PROPOSITION 10.
Resurrection Is the Means of a Future Life for the Dead
Job 14:14 If a man die shall he live again?
Job 19:25, 26 1 know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth, and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.
Psa. 49:15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave.
Isa. 26:19 Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall their arise. Awake and sing) ye that dwell in dust.
Dan. 12:2 And many of them that deep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Phil. 3:10, 11 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, * * * if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
I Cor. 15:16, 18 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised; * * * then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ ARE PERISHED.
While it is clear from the testimonies given that man is mortal and absolutely destitute of immortality, and that in death he is dead and therefore unconscious, our hope of immortality must be through the resurrection, and immortality is therefore a matter of hope for the righteous only, and not an inherent possession of saint and sinner alike. Immortality is Gods nature. He is "The King eternal, immortal, invisible" (I Tim. 1:17), "who only hath immortality" (I Tim. 6:16). It is therefore a holy nature befitting righteous beings only; for God would surely not impart His own holy nature to wicked and depraved
11. Immortality the gift of God to the righteous only
PROPOSITION 11.
Immortality Is the Gift of God to the Righteous Only
II Pet. 1:4 Whereby are given unto us 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.
I John 3:2 Beloved now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
Phil. 3:20, 21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned ONTO HIS GLORIOUS BODY.
Luke 20:35, 36 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage; neither can they die any more; for they are equal unto the angels and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
Rom. 2:6, 7 Who (God) will render to every man according to his deeds; to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life.
I Cor. 15:51–54 Behold I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Now the word "immortality" is found only six times in the Bible, and never once is used as a prefix to the word soul in the oft-repeated form we hear from men–"immortal soul". First, it is said that God is immortal (I Tim, 1:17). Second, that God only hath immortality (I Tim. 6:16). Third, that Christ abolished death (in Himself), and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (II Tim. 1:10). Fourth, that we must by well doing seek for immortality (Rom. 2:7). Fifth, that immortality will be put on at the resurrection. And, sixth, that when it is put on death will be swallowed up in victory (I Cor. 15:53–57).
12. Life as now possessed is not eternal, but a vapor that soon passeth away
PROPOSITION 12.
Life As Now Possessed Is Not Eternal or Everlasting, But a Vapor That Soon Passeth Away
Job 14:1, 2 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
Psa. 39:5 Behold thou has made my days as a handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity.
Psa. 103:15 As for man, his days are as grass; as the flower of the field so he flourisheth.
Psa. 144:4 Man is like to vanity; his days are as a shadow that passeth away.
I Pet. 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower Of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away.
Jas. 4:14 For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away.
13. Everlasting life not a present possession, but a matter of hope
PROPOSITION 13.
Everlasting or Eternal Life Is Not a Present Possession, but a Matter of Promise and Hope of the Righteous
I John 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, EVEN ETERNAL LIFE, through Jesus Christ.
II Tim. 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God according to THE PROMISE OF LIFE which is in Christ Jesus.
Tit. 1:2 IN HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE, which God that cannot lie promised before the world began.
Tit. 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE.
Rom. 2:6, 7 Who will render to every man according to his deeds; to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory, honor and immortality, eternal life.
Col. 3:3, 4 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God; and when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, THEN shall ye also appear with him in glory.
John 5:28, 29 All that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life.
Gal. 6:8 He that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting.
Luke 20:35, 36 They which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage; neither can they
