I am a retired pastor of
the Church of God (Tennessee). My name is Isaac Livingston. I am from Neyyoor India. |
Email: Pastor True Gospel
Please bear with me; this is not a sermon, but it is a bible study. So, please have patience. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 says, "your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved". So, we must have Soul, body, and Spirit; they are three. Genesis 1:26 says, "God said, Let us make man in our image: ..." So, God created man in his image. What is his image? God has two images; spirit and soul. His Spirit is Omnipotent; and no other being is omnipotent spirit. So, man is not in the image of his Spirit. And so, God must have made man in the image of his Soul. So, the Soul is the man. Further, since the soul is made in the image of God, both souls are equal. No other living being has soul. So, all souls are equal with the soul of God. "27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." So, soul is man, and God has created man as male and female, God has created Adam and Eve on the same day, and they are as souls. God must give bodies and spirits to Adam and Eve, who were made as Souls. Genesis 2:1 says that God has completed the basic creation in six days. Verse 2 says, God rested on the seventh day and made it as sabbath day. After the sabbath day, God created their bodies. The first portion of verse 7 says, "the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground," God formed a body from the dust of the ground and gave it to Adam the soul, for him to live in. "Genesis 2:22 says And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman," This body was given to Eve the soul, for her to live in. The real persons are Souls and bodies were given to them to live. The real we are our souls, and we live in our bodies. Bodies will die, but souls will continue to live.
First, I like to tell about our bodies. 99% of people think that we are our bodies; and when our bodies die, we die. Christians think that our bodies will be resurrected and will either go to hell or heaven. According to scripture, we are all wrong. Our bodies came from dust; and when they die, they will go back to dust. Flesh and blood will not be resurrected. But our souls will be raised. Please notice this: Either they will be naked and go to hell, or they will have the glorified spirit as their body, and they will go to heaven. Christians talk about our souls religiously. But in practice, we don't know our souls. Souls are dormant (kind of sleep or dead), until we receive the spirit from God. Practically, we may know it as conscience. If we have good conscience, it will prick us, if we do ungodly acts. Other than that, we have a dormant soul (dead soul), and we live in flesh, as an intelligent animal. But we may be social and religious.
Now, let me come to the second portion of Genesis 2:7. It says, God "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." But we are taught that God made a clay body and breathed into it and the clay body became a living body. But the verse says; "man became a living soul." It was not clay body. In the first portion of verse 7, "God formed man of the dust." So, he was a man already. God breathed into the man; he became a living soul. Now let us study about the body that Adam received. God gave a living body to the soul, and it became a man. "Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: 14 For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof:" This verse says that life is in the blood. Genesis 9:4 and Deuteronomy 12:23 also say that the life is in the blood. So, the body of Adam was a living body, and it lives by the blood. Then, why did God "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life?" Because, the life of the soul is spirit. God breathed into Adam the holy spirit, so that his soul may also be alive. So, the verse says, "man became a living soul." It was not a clay Adam became a living Adam, but a living Adam became a living Soul. This is spiritual truth. If we do not receive the spirit, that is, if we are not born again, for all practical purposes, our soul is dead since it is dormant. If we receive the spirit, it will quicken or give life to our souls, and afterwards we will live as living souls, as a complete spiritual person. So, within us there will be two entities; 1, flesh lives by the blood, and 2, soul lives by the spirit. But they will be opposite to each other, and they will fight one another.
Scripture explains the fact that our soul and flesh are two entities; and they have two separate lives. Soul lives for heaven and body lives for the world. However, the invisible soul lives inside the visible body. We see the body, but not the soul. Apostle Paul explains this phenomenon in Romans 7. He takes the entire chapter to explain it. In this, he put himself as a new gentile convert, who was pricked in his conscience, but has not yet received the spirit. It is a hypothetical teaching, but it is not his testimony. If someone take it as his testimony, then they are ignorant in scripture. "7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members." Here, Paul explains the predicament of a newly converted gentile, who has not yet received the spirit. That is, a gentile, who has a good conscience in his mind, admits that the law is spiritual and is good, but do not have the strength to live by this law. He cries out to Jesus Christ for help in verse 25. Next verse, Romans 8:1 says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." So, the word of God tells to walk after the spirit. So, the new convert needs the spirit from Christ, so that he may be able to live this life. Until he receives the spirit, the soul will be dormant, as it is dead, with no power to walk after the spirit. Upon receiving the spirit, the soul will live after the spirit. The life of body is blood; and the life of soul is spirit. Jesus Christ also tells us to be born again, and born of the Spirit. In John 3:3&7 Jesus says that we must be born again. "6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." So, we must be born of the spirit also. Luke 11:9-13 say that if we ask God for the holy spirit, being as a son to him, he will give us the holy spirit. "13 If ye then, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" So, ask him as you ask your father; so, become his son and ask God, then he will give you the holy spirit. If God gives us the holy spirit, it will quicken our souls, we will be living souls, and then it will be easy, not to do the things of the flesh.
The gospel of John 1:4 says, "In him was life;" Here, the life, which is the Holy Spirit, was in Jesus Christ. Then it says, "the life was the light of men." So, this life is "light" and it is for men. The life that God breathed into man in Genesis, was this holy spirit; but the name given here is "light". How was this light created? Genesis has two accounts of the creation of lights. Let us see both. Genesis 1:3 "God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 5 ... it was the first day" So, God created light on the first day. Then, verses 14 to 19, also was creation of light, on the fourth day. Verse 16 says. "God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also." So, on the fourth day God made sun, moon, and stars. It is the light that we see, and it is illumination or brightness. Then, what was the Light that God created on the first day? This was the light, that is in Jesus Christ. It is the light of men, which is the Holy Spirit.
John 1:4
says,
"In
him was life; and the life was the
light of men." So, the life in Jesus is the
light of men.
Verse 9 says,
"That
was the true Light, (it refers to the
person Jesus Christ) which
lighteth every man that cometh into the world."
That is, Jesus Christ will ignite every man with
this light, if we come to him.
Jesus Christ is the store house of this light. Jesus says in
John 8:12, "I
am the light of the world: (so, he is the store
house of this light for the whole world. He says,) he that followeth me shall
not walk in darkness, (He
is not saying that if we follow him, we will walk in his light; but he says) but shall have the
light of life."
That is, he will light us, that is he will ignite us,
we will catch this fire of light, and will have the light in us. This light
is the holy spirit that was created on the first day, and it will lead us to
everlasting life. Jesus Christ is the custodian of this light. Since this
light is the holy spirit, let us see one more thing. "2 Corinthians 1:21
Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given
the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts."
God establishes us with Christ and anoints us with the spirit. God gives the
light that is life, in our hearts. It is the earnest of the spirit. Why is
it called the earnest? Because it is as an advance payment, for our
inheritance in the kingdom of God. That is, we will become the sons of God,
and as sons we will inherit the kingdom of God. "Ephesians
1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance
until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."
So, this light or this life is the earnest, which is the token of the great glory,
which we will receive in heaven, the kingdom of God.
The Bible is a book, the word of God; as well as, it is the Spirit of God. "John 6:63 ... the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." The word of God is Spirit that gives life. But, as we study, we understand, gather information, and remember them by intellect. We know the things of God. But since it is Spirit; it will connect with those who have the Spirit in a unique way. Spirit to spirit transmits life, power, mind, and mysteries of God. God shares himself through his word to those who have his Spirit. Intelligent study will be no match to this. Preachers and theologians are educated, but their worldly wisdom is foolishness to God. "1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." Wise people naturally reject the things of the spirit, but Spiritual people, not only understands but receive power to live according to the word of God. So, we must be born of the word of God, that is born of water.
After being born of the Spirit, the next step is born of water. It has two functions. 1, It will wash away the previous dirt that are sins. "Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." It will remove the addicted sins away and will make the person pure. 2, After purifying from the old sins, the word will abide in the person. "1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." The word of God, which is the Spirit of the Word, will abide in the person. This is born of water. If a person is born of water, no false doctrine can deceive this person, since the word of Jesus lives in him. Born of water is the next higher step to born of the spirit. Both are of the spirit. Born of the spirit is mostly determined by assuming; but born of the water, is measured and calibrated by the absolute word of God. For an example: If your famous spiritual preacher announced that God told him to build a prayer tower, for many people to go up and pray to God; Or, God told him to build an university for God's people to get educated and so on. If you are born of the spirit; even if you doubt this preacher, you may give into his tactics and become a victim. But if you are born of water, you will do exactly what Jesus Christ did to Satan, when Satan tried to tempt Jesus. You may tell him that God told us to go to the closet to pray, but not to a tower, Or, that God told us to meditate on the word of God, but not to teach arts and science. So, we will not assume things, but we will know immediately that this guy is a phony con-artist and he uses the name of God to deceive you and me. The word of God is spiritual, and it is truth for calibration and correction. But, for the world and religion, it is a textbook and they study it with their intelligence. For us, written word of God is the truth for calibration, and it is Spirit of Jesus Christ to live in us, for us to live a godly life.
"Hebrews 5:12 ... ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. (here we see two levels, first is the oracle of God, it is the word of God to grow, and the next is strong meat to do work, it is born of God) 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." So, the first thing we do in the word of God is, to drink it as milk and grow; that is to study and know the will of God. The next step is higher, it is to eat meat; that is to discern immediately what is right and wrong, according to the word of God, and to do the right thing. This is what the sons of God will do.
Matthew 7:21-24 is another good example. Verse 21 says, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Here, Jesus Christ explains two kinds of works. Call Jesus Christ 'Lord, Lord,' is flattering him, which is typical of our worship services, and such works will not be counted. But we are required to do 'the will' of 'God the Father'. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 say, "this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." So, holy living is required and accepted as good works. But, prophesying, casting out devils, doing miracles and such works are done by God, but not by them. Signs given by God, will not be counted as their works. "Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:" So, the obedience to the preaching of Jesus Christ, are good work built on the rock, and they are needed for eternal life. Those who are born of God will do them. "1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not;" Born of God is the highest in the born-again list.
We are all born of the flesh. But God has made our souls as his soul. This is the truth. But we must receive the spirit from God, which is the life of the soul. Until we have this spirit, our soul will be dormant; but we will have conscience. However, we are souls, and we live in our bodies. If we want to be good, our conscience will convict us, or it will prick our heart, when we commit sin. Yet, we will have no power to overcome sins. Then, we will ask God for help. God will give us a spirit, and this is the holy spirit. This process is known as, born of the Spirit. Since the spirit is given by measure, we may receive more and more spirit. So, we will be born again and again. As we grow, the next level is known as born of water, which is born of the word of God. And the next higher level is known as born of God, and we will not commit sin in this level. If we are born of God, we are sons of God. And we will inherit the kingdom of God as joint heirs with Jesus Christ. "Hebrews 2:9 says, ... he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 10 ..., in bringing many sons unto glory, ..." So, Jesus Christ suffered and died to bring many sons unto glory. At the same time he died for the whole world also. If you take the stand that he died for the whole world and you are also one of them, when the vast majority of them go to hell, you may also go to hell. But if you are in the category that Jesus suffered and died to bring many sons to glory, you will own his death upon yourself, and you will become the born of God. Then you will inherit the kingdom of God, as the Son of God.
Please write to me in the 'Mail Box' below. I will
reply promptly. Thanks.
God Bless You
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Matthew 28:20, & Mark 16:15. Jesus Christ preached his commandments to obey, as his
Gospel; it is the true Gospel to inherit Eternal life. Genesis 3:1-4 & 2 Corinth 11:2-4. But Preachers, who are Serpents of Satan, preach the life of man Jesus just to believe, but not to live as a chaste virgin, as the gospel; it is another gospel, which cannot and will not give Eternal life.The true gospel will convert evil people to do good and thereby they will inherit the kingdom in heaven.
John 3:19-21 say that people are two kinds, evil and true. Evil doers will not come to the Light, who is God; but people of truth come to God for their deeds to be made manifest. We have good and evil people by our standard of our society or culture. These evil people may be converted to be doers of truth by the power of God, and they may inherit the kingdom of God in heaven.
Email: Pastor True Gospel