The Believer Committing His Departing Spirit To Jesus

Adapted From A Sermon By

Philip Doddridge

And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

(Acts 7:59)

When Stephen faced death, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59). In these words we find our deepest comfort: by sovereign grace alone, through faith in Christ, our souls are safe in His hands—now and at our last breath. Let us reflect on this sure hope today.

Death, however people regard it, always appears deeply frightening and profoundly important. It seems most frightening and most important when understood as the separation of an immortal soul from a mortal body, as the act of departing into an invisible and unknowable ocean from which we can never return, as the moment of entering an unknown world where we must dwell—not for a few years or centuries, not merely for as many ages as we have lived moments on earth, but for eternity.

The soul knows it is imperishable. It recognizes its infinite value and needs a worthy guardian. To whom shall it then be entrusted? We may entrust our possessions, when we ourselves are dying, to those who might take care of them. We may entrust our children to those who will prove faithful friends and who will, perhaps, provide even more attentive and effective care than we ourselves could have given. We may entrust our unfinished works to those who might complete them with skill and benefit. But to whom shall we entrust the soul? To whom, indeed, but to a faithful Creator, to a merciful Redeemer?

It was once a common—and not unprofitable—custom, when making a last will and testament, to begin by committing the soul into the hands of God through Jesus Christ: "I commit my soul to God who gave it, and my body to the earth..."

Yet let this never become a mere empty form. We must not imagine that, while we carefully distribute our small earthly possessions to those we leave behind, our words to the Creator are a trivial gesture He must accept without question. God does not receive the soul automatically, no matter its state or disposition, simply because it has been verbally "committed" to Him. Rather, He receives it in mercy through the merits of Christ alone—received by humble, repentant faith that rests wholly upon the Savior who died and rose to secure our eternal safety.

To be able, with genuine faith and on solid grounds, to entrust a departing spirit into the hands of Christ is a glorious privilege. It demands serious preparation. We may consider ourselves fortunate whenever we have the opportunity to be instructed in how we may do it properly.

The instructions now to be presented on a subject that is always so important will, hopefuly, receive particular attention. The words of our text carry great weight when we recognize them as the words of a dying martyr. For you know that they are the words of Stephen, when the cruel Jews were stoning him for the testimony of Christ that he had so faithfully proclaimed.

It is noteworthy that, just as the first death we encounter in the Old Testament is that of the righteous Abel, so the first death we read of in the New Testament, after the church was established through the outpouring of the Spirit, is also a violent one: that of Stephen.

He had been defending the cause of his Master under clear signs of miraculous divine presence. It is explicitly stated that all the members of the Jewish Sanhedrin who were present as his judges looked intently at him and saw his face as though it were the face of an angel.

Yet these wretched men, who perhaps would not have spared even his glorified Master had he been within their reach, poured out the final excesses of their rage upon his faithful servant. Perhaps this radiance was only temporary and might have faded after playing for a few moments like a gentle flame around his features. But if the visible glory of an angel was fleeting, a zeal and courage worthy of heavenly beings sustained him to the very end of his defense.

When he had cited from their own history a series of highly relevant facts for their instruction and his own justification, he concluded with these memorable words and with this direct and sharp rebuke: [You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered.]

They could endure it no longer. They were cut to the heart and so enraged that, like savage beasts, they gnashed their teeth at him as though they could devour him alive. At that very moment, when murderous intent filled their hearts and they were about to seize the means to carry it out, the Lord Jesus Christ graciously strengthened his servant to face death in a manner befitting the soldier of such a commander. He granted him a vision of himself.

Although Stephen was now beneath a roof and could not have seen the heavens opened without a miracle, he looked up steadfastly toward them. He probably lifted his soul to his Lord in prayer. Being filled with the Holy Spirit, he saw in vision the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. It was as though Jesus were rising from his seat to support and receive him. In the transports of holy joy that he experienced on that occasion, he could not refrain from proclaiming it aloud in their hearing.

But they scarcely allowed him to finish. As soon as they grasped the meaning of his words, some blocked their ears, while others raised a loud outcry to drown his voice. With their hands they dragged him out of the city through the gate nearest the temple.

As soon as they had brought him outside, they brought their murderous intents to bear, Meanwhile, as they stoned him, he called upon the blessed Saviour. In this way he rendered homage with his dying breath to his divine perfections and glory. He said, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit: my enemies cannot kill that; as my greatest treasure I consign that to your faithful care.

Then, with a prayer for his murderers that this sin might not be charged against them, he fell asleep calmly and peacefully. Amid that shower of stones he yielded up his spirit and overcame the terror and bitterness of such a death through the presence and care of such a Saviour.

Let me die the death of the righteous; and let my last end be like his! Let it be like his in its peace and security, even if it were to resemble his in every outward circumstance most dreadful to human nature.

The main matter to which I hope to direct your attention and my own is the action of Stephen as he commits his departing spirit to Christ. He declared, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit,” that is, in general terms, take it under your protection and guardianship. May this become the utterance of our lips in the hour of death! May our hearts express the same sentiment even when the faculty of speech has failed!

Setting aside any secondary questions, we will now consider,

I. With what disposition the departing spirit of a believer ought to be entrusted to the Lord Jesus Christ.

II. What grounds of confidence exist for placing it in his hands: and,

III. What happy results will follow when we perform this act in the right manner: after which we will,

IV. Close with a short application.

As we are all frail mortals, let us listen to this with attention, for there is not a soul among us who remains unconcerned in this matter. May I declare it while looking toward my own dying bed, and may you receive it while looking toward yours! May the thought of this solemn moment, when we will take our last breath, compel us to fix our hearts upon this instruction: and may we then experience the power of considerations such as these, when all the joys of life have lost their appeal, and the dearest of our human friends prove to be but poor comforters.

I. We now examine with what disposition the departing spirit of a believer should be entrusted into the hands of Christ.

Now we have to bear in mind that all that follows is addressed to believers. Not to someone who is only then beginning to form an acquaintance with Christ or to inquire after him. No. No one in that state should be encouraged to suppose that this can be a case capable of any comfort. The role of a minister of Christ with respect to anyone in that dreadful situation, is to search for something which may prevent their distressed spirits from sinking into absolute despair.

But our sermon will say nothing here about a case like this. It speaks of those who, like holy Stephen, have sought the friendship of Christ in life and have committed their souls to him in well doing, by a humble faith which, while it renounces all righteousness of its own, desires at the same time to fulfill it and to make Christ the end of life as sincerely as the hope of death.

Now such believers should commit their departing spirits to Christ with the humblest sense of that need which they have of his support and favour; with the most cheerful confidence in his power and grace; and with the most grateful and sincere purpose of devoting forever to his service that immortal life which they hope to receive from his mercy.

1. Believers should commit their departing spirits to Christ with a humble sense of the need which they have of his support and favour.

Humility should surely fill the Christian’s life, and it especially suits him in death. For death, as death, brings sin back to mind. The close prospect of standing before the tribunal of a righteous God will naturally show us to be very sinful. It will give serious weight to many of those painful flaws and imperfections in our life which at other times we tend to overlook.

This, therefore, should surely be the language of the dying Christian: “Blessed Jesus! Now my heart is overwhelmed within me; now my heart and my flesh fail. I fly to you as my refuge and my hope. It is a poor, weak, sinful soul which I am now committing into your hands. It is unfit, indeed, to appear before your Father’s presence. It is unfit to find a place among the spirits of just men made perfect. But, oh! Do receive it and make it fitter to be introduced into such a presence and assembly! Now, O Lord! I fly to your righteousness, to your blood, to your grace, with as much urgency, after these years of service—if such have passed, alas! hardly worthy to be called service—as when I first sought and received the signs of your beginning mercy. Indeed, my Lord! I have still greater reason to be humble, because the sins and follies of these later years have been so many. But, oh! Let your righteousness cover them. Let your blood cleanse them all. I give up every other dependence and hope. I cast myself wholly upon you. Lord! I am distressed at the thought of what I have been. But do stand as my surety.”

2; The departing spirit is to be committed to the Redeemer with the most cheerful confidence in his power and grace.

It is a kind of homage to be paid to him after the homage and service of life have ended. “Blessed Jesus! Though you are invisible, I believe that you are, and that you are near me, though you seem to be forsaking me to the last triumph of my last enemy. I believe that you can make that triumph serve your own purposes. Lord, I believe that you live, and reign over all worlds. I see in your almighty hand the keys of death and the invisible state. You open, and no man shuts. I do not go out of your empire and dominion, O Lord, when I leave these mortal scenes. I adore you as the appointed guardian of departing spirits, as able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by you. All the legions of angels, O Lord, are under your command. Nor will the noblest spirit around your throne disdain to convey a creature so insignificant as I am, if he may by it show his obedience to you. I ask no blessings but what are in your hand, and desire no salvation but such a one as is yours to bestow.”

And with this confidence in a Redeemer’s power is to be joined a cheerful persuasion of his readiness to employ it for the most gracious purposes. “Lord! I confess my unworthiness. You might abandon me. You might deliver me over to my enemies. You might banish me to an eternal distance from you. But I will trust in your tender mercy, for I have once heard, I have twice been told, this: that to the Lord belongs power, and to him belong mercies too. Compassionate Saviour! You have given your life to redeem me, and you will not reject me. You have led me through life, and you will not abandon me in death. With pleasure do I lay down my dying head in so compassionate hands, and feel the sweetness of your embrace spreading a sacred delight over my soul, which the icy hand of death cannot chill.”

3. The departing spirit is to be committed into the hand of Christ, with the most grateful and sincere purpose of devoting forever to his service that immortal life which we hope to receive from his mercy.

“O my Lord! Your grace has taught me to say, that to me to live is Christ. I could hardly pronounce it gain to die, however happy the change might be in every other way, if I did not hope that I should be honoured as the instrument of doing you some homage. My Lord! If I long for a crown and palm, it is that I may lay them at your feet. Poorly and weakly have I attempted your service here, with such imperfection and with such interruptions that nothing which I have done is worthy of the name of service.

But I hope, Lord, with those higher capacities to which you may hereafter raise me, to be able to do much better. I am not curious, Lord, to know how or where you will employ me. Be it how or where you please. If all my contact with earth be cut off, your grace has taught me to say that wherever you have an interest, I have an interest too. There is not an unknown region in universal nature to which my spirit shall not rejoice to devote itself at the signal of your sacred will.

Nor is there an office so low that I shall not esteem it my honour, though placed among the princes of heaven, when it is to be performed for you. Nor shall this be my sentiment only when I am new born into that world of light and glory, but as long as this immortal soul of mine has a being. And you know that I rejoice in its immortality chiefly, as thereby it may be qualified to render you an immortal tribute of praise, of love, and of obedience.”

And now who would not wish, with such sentiments as these, to commit his departing spirit to Christ? But who shall presume to do it? Rather, what true believer should hesitate concerning his right to do it? It is necessary, and will, I hope, be pleasant in this view,

II. To consider the great encouragement which every believer has thus to commit his spirit into Christ’s hands, in cheerful hope that he will receive it.

Now here, setting aside many comforting thoughts that might naturally come to mind, we will only briefly consider these three. He is appointed by the Father as the Redeemer and Saviour of souls, so that he might receive them in this way. He has himself gone through the pains and solemnity of dying, and therefore is better able to show compassion to his people in such a circumstance. And others have found his help in such a time of extreme need to be so powerful and so sweet that it gives strong reason for our humble confidence—if, as you remember is supposed here, we are Christians indeed.

1. He is appointed the Redeemer and Saviour of souls, that he might receive them when they are separated from these bodies.

For this reason he was born, and for this reason he came into the world, that he might do the will of his Father. And this, he says, is the will of my Father who sent me, that I should give to my sheep eternal life. Christians! The purpose of the blessed Saviour’s coming will never be fulfilled until that hour arrives—which, alas, our weak faith often regards with a secret kind of fear.

He left the regions of glory. He lived here on earth. He laboured. He bled. He died. For what? So that immortal souls, when stripped of flesh and blood, might not fall into the hands of evil spirits. They might not wander helpless and miserable in that unknown world. Instead, they might have a friend close by and be carried to regions of light and glory.

And if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, how much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life? How natural it is to say, Lord! Into your hands I commit my spirit, when we can add, for you have redeemed it, O Lord God of truth! Everything the blessed Saviour has done by his Spirit to sanctify, to reform, to refine, and to renew the soul also shows his readiness to receive it.

The purpose of the grace he has given us was not only to bring us to this beginning of divine life and joy here on earth. It was also to prepare the soul for the courts of heaven, to make it fit to be brought there, and to be established there forever. So to refuse his care and protection in this final moment would be to defeat the great purpose of his mission, of his love, and even of his death. This leads to the next conidertation which is that

2. He has himself known the solemnity and pain of dying, which may be a further encouragement to this blessed hope.

It is said in general that he suffered being tempted, so that he might know how to help those who are tempted—and this was the greatest trial. He once hung upon the cross. He once felt the pain of his nature coming apart. When he was in all the strength of manhood and the prime of life, his soul was, as it were, torn out of his body by the most bitter agony. In the hour of darkness and abandonment, he committed it into his Father’s hand. He cried out with a loud voice in those memorable words, which are so close to the ones before us: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

He has not forgotten that awful scene, nor all the pain, sorrow, and natural horror of it. When the Christian doubts his compassion at such a moment, we may picture him as showing his hands and his feet and saying, “Be not faithless, but believe. Do not hesitate to entrust a departing spirit to a Saviour who himself was once dying and dead—to entrust it into hands once nailed to the cross, to make them better suited for an office like this.” Nor should we forget,

3. The experience of multitudes, who have been favoured with his powerful and gracious assistance in this time of extremity and distress.

The heavenly world is filled with an innumerable army of witnesses to this truth. There are millions who have been carried safely through every stage of this dark valley of the shadow of death. Vast multitudes of them went calmly, joyfully and triumphantly.

This is especially true as in the case of Stephen in our text, even the most terrible forms of martyrdom were disarmed by the real presence of Jesus. His soul was lifted above every painful sensation by Christ’s miraculous help. But every age has given examples of this truth: Christ is near to his dying servants. He overcomes, as it were, the king of terrors with his royal presence.

It is encouraging to see such deaths. But how much more pleasant it is to follow the ascending spirit in its rise to heaven and to meditate on,

III. The blessed consequences which accompany the committing of the soul aright into the hands of Christ, and crown a death in itself so happy.

Who is worthy to speak properly on this subject? Only a glorified saint. And surely, if God were to send down to our gathering even the least of those saints—if he were to send a spirit that has entered the heavenly world for only a single hour, or since the start of this sermon (for while we hear, no doubt, in one place or another, many are entering heaven)—we might hear from such a soul ten thousand times more than the most able theologian can express. He can discover only what reason and the word of God reveal.

Yet when we try to follow the soul as it ascends on its marvelous journey, two thoughts naturally come to mind. Christ will at once receive the soul to live with him in a perfectly holy and happy state. There it will remain until he brings it with him on the great day. Then he will clothe it anew, so that it may add splendor to his final triumph and reign with him in eternal glory.

1. Christ will immediately receive the soul to live with him in a state of complete holiness and perfect happiness.

The soul counts as a treasure of immense value. The believer entrusts it to Christ. This believer has learned to value the soul according to its true worth. He rejoices in gaining that understanding. Together with the knowledge of the only true God and Jesus Christ, this understanding forms the heart of all wisdom.

For this reason, Christ keeps his attention fixed on that soul. He allows the body to decay—not without his notice, but without any immediate signs of his final purpose—so that it returns to dust in the grave, just as the bodies of other creatures, human or animal, do.

The soul, however, enters at once into the care of a group of angels. They act in their Master’s name and in direct obedience to his clear command, not merely from their own kindness. They take responsibility for it. In the first moments after separation from the body, they encourage it, probably through the gracious and appealing forms in which they appear. Through this initial meeting, they forever remove any remaining fear of danger. They then guide it at once along those unknown paths. They protect it from any dangers that may exist in the realm through which it ascends. They open the gate of paradise, no longer guarded by the flaming sword. They bring it into the presence of Jesus, the sovereign Lord of that place.

He recognizes it as his own. He welcomes it with an embrace that shows the warmest and most joyful reception. He assigns it a place to live and a role to fulfill—a place, perhaps, among the community of blessed spirits where its relatives and friends already live; a role, perhaps, especially suited to the position and work it held during its time on earth. At the very least, we know with certainty that believers, when absent from the body, are present with the Lord—with that beloved Savior toward whom our souls have longed for so long, and whose presence and fellowship, even here in this limited measure, have been their joy and indeed their very life.

We know that they will be transformed into his likeness far more completely than they ever achieved in their greatest moments of progress on earth. The healing of their souls, so well started and advanced in this life, will then reach completion. They will receive complete joy and gladness. A table of everlasting blessings will stand before them, and their cup will overflow. Amid the joys of the paradise of God, every soul that he has received will wait until

2. He brings it with him on the great day to clothe it anew, so that it may adorn his final triumph and reign with him in everlasting glory.

That great day, which every true Christian looks forward to and waits for even now, will stay the main thing they hope for, even with all the joys they already have in the time between death and resurrection. They do not wait impatiently, but they wait eagerly.

That day is the main reason for this serious act of giving the soul to Christ. Paul puts it this way: "I am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to him until that Day,{2 Timothy 1:12} that well known, that long expected Day." The day will come. It will arrive with a brightness that stands out even in the places of constant heavenly light. Christ will give the signal. All the millions of saved people will move at once to his side and line up in good order to follow their Lord as he comes down again.

When he calls the names of apostles, prophets, martyrs, and confessors, he will not pass over the smallest or weakest soul that trusted him humbly. No. If he died and rose to save it, he will not forget it when the full salvation happens.

If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then, as the apostle says, God will bring with him those who have died in Jesus. He will speak the word. The new glorious body will form and rise from the dust. It will be far more beautiful and bright than Adam's body when he was first created.

The souls, who were already with him in joy, will suddenly find themselves in new bodies through a change we cannot understand. They will wear bright robes and be ready for new joys that fit the perfect world and state they will live in forever.

Then he will receive glory through each of his saints. People will admire him because of all who believed. Then the faithfulness of their great Lord will be clear, even though the promise took so many thousands of years to complete for many of them.

Those who are still alive and those who died will be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air. They will stand out as clear examples of his power, his faithfulness, and his grace. They will be declared not guilty in public. Then they will join him in judging the fallen angels and sinners who never repented. This honor belongs to all the saints.

This is the great hope the gospel gives us. This is the happy future—not just an end, but the happy future—for every soul Christ has saved. He will keep their future safe. He will guard them forever with his almighty power. He will be a never-ending source of life, holiness, and happiness for them through all eternity.

Let this great hope be remembered whenever sadness comes. Let it be passed on to every new group of Christians as they stand by the graves of those who sleep in Jesus.

IV. Now we come to the close of this message. Let us think about what these truths mean for our daily lives. Here are some practical ways to apply them—what the old writers called improvements.

1. The instruction is that we should right away put our souls into the hands of Christ. We should also try to get the people closest to us to do the same.

Everything we have heard so far points straight to this: we need to put our souls into the hands of Christ. He has not yet received all of his people. There is still room for more. So now I earnestly ask you, by the love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, by the seriousness of the death that is coming, and by the endless value of an immortal soul, make sure that you have not put this off. You may say, we hope we have not. But are you sure? And if not, how will it happen? When our souls are about to leave our bodies and we are dying. Yes, if we still have our minds, we will do it then for sure. But what foolishness it is to wait until that moment, with all the risks we know so well in situations like this.

So do it now. May God give grace to you if you have never done it, so you do it now for the first time. May he move all of us, even now, to do it again.

Wherever you are, Christ is not far from any of you. He gives life to all creation. But he is especially present where even just two or three gather in his name.

Look to him while I speak. Pour out your hearts to him."Blessed Jesus! I have heard of your power and your love, and I believe what I have heard. I know I have an immortal spirit inside me. I tremble when I think of how important it is. I humbly ask to put it into your faithful care. Lord Jesus, receive my spirit! I call on you now with all the urgency of someone who is dying: from this hour, from this moment, receive it! Take it under your care. Wash it in your blood. Cover it with your righteousness. Shape it, O Lord, by your Spirit, to match every part of the Christian life, to reflect every feature of your blessed image, to fully fit the work and joy your people are meant for. Watch over it while I travel through this dangerous world. When it leaves my body, hold it close in your arms. Remember, O Lord, if I cannot say this again, remember the humble prayer I have just spoken. Remember your word to your servant, on which you have made me hope. Be my guarantee for good against all the fears of death and hell, against all the weaknesses of this fallen nature that I still face and must fear even more."

I hope and trust that your souls agree with these words and say amen. But I tell you plainly, in the name and presence of God, if they do not, I have no comfort to give you. Souls not put into his hands this way will surely be lost. They will become the prey of evil spirits. Those spirits will drag them to places of endless despair and misery.

And let this truth affect our minds when we think about the people who are dear to us. Look at them and lift your hearts to God for them: "Oh! that they might live before you: Oh! that these souls may be received by you. Oh! plead with them as for their lives: oh! show them that it is their great interest to do it; and plead earnestly with God for those supplies of his grace which may enable them to do it aright."

Carry this concern with you through all of life. Do it for everyone you call a friend. Do it even for everyone you spend time with. Pray that their immortal souls may be safe because they have put them into Christ the way he has appointed. Pray that they may escape the shipwreck and the eternal ruin that threaten them. Pray that they may reach the shore of immortality in safety.

2. And let this truth also bring us comfort where we have good reason to believe that a soul has been put into the hands of Christ. Let it comfort us even when we think about our own death. Let it cheer our hearts about the people who were once dearest to us, when we have reason to hold this good hope: the Lord Jesus Christ has received their spirits.

For ourselves, it is surely the most encouraging thought that can come into our hearts. "Whatever happens to me in this earthly life, my eternal future is safe. My soul! You are going. You are leaving this painful world behind. You are far along on your journey. You are leaving behind death, its worries, and its sorrows. Christ will receive you. Peace, be still. Let nothing in life upset you. Let nothing in death scare you. Work to keep that calm peace, since there is such a strong reason for it. Then you may go smiling into the hands of your Lord and meet him with joy."

And as for the godly people who have died, what a great source of comfort and joy they give us when we think about them! They put their spirits into the hand of Christ, and he has received them. They are in his hand now. Nothing can pull them out of it. Nothing can trouble them there. How we should rejoice for them in our thoughts! How we should admire and praise the kindness and grace of Jesus. He has added this to all his other gifts to us: he has taken those who were most dear to us into such a holy and happy place.

"Yes, Lord! We believe your love for them, and their happiness in it. While they praise you for it in heaven, we will praise you here on earth. We will see your love for them and your care for them as one more reason to serve you and thank you with all our hearts. It is also the best comfort for the sadness that comes from losing them."

So as we finish, let me speak this straight to our hearts.

The whole point of what we have heard today comes down to this: let us put our souls into the hands of Christ right now. Do not wait another day. Seek his grace humbly. Commit yourselves—each one—to him fully. Live for his glory starting from this very moment.

Scripture tells us plainly: make your calling and election sure. Examine yourselves to see if you are really in the faith. Make certain your souls are safely in Christ’s hands so you can have real assurance that he has received you. Do not leave this unsettled. Settle it today, together with him.

May God give us grace to do exactly that. May he move in each heart right now, so that we can rest in him and walk with him from this day forward.