Immortality Brought to Light through the Gospel.
By R. F. Cottrell
"But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." 2 Tim. i, 10. Many appear to understand this text as follows: By gospel, they understand the New Testament, and by immortality, the doctrine that man has naturally an immortal soul. This doctrine they admit is not so clearly taught in the Old Testament, but they think the New clearly reveals it. Hence we hear them speak like this: "The Bible, especially the New Testament, would be without meaning, were we to remove this doctrine from it." Their version of the text must read as follows: "Who hath abolished death, that is, abolished the Old Testament idea that men really die, and go down into silence in the grave, and hath brought to light, in the New Testament, the hidden truth that man has immortality by nature, independent of Christ and the gospel of salvation through him." Some have taken this idea, and being forced to admit that the Old Testament does not teach the immortality of the soul, have boldly denied that it taught the resurrection of the dead. But it is through the gospel, not merely the book110which we call the New Testament, that life and immortality are brought to light; and this gospel was preached to the ancients. "The Scripture foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham." Gal. iii, 9. As soon as sin had entered the world, the gospel was introduced. A hope-inspiring promise was made to the mother of all living, at the time when the sentence of death was passed upon our race. The gospel was introduced as a remedy for sin. It was a plan to justify sinners through faith in Christ, who was to be offered a sacrifice for sin. Abel received the gospel, and showed his faith in the promised sacrifice by an offering which typified it. "Sin entered into the world, and death by sin." Through Christ, pardon is offered, in order that those who accept of it may live. But death has passed upon all; therefore a second life is promised through a resurrection of the dead. Man had forfeited all right to life and immortality. The gospel offers pardon and eternal life. It abolishes death by a resurrection, and brings a future life and immortality to light. This immortality is given at the resurrection of the just. Then this mortal puts on immortality, and death, the last enemy of the saints, is destroyed. Death is then swallowed up in victory. 1 Cor. xv, 26, 52-54. By the "appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ" the gospel promises were confirmed. By his death and resurrection, the doctrine of the resurrection was demonstrated, and thus an assurance was given, that in due time he would abolish or destroy death, in behalf of his saints, giving them life, eternal life or immortality. This will be consummated at his second coming. Then will be given the "gift of God," which is "eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. vi, 23. There is no conflict between the Old Testament and the New; but they perfectly harmonize in the great object of saving lost men. Those living before the first advent did not have all law and no gospel; neither do those living since that event, have all gospel and no law; but to men of all ages of the world, "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." A single death would have sufficed for all the lost family of man, had not a second probation been granted through Christ, after the first was lost. Adam lost the first probation not only for himself, but for all his race. Christ, in giving a second probation to man, delivers him from the penalty incurred by Adam. Hence a second life is given to all. But those who reject the gospel, are to have part in the second resurrection, which is not a resurrection to immortality, but "the resurrection of condemnation" to the "second death."