But is now made manifest by the appearing of our
Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life
and immortality to light through the gospel [2 Tim. 1:10].
Now this is a verse that deserves great emphasis.
“Who hath abolished death” is literally
since He has made of none effect death.
Death means something altogether different to the child of God—Christ made
it of no effect. Now, God did not eliminate death. Remember that Paul is
writing this letter from prison where the sentence of death is upon him. But
Paul is not talking about physical death. He means spiritual death, eternal
death, which is separation from God. Christ has indeed abolished spiritual
death so that no sinner need go to a place where he’ll be eternally
separated from God. Christ is our Mediator, the one Mediator between God and
man. God is satisfied with what Christ has done for us. The question is: Are
you satisfied? Or
are you trying to save yourself by your own good works? Let me repeat what I
have said before: Man cannot be saved by perfect obedience, because he is
incapable of rendering it. He cannot be saved by imperfect obedience,
because God will not accept it. There is only one solution to the dilemma,
and that is the One who said, “… I am the way, the truth, and the life: no
man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
McGee, J. Vernon: Thru the Bible
Commentary. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997,
c1981, S. 5:462