Previous lessons have shown that our redemption, our righteousness, over justification, and our life are all in – emphasis on IN – Christ. We possess these by faith, and by faith only.

It has been the work of the anti-Christ to cast the truth to the ground (Daniel 8:12) or rather to put into man those things we have only in Christ. During the Dark Ages, the Roman Church taught that by God’s work of grace in man’s heart – the infusion of righteousness – a man was justified before God. Whereas the Protestant Reformers held that a man was made acceptable to God by God’s work of grace IN JESUS CHRIST. This teaching brought about the greatest Christian revival since Apostolic times.

Unfortunately, most Christians today believe that man has within himself an “immortal soul” or life within himself. This is a Greek concept that can be traced back to Plato (427-347 BC) whose written works include, “On the Immortality of the Soul.”

Christians have on Greek glasses when they read about the nature of man in the Bible, which clearly and consistently teaches that man is mortal – subject to death – that man has no conscious thought in death, which is likened unto a sleep. That believers are awakened at the resurrection at which time they receive immortality.

COME NOW AND LET US REASON TOGETHER.

Hydrogen (2 parts) plus Oxygen equals Water

H2 + 0 = water compound (a combination of the two)

Genesis 2:7 – “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

Body + breath of life = Living Soul

A living soul, a living creature, is a combination of body and God’s breath of life, two things.

At death, the opposite takes place.

Psalms 146:3, 4 – “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.”

Ecclesiastes 12:7 – Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit (breath) shall return unto God who gave it.”

Take away one part – body or breath – and “living soul” is no more.

The Hebrew word “nephesh” translated “living soul” in Genesis 2:7 is also translated “living creature” in Genesis 1:24; 2:19; 9:12. Nephesh is also translated “life” 119 times.

Living creatures are souls also, and have the breath of life in them.

At the flood “… all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. (Genesis 7:21, 22; see Job 27:3)

“For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them; as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea they all have one breath, so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast; for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust and all turn to dust again. Who knoweth the spirit of man goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? (Ecclesiastes 3:19-21)

Souls are not immortal but subject to death as in the above a. (1) and (2).

“The soul that sinneth it shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:4, 20)

When the second angel pours out his vial “… every living soul died in the sea.” (Revelation 16:3)

The Messiah, the suffering servant of Isaiah 53 “… poured out his soul unto death” (verse 12)

It should be clear from the Genesis account that Adam and Eve were mortal, subject to death, for God told them they would “surely die” if they ate of the tree in the midst of the garden.

It was Satan who told the first lie on earth, when he said, “Ye shall not surely die.” (Genesis 3:4)

It is evident God did not want them to live forever for He drove them from the garden lest they eat of the tree of life “… and live forever.” (Genesis 3:22)

“Shall mortal man be more just than God” (Job 4:17)

Only God hath immortality. (I Timothy 6:16)

The saints receive everlasting life at the Second Coming. (Luke 18:30; Mark 10:30; Daniel 12:2; 1 Corinthians 15:53, 54)

If the believers already possessed immortality, why would the Apostle Paul encourage them to “… seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life”? (Romans 2:7)

It is the work of the anti-Christ to cause man to believe he has within himself, NOW, those things which are only in Christ and which man has only through faith, and receive at His Coming.

In death, man has no conscious thoughts or activity.

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, no device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10)

Psalm 6:5 – “In death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?”

Psalm 30:9 – “What profit is there … when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? Shall it declare thy truth?”

Psalm 88:10 – “Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? Shall the dead arise and praise thee?”

Psalm 115:17 – “The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.”

Psalm 146:4 – “His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.”

Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6 – “The dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.”

Isaiah 38:18, 19 – “The grave cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The living … shall praise thee.”

1 Corinthians 15:17, 18 – “If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain … . Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.” “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.

In the Bible, death is represented as a sleep.

“So David slept with his fathers and was buried in the City of David.” (1 Kings 2:10)

“Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day.” (Acts 2:29) “For David is not ascended into the heavens.” (Verse 34)

Over forty times the Bible says the various kings slept with their fathers.

“… Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then Jesus said unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.” (John 11:11-14)

“So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake nor be raised out of their sleep. … If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.”

“If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.” (Job 14:12, 14; 17:13 ( 14:21)

“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2)

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). “Behold, I shew 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 trumpet: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:51, 52)

“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice.” (John 5:28)

Believers have life ONLY IN CHRIST, not in themselves.

The wages of sin is death but only through Jesus is there salvation. (Romans 6:23; Acts 4:12)

Christ came so believers should not PERISH. (John 3:16)

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God HATH NOT LIFE.” (1 John 5:11,12)

When Christ, WHO IS OUR LIFE, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3:4)