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An Illogical Invitation

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 21, 1907

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 84, No. 12.

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An Illogical Invitation

By C. M. S.

While a revival effort was being conducted at Logan, Kan., recently the evangelist circulated invitation cards designed to assist in bringing sinners to the Saviour. The editor of the Republican News, of that place, has sent us one of these cards from which we quote the following:—
DEAR FRIEND: You and I are immortal. Beyond the grave is eternity. And eternity means for me and for you either heaven or hell. I choose heaven, and want you to do the same. I invite you to Jesus Christ who alone can give us heaven.
Jesus, the Saviour to whom this evangelist invites the sinner, said to the impenitent of his day and of our day, “Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” There can be no immortality without life. Therefore those who do not come to Christ can not have immortality. Their refusal to accept Christ forever estops the possibility of immortality. God has never said there was immortality for both wicked and righteous—that the one would be immortal in hell and the other immortal in heaven, the one ever burning and praying for death and the other ever praising and joying in life. The Word of God nowhere presents such unthinkable contrasts. Neither does the Word anywhere declare that man is now immortal. Christ says, “I am come that they might have life.” If we are immortal, we already have that life which he says he came to give, so he need not have come for that purpose. If we are immortal, Paul did not know it; for he said, “When this mortal shall have put on immortality.” Again, in speaking of God, he said, “Who only hath immortality.” If we are immortal, Inspiration did not know it, for Paul spoke by inspiration. If we are immortal, Christ did not know it; for he came to bring “life and immortality to light through the gospel.” Nay, verily, the falsehood spoken in Eden, “Ye shall not surely die.” “ye shall be as gods.” has never been metamorphosed into truth. Man is mortal; immortality comes through Jesus Christ. Man is clothed with it in the resurrection of the just.
C. M. S.