A Bible Study on Man by L. A. Reed

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Mar 18, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 11.

A Bible Study on Man

By L. A. Reed

By L. A. Reed

VI. Eternal Life and Immortality

God’s purpose is that all His beings should have unending life. Man is not to be like a moth to flutter about a candle for a little time, singe his wings, and miserably perish. If man’s end is anything like this, it is not through the direct will and purpose of God. Paul, writing with reference to the change that is to come to the believer, speaks of that which is mortal being swallowed up of life, and then makes the direct statement, “Now He that wrought us for this very thing is God, who gave unto us the earnest of the Spirit.” 2 Cor. 5:5. Man was so wrought by God that every mortal element in him was to be swallowed up by that which is immortal.

But through sin, through persistent sin, many men forfeit their hold on life, eternal life. Said Jesus, “Ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life.” John 5:40.

An Interesting Incident

Some years ago a prominent minister in one of the large cities of the middle west accepted the doctrine of conditional immortality, immortality only through Christ. His entire congregation seemed to be in sympathy with him, and for fear of difficulty with the church, those over him did not see fit to remove him, or humiliate him in any way. A number of the other churches in the city, however, decided to hold special services to combat this so-called false doctrine. But the doctrine of conditional immortality is so plainly taught in the Bible that any one who had any understanding of the Bible could not be deceived by the statements of the ministers. I attended one of the meetings, and was amused to hear a minister, in his zealous efforts to show that the doctrine of conditional immortality was wrong, quote a portion of one of the very strongest texts that he could possibly have mentioned for the other side. However, he refrained from quoting the whole text. He made this statement: “Why not believe what Jesus says? He declares that ‘he that believeth on the Son hath eternal life.’” That portion of the scripture which he failed to quote reads: “But he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” And this is the very point that the minister before-mentioned had espoused as his belief,—in other words, that eternal life is conditional on our acceptance of Christ. Jesus is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” These are Christ’s own words: “He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth (or believeth) not the Son shall not see life.” On account of his sins the wrath of God threatens him with the wages of his transgression.

Except One Be Born Anew

To Nicodemus Jesus made just as plain a statement. He said, “Except one be born anew he can not see the kingdom of God;” and in further explanation of this text to Nicodemus He also declared that whosoever believeth may in Him—that is, in Christ—have eternal life. And again, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” And the conclusion is irresistible, that he who refuses Him will perish, and shall not have eternal life.

Paul, in writing the second time to Timothy, introduces his letter with the statement that he is “an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus.” And John, in concluding his epistle in which he had written of some of the most wonderful and sacred things in the life of Christ, declares that he did it with one purpose in view. “These are written,” said he, “that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in His name.”

It is also very apparent from Paul’s argument in the book of Galatians that life comes only to the believer, and that through Christ. He says: “If there had been a law given which could make alive [or give life], verily righteousness would have been of the law.” That is, a man’s own acts would purchase for him life. But no man of himself can obey the law, and therefore receive the life which obedience gives. He continues his argument: “But the Scripture shut up all things under sin [and therefore under the penalty of death], that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” Thus the law makes all outside of Christ guilty of sin. “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God; because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in His sight, for through the law cometh the knowledge of sin.” Rom. 3:19, 20.

Every man is a sinner. The law condemns him as such; and “the wages of sin is death,” but Christ offers His life for the forfeited life of man. Christ met the penalty of the law for man. He tasted death for every man. Accepting Christ, His death satisfies the law which has condemned us as sinners worthy of death. And His life is granted to us because of His perfect obedience. Thus, and thus only, can an immortal life come to man. John reechoes the words of Christ. Speaking of eternal life, he says that eternal life is in the Son of God. 1 John 5:11. He then concludes: “He that hath the Son hath the life [eternal life]; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life.” Verse 12. And then he gives this promise: “These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that we have eternal life, even unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God.” Verse 13.

Sinful Man Is Mortal

Over and over again in the Bible man confined to this life and time is declared to be mortal. Paul, speaking of the resurrection of those who believe in Christ, states that this mortal must put on immortality, and he declares that we all shall be changed, that is, all believers; for this is the subject concerning which he is speaking.

Again: How is it possible that all humanity

have immortality, when we are plainly told that Christ “brought life and immortality to light through the gospel”? 2 Tim. 1:10.

Christ’s promise to Martha holds true for every believer in Him. To her Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on Me, tho he die, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth on Me shall never die.” John 11:25, 26.

In conclusion let us say, that in previous articles we have shown that persistent sin brings eternal death,—“The wages of sin is death,” and “the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” We have shown that this death is not an eternal torment, but destruction. The wicked perish, becoming as tho they had never been. We even read one text in which the wicked, it was said, would become ashes under the soles of the feet of the saints. Sin is to end, and those who persist in sin will end with it. Immortality comes only through Christ. It is received only by the one who receives Christ. Those who refuse Him refuse life.

It was the intention of God that all His creatures should enjoy an eternal bliss and life that stretches with His life. But sin is rebellion, and He can not perpetuate rebels. Sin is itself the seed and the plant of death. When full-grown it produces death, and death is not life, and through sin no man can come into life.

The way to life is clear. Christ is the Way, the Truth, the Life; He is the Resurrection and the Life; He brings immortality to light through His gospel; and of some He says, “Ye will not come to Me that ye might have life.” But His gracious invitation still sounds down through the avenue of time: “He that is athirst, let him come: he that will, let him take the water of life freely.” Rev. 22:17.