FACTS FROM GOD'S WORD FOR CONSIDERATION
Before I proceed further, I wish to call attention to a few facts from the Scriptures of divine truth.
The word "Eternal" occurs but twice in the Old Testament. Once in Deut. 23:27, and is applied to God - "The eternal God is thy refuge" - and once in Is. 60:15, and is spoken of the city of God - "I will make thee an eternal excellency." The phrase "Eternity" occurs but once in the Bible, viz., Is.57:15, and is applied to God - "Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity." How common to hear men talk about eternity - and to hear ministers tell their hearers they are going into eternity - and urge that consideration upon them, to call up attention. "Prepare for eternity," say they. To my mind, it is evident, that consideration is not made use of in the Scriptures, to lead men to God. I conceive it is false, in fact, to say a man has gone into eternity, because nothing can be clearer than that time will continue endlessly to any being that had a beginning: if he continues in life a relation will always exist to the period when life commenced, and that relation cannot be separated from time. To say, then, that a man has gone, or is "going into eternity ," is saying that which is not true; and to urge upon a person such a consideration is to be "wise above what is written." Jesus Christ, nor his apostles ever used it. They preached that men were perishing - dying - exposed to death - in danger of losing everlasting life - traveling in the way that leadeth to destruction, etc.; and exhorted them to repent - believe - to lead a new life - to save themselves from this untoward generation - to lay hold on eternal life, etc. - but never told their hearers - "You are hastening to eternity;" for, I repeat it, that is not true, in fact.
When men die they "sleep in the dust of the earth:" Dan.12:2. They wake not till Christ returns "from heaven;" or till the last trump. See 1 Cor. 15:18,32,51,52; Phil. 3 :11,20,21; and 1 Thess. 4:13-18.
The phrase "eternal life," occurs no where in the Bible, except in the New Testament, and is always spoken of the righteous; it never has connected with it any qualifying terms, such as "happy," "blessed," or "miserable," etc., but simply denotes life in opposition to the death of the wicked. See Romans 6:21-23. "What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life; for the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Here life and death are put in opposition, and no intimation is given that the death of the wicked is eternal conscious being in torments. It is very common to hear people talk about a happy eternal life - a blessed eternal life - a glorious eternal life; as though the language of the Bible were not explicit enough. Such additions to the word of God, give evidence, if we had no other, that there is something defective in their theory. Such additions ought always to be looked upon with suspicion; and, if received at all, be received with great caution.
In interpreting the Scriptures, if we would be saved from the wild fields of conjecture, and save ourselves from an entire dependence upon others for the knowledge of what the Bible teaches, we must have some settled principles of interpretation.
The following I consider the most important: -
First - That words are to have their primary and obvious meaning, unless there is a clear necessity of departing from it. By their primary and obvious meaning, I mean the plain and direct sense of the words, such as they may be supposed to have in the mouths of the speakers, who used them according to the language of that time and country in which they lived, without any of those learned, artificial, and forced senses, such as are put on them by those who claim the right to be the "authorized expounders of the Bible." Such forced sense is, usually, nothing more than the peculiar notions they have been brought up in, and may have no better foundation than the superstition of some good old ancestor.
The next principle of interpretation I would lay down is, That it is a truth, from which we are not to depart without the clearest evidence, that words are never used to mean more than their primary signification; though they may be, and often are, used to signify something less. Not to adhere to this principle is to make revelation no revelation. Those who abandon it may as well admit, at once, that the common people ought not to have the Bible, for it will only lead them astray. Why should Protestants boast over the Catholics in this respect? Do not both, virtually, claim that the language of Scripture is mystical, or has a meaning that does not appear in the common signification of the words? and, therefore, the Priests must interpret them to the people? Might we not as well give our Bibles altogether into the hands of these interpreters? Especially, if the plain common sense meaning of words is not to be followed, when there is no clear necessity for departing from it.
The primary meaning of the term death is, "the extinction of life." To say that when God threatens men with death, he does not mean they shall die, but be kept alive in eternal torments is not warranted by any ordinary use of language. What should we think of a law that says, "For murder thou shalt die," if we were told the meaning is not, that the transgressor shall actually die, but be kept alive in indescribable torments, protracted to the greatest possible extent? Would any man think he was fairly dealt with by such an administration? And would he not have just cause of complaint at the want of definiteness in the terms used to denote the punishment threatened!
The term "Immortal" occurs but once in the Bible, viz.: 1 Tim. 1:17; and is applied to God, "The king eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God." If we were to judge by the frequency that we hear the phrase "immortal soul," we should suppose it was the most common expression in the Scriptures. You will hardly hear a sermon without the preacher often telling, with great emphasis, about "the immortal soul," as though he thought that qualifying term was all important to impress his hearers with a sense of the soul's value; not content, with the Saviour to ask - "What is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" No, that would be quite too weak, in his estimation, and he must strengthen it by adding, "immortal." To show the absurdity of such a course, I have only to say - That which is immortal cannot be lost. Hence, the persons who use this qualifying term, have to add another, and say - lose all "happiness." Now, the loss of the soul, and the loss of happiness, are two very different things, and each capable of being expressed in appropriate language. *To say, when our Saviour said, a man may "lose his own soul," he did not mean that he will come short of immortality, perish, or cease all sense and life, but only that he shall lose the happiness of his soul, is, in my mind, corrupting the word of God.
As in sermons, so it is in prayers. Men seem to think prayers have but little power, unless they spice them often with "immortal soul:" and they would probably regard you as an infidel, if you were to tell them the Bible no where speaks of an immortal soul. How often, too, do we hear men talk about "the undying soul," in direct contradiction of the testimony of God, which expressly declares, "the soul that sinneth, IT SHALL DIE." A hymn, often sung begins as follows:
"A charge to keep I have, A God to glorify, A never dying soul to save And fit it for the sky."
The same hymn ends thus: -
"Help me to watch and pray, And on thyself rely, Assured if I my trust betray, I shall forever die."
How a never dying soul can forever die, it will take a poet to tell; or a very learned divine. Common people are not skilled in such palpable contradictions. The hymn under consideration is one of great beauty and excellence, with the exception of this defect.
The term "immortality," occurs only five times in the Bible, and is never spoken of the wicked; but is either applied to God and His Christ, or brought to view as something to be sought after, and to be found alone in Christ. "To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for honor, glory, immortality, - eternal life," Rom.2:7. Why, I pray, are men to seek for it, if it is the inheritance of all?
"Shall mortal man be more just than God?" Job 4:17. Man's body is neither just nor unjust in itself; this text, therefore, speaks of the man, as such; or the whole man, who is said to be mortal. Paul, in Rom.8:10, says, "If Christ be in you, the body is dead" (i.e. mortal, doomed to die,) "because of sin; but the spirit is life" (why? because the soul is immortal? No; but) "because of righteousness;" clearly implying that it is being righteous, or having Christ in them, and possessing the Spirit of God, that is to make them immortal. This is further evident from the next verse, where he assures them that their mortal bodies should be quickened, i.e. be made immortal by the Spirit of Him who raised up Jesus from the dead.
Man is said to be "corruptible," in opposition to the "incorruptible God." See Rom.1:23. Again; "They that sow to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption," not immortality. See Gal.6:8. The wicked shall "utterly perish" in their own "corruption." 2 Peter 2:12.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
If the view I take of this subject be correct, then many portions of Scripture, which have been obscure on the common theory, become clear, beautiful and full of meaning and force. If men are really dying, according to the strict and literal meaning of that term, that is, the whole man, then the language in which they are addressed is strictly calculated to awaken attention, and move their hearts. For example: "In him was life; and the life was the light of men." Men are represented as sitting "in darkness, and in the shadow of death;" i.e. death is so near them that his dark shadow is over them; but Christ is "the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world;" thus showing them how to escape death. "The bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world - I am the bread of life. This is the bread that cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof and NOT DIE."
How natural and forcible these and similar texts are, on the supposition that man is actually dying. It takes not a doctor of divinity to see how appropriate the remedy to the disease. Men by sin have been cut off from the tree of life - they were starving, dying. Christ cometh: the bread of life - the feast is spread; hungry, dying souls are invited, without money and without price. Come, eat and LIVE. If you stay away, you DIE. O come to Christ and live - yea, live forever, and not die. Amen.
This Sermon 1 Taken From:
“Six Sermons on the Inquiry Is There Immortality in Sin and Suffering?”
“ALSO, A SERMON ON CHRIST THE LIFE-GIVER: OR, THE FAITH OF THE GOSPEL.”
BY GEORGE STORRS, OFFICE OF THE BIBLE EXAMINER, 1855
Blog Edited by John Foll.
From the Editor:
Greetings! Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Summary of the conclusion of Sermon 1:
* God is the only one who has immortality.
* God is the only one who is eternal or inhabits eternity.
* Mankind, who starts their life at their birth, can have an endless life in Heaven if they are saved, but they are not eternal or infinite – only God is.
* You should understand the plain meaning of the words of the Bible, and not try to “philosophize” or seek mystical meanings of its terms, that only the learned or those trained in ‘the Mysteries’ can understand.
* You should not depart from the truth, without the clearest evidence that what you perceive the Bible is teaching as the truth is wrong.
* The plain meaning of the word “perish” or “die” is cease to exist (in all forms); i.e. the total extinction of life.
* You must get the bread of Heaven, Jesus, that you may never die.
* If you don’t’ feed from the bread of Heaven, you will die and cease to exist.
* People talk about the undying soul in contradiction to God, who declared through His prophet Ezekiel that the soul who sins will die.
* The term “mortal man” from Job refers to the whole man, not just the body.
* You don’t need a Doctor of Divinity or to be schooled in philosophy to be able to understand the Bible.
* You need to understand that the word of God uses the plain meaning of words. (Unless it can be clearly shown as symbolic, as in prophecy. But even then the Bible explains itself, if you will take the time to study out how the Bible defines these symbolic terms.)
* Eternal life can only be given to the believer by Jesus. If they fail to get it from Him they must die.
* No one is born possessing eternal life, Jesus is the only one who can give it to you!
* Those who fail to secure their eternal life in this lifetime, by believing in Jesus and becoming His son or daughter, will utterly fail at gaining eternal life.
* But all who fail to gain eternal life will not go on in endless ages of torment. God forbid!
* Death is a sleep.
* Eternal Death is eternal extinction. (Referred to by the Bible as the 2nd Death.)
* Life or Death – they are contrasted with each other. Eternal life or eternal death. Each person may have one or the other.
Summary points from the earlier portions of Sermon 1:
* Eternal life has never been promised to the unrepentant sinner, only for the one who repents.
Summary:
Why are the points that George Storrs is making so important? Because you need to understand and follow ‘the plain’ meaning of words, so that you can understand the Bible. Each fallacy that is accepted and believed makes it easier and easier to get confused over more and more of what the Bible really teaches. If this goes on long enough, the person holding these fallacies may make a total shipwreck of their faith. Or they may be overcome by evil, and not think there is anything that they can or should do about it, if they believe what some “preachers” say. Or they may get so hardened against the truth, and become selfish and an abuser of others, racking up a heavy debt of sin that will never go away, unless they confess these sins and repent from them. But if they become completely hardened against the truth, they will never repent and be lost! Some of the lies that are taught and believed by many can cause someone to be overcome by sin and suffering. Some are told that they have a ticket to paradise, and that all they have to do is to wait until they receive it, because they can’t lose it once they have been “saved.” But this is a lie! That is why the truth is so important! The truth protects you from harm and losing your eternal life, if you believe it and receive it! Some people discard Christianity all together, thinking that it is no good; probably because of the mass of contradictions they were taught and have believed. But the more of the truth you learn, the easier it is to understand and believe what the Bible is really teaching and not be confused. When it starts to make sense, the devil’s lies lose their hold over you, and your way becomes clear and full of the light of God, lightening your path more and more until the perfect dawn. “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Proverbs 4:18 KJV. See also 2 Peter 1:19.
Oh that people would believe what God says in His Holy Bible! And put away all humanism, human philosophy, modernism, priest-craft, lies, and all deceptions, and would see the truth in its beauty! Then life would make sense, be sweet, and their eternal life could be secured by them! Then they would be free to be happy, full of God’s peace, love, joy, faith and hope! Is that what you want dear reader?
Dear reader, don’t let the devil take away the peace, love and joy that God wants to give you! Don’t let him steal away your crown of eternal life that Jesus wants to give you! “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:12 KJV. Don’t let the devil steal your crown of righteousness: Be like Paul who said, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8 KJV.
Dear reader, do you long for Jesus’ appearing at His Second Coming, to take you back to Heaven with Him? Are you tired of the sin and suffering on this earth? Do you long for the crown of life and the crown of righteousness that Jesus wants to give you? Do you long to see your loved ones again who have already died who will be saved? Then ask God to help you understand His revealed will for you in the Bible, and not get confused over any of the truth contained in it, and to help you to obey Him in all that He has commanded you, and have the power to obey Him. Then your peace will flow like a river from the River of Life, which flows endlessly from the throne of God! Message from God: “O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:” Isaiah 48:18 KJV. So harken to God’s commandments that your peace be like a river and that your righteousness will be as the waves of the sea!
May the grace of God be with you dear reader! Amen!
We hope you have stayed with us on this series on this sermon and our other blog articles on the How To Please God Blog. If you have not read all of the articles here in this “How To Please God” Blog from George Storrs’ Sermon 1, or our Article: “The Love and Fairness of God”
we recommend that you would read all of them, and in order. We plan on soon releasing the full version of George Storrs’ “Is there Immortality in Sin and Suffering? Sermon 1” so you can read it all together or print or save its complete PDF document.
We want to write blog articles on the Second Coming here, and at least one blog article for each of the 10 Commandments. We think that many people may not fully understand God’s 10 Laws of Love, or have fully thought about what they mean. Many people may not be aware of the ramifications of God’s Law and how their life needs to change so that they can be pleasing to Him. We want to break it down to you, so you can make progress on your way to Heaven. We want to show you the sinfulness of sin; of hurting God, yourself or others, so that you can turn fully to God for help, while there is still time. We want you to know if you are going down the right path or not. There is much ignorance about the full meaning of each of the 10 commandments, and how encompassing they are, including actions, words and thoughts. Some think they are keeping God’s commandments, when their heart is far from Him, with the unkind way they are treating others. And with their inability to keep all of His commandments, which they may try to hide from others. Many see God’s commandments as merely a list of don’ts, thinking that they don’t need to concern themselves with it, instead of viewing it through the eyes of love. No one who rejects God’s Law of love, the 10 Commandments of Exodus 20, can make the claim that they are into love, not works. Because true love always treats others with kindness and respect, and loves God supremely or confesses and repents when they miss the mark. And true love is the fulfillment of the Law! Love does no wrong to their neighbor, therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law as Paul says in Romans 13:10.
You will see that the 10 Commandments should encompass everything that you do in this life; it is how God wants you to treat Him and others. But many are ignorant of the full significance of how bad sin is, and how they need to let God deal with it in their life, if they want to make progress and have God’s peace, love and joy. We have presented articles and written articles in our other blogs and books talking about God’s Law of Love, the 10 Commandments, why they are important, and how God can help you keep them. But in this “How To Please God” Blog, we will expand on each of these commandments separately and break them down that all may see more of what each of them means more fully. This is important, because they should touch on every part of your life, as you will see.
As time goes on, we also want to put more articles here by George Storrs from his Sermons 2 to 6. And we want to write more articles on the problem texts in the Bible that seem to indicate something different than what we are teaching. We want to present the Bible teaching in a way that has the least contradictions, and try to figure out what the passages may mean that seem contrary to the Bible’s main teaching, instead of being like others who take 1 or 2 texts or so, and discard everything else in the Bible that goes contrary to this, against sound reasoning. But some of what is taught and believed out there goes against plain reasoning and sound teaching.
We hope to present more articles on the future judgement, crisis, day of trouble, and future events, etc. from Bible prophecy to help all grow in their understanding of what God wants them to know. You will need wisdom from God to use this truth wisely.
#God #Immortality #Eternal #Perish #Death #Sleep #Bread #Heaven #Mortal #Plain #Meaning #Words #Believer #Jesus #Endless #Torment #Punishment #Truth #Lie #Peace
Before I proceed further, I wish to call attention to a few facts from the Scriptures of divine truth.
The word "Eternal" occurs but twice in the Old Testament. Once in Deut. 23:27, and is applied to God - "The eternal God is thy refuge" - and once in Is. 60:15, and is spoken of the city of God - "I will make thee an eternal excellency." The phrase "Eternity" occurs but once in the Bible, viz., Is.57:15, and is applied to God - "Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity." How common to hear men talk about eternity - and to hear ministers tell their hearers they are going into eternity - and urge that consideration upon them, to call up attention. "Prepare for eternity," say they. To my mind, it is evident, that consideration is not made use of in the Scriptures, to lead men to God. I conceive it is false, in fact, to say a man has gone into eternity, because nothing can be clearer than that time will continue endlessly to any being that had a beginning: if he continues in life a relation will always exist to the period when life commenced, and that relation cannot be separated from time. To say, then, that a man has gone, or is "going into eternity ," is saying that which is not true; and to urge upon a person such a consideration is to be "wise above what is written." Jesus Christ, nor his apostles ever used it. They preached that men were perishing - dying - exposed to death - in danger of losing everlasting life - traveling in the way that leadeth to destruction, etc.; and exhorted them to repent - believe - to lead a new life - to save themselves from this untoward generation - to lay hold on eternal life, etc. - but never told their hearers - "You are hastening to eternity;" for, I repeat it, that is not true, in fact.
When men die they "sleep in the dust of the earth:" Dan.12:2. They wake not till Christ returns "from heaven;" or till the last trump. See 1 Cor. 15:18,32,51,52; Phil. 3 :11,20,21; and 1 Thess. 4:13-18.
The phrase "eternal life," occurs no where in the Bible, except in the New Testament, and is always spoken of the righteous; it never has connected with it any qualifying terms, such as "happy," "blessed," or "miserable," etc., but simply denotes life in opposition to the death of the wicked. See Romans 6:21-23. "What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life; for the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Here life and death are put in opposition, and no intimation is given that the death of the wicked is eternal conscious being in torments. It is very common to hear people talk about a happy eternal life - a blessed eternal life - a glorious eternal life; as though the language of the Bible were not explicit enough. Such additions to the word of God, give evidence, if we had no other, that there is something defective in their theory. Such additions ought always to be looked upon with suspicion; and, if received at all, be received with great caution.
In interpreting the Scriptures, if we would be saved from the wild fields of conjecture, and save ourselves from an entire dependence upon others for the knowledge of what the Bible teaches, we must have some settled principles of interpretation.
The following I consider the most important: -
First - That words are to have their primary and obvious meaning, unless there is a clear necessity of departing from it. By their primary and obvious meaning, I mean the plain and direct sense of the words, such as they may be supposed to have in the mouths of the speakers, who used them according to the language of that time and country in which they lived, without any of those learned, artificial, and forced senses, such as are put on them by those who claim the right to be the "authorized expounders of the Bible." Such forced sense is, usually, nothing more than the peculiar notions they have been brought up in, and may have no better foundation than the superstition of some good old ancestor.
The next principle of interpretation I would lay down is, That it is a truth, from which we are not to depart without the clearest evidence, that words are never used to mean more than their primary signification; though they may be, and often are, used to signify something less. Not to adhere to this principle is to make revelation no revelation. Those who abandon it may as well admit, at once, that the common people ought not to have the Bible, for it will only lead them astray. Why should Protestants boast over the Catholics in this respect? Do not both, virtually, claim that the language of Scripture is mystical, or has a meaning that does not appear in the common signification of the words? and, therefore, the Priests must interpret them to the people? Might we not as well give our Bibles altogether into the hands of these interpreters? Especially, if the plain common sense meaning of words is not to be followed, when there is no clear necessity for departing from it.
The primary meaning of the term death is, "the extinction of life." To say that when God threatens men with death, he does not mean they shall die, but be kept alive in eternal torments is not warranted by any ordinary use of language. What should we think of a law that says, "For murder thou shalt die," if we were told the meaning is not, that the transgressor shall actually die, but be kept alive in indescribable torments, protracted to the greatest possible extent? Would any man think he was fairly dealt with by such an administration? And would he not have just cause of complaint at the want of definiteness in the terms used to denote the punishment threatened!
The term "Immortal" occurs but once in the Bible, viz.: 1 Tim. 1:17; and is applied to God, "The king eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God." If we were to judge by the frequency that we hear the phrase "immortal soul," we should suppose it was the most common expression in the Scriptures. You will hardly hear a sermon without the preacher often telling, with great emphasis, about "the immortal soul," as though he thought that qualifying term was all important to impress his hearers with a sense of the soul's value; not content, with the Saviour to ask - "What is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" No, that would be quite too weak, in his estimation, and he must strengthen it by adding, "immortal." To show the absurdity of such a course, I have only to say - That which is immortal cannot be lost. Hence, the persons who use this qualifying term, have to add another, and say - lose all "happiness." Now, the loss of the soul, and the loss of happiness, are two very different things, and each capable of being expressed in appropriate language. *To say, when our Saviour said, a man may "lose his own soul," he did not mean that he will come short of immortality, perish, or cease all sense and life, but only that he shall lose the happiness of his soul, is, in my mind, corrupting the word of God.
* Editor’s Note: This belief is clearly at variance with the word of God, for it contradicts Jesus, as George Storrs’ notes.
As in sermons, so it is in prayers. Men seem to think prayers have but little power, unless they spice them often with "immortal soul:" and they would probably regard you as an infidel, if you were to tell them the Bible no where speaks of an immortal soul. How often, too, do we hear men talk about "the undying soul," in direct contradiction of the testimony of God, which expressly declares, "the soul that sinneth, IT SHALL DIE." A hymn, often sung begins as follows:
"A charge to keep I have, A God to glorify, A never dying soul to save And fit it for the sky."
The same hymn ends thus: -
"Help me to watch and pray, And on thyself rely, Assured if I my trust betray, I shall forever die."
How a never dying soul can forever die, it will take a poet to tell; or a very learned divine. Common people are not skilled in such palpable contradictions. The hymn under consideration is one of great beauty and excellence, with the exception of this defect.
The term "immortality," occurs only five times in the Bible, and is never spoken of the wicked; but is either applied to God and His Christ, or brought to view as something to be sought after, and to be found alone in Christ. "To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for honor, glory, immortality, - eternal life," Rom.2:7. Why, I pray, are men to seek for it, if it is the inheritance of all?
"Shall mortal man be more just than God?" Job 4:17. Man's body is neither just nor unjust in itself; this text, therefore, speaks of the man, as such; or the whole man, who is said to be mortal. Paul, in Rom.8:10, says, "If Christ be in you, the body is dead" (i.e. mortal, doomed to die,) "because of sin; but the spirit is life" (why? because the soul is immortal? No; but) "because of righteousness;" clearly implying that it is being righteous, or having Christ in them, and possessing the Spirit of God, that is to make them immortal. This is further evident from the next verse, where he assures them that their mortal bodies should be quickened, i.e. be made immortal by the Spirit of Him who raised up Jesus from the dead.
Man is said to be "corruptible," in opposition to the "incorruptible God." See Rom.1:23. Again; "They that sow to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption," not immortality. See Gal.6:8. The wicked shall "utterly perish" in their own "corruption." 2 Peter 2:12.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
If the view I take of this subject be correct, then many portions of Scripture, which have been obscure on the common theory, become clear, beautiful and full of meaning and force. If men are really dying, according to the strict and literal meaning of that term, that is, the whole man, then the language in which they are addressed is strictly calculated to awaken attention, and move their hearts. For example: "In him was life; and the life was the light of men." Men are represented as sitting "in darkness, and in the shadow of death;" i.e. death is so near them that his dark shadow is over them; but Christ is "the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world;" thus showing them how to escape death. "The bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world - I am the bread of life. This is the bread that cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof and NOT DIE."
How natural and forcible these and similar texts are, on the supposition that man is actually dying. It takes not a doctor of divinity to see how appropriate the remedy to the disease. Men by sin have been cut off from the tree of life - they were starving, dying. Christ cometh: the bread of life - the feast is spread; hungry, dying souls are invited, without money and without price. Come, eat and LIVE. If you stay away, you DIE. O come to Christ and live - yea, live forever, and not die. Amen.
This Sermon 1 Taken From:
“Six Sermons on the Inquiry Is There Immortality in Sin and Suffering?”
“ALSO, A SERMON ON CHRIST THE LIFE-GIVER: OR, THE FAITH OF THE GOSPEL.”
BY GEORGE STORRS, OFFICE OF THE BIBLE EXAMINER, 1855
Blog Edited by John Foll.
From the Editor:
Greetings! Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Summary of the conclusion of Sermon 1:
* God is the only one who has immortality.
* God is the only one who is eternal or inhabits eternity.
* Mankind, who starts their life at their birth, can have an endless life in Heaven if they are saved, but they are not eternal or infinite – only God is.
* You should understand the plain meaning of the words of the Bible, and not try to “philosophize” or seek mystical meanings of its terms, that only the learned or those trained in ‘the Mysteries’ can understand.
* You should not depart from the truth, without the clearest evidence that what you perceive the Bible is teaching as the truth is wrong.
* The plain meaning of the word “perish” or “die” is cease to exist (in all forms); i.e. the total extinction of life.
* You must get the bread of Heaven, Jesus, that you may never die.
* If you don’t’ feed from the bread of Heaven, you will die and cease to exist.
* People talk about the undying soul in contradiction to God, who declared through His prophet Ezekiel that the soul who sins will die.
* The term “mortal man” from Job refers to the whole man, not just the body.
* You don’t need a Doctor of Divinity or to be schooled in philosophy to be able to understand the Bible.
* You need to understand that the word of God uses the plain meaning of words. (Unless it can be clearly shown as symbolic, as in prophecy. But even then the Bible explains itself, if you will take the time to study out how the Bible defines these symbolic terms.)
* Eternal life can only be given to the believer by Jesus. If they fail to get it from Him they must die.
* No one is born possessing eternal life, Jesus is the only one who can give it to you!
* Those who fail to secure their eternal life in this lifetime, by believing in Jesus and becoming His son or daughter, will utterly fail at gaining eternal life.
* But all who fail to gain eternal life will not go on in endless ages of torment. God forbid!
* Death is a sleep.
* Eternal Death is eternal extinction. (Referred to by the Bible as the 2nd Death.)
* Life or Death – they are contrasted with each other. Eternal life or eternal death. Each person may have one or the other.
Summary points from the earlier portions of Sermon 1:
* Eternal life has never been promised to the unrepentant sinner, only for the one who repents.
Summary:
Why are the points that George Storrs is making so important? Because you need to understand and follow ‘the plain’ meaning of words, so that you can understand the Bible. Each fallacy that is accepted and believed makes it easier and easier to get confused over more and more of what the Bible really teaches. If this goes on long enough, the person holding these fallacies may make a total shipwreck of their faith. Or they may be overcome by evil, and not think there is anything that they can or should do about it, if they believe what some “preachers” say. Or they may get so hardened against the truth, and become selfish and an abuser of others, racking up a heavy debt of sin that will never go away, unless they confess these sins and repent from them. But if they become completely hardened against the truth, they will never repent and be lost! Some of the lies that are taught and believed by many can cause someone to be overcome by sin and suffering. Some are told that they have a ticket to paradise, and that all they have to do is to wait until they receive it, because they can’t lose it once they have been “saved.” But this is a lie! That is why the truth is so important! The truth protects you from harm and losing your eternal life, if you believe it and receive it! Some people discard Christianity all together, thinking that it is no good; probably because of the mass of contradictions they were taught and have believed. But the more of the truth you learn, the easier it is to understand and believe what the Bible is really teaching and not be confused. When it starts to make sense, the devil’s lies lose their hold over you, and your way becomes clear and full of the light of God, lightening your path more and more until the perfect dawn. “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Proverbs 4:18 KJV. See also 2 Peter 1:19.
Oh that people would believe what God says in His Holy Bible! And put away all humanism, human philosophy, modernism, priest-craft, lies, and all deceptions, and would see the truth in its beauty! Then life would make sense, be sweet, and their eternal life could be secured by them! Then they would be free to be happy, full of God’s peace, love, joy, faith and hope! Is that what you want dear reader?
Dear reader, don’t let the devil take away the peace, love and joy that God wants to give you! Don’t let him steal away your crown of eternal life that Jesus wants to give you! “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:12 KJV. Don’t let the devil steal your crown of righteousness: Be like Paul who said, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8 KJV.
Dear reader, do you long for Jesus’ appearing at His Second Coming, to take you back to Heaven with Him? Are you tired of the sin and suffering on this earth? Do you long for the crown of life and the crown of righteousness that Jesus wants to give you? Do you long to see your loved ones again who have already died who will be saved? Then ask God to help you understand His revealed will for you in the Bible, and not get confused over any of the truth contained in it, and to help you to obey Him in all that He has commanded you, and have the power to obey Him. Then your peace will flow like a river from the River of Life, which flows endlessly from the throne of God! Message from God: “O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:” Isaiah 48:18 KJV. So harken to God’s commandments that your peace be like a river and that your righteousness will be as the waves of the sea!
May the grace of God be with you dear reader! Amen!
We hope you have stayed with us on this series on this sermon and our other blog articles on the How To Please God Blog. If you have not read all of the articles here in this “How To Please God” Blog from George Storrs’ Sermon 1, or our Article: “The Love and Fairness of God”
we recommend that you would read all of them, and in order. We plan on soon releasing the full version of George Storrs’ “Is there Immortality in Sin and Suffering? Sermon 1” so you can read it all together or print or save its complete PDF document.
We want to write blog articles on the Second Coming here, and at least one blog article for each of the 10 Commandments. We think that many people may not fully understand God’s 10 Laws of Love, or have fully thought about what they mean. Many people may not be aware of the ramifications of God’s Law and how their life needs to change so that they can be pleasing to Him. We want to break it down to you, so you can make progress on your way to Heaven. We want to show you the sinfulness of sin; of hurting God, yourself or others, so that you can turn fully to God for help, while there is still time. We want you to know if you are going down the right path or not. There is much ignorance about the full meaning of each of the 10 commandments, and how encompassing they are, including actions, words and thoughts. Some think they are keeping God’s commandments, when their heart is far from Him, with the unkind way they are treating others. And with their inability to keep all of His commandments, which they may try to hide from others. Many see God’s commandments as merely a list of don’ts, thinking that they don’t need to concern themselves with it, instead of viewing it through the eyes of love. No one who rejects God’s Law of love, the 10 Commandments of Exodus 20, can make the claim that they are into love, not works. Because true love always treats others with kindness and respect, and loves God supremely or confesses and repents when they miss the mark. And true love is the fulfillment of the Law! Love does no wrong to their neighbor, therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law as Paul says in Romans 13:10.
You will see that the 10 Commandments should encompass everything that you do in this life; it is how God wants you to treat Him and others. But many are ignorant of the full significance of how bad sin is, and how they need to let God deal with it in their life, if they want to make progress and have God’s peace, love and joy. We have presented articles and written articles in our other blogs and books talking about God’s Law of Love, the 10 Commandments, why they are important, and how God can help you keep them. But in this “How To Please God” Blog, we will expand on each of these commandments separately and break them down that all may see more of what each of them means more fully. This is important, because they should touch on every part of your life, as you will see.
As time goes on, we also want to put more articles here by George Storrs from his Sermons 2 to 6. And we want to write more articles on the problem texts in the Bible that seem to indicate something different than what we are teaching. We want to present the Bible teaching in a way that has the least contradictions, and try to figure out what the passages may mean that seem contrary to the Bible’s main teaching, instead of being like others who take 1 or 2 texts or so, and discard everything else in the Bible that goes contrary to this, against sound reasoning. But some of what is taught and believed out there goes against plain reasoning and sound teaching.
We hope to present more articles on the future judgement, crisis, day of trouble, and future events, etc. from Bible prophecy to help all grow in their understanding of what God wants them to know. You will need wisdom from God to use this truth wisely.
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