MORTAL OR IMMORTAL, WHICH.
By D. E. Scoles
ARE we possessed naturally of an immortal entity, soul or principle? This is a question of vital importance, though not realized as such by the masses of to-day. The mysteries of life around us but deepen our desires to know the truth upon this momentous question. Without the truth upon it, we are like a vessel at sea having lost its bearings, and without rudder, chart, or compass; for Satan has a thousand snares and delusions for the unwary, which it will be utterly impossible to avoid unless we are settled steadfastly upon the eternal Rock of truth. Now as to man's nature. All we know of ourselves in this respect must come from the word of God. Science or reason alone can teach us nothing. But "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Tim. 3:16, 17. God has revealed his character, and such parts of his plan as are necessary for our salvation, in his word—the Bible. Wrong views of God dishonor him, and since it is the studied plan of Satan to misrepresent God and cause us to have wrong views of him, it behooves us to follow Paul's advice, "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine." 1 Tim. 4:16. What does God say? What are the teachings of the Bible upon man's nature? These are questions which ought to be given our most careful consideration. Does God say we have "an immortal soul," or a "never-dying spirit"? While such statements are heard frequently from the pulpit, uttered by men who ought to know better, yet we find that the word "immortal" is found but once in all the Bible. "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever." 1 Tim. 1:17. Here it is spoken of as an attribute of the great Jehovah, and has no reference whatever to man. The word "immortality" is used five times only in the whole Bible, and is spoken of as being something to be sought for "by patient continuance in welldoing." Rom. 2:6, 7. But why seek for that which we already possess? It is to be "put on" at Christ's second coming, for then "this mortal shall put on immortality." 1 Cor. 15:51-54. It is brought "to light through the gospel." 2 Tim. 1:10. And in 1 Tim. 6:15, 16 the statement is plainly made that God "only hath immortality." Now if he is the only one who has it, we certainly do not have it. Christ tells us that he came down from heaven to bring life to us. "I am come that they might have life." John 10:10. Also in Rom. 6:23: "The wages of sin is death [not life in torment]; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Hence the evidence is clear that we are not possessed in our natural condition of any eternal or immortal principle, and can only have it when God bestows the gift upon us through Christ. But let us look at the conditions consequent upon its bestowal. "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." 1 John 5:11, 12. And again: "For ye are dead [the carnal nature], and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." Col. 3:3, 4. Consequently the only life that can or will endure eternally is the life of Christ. This life comes to us through faith in the word of God, which to the believer is the incarnate word, Christ really dwelling in it; hence we are admonished to "let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." Col. 3:16. This is simply another way of saying, "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith." Eph. 3:17. By this means we lay hold upon him, and "have this treasure in earthen vessels," as it were in trust; then if by "patient continuance" we prove faithful to the trust, we will receive the everlasting reward at the appearing of the Saviour. Therefore, inasmuch as Christ came to earth, suffered, and died to bring this gift to us, how we dishonor him and thwart his plans so far as we as individuals are concerned when we contend that we are already immortal. The fact is that this is only another scheme of Satan, in his long, dark rebellion, to dishonor Christ by making it appear that he came to earth on a useless mission. And the only authority in the Bible—or any where else—for natural immortality is the language of Satan himself. God said, "In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die [not live on an immortal sinner, and never die]." Gen. 2:17. But in Gen. 3:4 Satan calls God a liar, and says to the human family, "Ye shall not surely die." Now which will we believe, God or Satan? If we trust Christ for immortality as a gift through the gospel, to be bestowed at Christ's coming, then we show our faith in God. But if, on the other hand, we believe we already have immortality anyway, and go to our reward at death, then we place our confidence in Satan instead of God. But the Lord says when we do this we trust in a falsehood. "Because with lies ye have903made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked . . . by promising him life." Eze. 13:22. The legitimate result of a belief in natural immortality is a belief in a state of consciousness after death. But to believe this is to become a mere shuttlecock in the hands of Satan, to be tossed about hither and thither by his lying delusions. Satan and his demons have the power to transform themselves into what seems to be our dead friends. "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." 2 Cor. 11:14. If we believe them in this form, they will teach us falsehood and lead us contrary to the Bible, for we will believe them because we think they are our loved ones, though their very manifestation is founded on falsehood. God says, "The dead know not anything." Eccl. 9:5. And when a man dies "he shall return no more to his house." Job 7:10. Hence the whole thing is a fabrication of error. It is in reality Spiritualism, or sorcery, that great masterpiece of Satan, which is taking captive not only the world, but the churches of the day as well, because of their belief in this Satanic fable of immortality and consciousness in death. And those who do not turn away from these errors to the truth of the living God, will sooner or later be so deceived and ensnared as to join with Satan and his host of demons in battle against the God of heaven. "For these are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." Rev. 16:14. Who will be on the Lord’s side?