Mutual Exclusivity: Resurrection of Body vs. Immortality of the Soul

Jesus Christ came into the world for one purpose only. He came into the world to redeem the world from sin. That sin came as a result of Adam's disobedience. Thus, mankind had to endure a penalty of death because the Law of God demanded said penalty. It was impossible for any man, regardless of any degree of "goodness" (i.e., without blemish) to atone for the one sin that Adam brought upon his descendants. Thus, it was necessary for God to find an atoning sacrificial lamb that had no blemish. Christ was that Sacrificial Lamb of God. Thus, the Sacrificial Lamb took on the sins of all men and was put to death as the Law demanded. The Blood of the Sacrificial Lamb, in turn, washed away the sins of the world and did not merely roll them back as the blood of animal sacrifices did. Thus, the death of Christ on the cross became necessary to satisfy the fulfillment of the Law.

Jesus's death on the cross made it possible for the entire world to be reconciled to its Maker, God Almighty. The sins of men had separated the Maker from His creation (see Isa 59:1-3, Psalms 139:7, Job1:6 and Romans 5:8). Men's sins did not necessarily separate him from the presence of God (even the Devil can have an audience with God) but did not allow him to commune with God. Sin and holiness cannot mix just as oil and water cannot mix. There will always be conflict or resistance. Jesus Christ was the bridge of reconciliation between God Almighty and a lost world. The blood of the Lamb made it possible for the sins of the world to be swept away, and to restore man's ability to commune with his Holy Father, who is pure, good, righteous and just.

Despite God initiating the redemption clause in the bilateral contract, it is still necessary for man to act and do his part. God's amnesty is not unilateral or one-sided. Man still carries his sins, and if he does accept God's free offer of redemption (amnesty), the contract will not go into effect. The Bible states that it is appointed once for a man to die and then the Judgment (see Hebrews 9:27). If Jesus paid the price on the cross, why is this death of Adam still necessary for man? The death of Adam is necessary because of the Law. Those who commit the offense must still endure the penalty of death. The death that Christ saves man from is the "Second Death" (i.e., a permanent death from which there is no resurrection). Thus, those who are willing to accept God's amnesty will be saved from the Second Death which the Law also demands. The Blood of the Lamb prevents man from having to die a second and permanent death from which there is no resurrection. However, if anyone refuses to accept God's offer (i.e., amnesty from this death), then they will be doomed for eternity. Christ admonishes us in John 3:16 and 5:24-29. He repeats to us over and over that if we accept him then on the Last Day, he will reward us with eternal life (see John 6:40, 44 & 54). Also, Christ further stresses to us in John 11 that our hope for life is pinned to him. He is indeed the resurrection and life, and no man can be saved unless he is saved through Jesus Christ (the gist of the Gospel).

Christ's resurrection from the dead meant that everyone who accepts God's amnesty will indeed be redeemed in a similar manner. The Bible states that it is necessary for all to hear the Gospel (the good Word of God), confess and repent of one's sins, accept Christ as Lord and Savior, and finally, obediently go down into the watery grave of baptism for the remission of sins (Act 2:36-42). A person who obeys the Gospel will then be eligible for the opportunity of eternal life. It is not an "automatic thing", however. The person's heart must be humble and contrite like that of King David. They must continue to serve God in a faithful and obedient manner and must refrain from the commission of wilful sinning (see Hebrews 10:26-27). The Bible warns those who would use Christ's blood as a license for willful sinning. God cannot be mocked because He knows the hearts and minds of all men.

Too many Christians have been duped into believing that they already have what God's has promised to those who would obey the Gospel. Many believe that they already have an "immortal soul" which escapes their dead bodies and ascends to Heaven to be with the Lord. This theology is simply misleading and simply false. Man does not have an immortal soul because the Word of God tells us so (Read Genesis 3:4, 20, 21, 22). Man was put out of the Garden of Eden to prevent him from becoming immortal like God and the angels. If any part of man was immortal, it would not have been necessary to remove him from the Garden of Eden (i.e., Paradise). Even the great Abraham, one of God's closest friends knew that he was nothing but dust (Genesis 8:27). King David in Psalm 16 talked about God not leaving his soul in Sheol (i.e., the Great Pit, or hell). Thus, it can be reasoned just from the scriptures that no part of man is immortal, and that no man has ascended into Heaven except Christ (see John 3:13). The Bible states in Ecclesiastes 12:7 that when a man dies, his spirit returns to God, the Maker. Is man's spirit his consciousness or so-called immortal soul? Absolutely not. David stated that the soul remains in Sheol, and thus it is a part of the body. The Bible stated that when God created man, He blew into him the "breath of life" (i.e., the spirit) which animated the body and man became a living soul. Thus, it only natural that when the man dies that which belongs to God returns to Him (i.e., the Breath of God). The spirit cannot be the consciousness of man because King Solomon told us in Ecclesiastes Chapter 9 that the dead does not know that they are dead, but the living knows that they will die. If a dead man is not conscious, he is not aware of anything, including his surroundings.

It is no secret or mystery as to how God will grant His reward of eternal life to those who will accept His amnesty. The Bible states that it is appointed once for a man to die and then the Judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Jesus tells us in John 5:24-29 that God will resurrect the good and the bad. However, those who lived and died faithfully in Christ will be resurrected to eternal life (see John 3:16, 6:40, 44 & 54 as well as Romans 6:23) while the Wicked (i.e., those who reject God's amnesty) will face a "Final Judgment" and will be condemned to everlasting punishment of death. Contrary to what some theologians teach, the Wicked will not be granted eternal life just for God to torment and torture them in the Lake of Fire & Brimstone. It is not within God's nature to be so cruel and callous. God does not delight in the suffering of anyone, including the Wicked. Thus, those who accept Christ will be resurrected to eternal life on the Last Day (see John 6:40, 44 & 54). Resurrection simply means a restoration of body and soul. Christ endured Adam's death and experienced resurrection and transformation (see John 20:17). The Apostle Paul tells us that Christ was the firstborn of many to come from Adam's death (see Romans 8:29). Thus, God will fulfill His promise to man through the resurrection of the body. Man does not possess an immortal soul already.

The entire Christian worship culture revolved from what came out of the Second Century AD. It is based mostly upon the works of Origen, who lived from about 185 to 254 AD. He is known as one of the counterfeit early "Church" leaders. The reference to the church here is actually the Roman Catholic Church, not the Church of Christ, which was founded by the First Century Apostles. The Catholic Church usurped the Apostle Peter as their first Bishop of Rome or Pope of the Catholic Church. However, Peter could not be their Pope because the Church was founded by Constantine I around 324 AD at the Council of Nicea. Peter had been dead for some five hundred plus years prior to the establishment of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. Prior to the Second Century AD, Heavenly entrance or ascension was never taught. After the Apostles died out apostasy crept into the Church. Most of this apostasy was fueled by one Origen who proposed alternative theologies to what was taught by the Apostles. The minds of the believers were ripe for his teachings because many of them had become tired of the constant waiting for the return of the Lord. Many were convinced that the Lord would not return during their lifetime. Origen stepped in and offered alternative teachings, or theology to explain why the Lord had not returned. He conveniently told them that they would go to the Lord upon death. He aptly used the teachings of Paul to advance his apostasy. Origen's teachings grew and grew and eventually took hold as other counterfeit leaders started to advocate his teachings or theology. The theology eventually became a part of Catholic dogma and eventually accepted once Thomas Aquinas and Augustine accepted it. The Church finally split in the early 16th Century (the Reformation) when Martin Luther nailed his Proclamation to the door of the Germany Catholic Church (1519-22). Acceptance of the immortality of the soul by the Church was the "final straw" for Martin Luther.