IV. Western’s Cocks—Man Lives Again Only by Resurrection

And now this terse word from Principal H. F. LOVELL COCKS, ^{3030) HARRY FRANCIS LOVELL Cocas (1894-), Congregationalist, was trained at New College, University of London. He was minister successively at Winchester, Hove, Hudingley Hill, and Leeds then professor at Yorkshire United College (1932-1937), principal of Scottish College (1937-1 k1), and principal of Western College (1941-). He was chairman of the Congregational Union of England and Wales (1950-1951) and is author of seven major books.} of Bristol’s Western College, England, who likewise holds that man is not “naturally immortal.” He lives again only by “resurrection from the dead.” That, says Cocks, is the “message of the Bible”CFF2 1004.1

“The Bible teaches that God created man by breathing His Spirit into the dust of the earth, and so bringing into existence the nephesh, or living personality. When God withdraws His Spirit man dies and returns to the dust. Thus man’s life is lived by favour of God. Nowhere in the Bible is the human soul regarded as naturally immortal. The only way in which man can live again after death is by a resurrection-a miracle.” ^{3131) H. F. Lovell Cocks, A Handbook of Christian Yheology, p. 76. (Italics supplied.)}CFF2 1004.2

“Apart from the grace of the forgiving God, there is no hope for him. For he can be saved only by being raised from the dead. Not a natural immortality of the soul, but resurrection from the dead by the power of God, is the message of the Bible.” ^{3232) Ibid., p. 78. (Italics supplied.)}CFF2 1004.3

This point has been repeated so often that it is now almost a refrain.CFF2 1004.4