What is a living soul?
(Genesis 1:24-27; 2:7, 19; Eccl. 12:7; Matthew 10:28; Ephesians 2:3) Blog Oct 9-15, 2022
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: Sin originated in heaven in the heart of heaven’s most exalted angel. By free choice Lucifer separated himself from the love of God and when cast out of heaven deceived Eve who convinced Adam to disobey God. Thus, by one man, sin came into his world together with condemnation to death.
Adam’s Choice
1. With what nature did God create Adam and Eve? Adam & Eve were created with sinless natures that had no inclination to sin. They were holy in nature (Gen. 1:27, 31; Eccl. 7:29; Eze. 28:15; 1 Pet. 1:16).
2. How did Adam’s sin affect his posterity? God made a covenant with Adam who was the representative head of our race. By his free choice Adam chose death for all whom he represented (Gen, 2:16-17; Hosea 6:7; Rom. 5:12).
3. What does the “death” include that Adam chose for his posterity? The “death” that Adam chose for humanity includes both temporal death & eternal death (Gen. 3:19; Psa. 37:20; Mal. 4:1; Rev. 20:14).
4. What factors bring about temporal death? Temporal death is the result of degeneracy that increases with each passing generation & with each passing year of life (1 Cor. 15:43; 2 Cor. 4:16).
5. How can we fight degeneracy? We can fight degeneracy by living healthfully & trusting in God (Prov. 3:7-8; Eccl. 10:17; Isa. 40:29-31).
6. How can we avoid the eternal death that Adam chose for us? We can escape eternal death by finding in Jesus the payment for it in our behalf. What Jesus accomplished is counted ours when we believe the Gospel. Thus, we render to God all that the Law requires & out of love for the gift of his dear Son we put forth every effort to live according to it (Rom. 4:20-24; 10:4; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 2:9; Rev. 20:15).
7. How does what Adam chose for humanity affect our natures? Adam’s sin brought guilt (condemnation) and depravity (corruption) to all humanity. Guilt is our legal inheritance from Adam. Corruption is our moral inheritance from Adam. As a result, we all are born with sinful natures (Gen. 3:10; Psa. 51:5; 58:3; Isa. 48:8; Rom. 5:16-18; Eph. 2:3).
8. What does it mean to have a sinful nature? Having a sinful nature means we have a natural tendency toward sin (Rom. 3:10; 8:3-4; Eph. 2:3; 2 Pet. 1:4).
9. Was human nature restored to its original purity after the flood? No, for man’s thoughts were continually evil, both before & after the flood (Gen. 6:5; 8:21).
The Breath of Life
10. What two things did God employ in the creation of man? God used dust & the breath of life to create man (Gen. 2:7).
11. What did man become when God gave the breath of life to the body he had formed? When God gave the breath of life to the body he had formed, man became a living soul (Gen. 2:7).
12. What is a living soul? A living soul is a whole, functioning person made up of spirit & body (Dan. 7:15; Rom. 8:10; 1 Cor. 5:3; 6:20; 1 Thes. 5:23).
13. What results when the spirit leaves the body? When the spirit leaves the body, the person is dead (Eccl. 12:7; Jam. 2:26).
14. What goes back to God when a person dies? The breath (“spirit”) of life goes back to God when a person dies (Eccl. 3:20-21; 12:7; Psa. 104:29; Isa. 42:5).
15. What is the spirit of life? The spirit (“breath”) of life is the life principle that includes physical breath & a record of one’s character, personality, & DNA (1 Cor. 13:12; 1 Thes. 4:13-17).
Temporal Death
16. If temporal death immediately ushers a person into the presence of God, would temporal death be a friend or an enemy? Temporal death would be a friend if it ushered us immediately into the presence of God, but the Bible calls it an enemy that God will swallow, so the idea of immediately entering God’s presence must be false (Isa. 25:8; 1 Cor. 15:26).
17. When did Jesus say that the dead would live again? Jesus said that the dead wait for God to call them from the grave on the last day & then they shall live again (John 5:25; 6:40).
18. Can we conclude that the Bible teaches that the soul of man is not immortal? Yes, the idea of the immortality of the soul originated with Lucifer in the Garden of Eden & is popular in Greek philosophy but is rejected by the Bible (Eze. 18:4, 20; Matt. 10:28 ++++++).
19. Since Adam sinned, has any person been born with a sinless human nature? Yes, but only one: the Man Christ Jesus (Eccl. 7:27-28; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15; 7:25; 1 John 3:5).