A Distinction and a Difference
The following is VERY IMPORTANT to grasp and to understand. The failure to rightly understand this has led to all matter of false and misleading theories and ideas commonly held by the professing church.
But now, having examined the hope of immortality from the ordinary er of that word (everlasting life), and having found that everlasting life is God’s provision for all those of Adam’s race who will accept it in “due time” under the terms of the New Covenant, we are prepared to go a step further and to note that everlasting life and immortality are NOT synonymous terms, as people in general suppose.
The word “immortal” means more than power to live everlastingly; and, according to the Scriptures, millions may ultimately enjoy everlasting life, but only a very limited, a “little flock” will be made immortal.
Immortality is an element or quality of the divine nature, but not of human or angelic or any other nature than the divine. And it is because Christ and his “little flock,” his “bride,” are to be “partakers of the divine nature” that they will be exceptions to all other creatures either in heaven or on earth. 2 Pet 1:4
Is the Human Soul Immortal, or Has It a Hope of Becoming Immortal?
We have seen that a human soul (sentient being) results from a union of breath of life (ruach – pneuma) with a human organism or body; exactly the same as in the cases of lower animal souls (sentient beings) except as man is endowed with a higher organism, a superior body possessed of superior powers and qualities. Our present inquiry then is,
Are all animals immortal?
And if this be answered negatively, we must inquire, what does man possess above the lower animals which gives hope for his immortality?
Solomon’s declaration as well as our own observations attest that man like the lower animals is subject to death –
“As the one dies so dies the other. Yea, they have all one [kind of] breath [spirit of life – ruach].” (Eccl 3:19) On every hand the crape, the casket, the hearse, the cemetery, all testify that man does die and hence that he is NOT immortal, for the word “immortal” signifies death-proof, that which cannot die. Whatever man’s hope of immortality, it is not a present possession and can at very most be a hope in some divine provision, future.
Before probing this question further, it will be profitable for us to consider the meaning of the words “MORTAL” and “IMMORTAL,” for a gross misunderstanding of the significance of these words is very prevalent amongst many believers and often leads to confusion of thought.
The word Immortal signifies not mortal – death-proof, incorruptible, indestructible, imperishable. Any being whose existence is dependent in any manner upon another, or upon conditions such as food, light, air, etc., is not immortal. This quality (Immortality) originally inhered in Jehovah God alone, as it is written – “The Father hath life in himself” (John 5:26); i.e., his existence is not a derived one, nor a sustained one. He is the King eternal, immortal, invisible. (1 Tim 1:17) These scriptures being decisive authority on the subject, we may know beyond peradventure that men, angels, archangels, or even the Son of God, before and during the time he “was made flesh and dwelt among us” – WERE NOT IMMORTAL – all were mortal.
But the word “mortal” DOES NOT signify dying, but merely die-able (subject to death) – possessing life dependent upon God for its continuance. For instance, angels not being immortal are mortal and could die, could be destroyed by God if they became rebels against his wise, just and loving government. In him (in his providence) they live and move and have their being. Indeed, of Satan, who was such an angel of light, and who did become a rebel, it is distinctly declared that in due time he will be destroyed. (Heb 2:14) This not only proves that Satan is mortal, but it proves that angelic nature is a mortal nature – one which could be destroyed by its Creator. As for man, he is a “little lower than the angels” (Psa 8:5), and consequently mortal also, as is abundantly attested by the fact that our race has been dying for six thousand years and that even the saints in Christ are exhorted to seek immortality, (Rom 2:7) thus confirming it is not something they already inherit or possess.
The common definition of mortal is dying, and of immortal everlasting – BOTH WRONG. To demonstrate the falsity of these general definitions let us propound a simple question –
Was Adam Created Mortal or Immortal?
If the answer be – “Adam was created immortal,” we respond,
How then was he threatened with, and afterward sentenced to, death: and how could he die if he were death-proof?
And why did God in punishing him drive him out of the Garden of Eden away from the life-sustaining grove or trees of life, lest he by eating live forever? Gen 3:22
If the answer be that man was created mortal (according to the erroneous common definition, dying) we inquire,
How could God sentence man to death after his disobedience if he were already a dying creature and never had been otherwise?
And if Adam was created dying how could God declare that his death came by his sin?
Further along this same line might be asked,
If Adam was created dying, in a dying condition, how could God say that he was created in the image (the charter image) of his creator? Gen 1:27
Likewise, after creating him, how could he declare him to be very good, perfect. Are not all God’s works perfect? Gen 1:31
Continued with next post.
The following is VERY IMPORTANT to grasp and to understand. The failure to rightly understand this has led to all matter of false and misleading theories and ideas commonly held by the professing church.
But now, having examined the hope of immortality from the ordinary er of that word (everlasting life), and having found that everlasting life is God’s provision for all those of Adam’s race who will accept it in “due time” under the terms of the New Covenant, we are prepared to go a step further and to note that everlasting life and immortality are NOT synonymous terms, as people in general suppose.
The word “immortal” means more than power to live everlastingly; and, according to the Scriptures, millions may ultimately enjoy everlasting life, but only a very limited, a “little flock” will be made immortal.
Immortality is an element or quality of the divine nature, but not of human or angelic or any other nature than the divine. And it is because Christ and his “little flock,” his “bride,” are to be “partakers of the divine nature” that they will be exceptions to all other creatures either in heaven or on earth. 2 Pet 1:4
Is the Human Soul Immortal, or Has It a Hope of Becoming Immortal?
We have seen that a human soul (sentient being) results from a union of breath of life (ruach – pneuma) with a human organism or body; exactly the same as in the cases of lower animal souls (sentient beings) except as man is endowed with a higher organism, a superior body possessed of superior powers and qualities. Our present inquiry then is,
Are all animals immortal?
And if this be answered negatively, we must inquire, what does man possess above the lower animals which gives hope for his immortality?
Solomon’s declaration as well as our own observations attest that man like the lower animals is subject to death –
“As the one dies so dies the other. Yea, they have all one [kind of] breath [spirit of life – ruach].” (Eccl 3:19) On every hand the crape, the casket, the hearse, the cemetery, all testify that man does die and hence that he is NOT immortal, for the word “immortal” signifies death-proof, that which cannot die. Whatever man’s hope of immortality, it is not a present possession and can at very most be a hope in some divine provision, future.
Before probing this question further, it will be profitable for us to consider the meaning of the words “MORTAL” and “IMMORTAL,” for a gross misunderstanding of the significance of these words is very prevalent amongst many believers and often leads to confusion of thought.
The word Immortal signifies not mortal – death-proof, incorruptible, indestructible, imperishable. Any being whose existence is dependent in any manner upon another, or upon conditions such as food, light, air, etc., is not immortal. This quality (Immortality) originally inhered in Jehovah God alone, as it is written – “The Father hath life in himself” (John 5:26); i.e., his existence is not a derived one, nor a sustained one. He is the King eternal, immortal, invisible. (1 Tim 1:17) These scriptures being decisive authority on the subject, we may know beyond peradventure that men, angels, archangels, or even the Son of God, before and during the time he “was made flesh and dwelt among us” – WERE NOT IMMORTAL – all were mortal.
But the word “mortal” DOES NOT signify dying, but merely die-able (subject to death) – possessing life dependent upon God for its continuance. For instance, angels not being immortal are mortal and could die, could be destroyed by God if they became rebels against his wise, just and loving government. In him (in his providence) they live and move and have their being. Indeed, of Satan, who was such an angel of light, and who did become a rebel, it is distinctly declared that in due time he will be destroyed. (Heb 2:14) This not only proves that Satan is mortal, but it proves that angelic nature is a mortal nature – one which could be destroyed by its Creator. As for man, he is a “little lower than the angels” (Psa 8:5), and consequently mortal also, as is abundantly attested by the fact that our race has been dying for six thousand years and that even the saints in Christ are exhorted to seek immortality, (Rom 2:7) thus confirming it is not something they already inherit or possess.
The common definition of mortal is dying, and of immortal everlasting – BOTH WRONG. To demonstrate the falsity of these general definitions let us propound a simple question –
Was Adam Created Mortal or Immortal?
If the answer be – “Adam was created immortal,” we respond,
How then was he threatened with, and afterward sentenced to, death: and how could he die if he were death-proof?
And why did God in punishing him drive him out of the Garden of Eden away from the life-sustaining grove or trees of life, lest he by eating live forever? Gen 3:22
If the answer be that man was created mortal (according to the erroneous common definition, dying) we inquire,
How could God sentence man to death after his disobedience if he were already a dying creature and never had been otherwise?
And if Adam was created dying how could God declare that his death came by his sin?
Further along this same line might be asked,
If Adam was created dying, in a dying condition, how could God say that he was created in the image (the charter image) of his creator? Gen 1:27
Likewise, after creating him, how could he declare him to be very good, perfect. Are not all God’s works perfect? Gen 1:31
Continued with next post.
