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Spirit in Man |
Dear Brethren,
What is the "spirit in man," and what is its
purpose. Man does not have an immortal soul, but a human spirit, which
imparts an additional dimension to the human brain. The human spirit is not a conscious element
of man, rather it enables man to reason, to think, to be aware of his own existence, thereby,
separating man from the animals. Man does not have an immortal soul or an eternal soul that
goes to heaven or hell after death. The purpose of the spirit in man is to unite with the
Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit united with the spirit of man enables man to keep the
commandments, understand the Bible and those spiritual truths contained within it.
The spirit in man was created for the purpose of interfacing with the Spirit of God.
In short, the spirit in man allows us, not only to have a relationship with our Creator,
but to become like Him (1 John 3:2). "There is a spirit in man:
and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding."
(Job 32:8)
We have been given a choice as to which wavelength we will tune in to. Converted
Christians have received the Spirit of God, and have renounced Satan, the spirit of the
world (2 Corinthians 4:4) "For what man knows the things of a man, except
by the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows
no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world,
but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are
freely given to us of God." (1Corinthians 2:11-12)
Human beings have an intellect composed of a physical brain working in conjunction with a
non-physical element - spirit - that God formed in us. The bible calls this component,
the spirit in man. It is the spirit in man that increases man's capacity for intellect
beyond the rest of the physical creation. The "spirit in man" or "human spirit" is
mentioned in a number of verses in both the Old and New Testaments. The world’s
religions believe that the non-physical part of man is an immortal soul. The Bible
makes no mention of an immortal soul. Because of Satan's great lie, the vast
majority of this deceived world believes that everyone has an immortal soul. These
people believe that when they die, their soul lives on. They think that at death, they
will immediately regain consciousness as they go off into heaven, or hell. We need to
understand the Truth of God as presented in the Bible. We need to understand how the
mind of man functions.
The human brain has modes: When we are wide-awake and focused, we are conscious.
When we are sleeping, the brain is still actively working, but not conscious. When a
person is dead, the brain waves stop. Thebrain is still there, but the thoughts end,
and the spirit in man ceases. That is why the Scriptures interchange the concepts of
"sleep" and "death" so easily, because they are both unconscious states of man
(1Corinthians 11:30, 1Thessalonians 4:13).
After death, the thing that remains of the spirit in man, our non-physical component, is what
God remembers of our character, our thoughts and our frame (Psalm 103:14). For converted
people, who have been baptized into God's Spirit, God especially remembers the Godly character
that we have exhibited. When men die, "they" exist only in the mind of God.
Some people will say of Revelation 6:9, "Don't the souls of men go under the altar of God in
heaven?" Again, this verse is not referring to immortal souls, but to physical lives
martyred for the word of God. What God sees under the altar is not the "pnuema," spiritual
lives of men, but the "psuche," physical lives that were slain, and are in need of Godly
retribution (Revelation 6:10).
The human spirit imparts the capacity of intellect, of thinking, of reasoning, of creating, of
understanding and even, wisdom to the human brain. Man does not have an immortal soul.
Only God and Jesus Christ possess immortality. "Who only hath immortality, dwelling
in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be
honour and power everlasting." (1 Timothy 6:16) "The soul that sins, it shall
die." (Ezekiel 18:20)
Animals and insects, too, for that matter, have a God created instinct” built into
them. They always do the same things the same way. Spiders build the same web every
time. It is never better and it is never worse, but always the same. Birds always
build the same kind of nest, sing the same song, and migrate north and south in their
appointed season.
But man has been given the ability to create, to think, to choose and to reason. Man has
been given the ability to worship and communicate with his Creator. The spirit in
man is the part of our brain that has reasoning and consciousness. Man is so
much more than an animal. The world believes that mankind is only a species that has
arrived at the top of the food chain. They think that man is a mere animal without
transcendent purpose. In actuality, man has an entire additional dimension that is absent
in animals – the spirit in man. That spiritual feature makes man as different from
animals, as fish are different from trees. The human spirit sets man apart from animals
in mind and abilities. There is a great difference between the human mind and the animal
brain. That difference is the spirit in man. The burden of the word of the Lord for
Israel, saith the Lord, which stretches forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the
earth, and forms the spirit of man within him.”
(Zechariah 12:1)
The problem is that the spirit of man, even as a very young child, is exposed to this present
evil world, and quickly becomes corrupted, tainted and scarred. A Christian’s
conscience must be renewed, re-educated and reformed in Christ – that is in God’s
value system – not man’s. "Be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good,
and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2)
God's Holy Spirit, united with the spirit of man, enables
man to keep the commandments, understand the Bible and those spiritual truths contained within
it. Romans 8:14 is about those who are "led," by God’s Way – not Satan’s way.
God’s Spirit does not force us to follow God’s way, but reveals it –
makes it known to us, and for the first time, enables us to choose God’s Way.
Because we are in the flesh and our character is not fixed as in spirit beings, we still have
free moral agency.” The Spirit of truth, guides us into all Truth
(John 16:13). Through God’s Spirit we are enabled to respond to God’s lead,
if we will. The world does not have that choice. When we respond, we change.
That change in us is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22 ).
Carnal flesh and blood will not inherit the kingdom of God. We must put on God’s
Spirit to live. God told ancient Israel, Cast away from you all your transgressions,
whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for
why will ye die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 18:31) The spirit in man
gives us self-awareness, that when coupled with God’s Spirit, convicts us to transform
our minds. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
All of the many worldly values to which we have been exposed, must be re-evaluated in the
light of Christ. Burying the old man entails supplanting and displacing our old way
of life and values with those of God. Absolutely everything needs to be totally
revamped. Our whole way of reasoning and thinking needs to be turned around.
Our expectations for the future, and our traditions from the past need complete revision.
The difficult part is that our old man” wants so desperately to hold on to
the security of who and what we were.
That is why King David prayed, Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right
spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10) Our consciences must be educated
to be in harmony with God’s Word. The Bible is the source of right and wrong.
We look to God and respect Him as the source of all knowledge and wisdom. Only
God defines good and evil - right and wrong. It is not for man to take that prerogative
unto himself - if he does, then he is a god unto himself.
"If so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in
Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is
corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the
spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is
created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4:21-24)
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| Sermon: |
"Spirit in Man" |
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