How the idea of Immortal Soul got into the Church

[Runningman]

Some say what about the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man, well lets look.
Luke 16:19-31
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

First off, we have to determine IF this is a parable; lets examine it:

When Jesus told the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man were there many people gathered?
Luke 15:1
Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

So yes, there was a group/multitude present and we see..
Matthew 13:34
All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

Jesus spoke only in parables to the multitudes, only when with His disciples did He unveil the meaning..
Mark 4:34
But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

It was hard enough for them to understand what He was saying but if you look the parable of Lazarus and the Rich man was the last parable out of 5 he told that day. Starting in Luke 16:1 Jesus tells the following parables..
The parable of the Lost Sheep
The parable of the Lost Coin
The parable of the Lost Son
The parable of the Shrewd Manager
and the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man.

If you look, the parable of the Shrewd Manager begins exactly like the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man...
Luke 16:1
And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.

Luke 16:19
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

Many people read their Bible and its clear that when we die our physical body returns to dust, but then bring in the false idea that has spread and they also say that our 'soul' goes to heaven without our body. They go on to say that at the resurrection, our souls are 'reunited' with our physical bodies and they become glorified.

Well let's look at the facts given. The 'rich man' in the parable was buried as we see in verse 22, yet the very next verse says he had EYES to look up with. In verse 24 its says the buried 'rich man' had a TONGUE. The parable also says Lazarus has a FINGER and Abraham has a BOSOM. Do these physical attributes apply to a soul? Not according to Jesus. Jesus said, if one looks, that a spirit does not have flesh and bones..
Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; FOR A SPIRIT HATH NOT FLESH AND BONES, as ye see me have.
I think we should believe what Christ declares rather than false ideas spread from pagan origin.

Christ says the eternal home of the saved is in heaven, not Abrahams bosom:
John 14:1-3
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that WHERE I AM, there ye may be also.

Is Jesus in 'Abrahams bosom', of course not. Now in the parable it says a great gulf exists between Lazarus and the Rich Man. This gulf is so vast in expanse that it is impossible for those on one side to pass through to the other side. In spite of this, the Rich Man is able to recognize both Abraham and Lazarus as well as hold an intelligent conversation. Does that make sense, of course not. This story is a parable and thus not to be taken literally. This parable actually illustrates how one should live, not how we die.

Another argument some try to give is that the 'glorified body' that we receive is a spiritual body and not one of flesh and bone. Look at what Christ declares..
Luke 24:39
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

This is Christ talking to the apostles when they first see Him after He rose from the grave. Does Christ say here that He is in a spiritual body or a flesh one, and look at the example of Jesus and see how He ascended..

And then we have this..
John 20:17
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

This verifies that Jesus had not yet ascended to heaven, and then you have this..
Acts 1:11
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Acts 1:22
Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.

Here it is told of Jesus ascending to heaven. No where does it indicate that only Jesus spirit went to heaven and His body stayed behind on the contrary, the disciples watched Him ascend with their own eyes. Christ went up in bodily form, so shall we in our completeness at the resurrection.

It was possibly created to help support the other false doctrine of eternal conscious torment. There are several false doctrines prominent in Catholicism and Protestantism that are not present in Judeo-Christian theology. Why they did it is speculative at best. Could have been a tool to help control people and encourage them to go to church. Could have been an honest misunderstanding that no one dared to question that ultimately became mainstream. Keep following the trail and you'll find something interesting if you haven't already.

 

[soberxp]

God made man in his own image.
God is spirit and is eternal, so we will be.
God is omniscient and omnipotent, so we will be.
God is good, so we will be.
God is kind,so we will be.
God is life,so we will be.
so we will be as his only begotten Son,(son of God)
cuz God "made" Jesus (son of man) in his own image,
If we see Jesus then we see the father.
We will be made in New.

Psalm 8:4 (ESV):
"What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?"

 

[Davy]

Sin is not commutable, ....

Then you ALSO... show you have NOT read The New Testament Scriptures, particularly by Apostle Paul where he declared that WE ALL HAVE INHERITED THE SIN OF ADAM AND EVE.

Are you JEWISH, and follow the JEW'S RELIGION instead of believing on Jesus Christ as your Savior? I want to know.

 

[Davy]

Sin is not commutable, Rom 5:12 clearly states that death is what is passed to all men. I Cor 15:20-22. Rom 5:18 reinforces this concept.
Your misinterpretation makes Christ a sinner if sin is passed through our human nature.
Christ took on our human nature in every respect. Christ came to defeat death.

You obviously SKIPPED the following by Apostle Paul, just so you can TRY and keep your false tradition of men...

Rom 5:18-19
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
KJV

It was the sin of Adam and Eve which caused God's judgment to come upon ALL MEN TO CONDEMNATION!

Don't you realize WHAT YOU ARE PREACHING by DENIAL of the above Romans Scripture that we all have been concluded under the sin of Adam and Eve, that you are CLAIMING THAT YOU DO NOT NEED SAVING BY JESUS CHRIST?

Lord Jesus Christ, Immanuel 'God with us', came in the flesh to die on the cross for the remission of sins for those who BELIEVE. And that INCLUDES the first sin in the flesh by Adam and Eve which condemned us ALL, to show that we NEED The Savior Jesus Christ!

This is why... Apostle Paul said that "by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one (Jesus) the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life"!

 

[lforrest]

God made man in his own image.
God is spirit and is eternal, so we will be.
God is omniscient and omnipotent, so we will be.
God is good, so we will be.
God is kind,so we will be.
God is life,so we will be.
so we will be as his only begotten Son,(son of God)
cuz God "made" Jesus (son of man) in his own image,
If we see Jesus then we see the father.
We will be made in New.

Psalm 8:4 (ESV):
"What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?"

"God is spirit," may not mean what we think it means. Look at what the perfected man is compared with, angels of heaven. Can we say that angels are spirit? Or is there significance in the missing 'a'. It may be that it is only correct to refer to the father of spirits as spirit. The angels also have a spiritual body at the vary least. Does the Father have a spiritual body? Or does Jesus fulfill all roles that require the use of a body?

Why does man need to be omniscient and omnipotent? I wouldn't think that necessary for his plans.

Why also would it be necessary for there to be more than one life giving Spirit? Is God insufficient?

 

[soberxp]

"God is spirit," may not mean what we think it means. Look at what the perfected man is compared with, angels of heaven. Can we say that angels are spirit? Or is there significance in the missing 'a'. It may be that it is only correct to refer to the father of spirits as spirit. The angels also have a spiritual body at the vary least. Does the Father have a spiritual body? Or does Jesus fulfill all roles that require the use of a body?

Why does man need to be omniscient and omnipotent? I wouldn't think that necessary for his plans.

Why also would it be necessary for there to be more than one life giving Spirit? Is God insufficient?

"The first Adam was earthly; then came the spiritual Adam. I believe this distinction clarifies the matter profoundly."

---

Expanded Explanation (1 Corinthians 15:45–47):​

1. "The first man Adam became a living being" (Genesis 2:7):
   • Represents humanity’s origin in natural, fallen flesh (Romans 5:12).
2. "The last Adam [Christ] became a life-giving spirit":
   • Jesus, as the "second Adam," restores spiritual life through resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:22)

 

[lforrest]

"The first Adam was earthly; then came the spiritual Adam. I believe this distinction clarifies the matter profoundly."

---

Expanded Explanation (1 Corinthians 15:45–47):​

1. "The first man Adam became a living being" (Genesis 2:7):
   • Represents humanity’s origin in natural, fallen flesh (Romans 5:12).
2. "The last Adam [Christ] became a life-giving spirit":
   • Jesus, as the "second Adam," restores spiritual life through resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:22)

It is the Holy Spirit living in us that wells up into eternal life. Not something about ourselves.

 

[Behold]

The Bible doesn’t teach that people have immortal souls but many believe it. So how did this teaching enter Christian thinking,

The way to understand the "immortality" of the Soul, is to simply qualify your Spirit Man, as eternal... because its true.

We know that being born again, is a spiritual birth........of our spirit.
However, this spirit, who is the real you.......which exists in your body.... is always eternal........but, until you are born again, you are not "in Christ"... "one with God"., and do not exist in the KOG.

The Bible teaches that there is a "2nd Death"... but that is not the end of your spirit's life.........or the end of you.

If you are reading this post and you have been deceived and taught that the Grave is the end of you, then you have been taught a LIE, as the Grave is only the beginning of your eternity with God or without Him.

So, what is "LIFE" in Christ. ???.......Its to be born again spiritually = rejoined to God and Christ who are "LIFE".........so, when you are not, you dont exist in "Eternal LIFE" that is God and Christ... and the bible refers to being separated from God and Christ as "death"...

So, each unbeliever, exists in "separated from God spiritually" = death......and to be rejoined to God, as born again Spiritually is to have eternal "LIFE."

See that?

So, every unbeliever, is in "death", but its possible for this to be rescued by the Life that is found "in Christ"........and if they or you are never are born again and die.........then they or you continue in this death for eternity, and the bible teaches that this is 2nd Death...= or the eternal continuation of the 1st death. (separated spiritually from God) and you can't go to heaven if that is you......But you will go to Hell.

This is why Jesus told everyone...........'" YOU Must be ........born... again"..

 

[Rightglory]

Then you ALSO... show you have NOT read The New Testament Scriptures, particularly by Apostle Paul where he declared that WE ALL HAVE INHERITED THE SIN OF ADAM AND EVE.

Are you JEWISH, and follow the JEW'S RELIGION instead of believing on Jesus Christ as your Savior? I want to know.

There is no text anywhere in scripture that states mankind has ever inherited the sin of Adam.

What we have inherited is the punishment Adam received for his sin. It was the curse of death. Christ overcame death by His resurrection.
How can you miss such clear scriptures as Gen3:19, Rom 5:12, the curse, then the reversal found in Rom 5:18-19 or I Cor 15:21-22, and many others.

 

[Behold]

There is no text anywhere in scripture that states mankind has ever inherited the sin of Adam.

New International Version
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—

New Living Translation
When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

English Standard Version
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned.

Berean Literal Bible
Because of this, just as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death passed to all men, because all sinned.

King James Bible
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

New King James Version
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—

New American Standard Bible
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind, because all sinned—

NASB 1995
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—

NASB 1977
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—

Amplified Bible
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, so death spread to all people [no one being able to stop it or escape its power], because they all sinned.

Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned.

American Standard Version
Therefore, as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned:?

Contemporary English Version
Adam sinned, and that sin brought death into the world. Now everyone has sinned, and so everyone must die.

English Revised Version
Therefore, as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned:--

 

[Rightglory]

New International Version
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—

New Living Translation
When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

English Standard Version
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned.

Berean Literal Bible
Because of this, just as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death passed to all men, because all sinned.

King James Bible
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

New King James Version
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—

New American Standard Bible
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind, because all sinned—

NASB 1995
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—

NASB 1977
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—

Amplified Bible
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, so death spread to all people [no one being able to stop it or escape its power], because they all sinned.

Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned.

American Standard Version
Therefore, as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned:?

Contemporary English Version
Adam sinned, and that sin brought death into the world. Now everyone has sinned, and so everyone must die.

English Revised Version
Therefore, as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned:--

It isn't the texts that are incorrect. It is your interpretation of them where you err. These verses DO NOT state man inherited the sin of Adam. It states that Adam sinned, and death came because of that sin. We became mortal. This mortality is what we inherited. We sin because we are mortal. We sin on our own choice.

This is precisely why Christ needed to become man, to assume our human nature so that by death, the human nature he took, could suffer death and be raised from that death, thus removing the curse given to Adam and giving all men immortality and incorruptibility.
This is the clear meaning of Rom 5: 18 and I Cor 15:21-22.
I will not be judged on Adam's sin, but only my own.
We can only get rid of this body of sin, by dying once physically so that this mortal body dies which is the reason we sin so easily. We will all be raised in the last day because Christ defeated death. I Cor 15:52-53. Paul repeats in the vs 56 the sequence between death and sin. The sting of death is sin, not the other way around as you seem to hold.

Just logically, we could not inherit sin. Sin is not a state of being. Sin is an act, a negative act against God's will. You would need to inherit each individual sin before you actually sinned. This idea might come from the fact that I also see a lot of individuals state that man has a sin nature. We don't have a sin nature; we have a mortal nature, which sins, thus makes us sinners.

 

[Runningman]

There is no text anywhere in scripture that states mankind has ever inherited the sin of Adam.

What we have inherited is the punishment Adam received for his sin. It was the curse of death. Christ overcame death by His resurrection.
How can you miss such clear scriptures as Gen3:19, Rom 5:12, the curse, then the reversal found in Rom 5:18-19 or I Cor 15:21-22, and many others.

The immortality of the soul is a curious thing because it pre-supposes that eternal life is not conditional on the gospel. Why would one need the gospel if their soul is already immortal? I believe this doctrine undermines Christianity.

 

[Behold]

It isn't the texts that are incorrect. It is your interpretation of them where you err. These verses DO NOT state man inherited the sin of Adam. It states that Adam sinned, and death came because of that sin.

The verses say that by one man's sin.........sin came to us all........we all became sinners..

See, the reason a person sins, is not because they sinned......its because they are a sinner, by nature.

This is the "adamic nature" that is the Devil's nature that is "human nature", subsequent to the fall of Adam... : that is the fall of us all.

 

[Davy]

There is no text anywhere in scripture that states mankind has ever inherited the sin of Adam.

The blind Pharisees enjoyed 'straining at a gnat' like Jesus said. That's all you are doing regarding the sin of Adam that Apostle Paul said in Romans that ALL men have inherited.

 

[soberxp]

It is the Holy Spirit living in us that wells up into eternal life. Not something about ourselves.

God really Do the love our as himself,so he wants to give us the best. Made man in his own image.

 

[Dan Clarkston]

Apostle Paul where he declared that WE ALL HAVE INHERITED THE SIN OF ADAM AND EVE.

God's Word says because of Adam and Eve sin can "upon" every person.... it does not actually say sin was put IN TO every person. Those that claim it does are reading into scripture something the Lord never said.

Rom 5:19
For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Those claiming what Adam did made all people to be sinners... so WHY do they not believe verse 19 and apply the same logic which would lead them to believe all have been made righteous by Jesus' actions??? It does not fit their false religious, carnal minded agenda, that's why.

If they applied the same logic then they would have to now claim that all have been made righteous thru the actions of Jesus (some did and started following the false doctrines of universalism )

satan's trick is to get everyone to believe God put sin in ever newborn baby to get people to believe they are born sinners so they will continue living in sin (falsely claiming nobody can stop living in sin) which will result them them going to hell.

Even IF it were true... which it is not because God did not make every newborn baby a sinner.... once one is born again they are instructed to put on the New Man which is created in righteousness and true holiness as we see in Ephesians 4:24

Funny how the so called "reformers" FAILED to simply go back to what said in His Word... instead they were deceived by satan in to muddying the waters with the wisdom of men from the darkened mind of mankind with false religious teachings that are not from scripture.

This is why... Apostle Paul said that "by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one (Jesus) the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life"!

Meaning all will have the opportunity to sin.... and all will have the opportunity to accept salvation thru Jesus Christ and get born again

Those claiming they are born sinners use that for cover to.... keep living in sin and thus rejecting the purpose of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[soberxp]

"God is spirit," may not mean what we think it means. Look at what the perfected man is compared with, angels of heaven. Can we say that angels are spirit? Or is there significance in the missing 'a'. It may be that it is only correct to refer to the father of spirits as spirit. The angels also have a spiritual body at the vary least. Does the Father have a spiritual body? Or does Jesus fulfill all roles that require the use of a body?

Why does man need to be omniscient and omnipotent? I wouldn't think that necessary for his plans.

Why also would it be necessary for there to be more than one life giving Spirit? Is God insufficient?

First, we must understand that Jesus is the very image of God (Colossians 1:15) and is omniscient and omnipotent. When Jesus walked on water, He told Peter, ‘You can do it too’ (Matthew 14:29). Scripture does not contradict itself; its message is entirely consistent. Therefore, when Jesus said to Peter, ‘You can,’ He fully understood the implications.

While I have come to understand this truth, I still cannot walk on water—perhaps due to insufficient faith, or perhaps because it’s unnecessary. But the reality is this: one day, we too will become like Him (1 John 3:2).


The Gospel of Matthew
14:28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
14:29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

 

[lforrest]

First, we must understand that Jesus is the very image of God (Colossians 1:15) and is omniscient and omnipotent. When Jesus walked on water, He told Peter, ‘You can do it too’ (Matthew 14:29). Scripture does not contradict itself; its message is entirely consistent. Therefore, when Jesus said to Peter, ‘You can,’ He fully understood the implications.

While I have come to understand this truth, I still cannot walk on water—perhaps due to insufficient faith, or perhaps because it’s unnecessary. But the reality is this: one day, we too will become like Him (1 John 3:2).


The Gospel of Matthew
14:28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
14:29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

I am starting to understand your point. But to be respectful to the intended topic of this thread, we should discuss in another thread.

 

[Rightglory]

The immortality of the soul is a curious thing because it pre-supposes that eternal life is not conditional on the gospel. Why would one need the gospel if their soul is already immortal? I believe this doctrine undermines Christianity.

I'm not sure just how your comments relate to my post.
However, just some comments: Scripture presupposes the immortality of the soul. No human being will receive an immortal existence, both body and soul until the Second Coming of Christ. I Cor 15: 53 - 54.
It is not dependent on the Gospel. It all depends on Christ's resurrection. Now, since all human beings have been given life, physical life, Rom 5:18. I Cor 15:21-22, and other texts, God is now able to call all men to repentance. Man will choose spiritual life or spiritual death of his own free will. There are many texts that bear this out.

If Christ did not overcome death for us, all the rest is null and void. Paul states this in I Cor 15:16-20

 

[Rightglory]

The immortality of the soul is a curious thing because it pre-supposes that eternal life is not conditional on the gospel. Why would one need the gospel if their soul is already immortal? I believe this doctrine undermines Christianity.

Correct. It depends on Christ's resurrection. Christ now can call all men to repentance. Man will decide by how own will if they will follow Christ or Satan. This would not have been possible if Christ first did not defeat death, the curse given to Adam for his sin.