Death

"Death is not a punishment for sin. If death were a punishment, then we would have to ask why Christ, the sinless man, had to die? Death is a consequence of sin. If you tell a child, 'Do not poke your finger in the electrical outlet, or you will die,' and the child sticks his finger in the outlet, and is killed, death is not a punishment from the parent. Saying, 'you will die', is a warning. In the same way, God said to Adam and Eve, that if they ate the fruit, they would die... Death is actually a mercy given to us by God. Death brings about an end to our sin. Otherwise, we would go on sinning forever, and be separated from God for eternity." Bishop BASIL (Essey), Bishop of Wichita and the Antiochian Diocese of Mid-America, on the occasion of the funeral of Sbdcn John Dutcher, 11 August, 2008.

See Also

The Fall