The Faith I Live By

Natural Immortality a Lie, June 21

Immortality Through Christ

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. Proverbs 21:6. FLB 178.1

The great original lie which he [Satan] told to Eve in Eden, “Ye shall not surely die,” was the first sermon ever preached on the immortality of the soul. That sermon was crowned with success, and terrible results followed. He has brought minds to receive that sermon as truth, and ministers preach it, sing it, and pray it.^{54Testimonies for the Church 1:342.} FLB 178.2

After the Fall, Satan bade his angels make a special effort to inculcate the belief in man's natural immortality; and having induced the people to receive this error, they were to lead them on to conclude that the sinner would live in eternal misery. Now the prince of darkness, working through his agents, represents God as a revengeful tyrant, declaring that He plunges into hell all those who do not please Him, and causes them ever to feel His wrath.... FLB 178.3

A large class to whom the doctrine of eternal torment is revolting, are driven to the opposite error. They see that the Scriptures represent God as a being of love and compassion, and they cannot believe that He will consign His creatures to the fires of an eternally burning hell. But holding that the soul is naturally immortal, they see no alternative but to conclude that all mankind will finally be saved. Many regard the threatenings of the Bible as designed merely to frighten men into obedience, and not to be literally fulfilled. Thus the sinner can live in selfish pleasure, disregarding the requirements of God, and yet expect to be finally received into His favor.... FLB 178.4

God has given to men a declaration of His character, and of His method of dealing with sin.... “All the wicked will he destroy.” Psalm 145:20.... Yet all the manifestations of retributive justice will be perfectly consistent with the character of God as a merciful, long-suffering, benevolent being.... FLB 178.5

And all who have a just conception of these qualities will love Him because they are drawn toward Him in admiration of His attributes.^{55The Great Controversy, 534, 537, 541.} FLB 178.6