Is the Soul in One Place and the Body in Another? Did Christ Really Die?
By Albert M. Dart
“I WILL ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death.” Hosea 13:14. Here is Christ’s answer to this momentous question; for Christ speaks through the prophets. 1 Peter 1:10, 11.
THEY ARE IN THEIR GRAVES
The dead are in their graves, where they were placed at death — held there under the power of death, unconscious of anything under the sun till ransomed from its power at the resurrection. For “the dead know not anything.” Eccl. 9:5.
Where they are, and their condition, is again plainly stated in Ps. 6:5: “For in death there is no remembrance of Thee: in the grave who shall give Thee thanks?”
But in the minds of many, there prevails the idea that only the body goes to the grave, while the soul escapes conscious and free. If we treated the language of the Bible as we treat other languages, we could not hold to such an idea; for does it not say, “I will ransom them from the . . . grave”? This could not be said if they were somewhere else.
WHERE IS THE SOUL?
They entered the grave because of death, and death came as the result of sin. And now listen: “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Eze. 18:4. Where, then, is the soul? — Where sin took it — in the grave.
“What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave?” Ps. 89:48. The term “soul,” in such connections, is used to indicate the man. He is in the grave, and cannot deliver himself. “But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave.” Ps. 49:15.
These plain statements should cause the believer in the immortality of the soul to stop and think.
THE GOSPEL TEST AGAIN
Let it be remembered that the gospel reveals Christ dead, buried, and risen again. 1 Cor. 15:1-4. But did Christ have an immortal soul that escaped death? If so, then we must admit that He did not really die. And if He did not really die, how shall we view the plan of salvation, which is based upon the great fact of His death and resurrection?
But Christ did not have an immortal soul that escaped death. Peter, on the day of Pentecost, discussing a prophecy of the resurrection of Christ, said, “He [the prophet David] seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in hell [the grave], neither His flesh did see corruption.” Acts 2:31. Now really, dear reader, would it be said that the soul of Christ was not left in the grave, if it did not go there?
Christ, the God-man, died; and there is no evading the issue by the claim that He had an immortal soul which did not die. He was in the grave from death till the resurrection. He passed through this experience to deliver man from death and the grave. Could this be true if man did not die and go to the grave?
“For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh, and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death; that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Heb. 2:14, 15. Again the gospel test leaves no room for an immortal soul escaping the grave.
THE SPIRIT TO GOD WHO GAVE IT
“Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” Eccl. 12:7. That the spirit here mentioned is not a separate, conscious entity, is easily proved. The word “spirit” used here is derived from the Hebrew root word ruach, and is translated “breath” in Ps. 146:4, where the statement is made that the breath which God breathed into man’s nostrils goes forth, and his thoughts perish.
Job uses the two words, “breath” and “spirit,” in a connection which makes the matter plain: “All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils.” Job 27:3. The margin says, for “spirit,” “the breath which God gave him.” Thus the spirit — breath — returns to God; but one would hardly claim that this is the man who God said should die because of disobedience.
AUTHOR OF IMMORTAL SOUL THEORY
It is very evident that belief in the immortality of the soul springs from the idea that man does not die. The first record in the Bible of such teaching is found in Gen. 3:4: “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.”358
The falsity of the doctrine is seen in the connection in which it is found. Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil God had said, “Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.”
But the source of the teaching alone is sufficient to put the seeker after truth on his guard. It is a well directed blow, by the enemy of all righteousness, at the very fountainhead of the plan of salvation. If man did not die, there would be no need of Christ’s death; and thus attention would be directed away from the only possibility of salvation from sin; “and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:15.
Now the question naturally arises, If man is mortal, and unconscious in death, what about the fate of the wicked? The Bible teaching on this point will be considered next week.
NIGHT
By Eliza H. Morton
By Eliza H. Morton
*The night is time that evildoers love,
The time when Treachery weaves her web
Along the path of life, the time when beasts
Of prey are prowling round. We feel the fear.
God's word reveals the terror of the night.
And yet one came to Jesus in the night
To learn the way of truth, and holy men
Have seen bright visions in the night. 'Twas long
Ago a group of men stood round their Lord,
And one went forth with murder in his heart,
“And it was night”— yea, night for that poor soul.
'Twas night when Jesus sweat great drops of blood;
And when He hung upon the cross, a night,
An awful night of gloom, hung o'er Jerusalem.
And it is night wherever sin is found.*
*“The morning cometh, and the night”—
The night of an eternal death to all
Who follow not the Lord. O, hail, all hail
The nightless land when night will be no more!
O, open all the windows of thy soul,
Ye mortals frail, to God, and then the night
Will fade before the glory He'll reveal.*
The Old Covenant
By Allen Moon
No Sinner Saved by It—The Source of Our Redemption
By Allen Moon
No Jew was ever accepted of God for keeping the old covenant. Abraham was the father of the Jews; and of him it is written, “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Gal. 3:6. The blessing that came upon the children of Abraham was not for walking in the old covenant, for it is written again, “So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.” Verse 9.
THE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM
The gospel of justification by faith was preached to Abraham, and he accepted it, and the prophet says, “The just shall live by his faith.” Hab. 2:4. “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.” Gal. 3:7.
The time when it was possible for man to live by the old covenant, passed away long before there was a Jew on earth. Righteousness by faith was preached to Adam. His son Abel understood and accepted it. The law had been broken, and Abel could obtain righteousness only by faith in the promise of God to provide a Redeemer. He showed his faith by his offering of that which pointed to the coming Saviour.
REDEEMED FROM THE CURSE
The law became a curse to mankind only because it condemned him to death for its transgression. But God provided a righteous Seed, who was both God and man; and this One, who was obedient to the law, redeemed man from the curse of a broken law, by hanging on a tree to pay the penalty of man's sin. “For it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” Verse 13.
The children of Abraham, after the flesh, revealed their inability to observe the old covenant; and God gave them a constant reminder of it in the shedding of blood, until He should come through whom the promise of life was made, and who gave the life demanded by the law. It could then be said, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope [hope of living] by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3.
From the days of Adam, man has been shut up under the transgressed law until faith came. Faith comes by the preaching of the Word, and we are delivered from the curse of the law by believing in Him who was promised, who came and bore the curse of the broken law for us. All who are of faith, then, from the days of Adam, the same are the children of God. Gal. 3:26. Abraham became the inheritor by faith in the promise of God, and all who will have part in the inheritance will be named after him. Verse 18.
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Verses 28, 29.
Where then is the old covenant? Paul, in his salutation to Titus, wrote, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” Titus 1:2. The promise which was based on obedience alone failed through the failure of the human family. But God renewed the promise of life on condition of faith in His Son. So Paul wrote again, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Tim. 1:1. Can we distinguish the old from the new?
Peace for the Individual
By Rufus A. Underwood
Abundance of Peace for Those Who Seek It—The Prince of Peace Has Multiplied It—Personal Peace, Even in the Midst of Strife
By Rufus A. Underwood
This is the seventh article by Mr. Underwood on the fundamentals of the gospel as set forth in the Sermon on the Mount. Each article presents an independent thought, and may be read with profit whether you have seen the others or not. EDITOR.
“BLESSED are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Matt. 5:9. No one can be a peacemaker unless he is in possession of peace in his own soul. “Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” Ps. 119:165.
Christ is the Prince of peace. He not only possesses peace, but He is the One who dispenses peace to all who choose the paths of peace. Christ says, “My peace I give unto you”; and again, “Peace I leave with you.”
NO END OF PEACE
If we do not possess peace, it is not because Christ is unable to supply us with peace; for it is said of Him and His kingdom, “Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end.” Isa. 9:7. Therefore, with such a constant increase of peace as Christ has for His people, there can be only one reason why men do not have peace ruling in their hearts; namely, they do not desire to accept the conditions by which peace is secured.
“The meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Ps. 37:11. Again, “The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever.” Isa. 32:17. “There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.” “Destruction and misery are in their ways: and the way of peace have they not known.” Isa. 48:22; Rom. 3:16, 17.
THOUGHTS OF PEACE, AND NOT OF EVIL
Are you a professed Christian, and do not possess the peace of God in your soul? If so, there is something decidedly wrong in your life’s experience. Listen to the promise of God: “The Lord will bless His people with peace.” Ps. 29:11. “Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.” This message is repeated in Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:3; 2 Cor. 1:2; Gal. 1:3; Eph. 1:2; Phil. 1:2; and in each359of these six passages; this benediction of peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ is pronounced. Heaven’s continual thought toward man is peace, beautifully expressed in these words: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” The Jewish version reads, “To give to you a happy future and hope.”
My brother and sister, if your soul is like the turbulent, rolling sea, Christ is ready to speak to you, saying, “Peace, be still.” Mark 4:39. Christ offers peace to every troubled heart. He cannot deny Himself. Again let us read a text quoted in a previous article: “In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. And the God of peace shall be with you.” Phil. 4:6-9.
Not only is this peace pledged, but God wishes to multiply this grace to every trusting child of His. Listen: “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” 2 Peter 1:2, 3.
PEACE IN THE MIDST OF STRIFE
It is possible to have the peace of God dwelling in the soul while the storm of life is raging without; but it is not enough to have peace. The blessing promised is to the “peacemaker.” The world is full of strife, quarrels in families, quarrels in communities, and the nations are mad. The awfulness of this condition for months has been a living example of the greatest human tragedy and slaughter the world has ever seen; and still it continues, with little prospect of soon ending.
It is reported that in the city of Chicago, divorce decrees were granted at the rate of one for every six marriages for the year 1914. And this does not tell the sad story of many unhappy homes that know not the way of peace. There can be no peace in the heart that clings to sin. Sin is the canker and cancer that destroys peace, joy, and life itself.
Reader, make the Prince of peace your portion, and you will realize the sweetness of these lines:
“I am resting to-night in this wonderful peace,
Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control.
I am kept from all danger by night and by day,
And His glory is flooding my soul.
“Weary soul, without gladness or comfort or rest,
Passing down the rough pathway of time,
Make the Saviour your friend, ere the shadows grow dark,
O, accept of this peace so sublime!
“Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above,
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray,
In fathomless billows of love.”
Permanent Peace Through Christ
War inspires the hope that soon all war will end. There must always be conflicts until despotism is dethroned. It is therefore essential to look forward to that time when God will usher in permanent peace through Jesus Christ.—Missionary Review of the World.
The Sands of Self-Righteousness
“MANY who have escaped the rocks of gross sin have perished in the sands of self-righteousness.”
What Did Lazarus See While Dead?
By Tyler E. Bowen
In the Tomb Four Days—Was Then Called Forth—Did He Relate What He Saw in Heaven?
By Tyler E. Bowen
THE crowning miracle of Jesus, that which proclaimed to all, believer or unbeliever, that He was the divine Son of God, was the raising of Lazarus from the dead.
Purposely Jesus let His friend go down into death. It was true, as both Mary and Martha said, “If Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died”; for it is said that no one ever died in the presence of the Life-giver during the three years of His ministry.
But Lazarus died. He had been dead four days when Jesus reached Bethany. Everybody in the place knew this. They had had the funeral. The sepulcher was secured by the stone at its mouth. Martha herself said, as they reached the tomb, that decomposition had surely set in. But notwithstanding all this, Jesus bade them roll away the stone.
“LAZARUS, COME FORTH”
As a conclusive evidence that He was the divine Son of God, sent into the world to save sinners, He looked up to heaven, and calmly prayed to His Father a brief, simple prayer. Then, with that voice which will erelong reach every other silent ear of His entombed saints, “He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.”
Imagine that breathless group without, every eye fastened upon the opening to that rock cavern in which Lazarus had been laid. Would these words addressed to the dead man be obeyed? Suppose they had not. What then? The Christ of Galilee would have gone down in the annals of history as the greatest impostor the world ever knew.
Enemies were there who in heart hoped just this. But not long must any of them wait.
Listen! A faint echo within the cavern is heard, as though some one moved. An instant later appears at the door of his tomb Lazarus, bound about by the linen clothes in which loving hands had wrapped his cold form a few days before. The Lord, in His self-possession, first speaks: “Loose him, and let him go.”
Then the reality of it all dawned upon Martha and Mary and the others, as Lazarus, in the full bloom of health, and in the vigor of young manhood, stood before them, and eagerly entered into the glad reunion with sisters and friends. What a meeting!
WHAT HAD HE SEEN WHILE DEAD?
But what about Lazarus’s wonderful experiences while away? Where had he been? What had he seen? Surely during these four long days and nights since he died, ample opportunity had been given him to see much that was going on in heaven. He surely must have met his mother over yonder, and seen some of the friends of the neighbors there in Bethany. Did they press him with questions to tell them all about these folks from whom they had been separated so long? Should such an experience come to one in these days, quite likely special trains would bring hundreds, yes, thousands of people to inquire regarding friends in the glory land.
Well, reader, the Bible is silent as to any wonderful things Lazarus saw during those four days. Evidently he had nothing to tell. Quite true, here was presented a wonderful opportunity to make known all about the conscious life of dead people, which we hear so much about these days. But Lazarus is silent. His theme, rather, was glorifying his Lord, by whose power he had come up from his four-days sleep in his tomb.
LIKE A DREAMLESS SLEEP
He remembered what he experienced and saw during that time, about the same as any dreamless person can recall what went on during the hours of the night while he was sound asleep. “His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” Ps. 146:4. “If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait [for what?] till my change come [as did Lazarus’s]. Thou shalt call, and I will answer Thee [as did he by coming forth from his tomb]: Thou wilt have a desire to the work of Thine hands.” Job 14:14, 15.
Again, had Lazarus gone to heaven when he died, as is so commonly believed these days, why did Jesus go to the grave? Why disturb the body of Lazarus at all? Why did He not look into the heavens, and call him down from there? And why did He tell His disciples that He must go to Bethany to awake Lazarus out of his sleep?
Ah, reader, Jesus knew where to go to find His friend in Satan’s prison house. He knew where to address His life-giving call; and the Lazarus who had been a familiar personage about Bethany, all there was of him, came forth out of that rock-cavern tomb where he had four days before been laid.
Why not believe the truth of God’s word regarding our loved ones who sleep until called forth, as was Lazarus from the tomb?
Wisdom from God
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
Elevated, Honorable, and Sacred
By John Nevins Andrews
“THERE is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15:10. The angels of God do not view repentance in the same light that it appears to sinful men. To them it is an elevated, honorable, and sacred work. To us, alas, it is a work to be shunned, if possible, or if not wholly shunned, to be disposed of in as private a manner as we can. We think of it with shame. We speak of it with pain and regret.
It is so humiliating to have it known that we have had to break our hearts, to bow our stubborn wills, to humble our proud natures under the mighty hand of God! We are not so much ashamed of sin as of repentance. Nay, we are frequently far from being ashamed of sinful conduct or of wicked dispositions. But to have it known that we have made frank and humble confession of wicked acts, is too humiliating for us to endure.
Yet sin is that abominable thing which God hates, and genuine repentance is that which He approves and accepts. Sin is the fruit of our own evil nature, aided by the powerful cooperation of the devil. Repentance is the work of the Spirit of God wrought in us by our consent, and with our active cooperation. How strange that we should be ashamed of repentance, rather than ashamed of sin—that we should cherish that which comes from Satan, and loathe that which proceeds directly from the Spirit of God!
Sin is the only real cause for shame, and it is cause enough surely. But repentance is something noble, dignified, and honorable. It shows that though we have been wicked, now that we have come to ourselves we put away the wickedness, and allow not one particle of it to cleave longer to us. How the devil perverts things in our minds when he makes us ashamed of this most sacred work!—J. N. Andrews.
The Sweet Fruits of Life
“THE sweet fruits of life do not spring from the bitter roots of strife.”
“A REFUGE IN TIMES OF TROUBLE”
By William A. Spicer
Courageous Men and Women Who Have Battled for Their Rights — Miraculous Deliverances from Threatened Destruction
In these turbulent times, the mind is naturally reaching out for some power that can protect and keep us. The articles this week and next from Mr. Spicer will prove a great comfort. They show that God does marvelously interpose to deliver those who trust Him.
EDITOR.
“THE Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.” Ps. 9: 9. Look where we may to the times of crisis when witnesses for truth have endured oppression and trial for conscience’ sake, and there we shall find evidences of the divine hand stretched forth in special providences and deliverances.
Such a time followed the enforcement of the Act of Uniformity in Britain, in 1662. Two thousand ministers refused to subscribe to the declarations of “unfeigned” assent to everything in the prayer book that had just been adopted by Parliament. They lost their positions, and the support that went with the churches they had served.
TO COMPEL CONFORMITY
To prevent their congregations from giving voluntary support for the preaching of the Word, the Conventicle Act was quickly passed, in 1664, forbidding that more than five persons be at a religious meeting where the state church standard was not followed. And next year, the Five-mile Act prohibited an unauthorized minister’s living within five miles of any town. These acts were applied to teachers and lecturers.
Thus thousands of ministers were driven out and harried and imprisoned for their refusal to conform. It was all overruled for great blessing; for in those times grew up that great non-conformist or free church movement, with its protest against a state-prescribed religion.
BIG SODA GUN
In those troublous times, which lasted till the suspension of the acts, in 1687, many godly families experienced the intervening power of God in extremities when vain was the help of man. Calamy, author of the “Nonconformists’ Memorial,” himself one of the ejected ministers, tells of some of these special providences.
HENRY ERSKINE’S DELIVERANCES
A Scottish minister, Henry Erskine, labored on both sides of the river Tweed, being now driven out of Scotland, and then out of England. In great need and distress one day he was walking the streets in the city of Edinburgh, when a stranger in countryman’s garb came up and gave him a letter with money. Erskine never knew who his human benefactor was. Calamy says:
“At another time, being on a journey on foot, his money fell short, and he was in danger of being exposed. Having occasion to fix his walking stick in the marshy ground, among some rushes, he heard somewhat tinkle at the end of it; whereupon, stooping down, he found two half crowns, which did him great service in bearing his charges home.”
Of this same man, Erskine, we are told yet again:
“When he lived at Dryburgh, after his ejectment from Cornhill [on the English side], he and his family were often in great straits. Once particularly, when the ‘cruse of oil and the barrel of meal’ were entirely spent, so that when they had supped at night, there remained neither bread, meal, flesh, nor money in the house, in the morning the young children cried for their breakfast, and their father endeavored to divert them, and did what he could at the same time to encourage himself and his wife to depend upon that Providence ‘which feeds the young ravens when they cry’ for food. While he was thus engaged, a countryman knocked hard at the door, and called for some one to help him off with his load. Being asked whence he came, and what he would have, he told them he came from the Lady Deburn, with some provision for Mr. Erskine. They told him he must be mistaken, and that it was more likely for Mr. Erskine of Sheffield, in the same town. He replied, No; he knew what he said; and he was sent to Mr. Henry Erskine, and cried, ‘Come, help me off with my load, or else I will throw it down at the door.’ Whereupon they took the sack from him, and upon opening it, found it well filled with flesh and meal.” — Volume 2, page 254.
HOW MATTHEW WARREN ESCAPED
Matthew Warren was a scholar of Oxford. Being one of the nonconforming ministers, he was often sought by the authorities, and when silenced as a minister, devoted himself to educating youth for the ministry. Calamy reports:
“At one time he was very remarkably and providentially preserved. His wife had a strange impression upon her mind, that if he did not remove till such a time from the house to which he had retired [he being away from home], he would certainly be taken prisoner. Accordingly she sent a messenger with a letter, earnestly begging him to be at home by such a time, or else he might never see her more.
“He, imagining it was her indisposition, and not the fear of his danger, that was the cause of her urgency, immediately took leave of his friends, and went homewards. But he was not far from the house before, looking back from an ascent, he saw it surrounded by persons that were sent to search there for him.” — Volume 2, page 359.
JOHN NOFWORTHY’S EXPERIENCE
John Nofworthy was an Oxford man, who lived in Devonshire. Driven out for nonconforming, he was hunted from prison to prison by persecuting officials. Calamy says:
“He was several times reduced to great straits; but he encouraged himself in the Lord his God, and exhorted his wife to do the same. Once when he and his family had breakfasted,361and had nothing left for another meal, his wife lamented her condition, and said, ‘What shall I do with my poor children?’ “He persuaded her to take a walk abroad with him; and seeing a little bird, he said: ‘Take notice how that little bird sits and chirps, though we cannot tell whether it has been at breakfast; and if it has, it knows not whither to go for dinner. Therefore be of good cheer, and do not distrust the providence of God; for are we not “better than many sparrows”?’” — Volume 1, page 381.
Before the time came for the dinner, true to the preacher’s faith, they had provisions sent in to them from an unknown source, sufficient for the daily need.
