Topic: Life (Meaning, Eternal Life: Salvation from Spiritual and Physical Death; Immortal Life: Salvation from Physical Death)

Job 14:14 > Job 19:26 > Isaiah 25:8 > Isaiah 26:19 > Moses 5:59 > Matthew 28:6 > Mark 16:6 > Luke 24:5-6 > John 20:16 > The Acts 2:22-24 > The Acts 4:33 > Matthew 27:52-53 > 3 Nephi 23:9-13 > 1 Corinthians 15:22 > John 11:25-26 > John 8:51 > Romans 6:16, 23 > Hebrews 11:35 > Alma 11:41 > John 5:29 > Psalms 16:11 > Matthew 25:33 > Doctrine and Covenants 14:7 > Ezekiel 3:17-21 > Proverbs 21:21 > Matthew 10:39 > Matthew 7:13-14 > Matthew 19:17 > John 5:24-29 > John 6:27-40, 47-51 > John 10:10 > 1 Timothy 4:8-10 > James 1:12 > John 14:15 > 2 Peter 1:3-8 > 1 John 3:14-24 > 1 John 5:11-20 > 1 Nephi 11:25 > 2 Nephi 25:27 > Alma 5:34-35 > 3 Nephi 9:18 > Doctrine and Covenants 88:22-24

The great message of scripture is the resurrection of Jesus Christ and thus the availability of salvation to all mankind. This great message of the gospel of Jesus Christ assures us that all mankind will be resurrected; we will be saved from physical death.  Job asked about this during his period of great trial. In the book of Job chapter 14 verse 14, it is recorded of him asking, “If a man die, shall he live again?” I am sure that Job is not the only man to ask such a question. Then in chapter 19 verse 26 he answers his own question stating, “Yet in my flesh shall I see God.” Job had a testimony of the resurrection long before the advent of the Son of God. From this we know that the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was prophesied of, foretold and known about long before His birth. We read in the book of Isaiah chapter 25 verse 8 that, “He shall swallow up death in victory”, and again in chapter 26 verse 19, “Thy dead men shall live…and the earth shall cast out the dead.” All these verses are great testimonies that the doctrine of the resurrection was preached, taught and known by prophets and taught to all who would listen. In Moses chapter 5 verse 59, we see that the doctrine of the resurrection was taught to Adam and Eve after their transgression in the Garden of Eden so that they too would have hope of life after death.

With all the prophecy of Christ and His resurrection, was He resurrected? Yes! Let us examine some scripture, which testifies of the resurrection of Jesus. Matthew chapter 28 verse 6, “He is not here: for He is risen.” Mark chapter 16 verse 6, “He is risen.” Luke chapter 24 verses 5 and 6, “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen.” Then in John chapter 20 verse 16, “Jesus saith unto her, Mary.” The Apostles taught of Christ’s resurrection; one example of this is in Acts chapter 2 verses 22 through 24, where Peter says, “Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death.” In Acts chapter 4 verse 33 we learn that the Apostles were given a witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and it was given to them in great power. As the prophets testified, so it has come to pass; Christ was resurrected, He lives!

Is there any evidence that the dead have actually been resurrected? Yes! The scriptures in Matthew chapter 27 verses 52 and 53, testify that at Jesus’ resurrection, “Many of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” In 3 Nephi chapter 23 verses 9 through 13 we read that the same thing happened in the ancient Americas. We learn that with Christ’s resurrection came the resurrection of many Saints. The resurrection is real! It began with the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. All mankind will be saved from physical death. The Apostle, Paul, in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 22 testifies to this fact, we will all be made alive through Jesus Christ.

A fair question to ask at this point would be, “To what type of life or to what quality of life will we be resurrected to?” In the book of John chapter 11 verses 25 and 26, we begin to learn an answer to this question, for the answer is important. Jesus teaches, “I am the resurrection, and the life.” You will notice here in this statement that there are two conditions mentioned, resurrection and life. Is there a difference? Yes, and the understanding of the difference is this Scripture Train’s objective.

You will obviously say at this point, "What is the difference? Resurrection means that we will live again, we will have life"! Yes, that is true, however, why did not Christ simply say, "I am the resurrection", and be done with it, why say, "and the life"? Is there anything else that Jesus saved us from besides physical death? Continuing on with John chapter 11 verse 25, Jesus says that those who believe in Him shall live. In verse 26 He states that those who believe in Him will never die. It is a fact that we will all suffer physical death at some time. If Jesus meant that we would never die physically then there would certainly be a lot of people still living who lived at the time of Christ and beyond. So, we know that He must have meant something other than physical death; if we examine John chapter 8 verse 51, we see that Christ taught that all those who obey Him shall never see death. He is certainly not speaking of a physical death; in Romans chapter 6 verse 16 and 23, Paul teaches that the results of sin is death; certainly not physical death, or else if we were to sin we would die, physically. So what kind of death is he speaking of? A spiritual death! Mortality will ultimately bring physical death to each of us. Sin will bring spiritual death to each of us. Obedience to God will bring spiritual life, or Eternal Life. So it appears that in the resurrection we will be resurrected to different rewards: Spiritual life, or spiritual death. This is born out in Hebrews chapter 11 verse 35 where Paul teaches that many worked to obtain a better resurrection. True it is that the resurrection of our bodies comes by the grace of God through His Son, Jesus Christ, but what comes after that not only depends on the grace of God, but also our own personal righteousness. In Alma chapter 11 verse 41, we are taught this very doctrine, all will be raised from death, but after the resurrection will come judgment and we will be judged according to our works, which works distinguishes between those who are righteous and those who are not. Christ taught this very doctrine as recorded in John chapter 5 verse 29 saying, “They that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. In other words, some will be resurrected unto spiritual life or which we call Eternal Life and some to spiritual death, which is damnation. This is what Jesus taught in John chapter 11 verses 25 and 26. He is not only the resurrection, but the life also. He who believes in Him will never die.

The scriptures teach throughout the Bible, the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants the difference between immortality and eternal life. In the Psalms chapter 16 verse 11, we learn that those gathered on His right hand will experience a fullness of joy, which pleasure can only be obtained in the presence of God. So, Eternal Life brings a fullness of joy! This reminds us of the teaching of Jesus in Matthew chapter 25 verse 33, when He states that His sheep will be gathered on His right hand and the goats on His left. This means that those who are the saved, or those who will have eternal life, will be gathered on His right hand where there will be a fullness of joy, which pleasure will last forever. So, Eternal Life is a pleasure, which will last forever, life with God. Those on His left hand will have immortality, but not eternal life. Doctrine and Covenants section 14 verse 7 teaches that the greatest of all the gifts of God is eternal life, but that it only comes to those who keep His commandments until the end of their lives. Ezekiel, while warning us how important it is to warn our neighbor, both the wicked and the righteous, teaches us an important lesson. Reading from chapter 3 verses 17 through 21 we learn that if the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity that he will die in his sins and all his righteous works will be forgotten. Thus, he did not endure to the end of his life keeping the commandments of God according to the commandment; thus, he will die spiritually, he will lose eternal life.

In the scripture truth is established. The truth that we have established here is that our resurrection, or immortality, comes only through Jesus Christ and Eternal Life also comes through Jesus Christ, but to those who meet the requirements established by God. We will now examine those scriptural proofs that testify to this fact.

First, let’s examine Proverbs chapter 21 verse 21; here we read the prophet's declaration that life comes only to those who follow after righteousness. We know that this must mean Eternal Life, for immortality comes to all God's children through Christ's resurrection. Second, Matthew chapter 10 verse 39; life, Eternal Life, comes to those who lose their life in the service of their God and fellowman. Third, Matthew chapter 7 verses 13 and 14; life comes only to those who enter the strait gate, which is baptism and the reception of the Holy Ghost and then continue on the narrow way. We notice here the very forthright statement: "And few there be that find it"! Fourth, Matthew chapter 19 verse 17; only those who keep the commandments will enter into Eternal Life. Fifth, John chapter 5 verses 24 through 29; Those who hear and believe God and Jesus Christ will have everlasting life. Note, that often, everlasting life and Eternal Life are used interchangeably. Also note the important verbs: Hear and Believe. Those who hear and believe will pass from death unto life. This must mean spiritual death unto spiritual life! For all will be resurrected from temporal death to immortality. These verses also teach that only those who have done good during their lives will be resurrected unto life.  Sixth, John chapter 6 verse 27 through 40 and 47 through 51; in all we do during our life we are taught to work the works of God, which will endure unto everlasting life. We are taught that Jesus is the Bread of Life and all who believe in Him and do the works of God will have life. Jesus did the work that God gave Him to do; what work has God given you and I to do? If we do the works of God, those works which He gave us to do, then we will never die, but have Eternal Life. Seventh, John chapter 10 verse 10; the life that comes through Jesus Christ, will be more abundant than mere immortal life. Eighth, 1 Timothy chapter 4 verses 8 through 10; Godliness, or being God-like, or Christ-like bears with it the promise of life; especially, he says, to those who believe in Christ. Here we see there is something more for the believers. Ninth, James chapter 1 verse 12; the crown of life will come only to those who love Him. This reminds us of the scripture in John chapter 14 verse 15 that says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Tenth, 2 Peter chapter 1 verses 3 through 8; through the divine power of Christ we have received everything we need pertaining to life and godliness; He has called us to glory. Are not all these promises precious? Even more precious and great than simple immortality. It is the pursuit of godliness that makes us fruitful in this life. Eleventh, 1 John chapter 3 verses 14 through 24; loving one another is a step toward this precious life. This love that we show each other is the example that we learned from Christ. We saw the great love He has for each of us and as we learn to return that love by loving our fellowmen, then we pass from death unto life. Twelfth, 1 John chapter 5 verses 11 through 20; Eternal Life comes from God, through His Son, Jesus Christ; therefore we must believe in Him if we desire Eternal Life. One way we know that we are becoming one with Christ is if we have the confidence to ask Him for anything that is according to His will and know that He will hear us and give us according to our prayer. In the Book of Mormon: Thirteenth, 1 Nephi chapter 11 verse 25; both Nephi and his father, Lehi, beheld a dream in which they saw among many other things a Rod of Iron, which led to the Tree of Life, representing among other things the sweet joy of Eternal Life. As long as they, and all the people they saw in the dream, held fast to the Rod of  Iron they safely arrived at the tree and partook of the delicious fruit of Eternal Life. So what is the Rod of Iron that was so fundamental in obtaining Eternal Life? It was interpreted as the Word of God. Fourteenth, 2 Nephi chapter 25 verse 27; life is in Christ, both immortality and Eternal Life. Fifteenth, Alma chapter 5 verses 34 through 35; those who bring forth works of righteousness will eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life and partake of the fruit of the Tree of Life. What is the bread and waters of life? I believe it is sacrament of the Lord's supper and all the promises associated with the covenants that we make in Christ's name from baptism to our sacred temple ordinances. Sixteenth, 3 Nephi chapter 9 verse 18; Christ is the hope for the life of the world. Seventeenth, Doctrine and Covenants section 88 verses 22 through 24; I saved this until last because it sums up so well all that has been discussed, plus it gives us an understanding of the rewards that will come to those who have truly sought after the life which Christ has to offer the righteous; they have truly worked to become Christ-like. So, to sum things up, all mankind will be resurrected! But in the resurrection all who have abided the law of Christ will inherit a kingdom prepared for them, even a celestial kingdom or the kingdom of God and enjoy the presence of God; this is spiritual life or Eternal Life. Those who have not will inherit less; they will not enjoy the presence of God; this is spiritual death. They will enjoy immortality, but not Eternal Life.