The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 1

VI. Immortality—God’s Alone, Man’s to “Put On” at Advent

As already observed, absolute, ultimate Immortality is God’s only. Mortal man must “seek” for it, must “put it on,” must find it in the gospel promises and God’s enabling acts. It is not his presently, nor his naturally, inherently, innately, or independently. It is conditional, contingent, and still future—received at and retained after the resurrection-translation. CFF1 459.1

But it is ours in promise and provision. Note the six pertinent texts sustaining these statements of relationship to the one and only innately Immortal One, whose light no man can approach unto—unless he presumptuously claims immortality on the basis of tradition, based in turn at the beginning on Satan’s original lie in Eden (Genesis 3:4; John 8:44). CFF1 459.2

It is essential that we grasp the revealed twofold basis for eternal life, which is ours here and now, in a special and specified sense. Let us look at one facet of this scintillating gem of truth: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). CFF1 459.3

But to this “in Christ” aspect Paul immediately adds the converse side of this dual relationship—if “the Spirit of God dwell in you” (Romans 8:9). And he immediately repeats this aspect by stressing plainly, “If Christ be in you, ... the Spirit is life” (Romans 8:10). That is unequivocal. Then comes this consequence and climax: CFF1 459.4

Picture 2: Raising of Lazarus:
Lazarus, Raised by Christ From the Sleep of Death, Still Bound With Grave clothes, Attested the Omnipotent Power of the Life giver.
Page 459

“If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies” (Romans 8:11). CFF1 460.1

We are thus led up to our “change,” or “quickening,” at the resurrection. But Paul explains our present relationship even more explicitly: CFF1 460.2

“I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). CFF1 460.3

It is therefore both His life within us and His faith that are effective. That is the provision and the guarantee of our safety and triumph. Jesus likewise set forth the same twofold relationship in these words: CFF1 460.4

“He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood [receiving and assimilating Christ in the life], dwelleth in me, and I in him” (John 6:56). CFF1 460.5

That twofold integration is identical in intent with His previous statement: CFF1 460.6

“That every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:40). CFF1 460.7

There we have it: eternal life now; and Immortality at the Second Advent. That is God’s gracious plan and wondrous provision. CFF1 461.1

1. SIMILAR TO CHRIST’S RELATIONSHIP TO THE FATHER

This life, integrated with the life of Christ, is much the same relationship as that between Christ and the Father when Christ was on earth as a man among mortal men, subject to death. This He presented in these words: “I am in the Father, and the Father an me” (John 14:11). And He added, “The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works” (John 14:10). That was the basis of Christ’s triumphant life. So Christ says assuringly to the believer, “We [Christ and the Father] will come unto him [the believer], and make our abode with him” (John 14:23). Then He adds one further provision: “Ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you” (John 14:20). CFF1 461.2

That becomes an invincible threefold union. Never are we to forget that Christ is operatively present in us through the Holy Spirit. “For he [the Holy Spirit] dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (John 14:17, 18). And our eternal life is safe in Him. There is no occasion for failure. That is why and how our eternal life, vested in Christ, is ours now and here—with immortalization to follow. CFF1 461.3

2. LIFE OF GOD IMPLANTED THROUGH NEW BIRTH

One further point needs to be remembered. Eternal life is the life of God, revealed in and through Christ, who is God (John 1:4; John 5:26; 1 John 1:1, 2). This life of God is implanted in the believer through the new birth (John 3:3-15; Galatians 6:15). And it is through this new birth that the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature and a recipient of the life of Christ Himself (Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 1:27; 1 Peter 1:23, 25; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 5:10-12). This is not a mere reformation or rejuvenation of the old nature, but the creative act of the Holy Spirit (John 1:12, 13; John 3:5; 2 Corinthians 5:17). But it cannot be overemphasized that this life remains vested in Christ, and its operation in us is dependent upon our being in Him: CFF1 461.4

“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life” (1 John 5:11-13). CFF1 462.1

This is the living, vitalizing relationship of the heavenly Vine and the human branches (John 15:1-6). CFF1 462.2