All of these passages may be naturally explained in perfect consistency with the orthodox doctrine which is supported upon that wide range of Scripture evidence we have set forth above, question 2. They present either, 1st, hypothetical warnings of the consequences of apostasy with the design of preventing it, by showing the natural consequences of indifference and of sin, and the necessity for earnest care and effort ; or, 2d, they indicate the dreadful consequences of misimproving or of abusing the in- fluences of common grace, which, although involving great respon- sibility, nevertheless come short of a radical change of nature or genuine conversion.
9. What argument do the opponents of this doctrine urge from Bible examples and from our own daily experience of apostates ?
They cite from the Scriptures such instances as that of David
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and Peter, and they refer to the many examples of the apostasy of well-acredited professors, with which, alas ! we are all familiar. All these examples, however, fall evidently under one of two classes, either, 1st, they were from the beginning without the real power of godliness, although hearing so fair an appearance of life in the sight of their fellow-men, Kom. ii., 28 ; ix., 6 ; 1 John ii., 19 ; Rev. iii., 1 ; or, 2d, they are true believers who, because of the temporary withdrawal of restraining grace, have been allowed to backslide for a time, while in every such case they are gra- ciously restored, and that generally by chastisement, Rev. iii., 19. Of this class were David and Peter. No true Christian is capable of deliberate apostasy ; his furthest departure from righteousness being occasioned by the sudden impulse of passion or fear, Matt, xxiv., 24 ; Luke xxii., 31.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
DEATH AND THE STATE OF THE SOUL AFTER DEATH.
1. By what forms of expression is death described in the Bible t
A departure out of this world, 2 Tim. iv., 6. A going the way of all the earth, Josh, xxiii., 14. A being gathered to one's fathers, Judges ii.? 10 ; and to one's people, Deut. xxxii., 50. A dissolving the earthly house of this tabernacle, 2 Cor. v., 1. A returning to the dust, Eecle. xii., 7. A sleep, John xi., 11. A giving up the ghost, Acts, v., 10. A being absent from the body and present with the Lord, 2 Cor. v., 8. Sleeping in Jesus, 1 Thess. iv., 14.
2. What is death ?
The suspension of the personal union between the body and the soul, followed by the resolution of the body into its chemical elements, and the introduction of the soul into that separate state of existence which may be assigned to it by its Creator and Judge, Eccle. xii., 7.
3. How does death stand related to sin ?
The entire penalty of the law, including all the spiritual, physical and eternal penal consequences of sin, is called death in Scripture. The sentence was, " The day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die," Gen. ii., 17 ; Rom. v., 12. That this included natural death is proved by Rom. v., 13, 14 ; and from the fact that when Christ bore the penalty of the law it was necessary for him to die, Heb. ix., 22.
4. Why do the justified die ?
Justification changes the entire federal relation of its subject
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to the law, and raises him for ever above all the penal conse- quences of sin. Death, therefore, while remaining a part of the penalty of the unsatisfied law in relation to the unjust, is like all other afflictions changed, in relation to the justified, into an ele- ment of improving discipline. It is made necessary for them from the present constitution of the body, while it is to both body and soul the gateway of heaven. They are made free from its sting and fear, 1 Cor. xv., 55, 57 ; Heb. ii., 15. They are now " blessed" in death because they die " in the Lord," Rev. xiv., 13, and they shall at last be completely delivered from its power when the last enemy shall be destroyed, 1 Cor. xv., 26.
5. What evidence have ive of the immateriality of the soul, and what argument may be derived from that source in proof of its continued existence after death ?
For the evidence establishing the immateriality of the soul see Chap. I., question 32.