Zeal For Truth

Man Was Never Immortal
When discussing what the Bible teaches about healing and health, the question of immortality invariably comes up. The logic being that if healing is really a provision of the redemptive work of Christ to be presently enjoyed, then that must mean that physical death is abolished. However, this logic is flawed in many respects. First of all, if we read the Genesis account we cannot determine that man was created mortal or immortal. This is difficult to understand because it seems logical that he had to have been one or the other. Nevertheless, this does not appear to be the case.

But 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).

This verse indicates that Adam and Eve were not mortal, because death resulted from eating the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken (Genesis 3:22, 23).

From this verse we see that eating from the Tree of Life would have resulted in immortality, and that God removed man from the garden to ensure that he did not become immortal.

Death Not Yet Abolished
As we discussed in Part II of this series, physical death has not yet been done away with. First Corinthians 15:26 identifies physical death as the “last enemy that shall be destroyed.” Since mankind was never immortal and physical death is not yet abolished, we will all inevitably die. However, this fact is not incompatible with what the Bible teaches about healing.

And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee. There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfill (Exodus 23:25, 26).

Notice that this passage speaks of the promise to take away disease, but emphasizes long life. It is possible, therefore, to live a long life and die of natural causes without disease.

Defining Longevity
When we read Genesis, we see men living hundreds of years. We know that people do not live that long today. So how can we define longevity in modern terms? One clue is found in Genesis 6:3.

Then the LORD said, ‘My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years.’ (New International Version)

I believe this refers to the maximum number of years men can live on the earth under the present conditions. Today, it is unusual for people to live this long, but it is not completely unheard of. To be fair, there are some that believe that this verse refers to the number of years that would pass before God flooded the earth. I disagree, but there is not enough biblical evidence here for me to be dogmatic about my position. However, I would point out that the phrase, “his days will be a hundred and twenty years” is preceded by a comment on human mortality.
Continue reading ‘Biblical Bodily Healing Part III: Longevity, Not Immortality’