1. A Spiritual Autopsy
1. Aim: To show some of the causes of spiritual death and how we can prevent it.

2. A Spiritual Autopsy Fall from Grace Die spiritually Christian
Rom. 6:11 - dead unto sin - alive unto God
Eph. 2: made alive - were dead in sin
John 3: Born again of water and spirit
Christian
Fall from Grace
Sardis - Rev. 3:1 “reputation of being alive but you are dead”
Can die spiritually Tim. 1: “shipwreck of their faith”
1 Tim. 5:6 “…lives in pleasure is dead while she lives…”
1. We were dead in sin but when we obeyed the gospel we became alive through Christ
a. Rom. 6:11 “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
b. Eph. 2:1 “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins”
c. According to Jn. 3:5 when we are baptized, we are born again – of water and spirit, and made alive unto God
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2. We can fall from Grace - or die spiritually
a. Sardis - Revelation 3:1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.”
i. They had the reputation of being alive, but in reality they were dead
ii. This is spiritual death rather than spiritual life
b. Hymenaeus and Alexander - 1 Timothy 1:19-20 “made shipwreck of their faith”
c. 1 Timothy 5:6 “But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives”
i. Pleasure - to satisfy the lust of the flesh
ii. N.E.B. = “Is as good as dead” Dead = loss of spiritual life
Die spiritually

3. Physical Death Postmortem Examination = cause of death
3 Benefits of an Autopsy:
1. What caused death
2. Damage done to body
3. What can be learned to prevent death
1. When physical death occurs it leaves its marks
a. A crushed skull indicates a fatal blow to the head - stabbing indicates murder has taken place
2. An autopsy can be performed on one who has died
a. Postmortem examination - an examination of a body after death to determine the cause of death
b. Three benefits of an autopsy
(1) Clears up the mystery of the death - shows what caused the death
(2) Shows what damage was done to the body by the thing that caused the death
(3) Teaches us how to live longer and better by what the doctors learn from the autopsy

4. Benefits of a Spiritual Autopsy
What caused the death
Damage done to the soul
How to avoid the same fate
Spiritually speaking, a dead faith in a Christian leaves it mark on the soul
1. A spiritual autopsy can also be beneficial:
a. It shows what caused someone to die spiritually
b. Shows the damage done to the soul by sin
c. Shows us how to avoid the same fate.
2. In our spiritual autopsy, here are some things that have caused death

5. Thick Skulled Cure Open eyes and ears Reading 1 Tim.4:13
Pray - James 1:5
Matt. 5:6 - hunger & thirst
Open eyes and ears
“without understanding” Romans 1:31
Matt. 13: parable
Matt. 13:19 Devil snatches
2 Tim.3:7 “ever learning”
I. THICK SKULLED
A. These are members who died because of a thick skull
1. They died spiritually because they were “without understanding” Romans 1:31
a. They could have learned about God and His commandments, but they didn’t want to learn
b. They closed their eyes and stopped their ears to keep from learning the truth - Matt. 13:13-15
c. They preferred to be ignorant - willful ignorance - therefore they would not be responsible for doing anything in the church, or so they reasoned.
2. When we have no desire to understand, the devil snatches the seed of God out of our heart.
3. That is exactly what Jesus taught in the parable of the sower. Matthew 13:19 “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.”
4. 2 Tim. 3:7 “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
5. The message of God will not penetrate into the mind of a thick-skulled person
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B. The cure could have been reading God’s Holy Word and communicating with Him thru prayer
1. In 1 Timothy 4:13 young Timothy was encouraged to read the Word “Till I come, give attendance to reading”
2. James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and it shall be given him.”
3. If we hunger and thirst after righteousness, the Bible says in Matt. 5:6 that we will be filled or find satisfaction.
4. We have to open our eyes and ears and daily communicate with God in order to not become thick skulled

6. Worn Jawbone Cure Acute verbosity
Eccl. 3:7 “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak”
Prov.10:19 “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking”
Eccl. 5:2 “Do not be rash with your mouth”
Jas.1:19 “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath”
II. WORN JAWBONE
A. Some members have died spiritually because of a jawbone worn extremely at the joints
1. This death was caused by acute verbosity
2. They failed to remember the advice of Solomon who said in Ecclesiastes 3:7 “there is a time to
keep silence, and a time to speak”
3. Solomon also said Proverbs 10:19 “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.”
B. This death could have been prevented if the person had listened to Solomon and James
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1. Ecclesiastes 5:2 “Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.”
2. James 1:19 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear,
slow to speak, slow to wrath:”
3. We often reverse the order, “We are quick to speak and slow to hear and swift to anger.”
4. Paul told us in Eph. 4:29 “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
C. Many spiritual deaths are caused by a worn out jawbone because our tongue can destroy our soul!

7. Worn Nasal bone Cure Be busy doing good Busybodies - 2 Thes.3:11
1 Tim. 5:13-14
Not idle
household
Symptoms of Gossip
Busybodies - 2 Thes.3:11
Becomes a talebearer
Prov. 20:19 “He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets…”
III. WORN OFF NASAL BONE
A. Some bodies reveal that the nasal bone is worn completely off the skeleton
1. This is sure evidence of a busybody, who always poked their nose into place where it did not belong.
2. These are described by Paul in 2 Thess. 3:11 “For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.”
3. Busybody - to bustle about uselessly, to busy ones self about trifling, needless, useless matters, - meddler
4. A busybody is one who works at doing nothing.
5. A busybody becomes a talebearer - Proverbs 20:19 “He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.”
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B. The cure for this person would have been for him not to be idle, but busy doing good things for God
1. Paul recognized that idleness can lead to this, so he gave advice to the young widows.
2. 1 Tim. 5:13-14 “And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.”
C. The worn off nasal bone and worn jaw bone are symptoms of a disease known as gossiping which is the cause of many spiritual deaths.

8. Broken Neck Cure Looking back grudges sins good world
Phil. 3:13 “forgetting
those things which
are behind”
Paul’s example:
“I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:14
IV. BROKEN NECK
A. Some skeletons are found with a broken neck
1. This is caused from continuously looking backward to the things already done and in the past
2. Many people will not forget about the things already done:
a. We hold grudges in our heart which should have been forgotten - Mark 11:25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses” “forgive” = lay aside, leave, remit
b. We remember the sins we have committed and let these hold us back now
c. Sometimes we look back to the good we have done and think that is enough to keep us pure in the sight of God forever !!
d. Some look back to the world, and even begin to live as they did before they became a Christian
3. Paul said he did not do this Philippians 3:13 “but this one thing I do, orgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead”
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B. Cure
1. Instead of looking back we should do as Paul said.
2. Phil. 3:14 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

9. Stooped Shoulders Cure
Hard work
1 Tim. 4:8 “…but godliness is profitable for all things…”
Two causes:
Fail to bear burdens
Phil.2:4
Gal. 6:2
Fail to take up cross
Luke 9:23
Mark 8:34-35
V. STOOPED SHOULDERS
A. On some occasions a skeleton will reveal stooped shoulders. There are two things which could have caused this condition
1. First this Christian failed to bear the burdens of his fellow man
a. Phil. 2:4 “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
b. Gal. 6:2 “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
c. There is a difference between bearing one another’s burdens and being a busybody! (Explain)
2. Second - He refused to take up the cross of Christ and bear it daily
a. Luke 9:23 ““If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
b. Mark 8: “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 “For whoever desires to
save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.”
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B. The cure for this condition would have been hard work.
1. Hard work does not make stooped shoulders, but a lack of hard work
2. 1 Tim.4:8 “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things.”
3. We should use our talents in serving our fellow man.

10. Broken Cure Arm Humble himself Patting self on back
“GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” Jas.4:6
Patting self on back
“think too highly of
himself” Rom. 12:3
Luke 18:11-14
Pharisee
VI. BROKEN ARM
A. Several skeletons have a broken arm
1. This occurs after repeated and frequent attempts at patting himself on the back.
2. Paul told us in Romans 12:3 that we should not “think too highly of ourselves”
3. Luke 18:11-14
a. The Pharisee certainly thought too highly of himself
b. Some have that same attitude today
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B. Cure
1. Humble himself
2. This person could have been spared much pain if he had believed God, and humbled himself under God’s direction and rule
3. James 4:6 “GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”

11. Weak
Backbone
Cure
Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”
Gospel armor - Ephesians 6:11-17
Not stedfast
~ but moveable
1 Cor. 15:58
Want to be in the number
But not willing to work
VII. WEAK BACKBONE
A. A spiritual autopsy reveals some with weak backbones
1. The backbone is what holds the body together
2. Those with weak backbones are those who do not hold together and are not stedfast in standing up for what is right, but moveable
3. 1 Cor. 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
4. They wanted to be counted in the number, but not counted on for the work.
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B. Cure:
1. Paul gives this advice on how to be strong
2. Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of
his might.”
3. Put on the gospel armor - Ephesians 6:11-17

12. Stiff Cure Knee Joints Bow to God while it would help
Romans 14:11 “…every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”
Had not been bent
in prayer
Ceased to pray instead of
“Pray without ceasing” Thes. 5:17
VIII. STIFF KNEE JOINTS
A. The post-mortem examination shows a great number with stiff knee joints
1. They were stiff because they had not been bent in prayer - frozen
2. Instead of paying without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17) they had ceased to pray
3. Because they had failed to pray they died alone in their pain
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B. Cure
1. They should have bowed their knees to God while it would have helped
2. Some day all people will bow down to God on their knees
3. Romans 14:11 “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS TO GOD.”
4. But those who have not bowed to God on earth will not be benefitted when they do bow to God on the last day
5. To avoid stiff knee joints exercise them by praying always!

13. Ugly Cure Feet Bones Abused by disuse
Romans 10:15 “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace,
and bring glad tidings of good things.”
Use feet for what they were intended !
Dragging their feet
Unaccustomed to
swift action
Abused by disuse
IX. UGLY FEET BONES
A. An autopsy report would reveal quite a few who had ugly deformed feet
1. They were large and ugly and deformed which was evidence of dragging
2. They were unaccustomed to swift action
3. Their feet had been designed for action, but had been abused by disuse.
4. This is the person that, when it comes to doing work for the Lord, they just never got around to accomplishing it
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B. Cure
1. Romans 10:15 “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” – not just for preachers
Go tell people the good news = the gospel
It may be that you have another talent or ability that you could use for the Lord
c. Results will be beautiful feet
2. These deformed feet could have been prevented by using their feet for what they were intended

14. Double Jointedness Cure
Caused by a lack of faith.
“Increase our faith” Luke 17:5
Romans 10:17 “faith comes by hearing”
Not stable
Eph. 4:14 “carried about
with every wind of doctrine”
“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:8
X. DOUBLE JOINTEDNESS
A. A report on some of the joints would reveal double-jointedness
1. This means they were not stable, but tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine
2. Ephesians 4:14 “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and
carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning
craftiness of deceitful plotting”
3. According to Jas. 1:8 “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
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B. Cure
1. They were unstable and unsure because of a lack of faith
2. If we have faith we know what we are doing and why ! Romans 10:17 “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God
3. Luke 17:5 “Increase our faith”

15. God can restore life Told Sardis: Rev. 3:3 Remember Hold fast Repent
1. We could be like the church at Sardis
a. Appear to be alive but are dead
b. Spiritual death is known when there is a lack of good works and fruit of the spirit
c. If we are in this condition we are hopelessly lost
2. We must come alive - be on fire for God - or this autopsy report could be a description of some of us in this congregation.
a. He advised the church at Sardis
b. Rev. 3:3 - remember, hold fast, repent
5. 3 John 2 (ESV) “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” John 2

16. GOD’S SIMPLE PLAN FOR SALVATION
Rev. 2:10
1 PET. 3:21
baptism
JN. 12:42
confess
LK. 13:3
UNTIL DEATH
OBEDIENT
repent
JN. 6:29
believe
ACTS 3:22
hear