No question has ever troubled men more than this great riddle of life and death. Nor has science as yet advanced one single solution, nor ever will. The philosopher in his theories gets back to what he calls the Great First Cause, but there he stops; and the reason is plain enough, for he cannot pass outside the limit of things natural and seen, beyond which the solution of this riddle lies. True it is, that the word of God has stated the whole case and solves for believers every difficulty; but, it being “spiritually discerned,” even the wisest man, if unenlightened by the Spirit of God, cannot accept or understand its truths.
Man was formed in the strength of his manhood, nor were there any influences of decay or any signs of death upon, around, or before him. All was life. But God had proclaimed that in the day of disobedience he should “surely die (Gen. 2:1717But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Genesis 2:17)).” We know the true and awful story of the fall: indeed its sad evidences are around aria in us all to-day. But Adam did not expire at once. True it is that death set in, and that in this sense from the moment of his fall he was a dying man; but what did actually happen was that he became an outcast from the presence of God. This was “death” in a most terrible aspect. The bodily act of dying was but a small thing, compared to the spiritual death, the separation from God, which was beyond measure appalling, as it surely ends in judgment everlasting.
Till now God had provided all things and man lived but to enjoy the manifold blessings in the garden of Eden. Now, he was an outcast condemned to toil for his daily bread, and to see in the thorns and thistles, with which his own hands had to fight for the mastery of the soil, the bitter fruits of his disobedience, which called to his mind unceasingly the fact that he was mortal. Yet in the very hour of judgment came the promise of mercy (Gen. 3:1515And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15)), through the Seed which should bruise the serpent's head. And it is our privilege to-day to look back over the long years and see the promise fulfilled in wonderful perfection.
Some deem it strange that throughout the Old Testament we have but three or four scriptures pointing to eternity. The most striking perhaps comes from the lips of stricken Job, whom God was schooling in adversities, for in the middle of his affliction he could cry out “I know that my Redeemer liveth” (Job 19:2525For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: (Job 19:25)). Here then he points to One who lives untouched by the power of death, a living Redeemer, life-giving as we know as well as living.
In a later day God gave His rebellious people the choice of “life and good, and death and evil” (Deut. 30:1515See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; (Deuteronomy 30:15)). I do not suppose that their choice in any way affected their allotted span of years, but it did affect their position Godward.
Life was a state of communion resulting from the obedience of faith; whereas death was the reverse.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans tells us that “death reigned from Adam to Moses”! Did men then live from Moses onward? No! but it was through Moses that God instituted a probational order of things For at the hand of Moses came the schoolmaster or child-guide (Gal. 3:2424Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (Galatians 3:24)) unto or up to Christ. Not that the law typified Christ, but that it convicted man of sin and of his need of redeeming blood.
Again through Moses, the tabernacle, pointing Christward in its every detail, was constructed. Above all through Moses came the Aaronic or mediating priesthood by which God condescended to act towards man. Again, after Passover and the Red Sea He came to dwell with men conditionally, and to commune from the mercy-seat; for men were guilty and condemned by the very giving of the law, and mercy was needed most of all. The law pointed to the need of life, and though it was in no way against the promises of God (Gal. 3:2121Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. (Galatians 3:21)), it could never of itself give life. As yet redemption was only in a figure; and although the new dispensation of ritual pointing at life was established, life in its true sense could not yet be said to have come to dwell with or in men.
It was the intermediate stage leading Christ-ward. The absolute reign of death was no longer in power; but the absolute reign of life was not yet established. There was still the veil of separation there; but its very texture showed that it was not forever, and behind it life was wonderfully symbolized. Over the people still hung the fear of the condemnation sounded later in the dread word “Ichabod” (1 Sam. 4:2121And she named the child I-chabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband. (1 Samuel 4:21)). The glory that was with them was conditional upon their attitude. Sins under the existing state of things could never be taken away; for the very priesthood was but human, and prone as other men to fail. But this same state of things, imperfect though man had made it, pointed toward the greater future blessing. And this in all its fullness came in Christ. He came bringing life in Himself; for “in Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:44In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4)).
Early in His ministry He proclaimed “He that believeth hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation (or rather judgment), but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)). He ever pressed the essential need of being born again (John 3:33Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)), “born of the Spirit"; and to impart life to all who owned their need of it (John 10:1010The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)) was His chief mission. “The wages (though not the full wages) of sin is death” was the word of doom; not only the cutting short of man's earthly span but far more the separation from God, and this of course including corruption both spiritual and bodily, all ending in the lake of fire. “But the gift of God is eternal life (in the fullest sense) through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)). Here then was the One who had power to establish communion between fallen but repentant man and God; for this had been implied from the fall. So, as man came Christ Jesus the Son of God, in whom was life; and this right through from the manger to the cross, so gloriously manifested by the angel's words to the astonished but rejoicing hearers at the tomb, “He is not here, but is risen.” He, in whom was life, could not be overcome of death; but on the contrary death everywhere gave way before Him where it was felt and acknowledged.
The remission of sins was only possible by blood (Lev. 17:1111For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. (Leviticus 17:11), Heb. 9:2222And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22)). Nor could reconciliation be accomplished without death and blood-shedding, and this not of bulls and goats “which can never take away sins.” Therefore He said, “Lo, I come... to do Thy will, O my God (Psa. 40:66Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. (Psalm 40:6));” and we know how perfectly that will was wrought out. Death was vanquished, and the grave with all its terrors was overcome by Christ alone. No longer did the veil separate man from God, for from top to bottom it was rent as by God's own hand. The way into the holiest was made open (Heb. 10:19, 2019Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (Hebrews 10:19‑20)) to all believers through the blood of Christ. The separation from God and from His unhindered blessings which resulted from Adam's sin, was now in the second Adam removed. A direct means of communion with God was now open to all men by faith. No longer was the entry into the holiest the prerogative of a high priest, but all that believe from every nation under heaven were called into its holy blessings (Rom. 5:2, 182By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:2)
18Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. (Romans 5:18)).
Now the “free gift” was offered to all (through the perfection of the work of Christ) conditional upon nothing but man's confession of his need; and acceptance of Him “Eternal life” is the knowledge of God and of His Son (John 17:33And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3)). Without such a personal and individual appropriation of this actual communion with God, the life was unattained and unattainable. It could not come by rite or ceremony at the hands of men. It comes solely through the agency of the Holy Spirit, convicting of sin and pointing to Christ the Son of God and the Son of Man as having atoned for sins upon the cross.
Are we then as well off as Adam before the fall? Surely incomparably better! for we have promises of glory (1 Cor. 6:3; 13Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? (1 Corinthians 6:3) John 3:2 Tim. 2:1212If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: (2 Timothy 2:12); Rev. 5:1010And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:10)) which Adam never knew. We have “eternal life” (1 John 5:1313These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13)), and we know it now, communion with God by the indwelling Spirit; and “life everlasting in the world (age) to come” (Luke 18:3030Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. (Luke 18:30)), with the cheering and splendid assurance that nothing can separate us from these blessings (Rom. 8:3939Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:39)). The legacy of Christ was a promise fulfilled at Pentecost, and as true to-day as then, God dwelling in and with man by the Holy Spirit through redemption (John 14:1616And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (John 14:16); Rom. 8:1616The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (Romans 8:16); Acts 7:4848Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, (Acts 7:48) Cor. 6:19). Thenceforth for us was to be no temple of God built with hands, but the individual believer became ipso facto, consequent on the redemption that is in Christ, the temple of God Himself; as also is the church or assembly of God (1 Cor. 3:16; 216Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16) Cor. 5:16). Such a state of blessing can be arrived at solely by faith in God and His Word.
The fall with its resultant separation from God, expressed in death now and judgment to come, must be acknowledged and confessed, not only for the race but individually; and God's reconciliation by Christ's work, together with the gift of eternal life, must now be accepted as the only way to God. He who is that life Himself died to give us life, was forsaken that we might be made nigh, and told us that He alone is “the way.” Moreover He has told us that none can come to the Father but by Him. He has told us too (can we praise Him sufficiently for it?) that whosoever cometh to Him He will in no wise cast out (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)). L. L.