Subject: soul and spirit |
Bible Note: Tim, I though you might find this interesting. This is a slightly different view of Gen 2:7: "When God the Creator created man, He "formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man become a living soul" (Gen. 2:7). This reiterative record of man's creation is loaded with insights into man's constitution and intended function. The body of man was "formed of dust from the ground," into which God breathed the breath (or spirit) of life, and man became a behaviorally functional soul (nephesh). Man was created with the capacity for spiritual life-function so that the very presence of the Spirit of God might dwell within the spirit of man in order to activate the character of God within the behavioral life-function of man's soul and allow such to be expressed in man's external behavior of the body unto the glory of God. As the highest order of creation, mankind was designed with the capacity to incorporate the spiritual life of God within his spirit, and express God's character of love, joy, peace, patience, etc. in his behavior, as no other part of the created order is capable of doing." - Jerry Fowler I'm not real good with big theological terms but he seems to be saying the God created us so that He could live through us. Or as my friend, Bob George says, "Jesus gave His life for us, so that He could give His life to us, so that He could live His life through us." We were designed as vessels, houses, temples for the God of the universe to live in and through - 2 Cor 4:7, 2 Cor 5:1, 1 Cor 6:19. What a privelege! My temple is starting to get wrinkly and gray, though. (I've heard His got another imperishable one in the wings for me, though.) Grow in grace, Bill Mc |