Old Paths Advocate - Church of Christ

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PAGE SIX THE OLD PATHS ADVOCATE MAY 1, 1946
living persons can realize them. If they remain 3. Therefore,:each will have a resurrection.
forever under death then may we point to a prom- Truly, the patriarchs (and all other human beise
which God has never fulfilled and his veracity ings for that matter) “are held back from Sadduand
honor are at stake.
ceean death” (and from Advent death, too, for
These patriarchs are sleeping in Macpelah’s that matter), for each human being has a “spirit”
cave. The Moslem regards the spot as very sa- that survives the death of the body, as both Jesus
cred. No infidel foot is allowed to enter the pre- and Paul clearly teach and confirm the correct
cincts of that cave. But some day the arcangel’s conception of “death” in saying that the grain
triumph will shake the foundations of the mosque “dies.” (John 12:24; I Cor. 15:35) This is not
erected over them and thgy shall come forth to the Sadduceean “definition of death,” neither is
possess the promised land. *
it that of the Adventists. But Jesus and Paul
Reply
certainly knew the correct use of words, and they
Yes, .we need to keep in mind the correct view used language correctly.
of death. Jesus says, “Except a grain of wheat
There is not a whit of dif€erence between the
fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but Sadducean and the Advent “definition of death.”
if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” (John
The difference between the two is, that the Sad-
12:24.) Jesus says the grain dies, but if the ducees logically, with that view of death, denied
germ were dead, there would never be another
the resurrection, while the Adventists, with that
from that grain. Now hear Paul on the resursame
view of death, illogically contend for the
rection: “But some one will say, How are the
resurrection. But no man, with the Sadducean
dead raised? and with what body do they come?
and Advent “definition of death” can prove the
Thou foolish one, that which thou thyself sowest
resurrection.
is not quickened except it die,” etc. (I Cor. 15:
The Advent writer here reviewed, confuses the
35). Paul says the grain dies, but “it is patent
Sadducean view of death with the Sadducean view
of the resurrection. The Sadducean and the Adto
all” that if the germ were dead, there would
never be another grain from the one that went
vent view of death is the same: both denying the
“spirit” to survive the body. But the view of
into the earth.
A man has a spirit, a soul, and a body. (I Thes.
the resurrection held by each is different, the
5:23.) Jesus, just before he died, said, “Father,
Sadducees, with that view of death, logically deinto
thy hands I commend my spirit.” (Lk. 23: nying. the resurrection ; but the Adventists, with
46.” And just before he died, Stephen said, “Lord
that same view of death, illogically holding for
Jesus, receive my spirit.” (Acts 7:59)
the resurrection.
But this is not the Sadducean view, nor is it the
Christ shows that “these patriarchs have him
Advent view. “The Sadducees say.that there is (God) as their Gocl,” for as he says, “God is not
no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit.” (Acts the God of the dead, but of the living.” (Mt. 22:
23:8). And the Adventists say that spirit is
32.) Hence, they are not dead in the Sadducean
just air or breath. .But since,a man has a “spirand
Advent sense. And thus Christ proves the
resurrection, and the Sadducees were logical
it,” truly, “They are not dead” in the Sadducean enough to see it. The “Sadducean death” and
sense and the-Advent sense: the sense in which
“little dog Rover died all over,” having no “spirit,”
the Advent death are identical-both deny the
yes, no “spirit to survive the death of the body.
“spirit” to survive