You do not have an immortal soul

30/04/2012

Modern Christianity has moved far far away from the truth about what happens when you die and in one of the most basic Bible teachings this can be clearly seen. The teaching of the soul.

You do not have an immortal soul

Most modern Christians believe in what is actually an ancient pagan myth – that man has an immortal soul which floats out of the body and off into the afterlife after death. This is not a Bible teaching. Consider the these verses:

“the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Ezek 18:4

“save a soul from death” James 5:20

“he spared not their soul from death” Psalm 78:50

“my soul chooseth death rather than my life.” Job 7:15

“Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” Psalm 146:3-4

“the dead know not any thing” Ecclesiastes 9:5-6

“none can keep alive his own soul.” Psalm 22:29

These verses clearly prove that the idea of an immortal soul is nonsense. The soul can die. The word in the original languages that the Bible was written in simply means “creature” or “living thing”. It is also clear from the verses above that when man dies he is unconscious – his “thoughts perish”. Therefore the idea of an afterlife dies along with the idea of an immortal soul. The Bible’s teaching on the topic of death is therefore at great variance with the teaching of most mainstream churches.

Being raised from the dead is the true hope of the Bible

The Bible teaches that when Jesus Christ returns to the earth there will be a resurrection and a judgment. Those found acceptable will be given the gift of eternal life, their sin cursed and mortal nature inherited from Adam will be removed and they will be given immortality. Those who are rejected will die and remain unconscious in their grave. This teaching is clear as the following verses demonstrate:

“all that are in the graves shall come forth” John 5:28-29

“Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.” 1 Corinthians 15:23

“the resurrection at the last day.” John 11:24

“for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just” Luke 14:14

“the dead in Christ shall rise first” 1 Thes 4:16

“The Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing” 2 Tim 4:1

“many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake” Daniel 12:2

So we can see then that Jesus Christ is to return to the earth, raise the dead and judge them as well as those who are alive at that time. To be accepted at the judgment is the hope of a true Bible believer – not to float to heaven to meet St Peter by the pearly gates to play harps on clouds for eternity.

How can we be accepted at the judgment?

In Romans 6 we read about the importance of baptism. At verse 3 we read that we are “baptised into his (Christ’s) death”. The chapter goes on to say that we should live in newness of life after the example of Christ, who has been resurrected. Baptism declares our association with Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection. It is the mechanism that God has provided to allow us to demonstrate our faith in His word and in His son – Jesus Christ. As Jesus said to his apostles:

“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” Mark 16:16

Therefore to be accepted at the judgment we need to find out the truth of the gospel. The true gospel which is found in God’s word the Bible. The truth which is untainted by the thinking of men.  We need to believe it to the extent that we are baptised and live after the example of Jesus Christ. If we do that then when Jesus Christ returns and the responsible are judged, in God’s mercy we will be given eternal life and a place in Gods future Kingdom on the earth.

For more detail about the above topics please read the following articles: