God told Adam and Eve that in the day they ate the fruit of the tree of good and evil they would surely die. The devil told Eve that she would not die, but would be like God, would be a God. She ate of the fruit.
1. They didn't die, the devil said they wouldn't die, God said they would. Which one lied again?
2. What the Devil actually said was For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Again, no lie
3. 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
Genesis 3: 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
The devil did indeed tell Eve she would not die. He lied to her, knowing the death God spoke of was not of the flesh, but of the spirit.
For God said in the day they ate the forbidden fruit they would die and they did. That is why man is in need of salvation. That is why God had to send his only begotten Son to die for man so man would have a way to him.
Prior to Jesus coming and dying for all mankind, all those who died were held in death.
When Adam sinned, he sold the souls of all mankind unto death. So all who died were taken to one of two places in hell and death. The upper part of hell known as the bosom of Abraham where the righteous dead were held. The lower part of hell which was and is a place of torment to the unrighteous where they are reserved until the day of judgment.
Because no man could live a life without sin, all men were held in the place known as death and hell. That is why God sent his Son. Jesus came and lived a life without sin and when he was put to death, because he was innocent of death, death could not hold him and he was worthy of resurrection.
Yet, by Jesus dying, he died for all mankind, so that all who believe in him would not be sent to that place known as hell and death.
The interesting part is that by the sin of one man, death was brought to all mankind. And by the death of one innocent man, life was bought for all mankind.
Jesus said, " He who believes in me will never die. "
And he spoke truth. For though a man dies in his flesh, his soul does not die, does not get cast into that place known as hell and death.
Jesus said, " He who believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."
He indeed spoke truth. For though a man dies in the flesh, his souls lives in Christ and goes to be with Christ in paradise.
Now, all the righteous dead prior to Jesus' resurrection could not assend into heaven til after Jesus defeated death.
And it is written that by the heart, a man comes unto righteousness, and by confession unto salvation.
Those who were righteous and were still held in death were set free when Jesus went and preached to them in death and hell. They were already righteous in their hearts. That is why they were in the upper part of hell known as the bosom of Abraham. Yet, they could not make confession unto salvation until Jesus defeated death and came and preached to them.
Now, when a man dies in Christ, his body sleeps in the earth awaiting to be resurrected on the day of resurrection. The soul goes with Christ. And on the day of resurrection, the souls of those who died in Christ come with him and will be reunited with their bodies that have been resurrected, changed from mortal, to immortal.