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The Daily Word of Righteousness
Life and Immortality
Who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (II Timothy 1:9,10—NIV)
"Who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." Life and immortality.
The above means the Lord Jesus Christ has destroyed physical death. He has brought both eternal spiritual life and endless physical life to us through the Gospel. Life and immortality were lost to people in the Garden of Eden. Our Redeemer has come to restore life and immortality to those who will receive Him.
There is a difference between eternal life and immortality. Immortality refers to endless life in the body. Eternal life speaks of a quality of life lived in the Presence of God. Life lived in the Presence of God always results in noticeable changes in the kind of person we are, in the manner in which we live.
Eternal life is a kind of life. Immortality refers to endless life in our flesh and bones body, although glorified according to our status in the Kingdom of God. When the Bible speaks of "perishing," or being "destroyed," it means our flesh and bones body along with our inward spiritual nature will be confined in the Lake of Fire, no longer to be permitted to live in God's Kingdom.
Eternal life is Divine Life, incorruptible resurrection life, the Life of God and Christ.
Eternal life has to do with our inward, spiritual nature. Immortality will not be given to our mortal body until eternal life has been developed in our spiritual nature. This is why Paul warned us on several occasions to put to death the deeds of our body, to live according to the Spirit of God.
If we do not choose to live according to the Spirit of God we will not lay hold on eternal life as we should. The result will be corruption and death in our inward nature, and also in our mortal body when the Lord returns from Heaven.
Our destiny depends on our behavior today. If we through the Lord Jesus Christ choose to turn from the adamic life and grow in Divine Life, we will be prepared for the donning of immortality at the coming of the Lord.
If we choose to "accept Christ," thinking the four steps of salvation are a "ticket to Heaven," and then continue to live according to the lusts and impulses of our fleshly nature, we will not grow in Divine Life. When the Lord returns we will experience only corruption and death. Paul has warned us of this fate clearly and sternly. "If you live according to your sinful nature you will die."
The purpose of Divine grace is not to do away with the Kingdom law of sowing and reaping. The purpose of Divine grace is to forgive us and enable us to sow to the Spirit of God.
To be continued.