Scriptures on God Delivering Believers From Death
The concept of God delivering believers from death is a recurring theme throughout biblical literature, encompassing both physical and spiritual dimensions of salvation. The Old Testament, particularly the Psalms, speaks of God's power to heal and deliver from "graves" (Psalm 107:20) and to "deliver them from death" (Psalm 33:18-19) [3, 10]. This deliverance is often linked to God's kindness and the fear of the Lord [10].
In the New Testament, this theme is profoundly connected to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Believers are said to be "begotten again to a living hope" through Christ's resurrection, which signifies victory over death [11]. The apostle Peter emphasizes that God raised Jesus from the dead, giving Him glory, so that the faith and hope of believers might be in God [1]. This resurrection is presented as God's pledge that His revelation is true and worthy of acceptance [7].
Deliverance from death is also understood in a spiritual sense, referring to salvation from the power of sin. Paul states that Christ "was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification," indicating that through His death, sin was removed, and through His resurrection, righteousness was restored [11]. Those who believe in Christ are described as having "passed from death unto life" [12]. This spiritual resurrection is analogous to Christ's physical resurrection, as God "has quickened you 'who were dead in trespasses and sins'" [13].
Believers are "shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time" [4, 5]. This salvation includes freedom from God's judgment and bondage to sin, purchased by Christ's sacrificial death [14]. The assurance of this salvation is produced by faith and made full by hope [6]. The Holy Scriptures are able to make one "wise to salvation through belief in Christ Jesus" [2]. The deliverance from "so great a death" experienced by the apostles, as described by John Gill, refers to severe afflictions and dangers from which God continually delivers His people [8]. This encompasses not only physical dangers but also the "fiery darts of Satan" and the "fire of afflictions" [9].
Sources
- I Peter “I Peter 1:21 (LITV) — the ones believing in God through Him, He raising Him from the dead, and giving glory to Him so that your faith and hope may be in God.”
- II Timothy “II Timothy 3:15 (LITV) — and that from a babe you know the Holy Scriptures, those being able to make you wise to salvation through belief in Christ Jesus.”
- Psalms “He sends his word, and heals them, and delivers them from their graves. -- Psalms 107:20”
- I Peter “I Peter 1:5 (BSB) — who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”
- 1 Peter “who by the power of God are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. -- 1 Peter 1:5”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Assurance — Produced by faith -- Eph 3:12; 2Ti 1:12; Heb 10:22. Made full by hope -- Heb 6:11,19. Confirmed by love -- 1Jo 3:14,19; 4:18. Is the effect of righteousness -- Isa 32:17. Is abundant in the understanding of the gospel -- Col 2:2; 1Th 1:5. Saints privileged to have, of Their election. -- Ps 4:3; 1Th 1:4. Their redemption. -- Job 19:25. Their adoption. -- Ro 8:16; 1Jo 3:2. Their salvation. -- Isa 12:2. Eternal life. -- 1Jo 5:13. The unalienable love of God. -- Ro 8:38,39. Union with God and Christ. -- 1Co 6:15; 2Co 13:5; Eph 5:30; 1Jo 2:5; 4:13. Peace with ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Assurance — The resurrection of Jesus (Acts 17:31) is the "assurance" (Gr. pistis, generally rendered "faith") or pledge God has given that his revelation is true and worthy of acceptance. The "full assurance [Gr. plerophoria, full bearing'] of faith" (Heb. 10:22) is a fulness of faith in God which leaves no room for doubt. The "full assurance of understanding" (Col. 2:2) is an entire unwavering conviction of the truth of the declarations of Scripture, a joyful steadfastness on the part of any one of conviction that he has grasped the very truth. The "full assurance ”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 1:10: Who delivered us from so great a death,.... Accordingly, being enabled to trust in God, when all human hope and helps failed, to believe in hope against hope, then the Lord appeared for them, and delivered them from this heavy affliction; which, because by reason of it they were not only in danger of death, and threatened with, but were even under the sentence of it, is therefore called a death, and so great an one, see Co2 11:23. The apostle expresses the continuance of the mercy, and doth deliver; which shows that they were still exposed to deaths and dange”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 11:32: Quenched the violence of fire,.... Which may be said to be done, when a believer, or a righteous man, is delivered out of it, as Lot from Sodom, when God rained fire and brimstone on it; when, by prayer, it is stopped, as by Moses, at Taberah, Num 11:1 when persons are not hurt by it, as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, when cast into Nebuchadrezzar's fiery furnace; and many of the martyrs have triumphed in the flames: so believers are delivered out of the fire of afflictions, and are not consumed thereby; and quench the fiery darts of Satan, thrown at them; and are”
- Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Bamidbar Rabbah 5:1: “Do not cut off the tribe of the Kehatite families from among the Levites” (Numbers 4:18). “Do not cut off the tribe of the Kehatite families from among the Levites” (Numbers 4:18). That is what is written: “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who await His kindness, to deliver them from death, and to sustain them in famine” (Psalms 33:18–19). “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,” this is the tribe of Levi, who sit and hope for the kindness of the Holy One blessed be He. Do all people not long for the kindness of”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 52: his death, but by his resurrection, that we are said to be begotten again to a living hope ( 1 Pet. 1:3 ); because, as 447 he, by rising again, became victorious over death, so the victory of our faith consists only in his resurrection. The nature of it is better expressed in the words of Paul, “Who (Christ) was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification,” ( Rom. 4:25 ); as if he had said, By his death sin was taken away, by his resurrection righteousness was renewed and restored. For how could he by dyi”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 70: way for each to justify himself. I wish they could get a taste of what is 2095 meant by these passages: “He that hath the Son hath life.” “He that hearth my word, and believeth in him that sent me,” “is passed from death unto life.” Whose believeth in him “is passed from death unto life.” “Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” “He that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him.” God “has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ.” “Who ”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 140: of Christ and the future resurrection 696 of his people. He does not say here as he does in Romans viii. 11 , “He that raised up Christ from the dead, shall also quicken your mortal bodies,” but He that raised Christ from the dead, has quickened you “who were dead in trespasses and sins.” It is clear, therefore, that it is the analogy between the resurrection of Christ from the grave, and the spiritual resurrection of believers, that the Apostle has in view. And this is an analogy to which the Scriptures elsewhere refer, as in Romans vi.”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 1:7: 1:7 he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son: Believers, who were once prisoners of sin, are free from God’s judgment and from bondage to sin because of Christ’s sacrificial death (see 1:14; 4:30; Rom 3:24; 1 Cor 6:20; Col 1:14; cp. Matt 26:28; Mark 10:45; Heb 9:11-12, 26; 1 Pet 1:18-19).”