CHAPTER NINE
IMMORTALITY
IN THE Scriptures
immortality is never affirmed of mankind. That is, it is never stated
in the Bible that man possesses in himself, inherently, the attribute
of immortality. On the contrary, as we have seen, the
uniform teaching of the Bible is that man is mortal. It is not
denied, however, that he is capable of immortality. The
Bible clearly teaches that under certain conditions the gift
of immortality will be conferred upon men.
In
this chapter we shall study every passage of the Scriptures which
contains the term “immortality” in the expectation that by so
doing we shall come to a full knowledge of the teaching of the Bible
on this subject. Surely if we shall search out every passage where
this term is used in any connection, we shall learn what the Bible
has to say and to teach concerning this important question. We
should discover who has immortality, who does not have it, how those who
do not have it may get it, upon what conditions it is given, and at
what time it will be given if the conditions for obtaining it are
met. The whole relation of humanity to this attribute should be
clearly established by such a study.
God Alone Has
Immortality
The
first text which contains this term is 1 Timothy 6:13-16: “I give
thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and
before Christ Jesus, … that thou keep this commandment without
spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only
Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath
immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can
approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see.”
If
the plain testimony of this verse is accepted, the whole question as
to whether mankind possesses immortality is at once settled; for here
is the plain, bold statement of fact that God “only hath
immortality.” There is no vagueness about this, no indefiniteness,
nor is there anything left to the imagination of those who may
believe the opposite. The sense is so clear as to make a
twisting of its meaning impossible. In fact, no other words in the
English language could be put together in any different way to make
the thought any clearer than these words make it that God alone in
all the universe has immortality. If all were willing to accept the
plain and obvious meaning of the Scriptures, there would be no need
to continue this discussion, for this passage would fully settle the
question.
But
all are not willing to accept what the Scriptures say in just the way
they say it. These men bring to their study of the Bible ideas which
they feel are true and which they search the Scriptures to confirm.
When passages are discovered which do not completely agree with the
theory they seek, the meaning of such passages, and
sometimes even the words, are changed to suit the theory of the
one who holds it. Thus, the plain meaning of the Bible is
perverted, and it is made to teach what it does not teach at
all. This practice of “accommodating” the Scriptures
to theories already held is the source of many serious
errors, but especially that of the natural immortality of the soul.
The
verse quoted above not only establishes who has immortality, but also
who does not have it. If God “only hath immortality,” it follows
that men do not have it; for if they did, this statement would not be
true. If the theory of the natural immortality of all men is true,
then the statement that God “only hath immortality” could
never truthfully be made. Being made, and made by God Himself, it is
settled forever that the theory of inherent human immortality is not
true.
The
fact having been established that immortality is the possession of
God alone, the question at once arises, Is it then impossible for men
ever to secure this precious gift? God has given to men many great
and precious promises. Has He said anything upon which men can
base a hope of having immortality conferred upon them at
any time? Has He in some way made it possible to impart
this attribute, which is peculiar to Himself alone, to
others? Surely this is a question of vital importance.
The Relation of
Mankind to Immortality
The
relation which men should sustain to this attribute of immortality is
set forth very clearly in Romans 2:5-7: “But after thy hardness and
impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of
wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will
render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by
patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour
and immortality, eternal life.” That is, God will render
eternal life to those who are seeking for immortality.
In
this passage the relation of mankind to immortality is set forth
plainly. They are seekers for it. Men do not seek for that which they
already have. The very fact that men are seeking for immortality is
conclusive evidence that they do not possess it.
But
this verse shows something more. It reveals clearly that only those
who seek for immortality by patient continuance in well-doing will
secure this attribute. Only a certain class will have it conferred
upon them. And this class is composed of those who continue in
well-doing. Those who “are contentious, and do not obey the truth” (verse
8), whatever else they may receive, cannot expect to receive
immortality, which is given to those alone who patiently continue in
well-doing. This verse certainly teaches that immortality is conditional,
conditioned upon the attainment of a certain character, a certain
experience, an experience in well-doing. Those who do not have
this character or experience have no promise of ever
receiving immortality.
The Source of
Immortality
If
we are seekers for immortality, where shall we find it? From what
source shall we secure it? To whom shall we go for it? An answer to
these questions will be found in 2 Timothy 1:10: “But is now made
manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath
abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to
light through the gospel.”
Death
passed upon all men through Adam, but through Christ it has been
abolished. If Christ had never come to this world to die for sinners,
they would have died in their own sins. All had sinned, and the wages
of sin is death. They were all under condemnation, all under the
sentence of death. The human race would have perished had it
not been for the voluntary sacrifice of Christ. But “God
so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life.” The sentence of death, the wages of
sin, was abolished by Christ; and those who believe in Him will not
have this sentence executed upon them.
Belief
in Christ not only abolishes the penalty for sin, but also secures to
the believer the inestimable boon of immortality. This has been
brought to light “through the gospel.” Immortality, therefore, is
in the gospel. It is possible for men to secure it, but only “through
the gospel.” It follows that those who do not accept the gospel do
not have, and can never have, immortality. The only way
to secure it is through the gospel. If men reject the
gospel, whatever else they may get, there is one thing they do
not get, and that is immortality.
It
will be seen from the explanation of this verse that there can be no
dispute with those who believe it is possible for men to have
immortality. The possibility of it has never been denied.
When Immortality
Will Be Conferred
So
far in this study the term “immortality” has been used three
times. It is used the fourth and fifth times in the fifteenth chapter
of 1 Corinthians, the fifty-first to the fifty-fourth verses. These
verses reveal when this attribute of immortality will be conferred
upon those who secure it “through the gospel.” These verses are
as follows: “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep,
but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the
dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For
this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put
on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on
incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then
shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is
swallowed up in victory.”
These
verses clearly teach that the time of putting on immortality will not
be at death, but at the resurrection, at “the last trump.” And it
is “this mortal” which at that time shall “put on immortality.”
Therefore, even if we accept the gospel of Jesus Christ, where
immortality is “brought to light,” we will not actually have it
bestowed upon us until the time when the “dead shall be
raised incorruptible.” Until that time we shall be “mortal.” But
at that time “we shall be changed” from “mortal” to “immortality,”
and from “corruptible” to “incorruption.”
With
this passage the task is completed. The term “immortality” is
used in no other place in the Bible. It occurs but five times, and
each verse in which it is used has been carefully studied. Although
the words “soul” and “spirit” occur hundreds of times in the
Scriptures, the word “immortality” is never coupled with either of
them. In the only verses where the attribute of immortality
is mentioned, the Scriptures never affirm that the soul has
immortality, that the spirit has immortality. The Bible never teaches
that it is the birthright of all men.
On
the contrary, the Scriptures teach clearly: first, that God alone
possesses immortality; secondly, that men are, or should be, seekers
for it; thirdly, that, if seeking for it, they can find it “through
the gospel,” but it will not then be conferred upon them until “the
last trump,” or at the time of the resurrection.
The Entire Teaching
of the Bible
This,
then, is the entire teaching of the Bible on this subject, for here
every verse which mentions the words “immortal” and “immortality”
has been considered. Surely there is no reason for anyone to be in
ignorance or doubt concerning this subject when the Bible so clearly
sets forth the truth.
The
sixty-six books which comprise the Bible were written by almost forty
men. Of these forty only one, Paul, makes use of the words “immortal”
and “immortality.” The remaining thirty-nine do not use these
words at all. Paul wrote fourteen of the books of the New
Testament. He is the chief doctrinal teacher of the Christian faith.
In his own words he declared the whole counsel of God.
His writings have a complete statement regarding the question of
immortality. No other Bible writer uses the term in any connection
whatever.
Paul
never attributes immortality to sinners. Moreover, he never applies
the term either to the righteous or to the wicked in this world. He
never applies it to the souls of men, either before or after death.
He speaks of it only as an attribute of the King Eternal. (1 Timothy
1:17.) He declares God is the only possessor of immortality. (1
Timothy 6:16.) He speaks of immortality as revealed or brought
to light, not in heathen philosophy, but in the gospel of the Son of God.
(2 Timothy 1:10.) He presents it as an objective which men are to
seek by patient continuance in well-doing. (Romans 2:7.) He fixes the
time when it shall be “put on” by the saints of God, and declares
it to be at the resurrection, when Christ, who is our Life,
will appear. (1 Corinthians 15:52, 54.) Paul never taught,
in anything he ever wrote or said, the prevalent and
popular doctrine of the natural immortality of the soul of man.
Read
Chapter Ten
Life, Death, and Immortality—Index |