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THE HOPE OF IMMORTALITY

Not many dwell on the subject of immortality. Paul did! His faith in immortality caused him to be totally unafraid of losing his life on earth. Death would only be gain!

“For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened,
not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed,
that mortality may be swallowed up by life.”
2 Corinthians 5:4

1. “We who are in this tent groan”

a) “In this tent”

i) A reference to our mortal life

ii) The physical body.

b) “Groan”

i) Not just because life is hard

ii) But because there is a strong desire to be with the Lord upon death (2 Corinthians 5:1-3).

2. “Being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed”

a) The human soul is encased by the body.

b) The human soul is freed from the body at death.

c) But this does not mean that the soul is “unclothed”.

d) Death is not something we should long for.

e) This rules out any thought of suicide.

3. “But further clothed”

a) A new resurrection body awaits

b) This was a well-described doctrine in Pauline theology (Cf. 1 Corinthians 15)

4. “That mortality may be swallowed up by life”

a) Mortality

i) A reference to life on earth.

ii) The life span on earth does not stretch beyond 120 years.

b) Immortality

i) Mortality will be swallowed up by immortality.

ii) The fullness of life immortal will then be experienced.

“You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Psalm 16:11