The Doctrine of Immortality, There is a doctrine of immortality in the Bible: but it differs from the popular doctrine in every particular.

First - Instead of immortality being inherent and natural, the Bible teaches it is a quality brought within reach by Christ in the gospel, and will only be attained on condition of believing the gospel and obeying the divine commandments.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23).

This is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. (1 John 2:25).

Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: (2 Timothy 1:10).

I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live (that is, by resurrection: see foregoing context) (John 6:40; John 11:25).

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 1:1).

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began (Titus 1:2).

That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:7).

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (Romans 8:24,25).

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1).

He that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Galatians 6:8).

God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).

This is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath1 life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (1 John 5:11-12).

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life (Revelation 22:14).
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36).

He that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. (John 12:25).

He shall receive... in the world (Greek aion, age) to come eternal life. (Mark 10:30).

To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality (God will render: see verse 6) , eternal life ( Romans 2:7).

They which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. (Luke 20:35,36).

I give unto them (my sheep) eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10:28).

As Thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given him. (John 17:2).

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (James 1:12).

The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:17).

For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:.. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. (2 Corinthians 5:1-4).

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (1 Corinthians 15:54, 55).

God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Revelation 21:4).

He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.... To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. (Revelation 2:11, 7).

1 In reference to this and similar passages, in which the present tense is used in reference to the possession of eternal life, it is necessary to observe that a mistake would be made if it were supposed they taught the actual present attainment of it. This will be evident from the facts and testimony already before the reader. The present tense, in reference to future events, is a peculiarity of speech dictated by inspiration. Paul, in Romans 4:17, defines this peculiarity as a "calling of those things which be not as though they were." This is illustrated in many parts of the Scripture. Mary, by the Holy Spirit, before Jesus was born, declared that "The Lord hath shewed strength with His arm...He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree; He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent empty away" (Luke 1:51-53). So far were these things from being accomplished, during his sojourn in the flesh in Judea, that when "he was opposed, and he was afflicted, he opened not his mouth" (Isaiah 53:7). Not until he shall appear a second time, as the Lion of Judah, will these things written of him have their fulfilment (Psalm 2:8-9). Hundreds of years even before Mary spoke these things Isaiah had written, by the Spirit's guidance, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6). So with regard to the statement, "hath eternal life." It points to the certainty of future possession. Only those who believe the Gospel of the Kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ, as the Life-Giver, have the promise of eternal life given them (1 John 2:25; Titus 1:2). They lay hold of it by faith, and when Christ, their life, shall appear (Col. 3:4), then they will receive the gift, and "die no more" (Luke 20:36).

Second - The immortality of the Bible, unlike the inherent immortality of the popular belief which blooms at death, is to be manifested in connection with, and as the result of the resurrection or change of the body. (The reason is evident: immortality is life manifested through an undecaying body). This proposition is established in many of the testimonies cited under the last heading; it obtains further support from the following:

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2).

(They) shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of (resulting in) life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of (resulting in) damnation. (John 5:29).

Thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. (Luke 14:14).

This is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. (John 6:39-41).
Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. (John 11:24).

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. (Isaiah 26:19).

There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. (Acts 24:15).

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we (the awakened dead and those who do not sleep) shall all be changed (after judgement)... for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible1 and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
(1 Corinthians 15:51-53).

If there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. (1 Corinthians 15:13,14).

I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. (Job 19:25-27).

What advantageth it me (Paul), if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. (1 Corinthians 15:32).

... I (Paul) have suffered the loss of all things... If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (Philippians 3:8-11).

Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him. (Luke 20:37,38).

1 Tertullian (about AD 185), in writing upon the resurrection, says, "He who raises the dead to life will raise the body in its perfect integrity. This is part of the change which the body will undergo at the resurrection; for though the dead will be raised in the flesh, yet they who attain to the resurrection of happiness will pass into the angelic state, and put on the vesture of immortality, according to the declaration of the apostle Paul, that this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality, and again, that our vile bodies will be changed, that they may be fashioned like unto the glorious body of Christ." - Anastasis, page 39.

Third - The immortality of the Bible, in addition to depending upon "the resurrection of the body," is a thing to be manifested and enjoyed on the earth, instead of something to which a man ascends in starry regions after death.

Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.( Proverbs 11:31).

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5).

The earth which he hath established for ever. (Psalm 78:69; Ecclesiastes 1:4).).

For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. (Psalm 37:9).

But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.( Psalm 37:11).

For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. (Psalm 37:22).

The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. (Psalm 37:29).

Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. (Psalm 37:34).

The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth. (Proverbs 10:30).

For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. (Romans 4:13).

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place (the land of Canaan - Acts 7:4) which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed (Hebrews 11:8).

They sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:9-10).

The kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. (Daniel 7:27).