Is Man Mortal or Immortal?

Man is immortal. Once born all beings will live their lives, dies, and spend eternity somewhere.

 

Immortal in the sense of being inherently unable to perish? No.

Immortal in the sense of never experiencing death? No.

Immortal in the sense of having an existence beyond the grave? Yes, but I'd choose to define it with a different term that doesn't bring up meanings such as above.

 

Marcia

Anyone else and I might have worried about your being a mormon ...

 

We are neither.

Immortal cannot die. But, while we are mortal, we will become eternal.

And if that makes sence to you, I have ocean front property for you in Arizona. And then I can use the money to start a church ...

 

We are not eternal. That means without beginning or ending. We all had a beginning. Only God is eternal.

We will die, be resurrected, and live forever. Perhaps immortal is not the best word for it, anyone got a better one word fit?

 

"Eternal life" is a biblical description of it.

*edit* -I just noticed how that comment might seem rude. I only meant it as a suggestion. I apologize for any confusion.

 

The first humans were prevented from eating of the Tree of Life (Genesis 3:22-24). I think this shows that we were not created immortal, and we did not become immortal. Eternal (or everlasting) life is the gift of God to all who believe in Christ (John 3:16). Those people will once again have free access to eat of the Tree of Life in Paradise (Revelation 2:7, 22:14).

 

Well said, Mercury.

 

"Eternal life" is a term reserved for believers. However, the Bible does NOT teach the annihilation of the wicked so they live forever as well, albeit in a state of eternal torment.

Adam and Eve would have lived forever had they not sinned (IMHO). They were only prevented from eating of the tree of life after they had eaten of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

 

rjprince, from your previous statement, I thought of believers.

For unbelievers, I would call it eternal death. Life, IMO, is not a quality that these individuals will possess. Existence, yes, but life, no.

 

Stefan,
sorry, edited my post while you were writing yours.

 

I don't want to create the impression that we agree on more than we do, but I also don't want to derail the thread. I think we agree that humans are not created immortal and yet it is appointed for humans to die once and then to face judgement (Hebrews 9:27), so neither of us thinks earthly death is the ultimate end for anyone. However, I would call the fate of the wicked the second death (though "eternal death" could mean the same; it's all in the definition). I don't think eternal existence or eternal life will be given to those who reject Jesus; one aspect of hell is total separation from God, and as God is the omnipresent I AM, to me that means being unmade and destroyed.

But, since it probably wasn't Marcia's intent to get into that here, I'll point to [this old thread] before I write another essay.

 

I think we are mortal and immortal. Mortal in this life, immortal in the next. Wether you call it life or existance in hell, it is still alive. The bible teaches: Revelation 14:11
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

That sounds like forever to me as well as all verses speaking of everlasting life to the saints'.

The flesh is mortal. The spirit is immortal saved or damned.

 

Our bodies are mortal, they will die and decay. Our souls are immortal, there is no way to destroy a soul once it has been created. It will spend eternety somewhere. Our soul will either spend eternal life in Heaven or eternal death in Hell. But it will never be destroyed.
It is a jehovah witness beliefe that our souls will be destroyed and we will no longer exist.

 

So is God unable to destroy a soul if he so wishes?*

*I don't believe in annihilationism, but I believe that it is merely because God chooses not to destroy the damned.

 

God can do anything, but He clearly says He will not destroy our soul. Based on Him always keeping His word we can count on our soul being immortal. I should have been more clear.

 

First, only God is immortal:

1 Tim. 6:15
He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
16 who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.


Second, humans are always presented as mortal. Scripture does mention mortal body, but never says we have an immortal soul. It does say we can gain immortality in the ressurrection. Further, the bible always presents humans as a unified whole, both body and spirit.

Romans 6:12:
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts....

Romans 8:11:
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.


1 Cor. 15:53:
For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.


2 Cor. 4:11:
For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.


Hebrews 7:5:
In this case mortal men receive tithes....


Romans 2:7
to those who by aperseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;

 

The bible also clearly shows that the unsaved as vile as their eternal existance will be, shall be tormented forever. That means alive and immortal.