Man is Mortal

by: Bishop Marthy C. Austria House Under The Grace of Christ Fellowship PURE GRACE

I. Here are the verses that prove that man is mortal which means “he dies”.

A. Genesis

Gen 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.”

Gen 3:22 “And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:”

Gen 3:23-24 “Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”B

B. Ezekiel

Ezekiel 18:4 “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”

C. 1 Timothy

1 Tim 6:16 “Who (Christ Jesus) ONLY hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.”

D. 1 Corinthians

1 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.”

E. Romans

Rom 2:7 “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life”

II. Without Christ there is no immortality

A. False teaching: setting a wrong date for the resurrection.

During Apostle Paul’s time there were two men teaching heresy: Hymenaeus and Philetus (2 Timothy 2:17, 18) “Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some”. Why could they fool the saints in that way? Because the saints of that time were taught by Paul the apostle and they believed that the resurrection would be SPIRITUAL in nature, and NOT physical. If the saints during Paul’s time believed that the resurrection was to be a physical one, they would not have been fooled, because if it was or would be, they would see it with their physical eyes. Remember, according to Jesus that “the kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Matt 17:20, 21). It means that the kingdom of God is NOT physical. It cannot be seen with the physical eyes. It is spiritual and spiritual things can only be “spiritually discerned” (1 Cor 2:14) that is why Jesus said that a man must be “born again” (regenerated) in order for him to see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). And resurrection happens only when Christ comes in his kingdom (Mark 9:1; 1 Cor 15:23-24).

Yes these two men were right, for the resurrection is spiritual in nature. But these two men were mistaken, for the resurrection (spiritual resurrection) had not occurred yet in their day for it was still to come. Their error was NOT the teaching of a spiritual resurrection, but the declaration that it had already occurred in their time, without understanding the exact prophetic time of the Lord who prophesied that his coming and the resurrection would come after a generation. But during their time, that generation (40 years) had not yet passed, so it would be an error to say that the resurrection had happened already. And so their teaching was called a heresy.

Mark 13:30 “Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.”

Luke 21:32 “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.”

Therefore the resurrection had not yet occurred that time for without Christ there was and never will be a resurrection. Resurrection happens only when Christ comes back.

John 11:25 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live”

For the Bible teaches that “the dead shall be raised incorruptible” (1 Cor. 15:52) or be resurrected at Christ’s coming (1 Cor. 15:23). Christ had not yet come back during that time.

The error of Hymanaeus and Philetus: teaching that the resurrection is past already (during their time). Setting the wrong date of the resurrection. Many today follow these heretics, by teaching that the resurrection will still be in the future and that it will be physical. So you see, whether you teach a spiritual resurrection or a physical resurrection, but you set the wrong date, it is heresy. But what is the right and exact date of the resurrection?

B. Right teaching: The resurrection happened after a generation (40 year period) according to Christ’s words, at Christ’s coming/arrival or parousia. 30 to 70 A.D.

It happened at 70 A.D. – when Christ fulfilled his promise of return after a generation (40 years) to judge the quick and the dead at the destruction of Jerusalem and her temple.

Can’t we trust Christ’s very words? He is faithful and true.

Matthew 16:28 “Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.”

Matthew 10:23 “But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.”

Matthew 24:34 “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.”

1 Corinthians 15: 21 -23 “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.”

1 Corinthians 15: 42 -49 “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”

III. Christ is the Solution to the Death Problem

A. Christ is the only one who has immortality and the Giver of immortality.

1 Timothy 6:14-16 "Our Lord Jesus Christ; which in His times He shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen"(1 Timothy 6:14-16).

2 Timothy 1: 9-11 “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 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: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.”

B. Christ died for his people, was buried and rose again from the dead to be the firstborn from the dead.

Hebrews 2:9 “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”

Colossians 1:18 “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

C. He abolished spiritual death.

2 Timothy 1: 9-11 “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 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: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.”

D. He took the keys of hell (grave) and spiritual death from the devil.

Revelation 1:18 “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

E. He destroyed the devil which had the power of spiritual death.

Hebrews 2:14 “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil”

1. F. He became the mediator of the New Testament for the eternal inheritance of his people.

Hebrews 9:15 “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”

Hebrews 9:16 “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.”

G. He finally destroyed spiritual death at his second coming.

1Cor 15: 23-28 “But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.”

1 Cor 15: 54-57 “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. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”