p. 4 | Immortality Through Christ by L. L. C.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 25, 1916

Immortality Through Christ

By L. L. C.

ONE of the most striking misinterpretations of the teaching of the Scriptures is the prevalent view concerning the natural immortality of man. Many think that when man was created he was given an immortal soul. But the Scripture record is, “The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Gen. 2:7. A careful reading of this text shows that when the Lord breathed the breath of life into the man which he had made from the dust of the ground, man became a living soul, not that he received an immortal soul, as this scripture is sometimes misread.

The doctrine of the immortality of the soul has become so prevalent that many suppose that the words “immortal” and “immortality” occur frequently in the Bible; but this is not the case. “Immortal” occurs only once, and “immortality” five times.

In 1 Tim. 1:17, we read:—

“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever.”

Here the adjective “immortal” is not applied to man, but to God; and 1 Tim. 6:16 plainly says that God only has immortality. We quote:—

“Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting.”

On the other hand, man is spoken of as mortal, as in Job 4:17: “Shall mortal man be more just that God? shall a man be more pure than his Maker?” Still, though he is mortal, through the gospel the hope of immortality is brought to him. We are told, in 2 Tim. 1:10, that our Saviour “hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”

It is therefore right for Christians to cherish the hope of receiving immortality, and to seek for it earnestly. To them is given the promise of Rom. 2:5-7:—

“God . . . will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life.”

The Scriptures are very plain as to when this gift will be given to the faithful. We read in 1 Cor. 15:51-54:—

“Behold, I show 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 sayingthat is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”

Death is here spoken of as a sleep. This word is frequently used in the Scripture as a synonym of death. Job said, in speaking of death, “So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.” Job 14:12. The Lord, when telling Moses that he must die, said, “Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers.” Deut. 31:16. Christ himself, in speaking of the death of Lazarus, told the disciples, “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.” John 11:11.

The idea of death as a sleep is not a gloomy doctrine, but a beautiful truth. When we become tired with the work of the day, the quiet of the night, when we may lie down to peaceful rest, is not a thing to be dreaded. As consciousness slips from us, we have no fear but that God will awaken us in the morning:—

“He wakeneth [me] morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.” Isa. 50:4.

When sleep is sound, to the sleeper there is no consciousness of the passing of time, and he seems to awake immediately after falling asleep. Thus will it be to those who sleep the sleep of death. What a blessed thought for the Christian, that as consciousness ebbs away in what would be an eternal sleep, he may lie down in hope, knowing that his Saviour has already met and vanquished death, and that in Christ is assured an awakening at the dawn of the bright and eternal day.

L. L. C.