Confusion is unavoidable unless the true definitions of mortal and immortal be clearly recognized as follows:
Immortal – the state or condition in which death is impossible – a death-proof condition.
Mortal – a state or condition in which death is possible – a condition of liability to death, but not necessarily a dying condition unless a death sentence has been incurred.
From this standpoint we can see at a glance that Adam was created mortal – in a condition in which death was a possibility or everlasting life a possibility; according as he pleased or displeased his wise, just, and loving Creator. Had he remained obedient he would have continued living until now – and forever – and yet all the while he would have been mortal, liable to death if disobedient. Nor would such a condition be one of uncertainty; for God with whom he had to do is unchangeable: hence Adam would have had full assurance of everlasting life so long as he continued loyal and obedient to his Creator. And more than this could not reasonably be asked.
Adam’s life condition previous to his disobedience was similar to that now enjoyed by the holy angels: he had life in full measure – lasting life – which he might have retained forever by remaining obedient to God. But because he was NOT death-proof, because he did not have “life in himself” but was dependent for continuance upon conditions subject to his Creator’s pleasure, therefore God’s threat that if he disobeyed, he should die, meant something. It meant the loss of the spark of life, “the breath of life,” without which the body would molder into dust and the living soul or sentient being would cease. Had Adam been immortal, un-dyeable, death-proof, God’s sentence would have been an empty threat. But because Adam was mortal, die-able, liable to death except as sustained by his Creator’s provisions, therefore, as declared, he died “in the day” of his disobedience. See 2 Pet 3:8.
To those who think that the Bible abounds with such expressions as immortal soul, undying soul, never-dying soul, etc., we can offer no better advice than that they take a Bible concordance and look for these words and others of similar import. They will find none; and thus, the sincere truth-seekers will most quickly convince themselves that Christian people in general have for centuries, in thought at least, been adding to the Word of God, much to their own confusion.
According to the Scriptures the angels are enjoying life-everlasting but are mortal: that is to say, the everlastingness of their angelic existence is not because they are immortal or death-proof and so could not be destroyed by their Creator; but because he desires that they shall live so long as they will use their lives in accord with his just and loving arrangement.
This is easy of demonstration; for was not Satan one of the holy angels before he by pride and ambition sinned?
And did he not thus become one of the wicked (willingly, intentionally opposing God) of whom it is written, “All the wicked will God DESTROY” – “who shall be punished with everlasting destruction”? (Psa 145:20; 2 Thess 1:9)
Note the explicit declaration respecting Satan’s destruction, applicable in principle to all who follow his evil way and reject divine arrangements knowingly, intentionally. Heb 2:14
While the Scriptures do speak of the mortality of man, and indeed in nearly all particulars confine themselves to man’s relationship to God, yet they no less positively teach in another way the mortality of angels, by declaring that Christ “ONLY hath immortality” (1 Tim 6:16) – the Father as always being excepted. (1 Cor 15:27) And as we have already seen, our Lord Jesus received immortality (which is an element or quality of “divine nature,” only) at his resurrection, and as a reward for his faithful obedience to the Father’s will to the extent of self-sacrifice – “unto death, even the death of the cross – wherefore him hath God highly exalted.” Although always superior to all others as “the only Begotten,” this exaltation raised him, as the Apostle declares, far above angels and principalities and powers and every name that is named in heaven and in earth. Eph 1:21
Thus, it appears clear, from God’s own revelation on the subject, that only himself and his Only Begotten Son possessed this quality of immortality at the time the apostles wrote their epistles. Indeed, had the Only Begotten been immortal sooner than at the time of his exaltation he could not have been the Savior of the world – because he could not have died; and under divine arrangement to be our Redeemer he must die: the record is, “Christ died for our sins” and was exalted to immortality afterward.
Continued with next post.
Immortal – the state or condition in which death is impossible – a death-proof condition.
Mortal – a state or condition in which death is possible – a condition of liability to death, but not necessarily a dying condition unless a death sentence has been incurred.
From this standpoint we can see at a glance that Adam was created mortal – in a condition in which death was a possibility or everlasting life a possibility; according as he pleased or displeased his wise, just, and loving Creator. Had he remained obedient he would have continued living until now – and forever – and yet all the while he would have been mortal, liable to death if disobedient. Nor would such a condition be one of uncertainty; for God with whom he had to do is unchangeable: hence Adam would have had full assurance of everlasting life so long as he continued loyal and obedient to his Creator. And more than this could not reasonably be asked.
Adam’s life condition previous to his disobedience was similar to that now enjoyed by the holy angels: he had life in full measure – lasting life – which he might have retained forever by remaining obedient to God. But because he was NOT death-proof, because he did not have “life in himself” but was dependent for continuance upon conditions subject to his Creator’s pleasure, therefore God’s threat that if he disobeyed, he should die, meant something. It meant the loss of the spark of life, “the breath of life,” without which the body would molder into dust and the living soul or sentient being would cease. Had Adam been immortal, un-dyeable, death-proof, God’s sentence would have been an empty threat. But because Adam was mortal, die-able, liable to death except as sustained by his Creator’s provisions, therefore, as declared, he died “in the day” of his disobedience. See 2 Pet 3:8.
To those who think that the Bible abounds with such expressions as immortal soul, undying soul, never-dying soul, etc., we can offer no better advice than that they take a Bible concordance and look for these words and others of similar import. They will find none; and thus, the sincere truth-seekers will most quickly convince themselves that Christian people in general have for centuries, in thought at least, been adding to the Word of God, much to their own confusion.
According to the Scriptures the angels are enjoying life-everlasting but are mortal: that is to say, the everlastingness of their angelic existence is not because they are immortal or death-proof and so could not be destroyed by their Creator; but because he desires that they shall live so long as they will use their lives in accord with his just and loving arrangement.
This is easy of demonstration; for was not Satan one of the holy angels before he by pride and ambition sinned?
And did he not thus become one of the wicked (willingly, intentionally opposing God) of whom it is written, “All the wicked will God DESTROY” – “who shall be punished with everlasting destruction”? (Psa 145:20; 2 Thess 1:9)
Note the explicit declaration respecting Satan’s destruction, applicable in principle to all who follow his evil way and reject divine arrangements knowingly, intentionally. Heb 2:14
While the Scriptures do speak of the mortality of man, and indeed in nearly all particulars confine themselves to man’s relationship to God, yet they no less positively teach in another way the mortality of angels, by declaring that Christ “ONLY hath immortality” (1 Tim 6:16) – the Father as always being excepted. (1 Cor 15:27) And as we have already seen, our Lord Jesus received immortality (which is an element or quality of “divine nature,” only) at his resurrection, and as a reward for his faithful obedience to the Father’s will to the extent of self-sacrifice – “unto death, even the death of the cross – wherefore him hath God highly exalted.” Although always superior to all others as “the only Begotten,” this exaltation raised him, as the Apostle declares, far above angels and principalities and powers and every name that is named in heaven and in earth. Eph 1:21
Thus, it appears clear, from God’s own revelation on the subject, that only himself and his Only Begotten Son possessed this quality of immortality at the time the apostles wrote their epistles. Indeed, had the Only Begotten been immortal sooner than at the time of his exaltation he could not have been the Savior of the world – because he could not have died; and under divine arrangement to be our Redeemer he must die: the record is, “Christ died for our sins” and was exalted to immortality afterward.
Continued with next post.
