The Authority and Consequent Obligations of the Christian and Others

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
-Romans 8:38-39 NRSV

The Good News of Jesus Christ authorizes and, indeed, obligates humanity:

1. To live in hope, celebrating and enjoying life;

2. To live in resistance to death and its presentments;

3. To live realistically, without illusions of power, escape, or negotiation, regarding the power of death as we confront those presentments..