The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-11
or IM|'lPENITENT
DISCUSSED BY REV. DIR. j. ID. JOR-
DAN AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
ARE THEY ANNIHILATED?
THIS BELIEF HELD BY MANY AND
NEEDS CONFEDERATION.

physical, the Ethical and the Fhe-
illogical Arguments on ImmortaIi-
ty-Denied Also by the Correct In
depreciation of the Scriptures.
"Poses as an Apology for God, and
If Accepted Offers to Man the Sad
dest End That Can BE CONTEMPT
lated; That of Being an. EverIast-
ing Nothing.a -v-,.---,
"Are the Impenitent Annihilated?"
was discussed by Rev. DIR. ]. D. Jor-
dan, at the First Baptist Church last
night He drew his text from Luke,
Chapter xx:Ss: He is not a God of
the dead, but of the living: for all live
unto him."
There is doctrine in the minds of
some people, said DIR. Jordan, "that
needs consideration. 1t is to the effect
that only believers have immortality,
and that unbelievers suffer annihil,
alton.
This doctrine confuses Immortality
with the idea of everlasting life and
everlasting punishment. Immortality
refers to an endless exstance, while
everlasting life and punishment refer
to one of the two conditions under
which an endless existance must be
spent Everlasting life refers to an
Immortality spent in righteous and
gracious justification and everlasting
punishment. refers to an immortality
spent under righteous and just con-
demnation. The former is described as
a condition of light, peace and joy in
the glorious presence of the Lord. the
latter is described as a condition of
darkness, confusion and sorrow away
from God. The former has the glow
and sparkle of life, and the latter has
the pallor and shadow of death; hence
one is called life and the other is called
| death.
THE doctrine poses as an apology
for God, who needs no apology. Its
advocates claim that it does away with
the idea of hell and long punishment.
In other words, it comes to the relief
| of God and relieves Him of hitherto
great responsibility, as though it were
more gracious to destroy utterly than
to put one in a place coagenial to His
nature to dwell. In other words, to
hang or electrocute a man would be a
virtue, while life sentence would be
a crime. This theory advocates capital
| punishment with a vengeance,
This theory admits of no degrees in
punishment. Larceny after trust and
murder of the first degree would fare
alike in its feeble court. The most
moral and good who were not believers
would fare just as the lowest of the
low and meanest of the mean. What
soever man soweth that shall he also
reap, is not considered in this theory.
Neither does it have respect unto the
oIA ri hot
be rewarded according to his deeds.
This is Sadduceeism and epiourean-
ism rather than a Christine or Pauline
doctrine. 1t takes up Ecclesiastes xi:9,
"Rejoice, o young man, in thy youth;
and let thy heart cheer thee in the
days of thy youth, and walk in the
ways of thine heart, and in the sight
of thine eyes" but forgets to add, but
know thou that for all these things
God will bring thee into judgment.
This theory does not discern the
right Interpretation of the Scriptures
on which it purports to rest They say
1t is now made manifest by the APP
pearing of our Savior Jesus Christ,
who hath abolished death, and hath
brought life and Immortality and light
through the gospel This refers to the
resurrection of Christ's body, and has
no special bearing on the soul 1t is
an argument for the future life and
immortality of the body. The immor-
tality of the soul was a common be-
lief among most of the Hebrews, and
the argument here is to show that
through the resurrection there is to be
an immortal body for the immortal
spirit.
"They argue that Immortality is not
given till the time of final resurrection.
Here they are crossed between body
and spirit, but to grant their argument
here their theory falls, for the unbe-
lieving shall be raised as we'll as the
believing. The resurrection body is
an immortal body. Then, according to
their theory, you would have a mortal
spirit in an immortal body. The true
idea is, here we have an immortal
spirit in a mortal body. They are
torn asunder. the old body dies and
out of 1t God raises up an immortal
body for the immortal spirit.
This theory does not agree with ar
guments and proofs Of Immortality
First. The metaphysical argument,
that the spirit is simple, not compound,
hence indivisible, therefore indestruct-
able.
Second. The ethical argument, that
deeds, both good and bad, do not al
ways receive their just rewards in this
world, hence there must be a place OF
reckoning beyond the grave.
Third. The theological argument,
perfection may be approached in this
life, but not attained, hence there must
be a hereafter where sin and righte-
BUSINESS complete their work. Il Cor,
xiii10)
Fourth. The scriptural argument:
Here the proof of Immortality Us
clear and abundant The dust shall
return to the earth as it was; and the
spirit shall return unto the God who
gave It. This applies to all
THE Scriptures make the immor-
tality of unbelievers very clear Daniel
xii2: Many of them that sleep in the
dust of the earth shall awake, some
to everlasting salvation, and some to
shame and everlasting contempt;
Matthew xxv:46: And these shall go
away into everlasting punishment; but
the righteous into life eternal We
may die TO our friends, but not to God,
for all live unto him.
Grant all that this theory claims
Could there be a sadder thought than
that those who were are no more for
ever? Could there be a sadder end
contemplated than 10 be an everlast-
ing nothing? At all events an ever
lasting life of peace and JOY as the
sons and daughters Of God Is offered
through Christ Jesus our Lord and d.
vine wisdom says. lay hold on eternal
life.'
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