   D. The dead do not walk among us!
   E. Or do they?
   F. The Bible speaks regarding many types of people who are the 
      "living dead"
   G. How can this be?  Let us consider the Scriptures today!

II. The Living Dead: Unbelievers
   A. What do we mean when we say that the Bible speaks of the 
      "living dead?"
   B. We do not speak so much in a physical sense, but a spiritual 
      one!
   C. The Garden
      1. Genesis 3
      2. God pronounced the sentence of death upon Adam and Eve for 
         their transgression (Genesis 3:19)
      3. After all, God promised that the very day he ate of it, he 
         would die (Genesis 2:16-17)
      4. Yet Adam continued to live physically for many years!
      5. How could he die but live?  Did God not follow through?
   D. The death Adam died was spiritual death-- separation from God!
      1. He was cast out of the Garden, indicating how the unbroken 
         association with God was no longer (Genesis 3:23-24)
      2. Yes, from that point on Adam was subjected to physical death 
         and decay, and from that day on death entered the world 
         (Romans 5:12-19)...
      3. ...but from the day he ate the fruit, he died spiritually and 
         required spiritual redemption!
   E. This condition is not unique to Adam!
      1. Romans 3:9-23, Ephesians 2:1-3
      2. All of us have sinned and were therefore dead in our 
         trespasses
      3. Did this mean that we were physically dead?  By no means!
      4. Instead, we were the "living dead"-- alive in the flesh, but 
         dead spiritually
   F. We could do nothing to change that condition ourselves!
      1. We could vainly seek to do good things to "make up" for our 
         sins
      2. But it does not work that way-- a ton of good cannot "make 
         up" for even one sin before God (James 2:10-11)!
      3. Therefore, we were lost in our sins and could do nothing 
         about it!
   G. Thanks be to God that He provided the solution!
      1. Romans 3:24-25, Ephesians 2:4-7
      2. Romans 5:12-19: Jesus through His life and death was able 
         to atone for the sin of Adam
      3. We can be made alive again to God only through obedient 
         faith in His Son (Romans 6)!
      4. That is how we can go from being the "living dead" to the 
         "dead living"!
   H. Such is only true for those who have believed in and have 
      obeyed Jesus Christ
      1. Romans 8:1-9: where do you stand?
      2. Are you still subject to the law of sin and death and hostile 
         to God?
      3. Then you are still the "living dead," and unfortunately, the 
         day will come when you will be fully dead, physically and 
         spiritually, and face the punishment (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9)!
      4. Do not die in your sins—live again to God in Christ Jesus!

III. The Living Dead: Believers
   A. Unbelievers are not the only ones who are the "living dead" 
      in the Scriptures
   B. James 2:14-26
      1. James establishes well that faith without works is dead
      2. For faith to have substance and merit before God, it must be 
         quickened with works in obedience
      3. But what is the condition of the one who might believe but 
         who is not working obediently for God?
   C. Such a condition is found in Sardis!
      1. Revelation 3:1-6
      2. They have a reputation of being alive-- they still exist as 
         a church, they have the decent appearance that all is well...
      3. ...but Jesus knows that they are really dead!
      4. How are they dead?  Their "works" are not complete before 
         God!
      5. They are to remember what they heard, to repent, and to 
         be active before God!
   D. Such is also the condition of the "one talent" servant!
      1. Matthew 25:14-30
      2. He did nothing with his talent, and was upbraided by the 
         master!
      3. His penalty? Being cast into the outer darkness (v. 30)!
      4. Since he did nothing with what he was given, he was 
         considered worthless, and received the same penalty as if 
         he had never been a servant at all!
   E. Such examples provide for us a sober warning!
   F. Just because we believe in Christ—and even get baptized-- 
      does not guarantee us anything!
      1. Yes, these represent the necessary beginnings of faith 
         (Romans 6:3-7)
      2. But without the continued obedience, they are not enough 
         (1 Peter 1:3-9, 22)!
   G. The "living dead" can exist within the church as easily as 
      outside of it!
      1. We must not return to the "living dead," but remain the 
         "dead living"
      2. Let us continue to serve and obey Christ, full of good 
         works, lest our faith-- and our souls-- die (Titus 3:3-8)!

IV. Conclusion
   A. The "living dead" may bring horror pictures to mind...
   B. ...but no picture can truly represent the horrors waiting those 
      who are the "living dead"!
   C. We have seen that the "living dead" are those who may be alive 
      in the flesh, but are dead to God, dead in their sins
   D. Such persons may even be within the church, having a dead 
      faith-- one that will not save them!
   E. Let us not be found as the "living dead" before God!
   F. Invitation/songbook