HAS MAN LIFE IN HIMSELF?
By W. N. G.
THE supposition that man has life in himself, or is possessed of a consciousness that never ceases to exist, has caused more speculation, and laid the foundation for more superstition, than any other one idea ever entertained by man. The fact that he dies would naturally be deemed sufficient evidence that he has not life in himself. The death of animals is generally accepted as evidence that they have not life in themselves. And the Scripture saith, "That which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them; as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath." Eccl. 3:19. We have but one way of learning the truth concerning such subjects, and that is from the word of God. According to that word, man was made of the earth, and, although he was without sin in the beginning, he was given the tree of life, that by eating of its fruit his life might be continued. We see, then, that even in a state of innocency he had not life in himself. That a continuous life was to be the result of partaking of the tree of life is shown by the fact that when the man was sentenced to death for disobedience, angels were placed to guard the tree of life lest he should eat of it and live forever. Then if man had not life in himself when in a sinless state, he certainly could not have been so endowed after having been condemned to return to the dust. There are only two beings represented in the Scriptures as having life in themselves,—the Father and the Son. In John 5:26 we read, "For as the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself." Even the Son did not have this great boon until it was specially given to him by the Father. Eternal life is the gift of God (Rom. 6:23), and it is only given through our Lord Jesus Christ. God having given the Son243power to have life in himself, the Son has the power to transmit life to whomsoever he will. John 5:21. The conditions of receiving eternal life are faith in Christ and keeping his commandments. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life." John 3:36. "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Matt. 19:17. "They that have done good" shall come forth "unto the resurrection of life." John 5:29. These two conditions, however, are really summed up in one, for obedience is a consequent result of belief; therefore we may say that life is the result of faith in Christ. "But these [signs] are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." Chapter 20:31. "And this is the will of Him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day." Chapter 6:40. Do all men have faith in themselves? The world is full of the negative answer; therefore they cannot have life in themselves. Christ said to the Jews, "Ye will not come unto me, that ye might have life." John 5:40. Then it is necessary to come to Christ in order to have life. Nor can sinful man do even that much of himself, for Christ says, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him." Chapter 6:44. There is therefore no chance for man to have access to life, only through the "manifold grace of God." "By grace ye are saved through faith; and that [the grace] not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." Eph. 2:8. But how do we have life when we have come to Christ? John tells us: "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." 1 John 5:11. Then we can only have the life by being in Christ; at no time, and under no conditions, can mortal man have life in himself. For "this mortal must put on immortality;" immortality is not within it. "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." We have found that eternal life, or immortality, is the result, or reward, of faith in Christ. Paul expected his reward at the coming of the Lord: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." 2 Tim. 4:7, 8. Proud but puny man would fain make himself believe that he is more than a mere mortal, doomed to death. Fain would he believe the serpent's lie, "Ye shall not surely die." Fain would he believe the serpent's assurance that by disobeying God he would become as God. Nevertheless, he is but a condemned criminal without Christ. Only by living on Christ, abiding in him, can man have an assurance of life. John 6:48-54.