Death, being the wages of sin, why are not the righteous delivered from death, seeing all their sins are forgiven in Christ?
The righteous shall be delivered from death itself at the last day, and even in death are delivered from the sting and curse of it;1 so that, although they die, yet it is out of God's love,2 to free them perfectly from sin and misery,3 and to make them capable of further communion with Christ in glory, which they then enter upon.4
Scripture proofs
The Westminster Assembly's proof texts (KJV). The bracketed numbers in the answer above mark the clause each set of references supports; expand a row to read the verses.
1 1 Cor. 15:26, 55–57; Heb. 2:15
1 Cor. 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
1 Cor. 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1 Cor. 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
1 Cor. 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
2 Isa. 57:1–2; 2 Kings 22:20
Isa. 57:1 The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.
Isa. 57:2 He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.
Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.
3 Rev. 14:13; Eph. 5:27
And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
4 Luke 23:43; Phil. 1:23
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
This doctrine across the Standards
Where the Confession and the Westminster Shorter Catechism treat the same matter, so the question can be studied alongside its parallel statements.
In the Westminster Confession
XXXII.1 The bodies of men, after death, return to dust, and see corruption; but their souls (which neither die …
The bodies of men, after death, return to dust, and see corruption; but their souls (which neither die nor sleep), having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them. The souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies: and the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day. Besides these two places for souls separated from their bodies, the Scripture acknowledgeth none.
→ XXXII.1 · Of the State of Men after Death, and of the Resurrection of the DeadXXXII.2 At the last day, such as are found alive shall not die, but be changed; and all the …
At the last day, such as are found alive shall not die, but be changed; and all the dead shall be raised up with the self-same bodies, and none other, although with different qualities, which shall be united again to their souls forever.
→ XXXII.2 · Of the State of Men after Death, and of the Resurrection of the DeadXXXII.3 The bodies of the unjust shall, by the power of Christ, be raised to dishonor; the bodies of …
The bodies of the unjust shall, by the power of Christ, be raised to dishonor; the bodies of the just, by his Spirit, unto honor, and be made conformable to his own glorious body.
→ XXXII.3 · Of the State of Men after Death, and of the Resurrection of the DeadIn the Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q.37 What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death?
The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory; and their bodies, being still united to Christ, do rest in their graves till the resurrection.
→ Open Q.37