Having said this, it is essential to understand that our faith must not be based on ignorance, sayings, or customs of any denomination. Therefore, it is imperative for every Christian to know and understand what the doctrines of Jesus are—those that were spread and taught by all His apostles. They were a faithful reflection of their understanding of the one gospel of the kingdom that they learned and practiced.
The disciples were shaped through trials throughout their lives, which provided them with the experience and knowledge necessary not only to practice what they learned from Jesus but also to teach us what they experienced. Peter, in his second epistle, chapter 3, verse 18, tells us, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Growing in the knowledge of our Lord implies knowing—or at least trying to know—Jesus Christ in every aspect. It requires a closer understanding of the spiritual realm in which our Lord operates. For this reason, it is of utmost importance to study the Scriptures to receive from Jesus and all His apostles the true doctrine.
Unfortunately, some doctrines taught in congregations do not come from the Scriptures but have been passed down from generation to generation by leaders who founded their religious movements based on personal revelations, dreams, or a misinterpretation of God’s Word. Such doctrines have been imparted to thousands or millions of followers over the years without being discussed or questioned. For example, the issue of tithing, Sunday meetings, the resurrection of the dead, etc. One of the most popular beliefs teaches that when we die, our body is buried in a grave, and our spirit—which for many is a spiritual being dwelling in our body—ascends to God’s presence. Conversely, when someone is not a Christian, their spirit is immediately sent to hell, where it will be tormented for eternity.
To better understand this topic, we will turn to history and science, as many of these beliefs originated from ancient, even pagan, beliefs that eventually evolved into dogmas within the Christian community. We will also draw from modern science since science cannot be dismissed, nor can science dismiss the Scriptures, because ultimately, our God is the greatest scientist who has ever existed. God is the greatest mathematician, the greatest neuroscientist, and the greatest physicist. Whatever branch of science you can imagine, God knows far more than any Nobel laureate.
The belief in the soul from ancient cultures to our days
In ancient times, beliefs about the soul varied significantly across different cultures and philosophical traditions. The Egyptians believed in the immortality of the soul and had a complex conception that included various aspects of being, such as the Ka, Ba, and Akh. The Ka was the vital force that remained in the tomb, while the Ba was the part of the soul that could travel between the world of the living and the dead. The Akh represented the fully transformed and glorified soul in the afterlife. Funerary practices and the construction of tombs and pyramids reflected this belief in the soul’s survival and its importance in life after death.
In Greek philosophy, the soul was a topic of extensive debate. Plato, for instance, viewed the soul as an immortal and immaterial entity that existed before birth and continued to exist after death. For Plato, the soul consisted of three parts: the rational (located in the head), the spirited (in the chest), and the appetitive (in the abdomen). Aristotle, on the other hand, considered the soul as the form of the body, meaning that which gave life and purpose to the body. However, for Aristotle, the soul and body were interdependent, and while some aspects of the soul were immortal, others were not.
In Vedic and Hindu traditions, the soul, known as Atman, is immortal and divine, and it is considered the true essence of an individual. The Atman is seen as a spark of the universal consciousness (Brahman), implying that all souls are connected to a greater whole. The belief in reincarnation and karma dictated that the soul went through a cycle of births and deaths until achieving liberation (moksha), which was the ultimate union with Brahman.
In ancient Hebrew tradition, the word nephesh was used to refer to the soul or life. Unlike Greek conceptions, nephesh was not something separate from the body; instead, the whole person was considered a living nephesh. The idea of the soul’s immortality in the Platonic sense developed later, influenced by other philosophical currents, such as Greek ones, during the Hellenistic period.
In many indigenous cultures, the soul was considered a vital component that could temporarily leave the body, for example, during dreams or out-of-body experiences. In these beliefs, the soul was fundamental to health and well-being, and the loss of the soul (due to illness or a traumatic event) required shamanic rituals to retrieve it.
In the modern era, neuroscience has investigated consciousness and the mind, seeking to understand how they arise from the brain. Although the soul is not discussed in traditional terms, the exploration of consciousness raises questions about whether there is more than just the physical processes of the brain. Researchers like Sir Roger Penrose and Stuart Hameroff have proposed theories such as “orchestrated objective reduction” (Orch-OR), suggesting that consciousness might have a quantum component that goes beyond classical physics.
The soul has also been investigated through science and used as a medium for paranormal activities.
From a paranormal perspective, the soul is seen as an immaterial entity that transcends physical existence and is considered the core of human identity and consciousness. Paranormal beliefs about the soul vary but share the idea that the soul has an existence independent of the physical body and that it can interact with the material or spiritual world in various ways.
Many in the paranormal community consider the soul a form of energy that exists beyond the body. This energy is perceived as the core of a person’s consciousness, personality, and emotions. It is believed that, upon death, this energy separates from the body and can persist in the physical world, interacting with the living as a spirit or ghost.
Practices such as spiritism, mediumship, and other forms of contact with the dead are based on the belief that the soul persists after death. Mediums claim to communicate with the souls of the deceased, conveying messages from them to the living. From a paranormal perspective, these contacts are possible because the soul remains conscious and can interact with the material world under certain conditions.
In the realm of the paranormal, ghosts are commonly understood as the souls of deceased individuals who, for some reason, have not been able to move on to “the other side” or the spiritual world. Theories suggest they may stay in a location due to unresolved issues, intense emotions, or even traumas that occurred before their death.
The New Age and Platonic influences reached the Church of Christ
Modern spiritual currents and New Age movements also include practices related to Out-of-Body Experiences (OBEs). Gnosticism, an ancient spiritual and philosophical current, taught that humans could experience separation from the body and access hidden truths and higher knowledge. The Gnostics believed that the soul was trapped in the material body and that true salvation was achieved by freeing the soul from physical bindings and connecting with the Pleroma (the divine fullness).
The origins of Gnosticism are complex and influenced by a blend of ancient philosophies and religions. Some of the most notable origins include:
Platonic Influences: The philosophy of Plato and his ideas about the dualism between the world of ideas (the spiritual realm) and the physical world (impermanent and flawed) influenced the Gnostic conception of reality.
Judaism and Apocalypticism: Certain currents within Judaism, especially apocalyptic ones, contributed the idea of secret knowledge and divine revelations.
Early Christianity: Some Gnostic groups identified themselves as Christians and believed that Christ’s true message was to liberate the spirit from the trap of the material world. These groups reinterpreted Jesus’ teachings in an esoteric way.
Mystery Religions and Zoroastrianism: The Greco-Roman mystery religions and Zoroastrianism influenced the Gnostic dualistic view of the struggle between the forces of light and darkness.
Now let us examine the capabilities of the Human Brain and the process called awareness.
The human brain is composed of cells called neurons, which communicate with each other through electrical impulses, forming highly complex networks that even the most prominent scientists have yet to decipher. These networks carry information from the brain to different organs in the body, regulating vital functions of our organism. Through the brain, we connect with the outside world using peripheral organs such as the ears, nose, and eyes, which perceive information through images, smells, or sounds. The brain transforms this information into electrical impulses, providing a response through any part of the body.
The sensation of hunger, for example, is generated by the digestive system and sent to the brain, which then transforms this information into an often involuntary act of eating. Thus, when someone has brain damage, they can even die if third parties do not provide them with food. Brain areas like the hypothalamus govern emotions such as anger and aggression. If this area is stimulated through electrodes delivering small electrical discharges, a person can become enraged without any apparent reason.
If a part of our brain were missing, we would be unable to develop certain functions governed by that area. For this reason, individuals with brain illnesses like cancer or those with brain injuries caused by trauma can become permanently incapacitated. They may no longer be able to care for themselves or even recognize their condition. In simple terms, their brain does not function properly, and as a result, they are no longer the person they were before the impairment.
Other individuals may suffer from illnesses that prevent them from engaging in physical activity, but their reasoning remains intact. This was the case with Stephen Hawking, who had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons, leading to a gradual loss of muscle control. Despite his early diagnosis and a limited life expectancy, he lived for several decades with the disease, using assistive technology to communicate and continue his work in theoretical physics.
The scientist Francis Crick, Nobel Prize winner in 1962 alongside James Watson for discovering the helical structure of DNA in 1953, dedicated half a century of his life to seeking what is scientifically known as consciousness. The researcher postulated that he found it amid a sea of neurotransmitters and intricate brain structures, with an approximate weight of 21 grams, which disappears upon death.
The basis of his discovery was the observation of the brain, which is comparable to exploring space or the ocean depths, as delving into the brain’s mass is largely unknown and intriguing. In his words, and through his observations, he emphasized that what we see and how we interpret it results from the activity of a large number of neurons throughout the brain that categorize, emulate, recall, and measure. He stated that awareness is nothing more than the transmission of information and its processing.
In other words, for Crick, when seeing something, the visual cortex responds to that stimulus, and certain groups of neurons fire very rapidly and in synchrony. This process was termed the “oscillation theory” because neurons function entirely in sync.
By experimenting with sounds in sighted and non-sighted individuals and noticing that the same group of neurons was activated, he identified that this area governed those actions. Hence, upon death—and only upon death—the brain’s electrical and chemical activity ceases. But what does the brain have to do with the soul and consciousness? Could it be that the soul is merely a mental process known as awareness?
For scientists, the fact that humans know who they are, can reason, and make decisions is because their brain is capable of processing this information and turning it into a coherent response. Therefore, if you have a healthy brain, you are capable of being conscious because you can reason and enjoy your surroundings.
The Soul from the Perspective of Psychology
For psychologists, the soul represents the inner realm of emotional and mental thought. To them, the soul is the external world, made up of tangible objects, and is the field where a person experiences an inner response through their memories, desires, mental images, pain, moral suffering, and dreams. Feelings are considered emotional and mental consciousness and are the subject of behavioral study.
Psychology, from the Greek psyche or soul, and logos, study, has been regarded as the science that studies the mind and behavior. It can also be considered the discipline that encompasses all aspects of human experience, from brain functions to child development, exploring how humans and animals feel, think, and learn to adapt to their environment.
Modern psychology has focused on collecting facts about behavior and experience, systematically organizing them, and developing theories for understanding them. These theories help explain human behavior and, in some cases, even predict future actions, enabling interventions when necessary.
However, psychology is not a modern science. Even in biblical times, there was an analysis of the soul. For example, when David said, “Bless the Lord, O my soul,” he in no way intended to speak to another being within his body but was reflecting, speaking to himself during moments of joy, sorrow, or need.
Similarly, when Paul said that our spirit knows our inner self, it is the modern equivalent of saying that we know ourselves. Many Christians believe that the body is merely a shell moved by the “soul.” Furthermore, some definitions in reputable biblical dictionaries mention that the soul is the immaterial being that survives after bodily death. As we will see later, this notion is false, unfounded, and ultimately inherited from ancient beliefs, often from pagan cultures, philosophical currents, and religious traditions.
The Soul is Not an Immaterial Being that Feels, Thinks, and Lives in a Body
God formed Adam from the dust of the ground and created him with all the characteristics to make him like Himself. Even when Adam did not yet have life, his brain was physically capable of functioning, just like the rest of his organs. For instance, when someone has passed away, their organs remain intact for a short period of time, sufficient to be used to save the life of a patient whose one or more organs have ceased to function. This is why doctors can remove organs from the deceased and transplant them into the patient in need.
According to some biblical teachers, the soul governs thoughts and emotions. They believe it is a “spiritual” being that thinks and feels within our body. If this were true, anyone suffering brain damage should function without any impediment. Since, according to them, the body is merely a vehicle, then why do we need a brain if the soul is what thinks and directs our emotions and bodily activities?
If the soul were the center of our emotions and thoughts, then why do people who suffer brain damage stop functioning normally? Could it be that the soul becomes ill along with the body, even though it is supposedly an incorporeal and immortal being? And if that were the case, how could an immaterial being be affected when the brain fails? To me, none of this makes sense.
Let us instead study what the Word of God teaches about the term soul.
The Word of God says: “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7 (New International Version). When God breathed into Adam’s nostrils, he became a living being, meaning he became a living soul. Adam’s body, upon receiving life when God deposited His “Spirit of Life” in him, became a soul.
The term “soul” translates from the Hebrew word nephesh and the Greek word psyche. This term is used to define the person or animal being referenced. The translation of nephesh is “that which has life.” In short, the “soul” is a human or animal body with life; that is, the union of a functional physical body and the breath of life becomes a soul.
Thus, when a person dies, it is because the “spirit of life” has left them, and their body begins to deteriorate and return to dust. The living soul, in short, ceases to exist because the link between a functional body and the spirit of life is broken. Scripture says: “For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son—both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die.” Ezekiel 18:4. If the soul were immortal, as many claim, why does Scripture say that the soul who sins will die?
Unfortunately, Satan has infiltrated a dogma into the Christian church that many are not even aware of. Many have believed a lie so deeply ingrained in the minds and hearts of Christians and non-Christians alike that I dare to think that more than 90% of them believe their soul will live with the Lord when they die.
As an interesting fact, in the United States, only 0.5% believe they will go to hell when they die. This means the vast majority think that upon death, their soul or spirit will separate from the body and ascend to heaven, though the Catholic Church believes in a third state.
If you want to learn more about heaven and hell, we have a study that delves deeper into this topic.
Most theological seminaries teach that humans are composed of three parts: soul, body, and spirit, referencing two Bible verses, both written by Paul. Let’s look at the first: “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23. According to most Christians, this verse is definitive proof that humans are tripartite beings.
However, the phrase “soul, body, and spirit” was a common idiomatic expression at the time, indicating that our senses, our way of thinking, and our relationship with God should be perfect. According to the commentary in the Reina-Valera 1995 study edition, this expression was used by other authors of the era to represent the whole being.
Many of Paul’s words have been distorted since the time of the apostles themselves and were used to try to undermine the doctrines taught by Jesus and His apostles. Even Peter warns us that Paul’s words were difficult to understand, even for them. In 2 Peter 3:15-16, he explains: “Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.”
If a man filled with the Holy Spirit, such as Peter, warns that Paul’s epistles were difficult to understand, imagine how false teachers and individuals who have not even been baptized by the Holy Spirit interpret those epistles. Could it be that these people are more spiritual than Peter or the other apostles, and therefore find it extremely easy to understand such difficult topics?
Many have interpreted Paul’s words in such a way that, for them, man is composed of three parts. These words have become dogmas used by many Christians to teach that man is a tripartite being, possessing a “Body” that serves to communicate with the outside world, a “Soul,” which they claim is the spiritual being connecting us with our thoughts, reasoning, and emotions, and a “Spirit,” which is the means by which we communicate with God.
Another expression used by Paul is equally difficult to understand and could be interpreted as evidence that humans are spiritual and immortal beings. It is as follows: “If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.” Philippians 1:22-24.
At first glance, these verses might lead us to conclude that Paul indeed believed that the “soul” departed to be with the Lord at the moment of death. However, Paul himself spent considerable time explaining that all humans must be resurrected and then transformed into spiritual bodies to dwell with God. In other words, only after being resurrected will we enter God’s presence. Although it is essential to read all of 1 Corinthians 15, we will quote only verses 41 through 53:
“So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: ‘The first man Adam became a living being’; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man. I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.”
In our study titled The Resurrection of the Dead, we delve deeper into this subject.
Let us examine the apparent contradictions in Paul’s statement about “departing and being with Christ.”
Some, if not most, biblical teachers believe Paul was referring to the modern concept of entering the Lord’s presence. As mentioned earlier, many believe that when a Christian dies, their soul—or what some also call the spirit—leaves the body, ascends to heaven, and remains in the Lord’s presence for centuries or millennia. Eventually, when the resurrection of the dead occurs, that eternal life they experienced in that spiritual body would be interrupted as their immortal spirit descends to earth, reunites with their newly resurrected body, and, after being judged and found righteous, is taken to heaven once again to live for all eternity.
Unfortunately, this belief is entirely mistaken. Paul understood that our physical body, once sown into the ground or buried, will be resurrected in its natural state, and after judgment, it will be transformed into a spiritual being.
If Paul had believed that when we die, we go directly into the presence of the Lord, then: why did he teach so much about the resurrection of the dead? Why would we need to be resurrected if we are already in heaven enjoying the streets of gold and the sea of glass? Why then resurrect in a carnal body, which would later be transformed into a spiritual being, only to return to heaven where we were already before? Does that make sense? I’m afraid it does not.
What Paul understood is that for us as Christians, and for him specifically, dying was gain because, upon death, his waiting and struggles would have ended. When we sleep, it is almost like being dead. We go to bed, close our eyes, and in an instant, in the blink of an eye, we reach the next day without remembering anything, without knowing anything that happened during that period of time.
Sleeping is like dying, and dying is like sleeping. We have no consciousness for six, seven, or eight hours while we sleep. Paul understood that in dying, his waiting would have ended because his years of suffering and need would come to an end. He only needed to “sleep,” and when he opened his eyes at the resurrection of the dead, he would be in the presence of God. This is what Paul meant when he said he didn’t know what to choose, as if it depended on him. Paul could not make that decision; he could not determine when he would depart. Paul was reflecting on the consequences of his departure and the need for his physical presence on earth to continue the work. He was weighing what was best for himself and for his disciples.
The Word of God says that the soul is a living being, whether man or animal. Obviously, there is a significant difference between humans and animals because we were created in the image and likeness of God, while animals were not. Although both are souls, humans are distinguished by being rational, creative, capable of reflection, anger, smiling, crying, loving, and, in the near future, being transformed into spiritual beings in every sense of the word.
We possess the ability to understand who we are because we are self-aware, a result of our brain functioning. Additionally, God has granted us the privilege of bearing His physical appearance—that is, man has a head, hands, eyes, mouth, legs, and other physical members because we were modeled after the appearance and likeness of God. For this reason, man is different from animals, and because of this, we are so valuable to Him. When God looks at us, He sees Himself reflected in each one of us. We bear His image and likeness, though we do not yet possess His holy character, which is being forged in us through the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
God is not a thing, nor a mass of energy, nor something that exists somewhere in another dimension.
“Philip said, ‘Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.’ Jesus answered: ‘Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”?’” John 14:8-9.
Philip asked Jesus to show him the Father, and Jesus replied that the Father was just like Him. Philip’s request was direct and concerned the physical appearance of the Father. Philip wanted to know what God looked like physically, so Jesus’ response was equally direct. Jesus Christ not only physically resembled the Father but also possessed His same character. The Father desires that humans resemble Him in His pure and holy character and set Jesus as the model for us to learn from Him. God wants us to be like them in every aspect.
Now, for those who say that God is spirit and believe that the Lord has no form—imagining Him as a ball of energy or thinking He is invisible—Paul explains this in 1 Corinthians 15:44: “It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.”
This is the key to understanding what God is like. When Paul mentions a spiritual body, he refers to spiritual beings who, although they may be invisible to our eyes, possess bodies. A body has different parts, such as the head, hands, legs, and feet. The same applies to a spiritual body, like those of angels and God Himself. The difference between a natural body, like ours, and a spiritual one, according to Paul, is that we are made of flesh and bone, whereas God is not. However, this does not mean that God does not have a body; His body is spiritual, all-powerful, and immortal. On the other hand, humans have the image and likeness of God but not His substance or character. His glory is so great that flesh and blood can be destroyed in His presence, as happened on Mount Sinai. Do you remember that Moses was able to see Jehovah?
“When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.” Exodus 33:22-23. God has hands, a back, and a face. Do you realize, brother? God has a body similar to ours—or rather, we have a body similar to God’s. We are the only beings in God’s creation formed in His image and likeness.
What is the Spirit that dwells in man?
The breath of life that God placed in man is what keeps us alive, both humans and animals. That breath is the Spirit of Life that comes from Jehovah, as mentioned in the book of Genesis: “I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish.” Genesis 6:17.
Humans, like the animals that lived before the flood, drowned under the waters because they all breathed air. When a man or animal dies, their body returns to the earth, as mentioned in Ecclesiastes 12:7: “And the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” What spirit returns to God? The Spirit of Life, obviously.
Solomon said in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 3, verses 20 and 21: “All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?” Solomon reflected on the fate of both humans and animals. He knew that we were all formed from the dust of the earth. We are all material, carnal beings—not spiritual beings like the angels, who have spiritual bodies that can be visible or invisible at their discretion. They are powerful and immortal beings. We are not!
Solomon asked a question that remains valid today: why are so many people so sure that the spirit of man ascends to heaven while the spirit of animals does not? If the wisest man in history said no one knows, how can we be so certain that animals do not have a spirit?
Life is in the blood, both of animals and humans.
God established a law that cannot be changed. The Word says: the soul that sins must die. In other words, whenever someone sinned, they should die. However, since that is not feasible—because obviously, we cannot die multiple times—God provided a means to resolve this situation, allowing the Israelites to preserve their lives despite their constant sinning against God. This provision was the shedding of animals’ blood. Since both humans and animals possess the same spirit of life residing in their blood, the animal’s death served as a substitute for the man when he sinned.
Scripture says that life is in the blood: “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” Leviticus 17:11. This spirit of life resides in the blood, which is why God demanded the blood of lambs to atone for the blood of man. The animal bore the consequences of our sin… with its life. The animal’s blood was the payment for the iniquity of the sinner.
It’s like receiving a traffic ticket. If you don’t have the money to pay it, the problem doesn’t disappear; someone must pay it—whether you or someone else. During the time of the Mosaic Law, lambs shed their blood in place of humans. When Jesus came to die on the cross, His one sacrifice was sufficient to pay the debt that all humanity owed for sinning against God. When Christ shed His blood, He did so to spare us from shedding ours.
That is why it was necessary for Jesus Christ to offer Himself as a sacrifice on the cross at Calvary. Jesus was the Lamb who paid with His blood for the lives of all humans who believe in Him. The blood of Jesus alone has the power to cleanse us from the death penalty that hung over us because we have all, without exception, sinned against God. Matthew 26:28.
When a being dies, the spirit of life returns to God. This spirit is not our spiritual self but the force that sustains us, the power of God that gives life—just as gasoline provides energy to a vehicle.
Man is not a tripartite being but rather a fully functional physical body whose brain enables communication with its environment, self-awareness, and a vital force that sustains life, which is the spirit of life. When God resurrects us on the last day, all humans, from Adam onward, will return to life with their physical bodies. God will once again take dust from the earth and create, not just one man but millions upon millions of men and women who will return to life. He will give us the spirit of life again so that we may once more become living souls.
Man is not a spiritual being wrapped in a layer of flesh and bone. The soul is not an immortal being housed in a mortal body, and when it dies, it does not remain conscious or wander as a ghost. If you see a deceased family member and speak to them as if they were real, they are not; it is a demon who has known your family for generations. Do not believe them.
The Word of God says in Hebrews 9:27: “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” According to modern Christian logic, a Christian has already secured heaven because they accepted Christ as their personal Savior. Therefore, if they die, their soul will travel to heaven. If someone did not accept Jesus, they will be sent to hell. But the Word of God says that we must die, then be resurrected, and only after that face judgment. That is God’s order.
We also have a study titled Hell and God’s Paradise if you would like to learn more about this topic.
All men will be raised in the same way that Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead—physically, not spiritually, as many claim. Jesus was glorified, transformed into a spiritual, immortal, and all-powerful body in heaven. However, Jesus’ glorification did not occur immediately after His resurrection, as even the apostles touched Him. This means He was not transformed into a spiritual body when He rose but only after He ascended to heaven.
In John 7:39, we read: “By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” Similarly, we too will be resurrected in a physical body but will be transformed into an immortal body after the judgment. Some will be transformed to live forever in the presence of the Lord, while others will be resurrected to be cast into the lake of fire and sulfur, or Gehenna. How much time will pass between the resurrection, judgment, and condemnation? We do not know. What we do know is that we must first be resurrected, then judged, and finally taken into God’s presence to live eternally—or condemned eternally.
With what body will we be resurrected?
When Jesus was resurrected, He rose with the same body of flesh and bone. However, when He ascended to heaven, He was transformed. The difference is that His body is no longer flesh and bone but a glorified, all-powerful, and immortal body.
This is important to understand because all humans will return to life physically. There is nothing in Scripture to indicate that man departs in spirit to the presence of God at the time of death and that this spirit later reenters the resurrected body. Remember one thing: the resurrection does not occur when you die and the spirit of life departs from you. The resurrection will happen after Jesus returns.
Please listen to our study titled The Resurrection of the Dead to learn more about this topic.
Jesus rose physically, and the disciples were witnesses of this. Let us see what is written in John 20:26-29: “A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’ Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’”
Thomas witnessed that Jesus was physically resurrected and even placed his finger into the side of Jesus, which had been pierced by the Roman soldier’s spear. Thus, our body is not merely a shell but the same body we will possess when we are resurrected, which will later be transformed to live eternally. So, you might as well be content with your body, because when you are resurrected, you will be yourself, but without sickness or pain, and with all your members intact. It is important to value what we have because this is who we are. We will all possess the same body we had before we died, but it will be transformed into a spiritual body to live forever.
Our body is not merely a vehicle or a shell—it is our being, the same being that will be transformed into a spiritual body when Jesus Christ returns to earth and establishes His kingdom. For this reason, Paul tells us in his first epistle to the Corinthians, chapter 6, verses 18 to 20: “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
For us who have believed in Jesus and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we must understand that our body is God’s temple on earth and no longer belongs to us because it was bought at a price—a very high price, indeed. Paul says that our bodies no longer belong to us; they belong to God. He purchased you with the blood that Jesus Christ shed on the cross at Calvary. You can no longer do whatever you please with your body. Both men and women who have been born again are obligated to watch over and care for their own bodies because they are God’s property. Value yourself and give thanks to God for the wonderful body He gave you at birth as a man or a woman, because it is the same body that will accompany you for all eternity!
