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 N addition to
the testimony already considered, let us hear “the faithful
witness.” Mt 22:31,32. “But as touching the resurrection of
the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God,
saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God
of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead but of the living.” What is
the argument here? Certainly it is, that the dead must rise, because
God is not the God of the dead, as he would be if the dead rise not.
But this is not true, if Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are living in
glory. In this case God is the God of the living although the dead
rise not. Our Savior predicates their living, entirely on their
resurrection from the grave; consequently they have no life at
present.
Paul rested all his hope of future life on the same basis. 1Co
15:32. “If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at
Ephesus, what advantageth it me if the dead rise not? Let us eat and
drink for to-morrow we die.” Would it be no advantage for such a
spiritual and independent intelligent subsistence, as the human soul
is supposed to be, to enjoy the glory of God forever, although the
dead body should never rise? Do not many suppose that such a state
would be more advantageous without the body than with it.
1Co 15:17,18. “If Christ be not raised-then they also which are fallen
asleep in Christ are perished.” The apostle’s argument is, that if
Christ has not risen, there will be no resurrection of the saints,
and if so, they have perished to exist no more. But how can this be
if they possessed immortal souls? To say that an immortal soul can
perish is a contradiction in terms.
Joh 6:39. “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all
which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up
again at the last day.” If Jesus Christ does not raise his saints
from the grave, he will lose them, but this is not true, if their
souls never die.
Col 3:3,4. “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When
Christ, who is our life, shall appear, THEN shall ye also appear
with him in glory.”
The believer’s life is indeed secured by divine promise, but it is
hid, concealed, until Christ “shall appear” the second time.
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