SUBJECT:  God, Death and Spirit Beings

QUESTION:  Could God, the Father die if He wanted to?  Can angels die? 

ANSWER:

Your questions are common to a great number of people and have been contemplated many times over the centuries.  What we need to do is focus on Godly Will rather than what is possible.

Remember the old riddle that went like this?

"Could God create a rock so large and so heavy that He could not lift it?"

The paradox and the trap of the riddle is this:

If you say "No", then how can He be God?  He cannot even make a rock to heavy for Him to lift.

If you say "Yes", then, again, how can He be God?  He cannot lift all rocks.

Some might even say that this riddle was blasphemy against God.

Of course, the pure answer to the riddle is that:

1) If it be His will to have a rock too heavy for Him to lift, said rock will manifest itself.

2) If, at another time, it be His will to have a situation in which He could lift all rocks, it would be so.

The riddle is sort of absurd on its face, as I doubt God has ever had heavy rocks come up in His entire existence.

The point is that all things are done according to His will.

Therefore, to answer the specific question, "Could God, the Father die if He wanted to?  Answer:  The question is moot, as this would never be His Will.  In addition, we know, from the Word of God that Spirit Beings, as Spirit Beings, could never be destroyed.  Only in the special case of a God being making the extraordinary and even unique decision to become flesh and to submit to death could die.  This is, by the way, something an angel could never do, both because spirit bodies are eternal and because this is the will of the Father (that they never die nor submit to death).  All of this is according to Godly Will.

  Notice:

Ephesians 1:11
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
 

This could be one of the most powerful verses in the Bible and one that explains and/or answers a multitude of questions.  God can and does everything according to His will.  This goes for Christ too, to the extent that He is in complete agreement with the Father.  They are two separate beings, both of the God Family (it was them that set up the "Father/Son" relationship) and in complete agreement (the meaning of "He and I are One".

God the Father and Jesus Christ, both God beings have one thing, in their common experience and history that distinguishes one from the other.  Jesus Christ divested Himself of His spirit status...His Spirit body and became human.  In that human state He could have:

1) sinned (read our booklet, "Could Christ Have Sinned?":  https://www.garnertedarmstrong.org/could-jesus-have-sinned/
 

2) died  He did die.  But then, and this is most important to that physical life, He was resurrected and once again acquired His spirit body.

How did He do this.  By His and the will of the Father.  Notice several verses.

Hebrews 2:14-18
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
 

1 Peter 1:18-21
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

Philemon 2:5-11
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

John 13:3
Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;

Luke 22:27
For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
 

John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
 

Romans 1:3
Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

Romans 8:3
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
 

Galatians 4:4-6
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
 

2 John 7
For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
 

1 John 4:2-3
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
 

1 Timothy 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
 

Luke 2:11
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
 

Matthew 1:18
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost [Spirit].
 

1 Peter 2:21
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
 

All of these verses speak to the fact that Jesus Christ (a God being) did, in fact divest Himself of His spirit body and became flesh.  We also see that admonition that we must, as true Christians, understand and admit that this God being came in the flesh.

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