The Immortality of Jesus: A Divine Reality

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Biblical Context: Jesus' Divinity and Mortality

The Bible teaches that Jesus was both divine and mortal. His divinity is evident in passages such as those found in Philippians 2:5-8, where it states, “His state was divine, but Christ Jesus did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself to take the form of a slave, and came in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Despite his divine nature, Jesus chose to take on humanity, willingly becoming a man and dying on the cross to pay the debt for human sin. Romans 6:23 declares that “the wages of sin is death,” yet the Bible also affirms that Jesus rose from the dead, becoming the firstfruits of all who would subsequently be raised. 1 Corinthians 15:20 states, “For Christ has also been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have died.”

The Divine Resurrection

2 Corinthians 8-11 further emphasizes the unparalleled nature of Jesus' resurrection, noting, “God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Thus, Jesus rose not only as a resurrected human but as a resurrected divine being, establishing the truth of his immortality and ensuring eternal life for his believers, as stated in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Divine Incarnation and Eternality

The nature of God and incarnation further elucidates the concept of Jesus' immortality. It is key to understand that while God entered the earthly form of Jesus, the divine essence of God remained eternal and unchanging. As mentioned in 1 Timothy 1:17, “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen,” emphasizing the singularity and the eternal nature of God.

Furthermore, in 1 John 1:7, it states, “But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” This passage underscores the ongoing relationship between believers and the divine, present in both the present and the future. Even as Jesus took on a mortal form, the divine nature never left him, proving the unending and eternal quality of his being.

The Unchanged Nature of God

Another uncontestable truth is that only God can give what He possesses. In John 3:16, God is described as giving “his only begotten Son” for the salvation of the world. This statement hinges on the existence and divinity of the Son, who was pre-existent before his incarnation. It cannot be true that God could give what He does not have, which accords with the idea of Jesus' pre-existence and divine nature.

Conclusion

In summary, the Biblical accounts and theological concepts strongly support the immortality of Jesus. While he took on the form of a mortal man, his divine essence remained eternal. The immortality of Jesus is a profound truth that underscores his unique status as the Son of God and the means of our salvation. His resurrection and the confessions of his divinity in passages throughout the New Testament point to a living and unchanging God in the form of Jesus Christ.

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