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Principal Point of Faith #3:
The Nature of Man
3. Do we have an immortal soul or personality that lives on and
is conscious after we die?
(a) The Bible does not saying anything about an "immortal soul"
or personality or any other part of us that lives on or is conscious
after we die. Contrary to popular belief, the Bible never calls any part
of us "undying," or "immortal," or "perpetual," or "eternal."
“The soul who sins shall die” (Ezek. 18:20).
“He did not spare their soul from death” (Ps. 78:50).
Note: The Catholic Bible says, “The son of man
is not immortal” (Ecclesiasticus 17:29).
If we do not have something immortal in us, why did the Indians,
the Inca, the ancient Egyptians and most other ancient people believe
some part of their existence was perpetual and could not die?
(b) The Bible says there is no consciousness in death.
“For the living know that they shall die: But the dead know
nothing. And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is
forgotten.” (Eccl. 9:5).
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might;
for there is no work, or device, or knowledge, or wisdom in the
grave where you are going.” (Eccl. 9:10).
(When a person dies,) “His breath goeth forth, he returneth
to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.”
(Psalm 146:4 KJV) —his thoughts perish
“When their breathing stops, they return to the earth,
and in a moment all their plans come to an end." ”
(Psalm 146:4 NLT).
(c) The Bible calls death a sleep. When we are asleep, we are not
conscious of what is happening around us, and cannot respond to our
environment.
When Jesus was going to raise Lazarus from the dead, He explained
to the disciples that he was asleep. When they failed to realize Jesus
was speaking of the sleep of death, Jesus said plainly,
“Lazarus is dead.” (John 11:11-14).
 
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