Will You Die in Your Sins? (John 8:12-30)

If you die without Christ, you will die in your sins and what awaits you is torment and everlasting damnation. Jesus proclaimed: “I am the light of the world, whoever believes in Me shall never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). The Pharisees responded by arguing with Him. They rejected Him saying that His testimony was invalid because He speaks for Himself. Jesus replied that He came from His Father in heaven and is speaking His message. Their rejection of Jesus proves that they are walking in darkness and He wants them: “if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins” (John 8:24). This morning we shall discuss the difficult topic of dying in sin.

Walking in Spiritual Darkness

Jesus said everyone who does not follow Him walks in spiritual darkness. Spiritual darkness in this life manifests itself in wickedness. Galatians 5:16 says, “live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” Paul summarizes in Ephesians 2:1-3 that those who walk in darkness follow the devil and are “gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts.” Those who walk in darkness, Paul continues, are “by nature objects of wrath.” Walking in darkness is not a neutral activity, it is sin.

Spiritual darkness also manifests itself in foolishness. Proverbs 4:19 says, “The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.” Foolishness, in the Bible, is not a mental deficiency but a moral deficiency. This is why a fool is usually associated with a direct denial of God (Psalm 53:1). Because God has infinite wisdom, the person who rejects God rejects His wisdom and becomes a fool. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” In other words, a fool is anyone who does not follow the warnings and commands of God. The Bible provides characteristics of a fool, such as: lacks wisdom, self-focused, no concern for others, does not desire to avoid sin, brags about sinful actions, mocks the righteous, etc.

In this life we have hope available in Christ. Many who have walked in spiritual darkness have seen the light of Christ. Paul told Timothy, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim 1:15). Paul also told the Romans, “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). While in this life, we can call upon the God “who is rich in mercy” (Eph 2:4). We follow Jesus by becoming a Christian and growing as a Christian. You become a Christian by admitting you are a sinner who has rebelled against Him and deserve death. You believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died to bring you forgiveness. You confess your faith in Him as Savior and Lord; asking to be saved. Paul told the Romans, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom 10:9). Come to the light! 

Waking in Deep Darkness

Everyone who does not follow Christ and dies in spiritual darkness before the resurrection will awaken in deep darkness. Death is unavoidable and puts an end to the age of grace. What you believe about Jesus determines what happens to you next. We are not told much about this “intermediate” state, but Anthony Hoekema summarizes it this way: “Since the time of Augustine Christian theologians have taught that between death and resurrection the souls of men enjoy rest or suffer affliction while waiting either for the completion of their salvation or for the consummation of their damnation.” The best Biblical support is found in Luke 16 in the story of the Rich man and Lazarus. Both the rich man and Lazarus died. The rich man “in Hades, where he was in torment…” (Luke 16:23) begged for mercy. Meanwhile, Lazarus “now is comforted here” (Luke 16:25). Those in this intermediate state wait for their salvation or damnation on the basis of whether or not they followed Jesus. There is no chance of repentance after death. There is no purgatory and the soul does not sleep during this time. This is a place of consciousness while awaiting the day of resurrection.

Weeping in Utter Darkness

Everyone who dies without Christ will be damned and after resurrection they will be in an eternal state of weeping and gnashing of teeth in the lake of fire. After the unbeliever is resurrected, they will stand before the “great white throne” (Rev 20:11) of God. John writes, “each person was judged according to what he had done…if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev 20:13,15). Words fail to describe the terror of the torment of the lake of fire. Jesus, who spoke of it more than anyone else, described it as a place “outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt 8:12 & 25:30). While belief in this teaching is frightful, Christians must believe and receive this Biblical teaching as we remember that God is good, holy, and just and He will not let the wicked go unpunished (Prov 11:21).

Those who die in their sins are eternally damned but not everyone will receive the same degree of punishment in the lake of fire. Each person is judged according to what he has done. We are not given a lot of information in the Bible about this, but, as Albert Martin has said, “The infliction of punishment proportionately in degrees is an outworking of divine justice.” Jesus spoke a woe to Korazin and Bethsaida saying, “I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you” (Matt 11:24). What we can be certain of is that the final state of the unbeliever is utter darkness as they receive proportional and perfect judgment of God.

Worshiping in Glorious Light

Jesus proclaimed, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Later Jesus warned, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you…Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light” (John 12:35). Our former pastor, Terry Eades, once said, “The power of God’s light is the ability to save and change men.” Jesus is calling for those currently walking in the darkness to come into the light and follow Him. Live as a child of light and reflect the light of Christ to those around you. Jesus has promised that those who walk in the light in this life will die in the light and awaken with the light; rejoicing forever in the glorious light and presence of Christ.