“Hopes of a future everlasting life are held out vaguely in the Old Testament; but immortality is not so much as mentioned.

Indeed, the inspired Apostle declares of our Lord Jesus, that he “abolished death [broke its hold on man] and brought life AND immortality to light through the gospel.” (2 Tim 1:10)

This shows two things:

(1) That life in perfection, lasting life, is separate and distinct from immortality, indestructibility.

(2) It shows that neither of these great blessings had been disclosed or made accessible previous to the gospel – the “great salvation which began to be preached by our Lord.” Heb 2:3

And what did our Lord’s gospel bring to “light” respecting these two great blessings – life and immortality?

(a) It shows that by divine grace our Lord purchased the whole world of Adam’s posterity and thus secured for each and every member of the race an opportunity to return from death to life – in other words it declares coming “times of restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began.” Restitution in its highest and ultimate sense will be the bringing of the restored ones not only out of the tomb, but out of the various degrees of death (represented in sickness and imperfection) up to life – lasting life as Adam enjoyed it before his disobedience. The gospel of Christ assures us that a full opportunity to attain this life blessing shall be granted to ALL under the reasonable terms of the New Covenant – “in due time.” 1 Tim 2:6

(b) The “light” of Christ’s gospel shows a special provision in the divine plan for a special calling, testing and preparing of a small number of his creatures (a “little flock”, now during the Gospel age only) to more than a moral and rational likeness to himself – an invitation so to conform themselves to the Father’s will and so to prove their loyal obedience to him, that he might make of them, “new creatures,” “the express image of his person,” and “partakers of the divine nature” – a prominent constituent element of which is immortality. This our Lord Jesus broached, brought to light, in his gospel of God’s grace.

With amazement we inquire – To whom of God’s holy ones – angels, cherubim or seraphim – is so high a call extended?

The reply of the gospel of Christ is that it is not extended to the angels at all, but to the Son of Man and his “bride” to be chosen from among those whom he redeemed with his own precious blood.

Consider him, who, for the joy set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is now in consequence set down at the right hand (place of favor) of the throne of God. He was rich, but for our sakes he became poor. Inasmuch as the man and race to be redeemed were human, it was needful that he become human so as to give the ransom or corresponding price. He therefore humbled himself and took the bondman’s form; and after he found himself in fashion as a man, he humbled himself even unto death – even unto the most ignominious form of death – the death of the cross. “Wherefore, God hath highly exalted him [to the promised divine nature, at his resurrection], and given him a name that is above every name [Jehovah’s name excepted – 1 Cor 15:27.” Heb 12:3,2; 2 Cor 8:9; Phil 2:8, 9

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.” Rev 5:9-12

The opulence of divine favor might well have stopped with the exaltation of this great and worthy One: but no; God, the Father, has arranged that Christ Jesus, as the captain, shall lead a company of Sons of God to “glory, honor and immortality” (Heb 2:10; Rom 2:7), each of whom, however, must be a spiritual “copy” or likeness of the “First Begotten.” As a grand lesson of the divine sovereignty, and as a sublime contradiction to all evolution theories, God elected to call to this place of honor (as “the bride, the Lamb’s wife and joint-heir” – Rev 21:2,9; Rom 8:17), not angels and cherubs, but some from among the sinners redeemed by the precious blood of the Lamb.

God elected the number (144,000) to be thus exalted (Rev 7:4), and predestinated what must be their characteristics if they would make their calling and election sure to a place in that company to be so highly honored; and all the rest is left to Christ, who worketh now as the Father worked hitherto. John 5:17

It’s important to understand that it was the number of individuals the LORD predestinated who would comprise the elect, the Church of Christ, NOT that He predestinated the individuals themselves. All who will be considered for this position must be conformed to the image of Christ, made copies of him (in their hearts and as such as they are capable of, at present, in their flesh). They must make their calling and election sure by a faithful compliance with the conditions of their covenant, and this implies being proven faithful even until death. Free-will is the gift of God and those (believers) who would compose the Church must choose for themselves to walk in the Masters footsteps, to become his disciples, choose for themselves to be conformed to the image of God’s dear Son. God does not arbitrary choose whom these shall nor impose His will upon them over riding their own will to accept this invitation.

The Gospel age, from Pentecost to the setting up of the Kingdom at the second advent, is the time for the selection of this elect Bride of Christ class, variously termed “the Church,” “the body of Christ,” the “royal priesthood,” the “seed of Abraham” (Gal 3:29), etc.; and the continued permission of evil is for the purpose of developing these “members of the body of Christ” and to furnish them the opportunity of sacrificing their little and redeemed all, in the service of him who bought them with his precious blood; and thus of developing in their hearts his spiritual likeness, that when, at the end of the age, they are presented by their Lord and Redeemer before the Father, God may see in them “the image of his Son.” Col 1:22; Rom 8:29

As the reward of “glory, honor and immortality,” and all the features of the divine nature, were not conferred upon the “First Begotten” until he had finished his course by completing his sacrifice and obedience in death, so too with the Church, his “bride” – counted as one and treated collectively. Our Lord, the First Born and Captain, “entered into his glory” at his resurrection: he there became partaker of the divine nature fully, by being “born from the dead,” “born of the Spirit“: he there was highly exalted to the throne and highest favor (“right hand” of God); and so he has promised that his Church, his “bride,” shall in resurrection be changed, by divine power, from human nature to the glory, honor and immortality of the divine nature. Heb 13:20; 2 Pet 1:4

And so, it is written respecting “THE resurrection” of the Church: “It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption [immortality]: it is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: it is sown a natural [animal] body; it is raised a spiritual body.” 1 Cor 15:42-44,49

The conditions imposed upon all who would make their calling and election sure to this favored position are exacting, though nevertheless “a reasonable service“; and in offset the faithful are promised the “glory, honor and immortality” of “the divine nature” – that thus they shall share the Redeemer’s high exaltation “far above angels,” if they share his ignominy by walking in his footsteps, following his example in this present time while evil is permitted to triumph.

Note well the fact that every promise or suggestion of hope of immortality in the Lord’s Word is to this special elect Church. This is the inherent life referred to by our Lord, saying – “As the Father hath life in himself [a life not requiring sustenance – immortality] so hath he given unto the Son that he should have life in himself [immortality]” and that he should give it unto whomsoever he would – his bride, his Church – “members of his body.” John 5:26; Eph 3:6

Continued with next post.