Eternal Life is a Gift from God through Jesus and after the first resurection..
"For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." 1 Corinthians 15:53 (You have it but not yet, only after your change,)
The Bible teaches that there are only two possible destinations for each of us, life or death.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
God so loved us that Jesus came to this earth to die the death that we deserve so that we could receive the gift of eternal life. Eternal life, or immortality, is a gift to those who choose to receive Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Jesus is our only hope of immortality.
The Doctrine of an "Immortal Soul" is not found in the Bible
In the Bible the word immortal is used only once and the word immortality is used five times. In not one instance is either of these words used to describe a part of man that is always alive. Here are the verses as they are found in the King James Version of the Bible:
"Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Timothy 1:17
"To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:" Romans 2:7
"So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." 1 Corinthians 15:54
"Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen." 1 Timothy 6:16
"But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:" 2 Timothy 1:10
All six references to immortality are either a description of God or describe a gift that is given to man from God, immortality is not an inherant aspect of man.
The Bible Teaches that Man is Mortal
The Bible teaches that man is mortal but by "patient continuance in well doing", through the power and grace of Jesus Christ we are to seek for immortality which will be given to us when Jesus comes back the second time. (See Romans 2:7 above) Below are Bible verses that show that man is mortal.
"Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?" Job 4:17
"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof." Romans 6:12
"But 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 by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." Romans 8:11
"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" 1 Corinthians 15:52-55
"For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh." 2 Corinthians 4:11
According to the Bible our "mortal flesh" will "be changed" when Jesus returns the second time. (See 1 Corinthians 15:52-55 above.)
The First Sermon on the Immortal Soul
It is quite common today for Christians to hear sermons on the topic of the Immortal Soul, but from where did this non-Biblical idea originate and who was it that first taught that when you die you don't really die?
