The Great Salvation. Thomas Williams
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we can understand the words, "Lord Jesus receive my (not me) spirit and Stephen fell asleep (Acts 7:59); and, Jesus, when he had cried with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost," spirit or life (Matt. 27:50). But Jesus died. The spirit was not Jesus; it was that which gave Him life. When He yielded up the spirit He yielded up His life and then He --Jesus Himself--died. If the spirit that He yielded up was Jesus, the Christ, then He did not die, to claim which would imperil our salvation.
When you seek the meaning of a Scripture word it is not safe to take the theological meaning; for Scripture words have been made to serve in giving expression to heathen doctrines. If you take the radical meaning of spirit as given in the dictionary you will find it accords with the Scripture use in the primary sense. The meaning given by Webster for spirit is breath. The meaning the lexicons give of the Greek and Hebrew words pneuma and ruach--the words which stand for spirit--is breath. The noun in each case is derived from a verb meaning to breathe. So when God formed man of the dust of the ground He made him alive by causing him to breathe His spirit, which all the creatures that went into the ark possessed (Gen. 7:14, 15). When man dies "his breath (ruach, spirit) goeth forth, he returneth to his earth, and in that very day his thoughts perish" (Psa. 146:4). The spirit of God is everywhere–in the air that surrounds us. That portion of it which God enables us to appropriate to our use in respiration (by breathing) is called breath; and as it is by this process of breathing that we live, it is called the breath or spirit of life. It is the same with all creatures; for, as we have seen, "they --man and beasts-- have all one breath" (Ecc. 3:19). So our breath or spirit of life comes from God to make and keep us alive; and when we die the breath or spirit of life returns to God who gave it. The giving of it makes us alive, and the taking away of it leaves us dead.
With these facts before you, that man is mortal, and that the soul and spirit of man are never spoken in the Scriptures as immortal, we may now ask you to listen to the use of the word immortal, so that you may more fully see that immortality is in no sense man's present possession, and that therefore "immortal soul" and "immortal spirit" are invented phrases--not scriptural.
19. Immortality is God’s holy nature; the word “immortal” is never applied to man in his present state
PROPOSITION 19.
Immortality Is God's Holy and Glorious Nature, and the Word Immortal Is Never Applied to Man In His Present State
Now immortality is spoken of in the Scriptures in various ways. We have already shown (Proposition 11.) that it is a gift of God to the righteous only; but let us now look at the use the Bible makes of the word. Following are all the instances where it is found:
I Tim. 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever.
I Tim. 6:15, 16 Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light, etc.
II Tim. 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and IMMORTALITY to light through the gospel.
Rom. 2:6, 7 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: tothem who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory, honor and immortality, eternal life.
I Cor. 15:53, 54 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, dear reader, look at this without prejudice, and see, first, that the word immortal or immortality is never applied to man in his present state. Then consider that in the first verse quoted immortality is God's nature. Do you think God would bestow His divine and holy and indestructible nature upon wicked and depraved beings? Do you think it is reasonable to believe that beings possessed of God’s holy nature could be tempted to sin and that God would torture eternally millions of beings possessed of His own divine nature? Is not such a thought revolting to a mind that regards God as being holy, just, wise and good, His nature being the very essence of these attributes?
But now look at the four verses where the word is used in relation to man. First, immortality is brought to light through the gospel. Second, it is that which we must seek for by well doing. Third, we shall put it on at the resurrection. Fourth, when it is put on death is swallowed up in victory. Thus you will see that such a boon as to be made partakers of the divine nature is only for those who prove themselves worthy of it. (Remember that you never read in the Bible the words immortal soul" or "immortal spirit"). The same is true of eternal life, as we shall next proceed to show.
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