Principal Point of Faith #3:
The Nature of Man
1. What does the Bible teach about our nature?
(definition of nature as used here: “physical constitution; inherent, essential likeness”)
(a) The Bible says the human race (man, mankind, humankind) is mortal, i.e., subject to sickness, decay and death.
“Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?” (Job. 4:17)
“Do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.” (Rom. 6:12).
…“A human being… dies, and dead he remains, breathes his last, and then where is he?” (Job. 14:10).
(b) Note: Our human race is mortal by nature. We did not become mortal after Adam sinned. It is commonly believed in fundamental Christian churches that Adam was created immortal (physically perfect, undying), and that when he sinned he experienced a change in his nature and became mortal, subject to death, and so all his descendants are likewise subject to death. (See topic “Original Sin”).
What have you heard about Adam’s state before he sinned?
Where does the Bible tell us Adam was created immortal or undying? Can you find three verses?
Where did this idea come from?
2. What is a soul, according to the Bible?
(a) The Bible uses the word “soul” for any living, breathing creature — man, animal, bird, fish, insect. The Bible teaches that souls can die and will die.
(b) The word translated “soul” in the Bible is the Hebrew word nephesh. This word does not refer to a personality but is defined as “properly a breathing creature, i.e. “animal”
—Strong’s Greek & Hebrew Dictionary
See Genesis 46:22 — “All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob’s sons’ wives, all the souls were threescore and six” ” —there were 76 people, not 76 spirits or immortal somethings.
See Exodus 1:5 — all those who came out of Egypt were called “souls” (persons).
See Psalm 40:14 — where David prayed to be spared from the hands of his enemies.“Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it.” His soul—his life—could be destroyed!
3. Do we have an immortal soul or personality that lives on and is conscious after we die?
(a) The Bible does not saying anything about an “immortal soul” or personality or any other part of us that lives on or is conscious after we die. Contrary to popular belief, the Bible never calls any part of us “undying,” or “immortal,” or “perpetual,” or “eternal.”
“The soul who sins shall die” (Ezek. 18:20).
“He did not spare their soul from death” (Ps. 78:50).
Note: The Catholic Bible says, “The son of man is not immortal” (Ecclesiasticus 17:29).
If we do not have something immortal in us, why did the Indians, the Inca, the ancient Egyptians and most other ancient people believe some part of their existence was perpetual and could not die?
(b) The Bible says there is no consciousness in death.
“For the living know that they shall die: But the dead know nothing. And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten.” (Eccl. 9:5).
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, or device, or knowledge, or wisdom in the grave where you are going.” (Eccl. 9:10).
(When a person dies,) “His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” (Psalm 146:4 KJV) —his thoughts perish
“When their breathing stops, they return to the earth, and in a moment all their plans come to an end.” ” (Psalm 146:4 NLT).
(c) The Bible calls death a sleep. When we are asleep, we are not conscious of what is happening around us, and cannot respond to our environment.
When Jesus was going to raise Lazarus from the dead, He explained to the disciples that he was asleep. When they failed to realize Jesus was speaking of the sleep of death, Jesus said plainly, “Lazarus is dead.” (John 11:11-14).
4. What happens to people when they die?
(a) They stop breathing, and all body functions stop. Dead people are not able to think, or do anything, or feel anything. They are unaware of their surroundings or of the passing of time. They are unconscious, as if in a deep dreamless sleep.
(b) The Bible says we are like animals when we die.
“Like sheep they are laid in the grave; Death shall feed on them; The upright shall have dominion over them” (Ps. 49:14).
“… 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.” (Eccl. 3:19).
“For in death there is no remembrance of You; In the grave who will give You thank?” (Ps. 6:5).
5. Is there any life after death?
(a) All hope of a life after death depends on a resurrection from the dead, which will take place when Christ returns from heaven.
“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished” (1 Cor. 15:13, 18).
“The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (Eccl. 3:19).
“For in death there is no remembrance of You; In the grave who will give You thank?” (1 Thess. 4:13, 16-17).(See also Job 17:13-16; 19:25-27; Ps. 6:5; 22:29; 78:50)
6. If someone comes to you and claims he/she is immortal or undying, how can you be sure their claim is false?
(a) Remember the meaning of immortal: it is ‘not subject to sickness, decay, pain or death.’ Can they honestly tell you they never get sick, never have a pain, never get sick, never have a tooth cavity?
(b) Only God has the power to change a person to the immortal nature, and the Bible tells us no one but Jesus has immortality today (1 Tim. 6:16; 1 Cor. 15:23).
(c) No one else will become immortal (undying) until Jesus comes back and changes their mortal bodies to be like His “glorious body.”
“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished” (1 Cor. 15:13, 18).
“The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (Eccl. 3:19).
“He will take these weak mortal bodies of ours and change them into glorious bodies like his own” (Phil. 3:21 NLT).
7. What must we do to receive the change from the mortal to the immortal nature?
Immortality is conditional. (we must meet certain specific conditions before we can receive it). Paul says God “’will render to each one according to his deeds’: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality” (Rom. 2:6-7).
John says: “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1 John 3:2-3).