West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-06-27
LIFE AND IMMORTALITY.
''O1r Savior, Jesus Christ . hath
abolished death and brought life and i'm.
mortality to light through the Gospel.
Tim. 1910.


origin in the Lords condemnation of the
Serpent in Eden that eventually, "the seed
OF the woman shall bruise the serpent's
head This was no doubt understood to
mean that at least portion of the Adamic
family would finally triumph over Satan,
aud over sin and death, into which he had
'nveigled them" The heather idol repre-
sentng woman with a babe in her arms.
found among the ancient antiques testi6es
to the effort in man TO retain this basis of
hopes. This hope was but vaguely en-.
eouraged-the Lord speaking through
Noah, and through Euoch, but the gospcl-
the good tidings of salvation from death.
tn be offered in due time To all mankind
seems To have been first clearly stated tn
Abraham. Unto him God first declared
Himself to be the Supreme above all the
spirit beiugs tElohim. sons of God) of whom
mankind had more nr less knowledge. 81
am the Almighty Cod" Gen. I7:I; Exodus
o5. The Apostle declares "rhe r5snrl
was preached before to Abraham. sayinr
'ln thy seed shall all the families of the
earth be blessed. This was the basis of
the Jewish hope of a resurrection. The
promised blessing implicit future life, and
scattered lsarel carried fragments Of their
hopes and of Gods promises everywhere
they went.
But whether hope is an element in mans
nature or an admiNture of Jewish thought, or
both, certain it is that the whole world be.
lieves in a future life, and almost all believe
it will be everlasting. This is the "earnest
expectation of the creation"
But such hepcs are not byooG of the
doctrine and the old Testament promises.
made to the Jews are too vague to constitute
basis for clear faith, much less for a
''dogmaiic theology" on this subject But
in the clear statements of our Lord. and
afterwards of the equally clear statements of
the Apostles on this momentous subject of
everlasting life, we begin to exchange vague
hopes for positive convictions. In their
words we have not only positive statements
of a future life provided for all, but also
the philosophy of the fact. and how it is to
be attained, and maintained, are set forth as
nowhere else.
The philosophy of the fact should readily
be reasoned out from any of the PROPOSE
tions. Such as for instance, Except a
grain of wheat fell into the ground and die.
abideth alone" but If it be planted, what is
the result Answer a yield of other
grains of Hke kind. "The man Christ Iesus
gave himself a ransom for ALL"
In Adam an unborn race died, Tor is dying
out, the measure of life inherited). In the
likewise perfect man Christ Jesus perished
prospective race ; a full equivalent price
given for every member of the human
family. "lle shall see of the travail of his
soul (being) and he satisfied, &" having made
possibility for every member of the human
family to attain everlasting life, as repre-
sented in the perfect grain of wheat. Hence
'eternal life is the gift Of God MyoMrl
Jesus Christ our Lord" "IIe that hath the
Son hath life "a grant of life) but he tha,
hath not the Son shall not see (perfect life "
The gift Of everlasting life will not be
forced upon any il must he sought and laid
hold of, Tim. 6;I2-I9. The finally in.
corrigible will suffer the loss of everlasting
life, all its privileges, joys and blessings,
Everlasting destruction" a destruction that
will last for ever-"as though they had
never been"
But everlasting life and Immortality are
not the same, as generally supposed Ever.
lasting life is full and perfect, but must be
constantly supplied and the fount will ever
be open TO the obedient, when that "which
is perfect shall come" as in the primal
condition.
Immortality IS an element or quality Of
the Divine nature only, it is more than
power to live eyerlastingly-it is the prize
Of the gospel age, and was never offered
before nor mentioned as something 10 be
attained. The word immoylqI signifies net
morfa/ - acahhPyooE incompatible, i'm.
.perishable.
As the Father hath H/r in HimsrLI, so hath
lie GRIM to the Son to have H/eiH MmslIf."
Life inherent-and giyeH to the Son-Ie is
the King eternal, immortal. invisible, Tim.
1917. These Scriptures are decisive authority
upon this subject. The word moyh1I does
not signify ayiRg, but merely that am die,
die'a6ic, possessing life dependent upon God
for IT'S continuance. II is distinctly stated
Of Satan that in due time he will be
dcSfyoyca, hence he is not truth byooC not
immortal. That man is moyiaI olo is
abundantly manifest, and even the Saints in
Christ mot others) are exhorted TO scek for
Immortality, Rom. 2:7. II Adam was
created immortal, how could he be threatened,
and afterwards sentenced 10 death ? n
death-proof, he could not die, and why did
God drive him out from the life sustaining
trees, lest he BY rohAg live forever ? Gen.
3:22. n Adam was created m0yhal accord.
ing to the crronious definition Myiag How
could God sentence man to death after his
disobedienoe II he we're already dgi1g
creature And II dji,ig how could God
declare that his death came by sin Con.
fusions are unavoidable unless the true def.
nitions are recognized.
Adam was created perfect and placed i'm
perfect conditions. Death was possibility
and everlasting life a possibility according
as he pleased or displeascd his wise. ius,
and loving Creator. There would be no
uncertainty in his condition. God Is un-
chaogcable, hence Adam would have had
mi ossN0NCe Of everlasting life 50 long as
he continued loyal and obcdient, and when
his character had become fully established
all injanciions would have been dissolved.
Christian people have for centuries been
0ff'1g to the word Of God Gn thought At
AZ leasp There are no such expressions in