FORTY QUESTIONS

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 29, 1860

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 16, Nos. 1 & 2.

ON IMMORTALITY.

1. WHO is immortal? Ans. “The King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God.” 1 Tim. i, 17.

2. Are not all men possessed of immortality? Ans. “The blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords: who only hath immortality.” 1 Tim. vi, 16.

3. Are not all men created immortal? Ans. God “only hath immortality.” 1 Tim. vi, 16.

4. Is there any way by which men may obtain immortality? Ans. “To us are given exceeding great and precious promises, that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Pet. i, 4.

5. Is this immortality revealed by Plato, or Socrates, or by “familiar” rapping “spirits,” or in nature—, or is it through Jesus Christ and his gospel? Ans. “By the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” 2 Tim. i, 10.

6. Who has power to bestow immortality upon man? Ans. “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. vi, 23.

7. Will God give this gift to all persons whatever their works may be? Ans. God “will render to every man according to his deeds.” Rom. ii, 6.

8. What will be the portion of those who are contentious and obey not the truth? Ans. “Indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doeth evil.” Rom. ii, 8, 9.

9. To whom will God impart immortality? Ans. “To them who by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory, and honor, and immortality.” Rom. ii, 7.

10. What shall be their reward? Ans. “Eternal life.” Rom. ii, 7.

11. Upon what conditions may we obtain this blessing? Ans. “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life.” 1 Tim. vi, 12.

12. When do men obtain immortality? Is it at death, or at the resurrection? Ans. “The dead shall be raised incorruptible.” 1 Cor. xv, 52.

13. How shall those who are not dead become incorruptible? Ans. “We shall be changed.” 1 Cor. xv, 52.

14. When will this change take place? Ans. “At the last trump.” 1 Cor. xv, 52.

15. How suddenly will the change occur? Ans. “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.” 1 Cor. xv, 52.

16. Will this change be a change of the internal, or the external and physical or corruptible man? Ans. “This corruptible must put on incorruption.” 1 Cor. xv, 53.

17. What then becomes immortal? Ans. “This mortal must put on immortality.” 1 Cor. xv, 53.

18. What Scripture will be fulfilled when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality? Ans. “Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Cor. xv, 56; Isa. xxv, 8.

19. Who will be raised from the dead? Ans. “All that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth.” John v, 28, 29.

20. Will the unburied arise? Ans. “The sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell (the grave) delivered up the dead which were in them.” Rev. xx, 13.

21. Will different classes of characters arise in the resurrection? Ans. “There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” Acts xxiv, 15.

22. For what purpose will the good be raised? Ans. “They that have done good unto the resurrection of life.” John v, 29.

23. To what will others be raised? Ans. “They that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John v, 29.

24. Will a man’s destiny at last be in accordance with his previous life? Ans. “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Gal. vi, 7.

25. What will be the portion of the ungodly? Ans. “He that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption.” Gal. vi, 8.

26. What the reward of the saint? Ans. “He that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit, reap life everlasting.” Gal. vi, 8.

27. Where now is the Christian’s life? Ans. “Your life is hid with Christ in God.” Col. iii, 3.

28. How then should we live? Ans. “Let us not be weary in well-doing; for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.” Gal. vi, 9.

29. What will be the fate of those who by sowing to the flesh reap corruption? Ans. “These, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, . . . shall utterly perish in their own corruption.” 2 Pet. ii, 12.

30. Is it possible for man to be utterly destroyed? Ans. “Fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matt. x, 28.

31. What is the wages of sin? Ans. “The wages of sin is death.” Rom. vi, 23.

32. Is this death merely a bodily death? Ans. “The soul that, sinneth, it shall die.” Eze. xviii, 4.

33. If the wicked turn away from his wickedness and do right, what then? Ans. “He shall save his soul alive.” Eze. xviii, 27.

34. “When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquities and dieth in them,” what shall be his fate? Ans. “For his iniquity that he hath done, shall he die.” Eze. xviii, 26.

35. As he first dies in his iniquity, and then dies for his iniquity, what must this last death be called? Ans. “The second death.” Rev. xxi, 8.

36. What is the result attained by the man who converteth a sinner from the error of his ways? Ans. “He shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” Jas. v, 20.

37. What has God placed before us to excite us to action? Ans. “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” Deut. xxx, 19.

38. How does God manifest his love to men? Ans. “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John iii, 16.

39. What is our Saviour’s complaint concerning mankind? Ans. “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” Jno. v, 40.

40. What is the command of God to all? Ans. “Cast away from you all your transgressions, . . . for I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves and live ye.” Eze. xviii, 31, 32.