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Joy Penrose-Davis

CHAPTER 32

GOD CANNOT DIE

In the previous chapter, we learned that Jesus did not possess the power to prevent himself from being crucified, and hence, it is impossible that he was God in his humanity. We have also learned that God the Father could not have been the Sacrificial Lamb to die for man, because God cannot bear or carry sin. Beyond all that, however, there is a much greater matter that we need to consider. That matter is the reality that it is impossible for God to die. In 1 Timothy 6:16 Paul informs us that God is immortal. Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen. From this portion of scriptures, we understand that it is YHWH God alone Who inherently possesses immortality, which means, it is He alone Who cannot die. All other beings whom the scriptures describe as immortal, have been so endowed by the Father. From this, we come to the understanding that if Jesus is God, he too is inherently immortal, and hence, even if he takes on flesh it would be impossible for him to die. Therefore, if there were any aspect of Jesus that possessed divinity, even while he was in his humanity, it would

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have been impossible for death to have had dominion over him. We learn from the scriptures, however, that death had dominion over Jesus. Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him (Rom. 6:9). It is impossible for God to die, because there can be no moment in Gods existence in which He does not have total dominion over death. Moreover, there is no moment in Gods existence in which He can cease to exist or to exist as God in His totality, which would occur if He died. The entire plan for mans salvation was orchestrated solely by God the Father, but even if He wanted to die for man, that would have been impossible because even if God took on flesh and were nailed to the cross, He would not die because He cannot die, no matter what. God, therefore, had to find someone else and so He sent the most qualified person, His only begotten Son. To ensure that His plan of redemption was effectively carried out, however, the Father did not send the Son into the world on his own, but was continually with him in all that he did. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him (John 8:29). To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:19). If it were at all possible for God to die for man, He would have willingly done so. The Father loves the Son dearly, and would not have allowed him to carry the burden of the worlds sins and to experience such a horrific death, if it had not been absolutely necessary. This is an indication of how much the Father loves mankind. With bitter tears, Jesus cried to the Father, asking that he be relieved from such a horrifying experience, but the Father did not relent. Mans destiny was at stake, and irrespective of the cost God was determined to save man. The fact that God cannot die is indisputable proof that Jesus Christ is not God. This, also, helps us to understand that while on earth, Jesus could not have been fully God and fully man. As previously stated, even in his humanity, if any aspect of Jesus were God, it would have been impossible for him to die because death at no time could have had dominion over him.