The Spirit IN Man!

As was discussed in the subject on the "Immortal" Soul, you need to dismiss the non-Biblical notion that people "HAVE" souls. People "ARE" souls...physical flesh, made of the dust of the ground, just like any animal or other physical life. HOWEVER . . .

The Bible reveals that there is a spiritual component that is IN a human being, in the human species. This spiritual component is what separates the human mind from animal mind. This spiritual component is the missing key that science has been searching the physical brain for from the beginning. Obviously, they will never find this component because it is beyond the physical realm, (perhaps a part of the "Quantum" if you will), but it is NOT a "soul". This spirit empowers the physical brain tissue in ways that bring about consciousness of self, and all the other amazing, but severely limited "God-like" qualities mankind has. Remember, we were "Made in the Image and Likeness of God," to be able to think, feel, love, design, create art, etc. This aspect to mankind provides the "Free Will" that no other animal species that exists has.

Science has long been searching for the difference between the brain of mankind and that of animal life such as dolphins, chimps, whales, etc. Scientists are looking for a PHYSICAL difference in the physical makeup of the brain. They believe that it is purely physical differences in the brain that allows mankind to think, achieve, create new ideas, etc., even though the brains of whales and dolphins are LARGER than mankind’s brain. If you allow the Bible to teach you, the answers to many unanswered questions of science are quite clear.

Let's consider some proof text:

Job 32:8 "But [there is] a spirit "IN" man: and the inspiration of the Almighty gives them understanding" (awareness and intelligence through this spirit in us by some spiritual essence different than God's Holy Spirit).

Zech 12:1 "This is the word of the LORD concerning Israel. The LORD, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the spirit of man within him... NIV

1 Corinthians 2:9-14 "But as it is written: "eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart (mind) of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." :10 But God has revealed [them] to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

:11 For what man knows the things of a man (how can man know or think and understand and perceive and have consciousness of "self") except (through) the spirit of the man which is "IN" him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the (spiritual) things that have been freely given to us by God. :13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. :14 But the natural man (the natural mind) does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know [them,] because they are spiritually discerned."

Rom 8:16 "The Spirit (Holy) itself bears witness with our spirit, (in man) that we are the children of God:"

God makes it plain that the only thing which separates all other animal life on this earth from mankind, is the fact that God has placed WITHIN mankind a "spirit" which allows mankind to have consciousness, self awareness, and especially makes possible a relationship with God. Although this "spirit in man" is not aware of the things of God, that is, aware of spiritual things, it is possible for the very mind of God, through His Holy Spirit, to connect with this spirit in man, and allow an understanding not possible without it. Animals do not carry on a conversation with humans, or have created art, build buildings, planned, etc. (Some might argue that animals build and create all the time.. nests, hives, etc., but these abilities are created within the creatures like programming a computer. They do what they were created to do, but have no free will to change what they build. A bee cannot go out and build an ant hill, nor can ants build a bee hive. They do only what they were created to do.)

The spirit God gave mankind makes possible OUR ability to communicate in intelligent and detailed ways with each other . . . AND allows for the possibility of the missing dimension in man's life . . . a one-on-one relationship with the true, creator God.

Prov 20:27 "The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly." KJV

Prov 20:27 "The spirit of man is the lamp (light) of the LORD, Searching all the innermost parts of his being. NASU

Notice that this "spirit in man" not only gives mankind his/her ability to understand self, think, create and such, it is the means which God, who is spirit (John 4:24 "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." KJV) can actually know what all humans are thinking and their very core mind, thoughts and character. Nothing is hidden and cannot be. Thus, those who submit to God and Christ can be molded and shaped... potted and refined to be actual reproductions of their essence of mind and eventually, spirit.

Eccl 3:21 "Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?" KJV

Eccl 12:7 "Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it." NKJV

This "spirit of/in man" is NOT a so-called "immortal soul". Man is a flesh and blood soul, not immortal in any way... yet.

Eccl 3:19 "For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity. 20 All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust. 21 Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth?" NKJV

Side note: There may well be a "spiritual" element to animals, (or even other forms of life) but it is not the same thing as the "spirit in man" God is referencing and works with...

Everything made was created out of the power of God... and God is spirit, so the creation is from power that is spiritual in nature, despite the lowered order of physical life. God doesn't create everything from "nothing". The very nature of the universe is "energy" and that energy must be upheld by something.

An excellent example of the difference between a man WITH this "spirit in man" and one who has it removed is written for our learning. In Daniel 4:4-37, you can read about a king who was punished by having this spirit in man removed from him for 7 years, thereby becoming simply another form of animal in the wild. Notice especially the following:

Dan 4:31 "While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. 32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers , and his nails like birds' claws. 34 And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding (consciousness of self - his "spirit in man") returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom [is] from generation to generation. Daniel 4:36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles sought me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me."

This spirit is ALL the difference between us and animals, and makes it possible for us to think, reason, have self consciousness or awareness, and all the other attributes which God Himself has. Remember, we are made in His image and likeness and have similar abilities of mind as he does, yet obviously far inferior.

One final point in this matter. A vital aspect to this "spirit in man" is the fact that this spirit, BECAUSE IT IS SPIRIT, acts like a "recorder" of the memories and character of our minds. At death, this spirit returns to God...

Ecclesiastes 12:7 "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return to God who gave it."

This is speaking about the death of the flesh, which ceases all consciousness, and the flesh returning to the "dust" God made us out of... physical matter, which decays and degenerates back to basic components. This scripture also begs the question, if people "have" something separate from the body that lives consciously on, like the alleged "soul", and someone dies and allegedly goes to "hell" to burn forever, why would this say this spirit returns to God? Wouldn't this person be conscious, and burning in hell and not with God?

It is from this spirit in man component that God "resurrects" people back to conscious life again, with all our memories and character intact, whether good or bad. This spirit DOES NOT have a life of its own. It is not our SOUL or something which consciously lives on after our bodies die. It is just the record of the absolutes of what our lives contained. Understand this and you will see the pieces of this incredible plan coming together more precisely.

Notice Heb 12:23:

Heb 12:23 "...to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect..."

God, through Christ, is working with each called member of His family in this age to create the very nature of Christ Himself using our spirit...

Eph 4:11 "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head — Christ — 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love."

The Plan of God far exceeds what we have believed in the past. Humans are being shaped into the very image of God Himself... if they respond to their calling, and follow God's word, using the tools God has given us.

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