Life Only in Christ: A Conditionalist Faith

Abstract

This essay offers an explanation and concise biblical defence of the
Christian doctrine of conditional immortality and then draws out major
implications of this doctrine for Christian theology as a whole. The present
mortality of the whole human person is affirmed, in contrast to the
immortality of God. An examination of Genesis 2:7 leads to an exploration
of the meanings of various biblical anthropological terms and to an
emphasis upon biblical holism. The biblical view of the state of the dead is
examined, with the conclusion that human death is a state of complete
cessation of conscious life. The conclusion is that hope beyond death is
found only in resurrection through Christ at his return. The final fate of the
wicked is also explored. The conclusion is that the lost will ultimately cease
to exist, rather than persisting forever in torment. Conditionalism is
presented as a recovery of a fully biblical and credible faith and
implications are sketched for a range of theological, ethical and pastoral
concerns.