Will Everyone 'Put On Immortality' or Just Believers?

If we 'must put on immortality' to live forever, what if everyone puts it on?

When one considers that the Bible makes it clear, in so many places, that immortality is inherited (rather than inherent), a question comes to mind: Who inherits it? Could it be that unbelievers inherit immortality alongside the saved? Well, this of course can be answered in a number of different ways.

First, there is evidence from the very nature of the judgment, that immortality is not thrown in free. Second, many verses clearly express that immortality is given to the believer. Therefore, I would like to first focus on a passage that presents both truths together, clearly showing that immortality is indeed exclusive to the believer. This passage is found in Paul's letter to the Philippians. It reads as follows:

'Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.' (Philippians 3:19-21)

Clearly, there is a distinction between the unbeliever who will find their 'end' in 'destruction' and the believer whose body Jesus will 'transform' to be like His own. This transformation is also spoken of very clearly in 1 Corinthians 15, whereby believers are given 'the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ' as we 'put on immortality' – thereby never to face destruction. The apostle Paul once again introduces this as a transformation, saying, 'we shall be changed.' It is clear that this is the exact same transformation as that in Philippians since both speak of believers being clothed in bodies that are like our Lord's. 1 Corinthians 15:49 reads, 'Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.'

The question once again arises; is this a transformation for all people or only the believer? The answer can be found in the words that follow: 'I tell you this, brothers:'. Paul is writing to believers and refers to his brothers and sisters in the Lord when using the pronouns 'we', 'our', 'us' and 'your'. Let us briefly take a look at this passage:

'I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.' (1 Corinthians 15:50)

Notice how the opening statement in every way denotes exclusivity. The purpose of the transformation to follow is the inheritance of the kingdom of God. The perishable will not be able to inherit the imperishable. Clearly, this speaks of the unbeliever who will not take part in this glorious transformation, but rather will perish. What follows is a glorious and beautiful event:

'Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.' (v51-52)

Here we see mention of this transformation that will take place. He is encouraging the believers and makes it clear that they will 'all be changed'. Could this not be everyone? Besides the fact that Paul is speaking to believers, we know already from Scripture that 'the dead in Christ will rise first' at 'the sound of the trumpet of God' (1 Thessalonians 4:16). When the trumpet sounds, our Lord will call every believer from their grave. We see this in Revelation 20, and even a few verses earlier in this same chapter we read: 'But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.' (1 Corinthians 15:23) This will not be all people rising, but all believers, to their glorious transformation. Yet further evidence that this transformation is for the believer alone is found in the nature of it, as seen in the verses to follow:

'For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.' (v53-57)

It is evidently a transformation of 'victory through our Lord Jesus Christ'! Death loses its power, victory and sting in these glorious garments of immortality bought by the blood of Jesus. It is important to note that the mortal bodies 'must put on immortality' (v53). The necessity is explained in the following verse; for only by putting on immortality can death be 'swallowed up in victory'! The Words of Scripture could not be clearer. Death is mortality. Immortality is deathlessness. We will not die if we trust in Jesus, but rather live forever. Those who are not believers cannot and will not live forever.

The words of Jesus I almost never hear quoted, which are so clear on this matter, are found in Luke 20:

"The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection." (Luke 20:34-36)

There is a transformation or change that takes place, whereby believers become like the angels in their immortal bodies. How does this change take place? Jesus tells us here that it is by 'being sons of the resurrection'. Is that not what we have just seen in 1 Corinthians 15? And right in the middle there, is the wonderful reason why we are able to 'attain to that age' to come: 'for they cannot die anymore'. There is clearly, according to Jesus Christ who is The Truth and cannot lie, a transformation unto immortality without which we would be able to die. 'Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ'!

In conclusion, we praise God for the clarity of His Word. It is evident throughout Scripture that the believer will be 'clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life' (2 Corinthians 5:4). This is not for all, but only for those to whom God has given 'the Spirit as a guarantee' (2 Corinthians 5:5). God clearly presents, through His Word, that 'immortality' must be sought to be received (Romans 2:7). Though popular tradition, through Ancient Greek influence, has taught that immortality is inherent to all people by immortal souls that indwell them, all glory goes to the One 'who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel'. (2 Timothy 1:10) I must therefore close by confessing that I have nothing to bring to this answer of myself. All I have presented, by the grace of God, is a reflection of what I have heard in the very Words He has laid out for us. All adoration and praise to Him!