Bible Question:
CDBJ, this is a very good explanation. I like your definition of spirit and your exegesis of 'death.' Please let me ask a couple of questions. You said that Adam's spirit died (became separated from God) at the fall. Does this mean, by your understanding, that Adam's spirit was in union with God's Spirit before the fall? If THANATOS is separation from God, was Adam's spirit one with God before the fall? Do you think the God indwelled him? Why or why not? And you stated that our souls, at new birth, are the 'real' us. What happens to our spirits at rebirth? Or do you believe that they are synonymous? Jesus gave up His spirit at His death. Is this the same as His soul? Thanks for taking the time (and patience) to answer my questions. In Christ, Bill Mc |
Bible Answer: Bill, I will let CDBJ explain his own post. I have not been following this series of posts to any great extent so I am not sure if I am on topic or not but will interject my perspective to expand on CDBJ's post. When God originally created Adam, He was made with three parts: body, soul and spirit. He had no old sin nature, and he was created perfect (the only way God could do it). With the body he related to the physical world, with the soul he related to Eve and mankind, with the spirit he related to God. Originally Adam had unbroken fellowship with God through his human spirit. I' not sure if it is correct to say he was indwelt by the Holy Spirit, I tend to think this is inaccurate and unnecessary at that time because he had no sin nature. As God warned, Adam died when he ate of the fruit, but this was spiritual death (the death of his human spirit) and separation from God and it was instantaneous at the moment he sinned. He died physically many years later, the separation of the soul from the body. As a result of his sin at the Fall Adam acquired the sin nature as a part of his body, and all the progeny of Adam (except the humanity of Jesus) are born spiritually dead with a sin nature in their bodies. (The scripture hints at this repeatedly with such synonyms for the sin nature as "the flesh", "the old man", and "this body of corruption". There is also a biological mechanism and explanation for this as well.) The sin nature is passed on from father to child physically throughout the generations. The birth of Jesus is the one exception in human history because He had no human father and was born free of the sin nature, and therefore was the only true member of the human race to be qualified to be the Lamb without spot or blemish. At the new birth, the believer acquires a human spirit from God and once again has three parts to his being. With our human spirit and in the filling of the Holy Spirit (to control the sin nature) we have fellowship with God. The sin nature, however, is still intact in the body and is a source of trouble all the days of our lives in this "body of corruption". At the rapture the dead in Christ are raised and, along with living believers, are changed and given a new incorruptible and immortal body, leaving behind forever our mortal bodies where the sin nature resides. In His Grace, Pemican |