O Soul WHAT art thou? (No. 2)

The soul is not immortal. A further fact that helps to establish this truth is the coming into existence of the soul by spirit. The account of the forming of humanity in Genesis 2 gives us an enlightening view of it:

And forming is Yahweh Alueim the human of soil from the ground, and He is blowing into his nostrils the breath of the living, and becoming is the human a living soul. (v.7)

Note that the article in front of 'breath' and 'living' is missing (that is why I put it down in light face type). There is no breath imparted into the human that has a separate personality, or is a separate entity. It is simply breath, the element, that is imparted and makes the human a living and moving soul.

In this account, we have the three basic elements of humanity: body, spirit, and soul. That 'breath of living' is associated with spirit can we learn from Gen 7:22:

Everyone which has the breath of the spirit of the living in his nostrils, of all that were in the drained area, dies.

This statement comprises humans as well as animals. All have spirit in them that makes them living souls. We have the same phrase like in Gen 2 here, but with the little addition of the Hebrew word for 'spirit', and again without any article.

Helpful to bear in mind is the literal meaning of this word for 'spirit' in Hebrew. Literally, it denotes wind and is even in a few cases translated thus. The word, therefore, is used figuratively, to denote the element in humanity that imparts life to the body, makes him a living soul. Spirit, just as wind, is invisible, and we can only see the effects of it, just as we can only see the wind moving the trees (cp. Joh 3:8). Spirit is a principle, an element, just, for example, as water or gas. More to that later.

Again, then, imagine you die. What happens? God gathers back the spirit he imparted into the body (Eccl. 12:7; Lk 23:46; Joh 19:30), and, logically, the soul stops being a living soul. It stops functioning, if you will. Without spirit no life.

All of this overwhelmingly proves that the soul is not immortal!

O Soul WHAT art thou? (No. 1)

Is the soul immortal? Christianity would say 'yes, of course', and I believe too many believers would chime in. This view, however, is far from the truth. The sacred scriptures do not in any place testify to us that our soul lives on after we die.

There is an ample number of passages that speak of the soul dying. Here is just a selection of the many:

'and live may my soul' (Gen 12:13, Abram was afraid of being killed by the Egyptians)

'May my soul die the death of the upright' (Num 23:10)

'rescue our souls from death' (Joshua 2:13)

'Let my soul die with the Philistines' (Judges 16:30)

These few verses prove that the soul cannot be living after death. There is nothing more that needs to be said concerning these verses. It should discard any teaching about the immortality of the soul!

Another fact that we need to bear in mind is that the soul is in the blood. This we read in Gen 9:4, Lev 17:10-16, Deut 12:23.

'Yea, only flesh with its soul, its blood, you shall not eat.'

'for the soul of the flesh, it is in the blood'

'But be steadfast by no means to eat the blood, for the blood, it is the soul, and you shall not eat the soul (blood) with the flesh.'

Now, imagine you die. What happens, your blood stops flowing through your body and it coagulates, clots, and finally decays. Consequently, how can the soul be still alive or functional if the blood, which is the soul, stops to flow and decays? Blood and soul cannot be separated. Blood equals soul. If the blood stops, the soul stops to be soul. Simple really.

Job's Faithful Words (No.1)

And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. (Job 42:7, KJV) 

This is after the long dialogues between Job and his friends, and the final replies by God to Job. Simply put, we learn, directly from God, that Job's words were pleasing to Him. So we can happily read and accept the words out of Job's mouth as truthful, ready for our faith. Let me, then, quote a longer passage from Job's reply to one of His friend's remarks (what Job says here is almost too good to take out of context; please, also, read the context, ch 11:1-20, to get a even better understanding of Job's words): 

So Job answered, saying: 

Truly, you are the people, 

And with you wisdom shall die! 

However, I have heart understanding as well as you; 

I am not falling behind you; 

For who is there not knowing such things as these? 

As the sport of his associates am I becoming, 

Who was calling on Eloah, and He answered him, 

Made sport of, though righteous and flawless. 

Contempt for misfortune is in the reflections 

of the self-satisfied one, 

Readied for those of tottering feet. 

The tents of devastators are at ease, 

And for those disturbing El there is serenity, 

For him who brings along an eloah in his hand. (Job 12:1-6, CV) 

Isn't this exactly how it is around us? Those who live immorally, despising and not knowing God, they get on in live, they achieve things, they attain to a live that is more than desirable despite their destructive behavior in so many respects. They even tend to live in serenity. People may spit in the face of God, but still live a normal live without apparent difficulties. 'This is unjust', we may easily think, those of us who try to live a life of devoutness and piety. 'Why don't these godless ones perish, fall, or trip?' Amazingly, contrary to many an explanation for the reason of the behavior of such people, Job goes on: 

Nevertheless, ask, I pray, one of the beasts, 

and let it direct you, 

And the flyer of the heavens, and let it tell you, 

Or importune (ask pressingly) to the earth, and it shall direct you, 

And let the fish of the sea recount it to you. 

Who among all these does not know 

That the hand of Eloah, it has done this? 

In whose hand is the soul of every living creature 

And the spirit in all flesh of man. 

Does not the ear test declarations 

As the palate tastes its food? 

Does wisdom come with being hoary headed, 

And understanding with length of days? 

With Him are wisdom and mastery; 

His are counsel and understanding. 

If He demolishes, it shall not be rebuilt, 

Or He locks up a man, it shall not be opened. 

If he restrains the waters, they shall dry up, 

Or He sends them forth, they shall overrun the earth. 

With Him are strength and prosperity; 

Both the erring one and the one causing error are His. 

Causing counselors to go forth looted, 

He also makes judges rave as fools. 

He unlooses the disciplining authority of kings, 

And He binds a belt about their waists. 

Causing priests to go forth looted, 

He also overthrows the well-established. 

Putting away the eloquence of the sure, 

He also takes away the discretion of elders. 

Pouring out contempt on patrons, 

He also makes the cordon of the mighty repressors 

fall slack. 

Exposing the deep things out of darkness, 

He also brings forth the blackest shadow to light. 

Making nations grow great, He also destroys them; 

Spreading out nations, He also guides them away. 

Putting away heart understanding from the heads 

of the people of the earth, 

He also causes them to stray in a wayless wasteland. 

They grope in darkness with no light, 

And He makes them stray like a drunkard. (Job 12:1-25, CV) 

Evil or Darkness is accredited to God. The erring one and the on causing error are his. God is in charge! Glorious! He pursues a purpose with everything. He is in control of all creation, the complete physical and spiritual realm! He stirs His universe into the one direction, to reconcile all to Himself through Christ (Col 1:18-20), after He has lead it through confusion and evil! What is a better prerequisite for perfect bliss?  Good is never appreciated without evil. Good cannot be experienced without evil! 

God, The Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth

At that season, answering, Jesus said,

"I am acclaiming Thee, Father, 

Lord of heaven and earth, 

for Thou hidest these things from the wise

and intelligent and Thou dost reveal them 

to minors. Yea, Father, 

seeing that thus it became a delight in front of Thee. 

(Mt 11:25,26, CLV)

A lord has authority over something, be it slaves or a piece of land. Whatever the lord pleases he may do with whatever he has authority over. This is the simple meaning of the word lord, even in the Greek language. 

Jesus declares that His Father is Lord of heaven and earth. Heaven (sing.), the visible atmosphere around the earth, earth, that on which we walk and live. Now God is the owner of both, and He may do with it as it pleases Him. 

God's Lordship over heaven and earth goes even so far that He has total control over those walking on it. He locks up comprehension. He hides. Those who had heard Jesus speaking about the kingdom did only those understand to whom God intended to reveal it. None else! Jesus Himself confirms this simple truth. Can we grasp it? Can we believe it? Can we fully acknowledge that even Judas went against Messiah because God made him to? Too hard to believe? Or that all that were involved in the assassination of our dear and innocent Lord Jesus Christ acted in accord with our Creator's counsel? Too hard to believe? Read Acts 4:27,28: 

both Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the nations and the peoples of Israel, [...] do whatever Thy hand and Thy counsel designates beforehand to occur. 

Amazing indeed! None of the events recorded by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were anywhere outside of God's hand. Everything was designated before to occur. Truly, God is in charge! God does as it pleases Him with His creation! 

The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. (Prov16:4) 

Yahweh, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. (Jer 10:23)

All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or tell him, What do you? (Dan 4:35)

For he said to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy. (Ro 9:15,16)

Which God Do We Believe?

THE GOD OF CHRISTENDOM 

God, in the beginning, created a perfect Angel called the "Anointed Cherub" whose name was Lucifer.

 

This perfect Angel one day fell in sin, and became a devil, ruining much of God's universe, and is the cause of all sin and evil, and also the cause of ruin and sin in other perfect angels, now called demons.

 

Author's note: This reminds one of a man who invents a machine or creates something for the good of himself and humanity, and then this machine goes out of his control and ruins all, against the original will and intention of the inventor.

 

God then was fortunate to have a son who, being purposed to die on Calvary, could at least salvage part of the ruin.

 

God then wanted human beings by the millions to love and serve and worship Him, and He "willed all mankind to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth."

 

But alas, the newly created Adam and Eve also went bad on God, and again God's intention with the human race failed. Again He blundered.

 

The best that God can now do since Adam, is to appeal and beg and plead with sinners so He at least gets some in heaven, otherwise the Devil gets them all in hell.

 

The Devil is also appealing to sinners not to accept Christ, and thus He is trying to get as many as He can into an endless hell. God is trying to get as many as He can into heaven.

"God's" Failure and Satan's Victory

Author's note: Thus the conclusion must be reached that the Devil's will is more powerful and successful than God's. Hell must then be forever and ever a monument to God's failure and to Satan's victory.

 

God foresaw all of these millions and billions of human beings when He created Adam and Eve, and He must have seen what an expensive proposition it would be; what a gamble; for He would have to send about 500 or more to an eternal hell for each one which He gets in heaven.

 

Then at the Tower of Babel, He deliberately upsets the one language of the world, and makes it that much more difficult for heathens and sinners to get saved. For, when viewed from present day missionary appeals, what a boon one language in the world would have been! Now the student must study two years or so to learn a dialect or language, and in the meantime thousands of heathens die and are eternally lost.

Then during the dark ages, either God would not or could not give the world, for hundreds of years, printed Bibles, tracts, radios, printing presses, etc. And even to this day there are millions of heathens not reached, who, for the most part, must be lost, or we would not send missionaries and money to the foreign fields.

 

God is weak enough to get the infants into heaven, but when they mature, the Devil gets most of them. Fortunate for the baby and for God when babies and little children get killed.

Then in conclusion, God miraculously keeps these billions of sinners alive forever and ever so they can undergo their eternal "gnashing of teeth" in fire and miraculously be kept burning. What profit this is to God or to the billions of culprits in Hell we are not told.

And, when we begin to ask a few questions, we are immediately hushed and told that we must not ask such questions; however, we are supposed to believe in this blundering, weak, failing god of protestantism and catholicism, the popular god of Christendom.

 

The thing that amazes the author is that most Christians dare not face the conclusion of their own religious beliefs.

THE GOD OF THE SACRED SCRIPTURES

1 Tim.4:10 He is the Saviour of all mankind. (Not of believers and infants only).

1 John 2:2 He is the propitiation for Our sins, and not ours only, but for the whole world. 

John 1:29 He is the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world. (Not believers only).

Rom.11:32 He locks all up in stubbornness (Jew and Gentile) that He may be merciful to all. 

1 Tim.1:15 He came into the world to save sinners. (Not to save non-sinners, or lose 90 percent of them).

 

1 Tim.2:3 He wills all mankind to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (cp Eph.1:11).

 

Prov.16:1-4 (Rev.4:11) He has made all for Himself. (Not 90 percent for the Devil eternally).

 

Col.1:20,21 He will in the future reconcile all. (In verse 21, He has reconciled us now. He has made us a "firstfruits" (not "onlyfruits")

 

Rom.8:19-26 He subjects the whole creation, and it waits in hope (vs. 20).

 

1 Cor. 15:22 He is capable of restoring all the damage under the first Adam (cp Rom.5:18,19).

 

1 Cor.15:28 He shall some day be All in all (not all in some).

 

"For all is out of Him, and all is through Him, and all is for Him; to Whom be the glory for the eons." Amen (Romans 11:36). 

Copyright © Saviour of All Fellowship 

P.O. Box 314, Almont, MI 48003, U.S.A. 810-798-3563

(Text by Ray Van Dyke)

http://www.saviour-of-all.org

Is God too Logical?

To Moses He (God) is saying, "I shall be merciful to whomever I may be merciful, and I shall be pitying whomever I may be pitying." Consequently, then, it is not of him who is willing, nor of him who is racing, but of God, the Merciful. (Rom 9:15,16) 

A friend of mine, yesterday, said I would think too logical in respect to God. We talked about believers and unbelievers, and God's responsibility. We reasoned about who of the many people who claim the name of Jesus Christ are actually believers. In conclusion we said that it cannot be finally determined. Eventually God knows. 

But what we then talked about was God's sovereignty and our responsibility for our doings. He said, "Both is true, the responsibility of mankind for his/her acts, and God's absolute control of everything." This is much like saying, "The Free Will of mankind and the deity (or absolute sovereignty) coexist... somehow, in some sort of mysterious, inexplicable way." 

Heck, I don't know, this is adulterating the word of God! I said to my friend, "If you believe that God controls all, you cannot say that mankind is ultimately responsible for his or her acts." It is more than sane thinking to say that the one cancels out the other. And, most important of all, scripture rules out the latter, that mankind is responsible for their acts. 

My Greek - English concordance doesn't even contain the word responsible, responsibility, or the like. My KJV doesn't have it anywhere as well (I have a bible study software that allows me to quickly search the whole text of the bible in just a few clicks). 

Consequently, then, if we read such passages as Ro 9:15,16, which are written for our faith, our simple acceptance in faith, we cannot but say that it is God who just hardened the heart of the person we have been talking to about God and His Christ! It is simple and beautiful, for 

God locks up all together in stubbornness, that He should be merciful to all. (Ro 11:32) 

and

God wills (not wishes!) that all mankind be saved and come into a realization of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator of God and mankind, a Man, Christ Jesus, Who is giving Himself a correspondent Ransom for all (mankind) (the testimony in its own eras) (2.Tim 2:4-6) 

God is more than logical, and He reveals Himself through the logical word to us. He doesn't say things we cannot understand! 

A simple argument for universalism (the reconciliation of all)

"Suppose that Christ commanded that we love our enemies and love our neighbor even as we love ourselves because such love is an essential condition of blessedness or supreme happiness.  If this is true, as I believe it is, then God could not possibly bring blessedness to one person without also bringing it to all.

Here is why. If I truly love my daughter even as I love myself, then her interests and my own are so tightly interwoven as to be logically inseparable: any good that befalls her is then a good that befalls me, and any evil that befalls her is likewise an evil that befalls me. I could never be happy, for example, knowing that my daughter is suffering or in a miserable condition--unless, of course, I could somehow believe that all will be well for her in the end. But if I cannot believe this, if I were to believe instead that she had been lost to me forever--even if I were to believe that, by her own will, she had made herself intolerably evil--my own happiness could never be complete. For I would always know what could have been, and I would always experience this as a terrible tragedy and an unacceptable loss, one for which no compensation is even conceivable. Is it any wonder, then, that Paul could say concerning his unbelieving brothers and sisters whom he loved so much: "For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people" (Romans 9:3)? From the perspective of his love, in other words, Paul's own damnation would be no worse an evil, and no greater threat to his own happiness, than the eternal damnation of his loved ones would be.

God could make us "happy" whilst our loved ones suffered in hell only in two possible ways: either by concealing from us the magnitude of the tragedy (blissful ignorance), or by giving us a callous and stony heart, so that we no longer truly loved those who were lost. Both of these possibilities, however, are incompatible with true blessedness. So in the end, it is logically impossible for God to bring blessedness to one person without also bringing it to all." (Tom Talbott, http://www.willamette.edu/~ttalbott/theol.html)