Body Soul Spirit The Bible Way 1

Body Soul Spirit The Bible Way 1

Permission is given to reproduce for non-commercial purposes lessons in their entirety and without change. The Bible Way Online Randolph Dunn Write to us at lessons@thebiblewayonline.com Visit us at Http://www.thebiblewayonline.com Revised 2-25-2013 2

Body, Soul and Spirit Man was created into the nature, likeness or image of God man s inner being, heart, soul with the ability to think, analyze, reason and decide his spiritual being (Genesis 1:26). His physical being was created from elements previously created; i.e., earth or dirt his physical body. Although all the previously created animated animals were living creatures, man appears to have been the only creation in which God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life [nishmat, meaning breath or spirit] for him to become an air breathing or living being (Genesis 2:7). This appears to be when God gave man his spirit since James 2:26 states that the body without the spirit is dead. Thus for man to be alive, God must have already put the spirit in man. Paul referred to the Genesis statement in 1 Corinthians 15:45 stating The first man Adam became a living being [psucheén]; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit [pneúma]. No living, animated, creation prior to man was said to be created in God s likeness, His image. We know from many scriptures that God is, love, faithful, merciful and compassionate. The Bible also often refers to man s heart as capable of having these attributes, well as those of Satan; e.g., hate, self-centeredness and immorality. Consequently, man s heart is his seat of emotions [consciousness, moral character, desires, will (Vine s Dictionary)], his intellect, mind, and inner being. It is with his heart man worships God or rebels against His commands his soul. For man s worship to be acceptable to God man s inner being must be contrite, loving, trusting and obedient from his inner being, his conscience awareness or soul. It will be beneficial to define words often used when discussing life after physical death. BODY (Gk. soma) that part of man made from the elements of the earth, flesh and blood. DEATH (Gk. thanatos) The cessation of the functioning of the heart, lungs, brain, etc. of physical body. GRAVE (Gk. tafos) The place where the dead physical body is placed, the tomb, sepulcher or something that marks the tomb. 3

HADES (Gk. aidos) meaning not seen or not known. It is the unseen world of the souls of those who are dead physically. It corresponds to the Hebrew word sheol. Some Bibles have erroneously translated aidos as hell. This erroneous translation often causes confusion. HELL (Hebrew geénnee) meaning the valley of Hinnon or valley of lamentation. This was a valley outside the city of Jerusalem where the Jews sacrificed their children to the god Moloch, throwing them into the fiery furnace. The New Testament uses geénnee the heap of burning rubbish, a dump, outside the wall of Jerusalem as representative of the eternal destiny of the lost, those outside Christ - never referred to as the state of the dead. The opposite of Heaven as it is the abode of Satan. SOUL (Gk. psuche) man s inner being, conscience awareness, heart. SPIRIT (Gk. pneuma) referring to the spirit God gave to man that returns to Him upon physical death [Ecclesiastes 12:7]. Spirit is often ascribed to God; i.e., God is spirit. Matthew records Jesus stating Don t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy your soul and body in hell (geénnee) [Matthew 10:28]. Paul states in 1 Thess 5:23 and may your whole spirit (pneuma) and soul (psuche) and body (soma) [the whole man] be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ [ESV]. Body What happens to the physical body when one dies? Remember also thy Creator before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; then the dust will return to the earth as it was [Ecclesiastes 12:1; 6-7a NASB]. What happens to the physical body after it turns back to dust? Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. 4

They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies [1 Corinthians 15:43-44 NLT]. What happens to the physical body that does not die? What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies [flesh and blood, ESV] cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever. 51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever [imperishable ESV]. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. 54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: Death is swallowed up in victory " [1 Corinthians 15:50-55 NLT]. Spirit The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we don t know how to pray the way we should. But the Spirit himself pleads on our behalf with groanings too deep for words; and the one who searches hearts knows exactly what the Spirit is thinking, because his pleadings for God s people accord with God s will. [Rom 8:26-27 CJB] The body without the spirit is dead, [James 2:26]. It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing [John 6:63 NKJV]. Jesus said Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. When he had said this, he breathed his last [Luke 23:46 NIV]. At his stoning Stephen called on the Lord and said, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit! When he had said this, he fell asleep, (died) [Acts 7:59; 60 NIV]. Remember your Creator now while you are young before you die. For then your body will decay to dust (and) will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it [Ecclesiastes 12:6-7]. The body without the spirit is dead and at his death his spirit returns to God who gave it to him. Studies of generations, cultures and races, including the isolated American Indians, African tribes and Aborigines of Australian, 5

reveal that mankind has worshipped some object or being. One could conclude that the spirit God put into him has a yearning to worship. The Spirit of God given to man by God when man was raised a new spiritual being following his death to sin and burial into Christ death. The Spirit of God within man communicates with man s spirit man s feelings he is unable to verbalize in prayer. The physical body decays back into the earth s elements from which it was created to be resurrected at judgment and reunited with its spirit and soul, discussed below. A much greater discussion of the abode of the Body, Soul and Spirit can be found in Where Will Your Spirit Go When You Die?, by Joe McKinney. Soul Don t be surprised at this; because the time is coming when all who are in the grave will hear his voice and come out those who have done good to a resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to a resurrection of judgment [John 5:28-29 CJB]. The physical body whether alive or in the grave having returned or is in the process of returning to earth s elements and the soul, man s conscience awareness, in the abode of the unseen, the Hadean world, referred to as Hades [mistranslated as Hell in the KJV] will hear His voice. The body of flesh will be transformed into an immortal spiritual body at the resurrection when it is united with the soul and spirit. There s something wonderful for those in CHRIST Jesus stated I will build my Church {A better translation would probably be community, congregation, assembly or fellowship} and the gates of Hades will not overcome it {death would have no power, control over them as it does over those not His disciples}. [Matthew 16:18] Jesus resurrection provides the opportunity for man to never perish, spoil or fade [1 Peter 1:4]. All of us who were baptized {immersed} into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection [Romans 6:3-5]. 6

Note: When one dies to sin, sin begins to decay as it is no longer alive. Then sin is buried in the grave of baptism, immersion, with Christ. God raises a new and spiritual creation eager to grow and mature into the likeness, image and nature of God. We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. All of this is for your benefit. And as God's grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever [2 Corinthians 4:14-18]! There is something dreadful for those NOT in Christ When the Son of Man comes in his glory he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left (saying) to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire. [Matthew 25:31-33, 41 NIV] The Lord will judge his people. It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God [Hebrews 10:30b, 31a]. 7