#2

Clint Harper

In the very beginning God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them" (Genesis 1:26-27). At least one of the ways that man is in the image of God is that he is a spiritual being. In Genesis 2:7 we are informed, "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."

However, there are those who believe that there is no spiritual aspect of man, only the physical. And because of this teaching, the idea is taught that there is and will be no resurrection from the dead. The Sadducees are a particular group who taught this strange doctrine. "For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both" (Acts 23:8). The Sadducees even tried to use their supposition to trap Jesus in his words. "Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. And last of all the woman died also. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her" (Matthew 22:24-28). They supposed that since there is no spirit and therefore no resurrection, then the answer could not possibly be one of favor to someone who believes in the resurrection. However, they underestimated the wisdom and knowledge of Jesus, especially of the Old Testament Scriptures. He replied, "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God" (Matthew 22:29).

What the Sadducees failed to recognize is that the Old Testament Scriptures do teach these things, but they would not receive the teaching. In the very opening of the Bible Moses records these words, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters" (Genesis 1:1-2, emp. mine). In Genesis 6:3 God said, "My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years." And Jesus confirms that God is a spirit (John 4:24). About man it is written, "But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding" (Job 32:8). Also, "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it" (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Therefore, we can easily see that man is more than the sum total of the ingredients of the physical body.

However, there are those today who teach that we are no more than animals, that when we die we will be dead all over just like rover and that this life is all there is. This, of course, is called Atheism, the belief that there is no God. Some religionist even try to wrap up this idea of "no soul" into spiritual clothing and sell it to the unsuspecting masses. However, this idea is nothing new just like Solomon said (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Those who teach these things today are trying to do the same thing those of Jesus day were trying to do, i.e., lead people away from God. Solomon, in all his wisdom and experience gives the following advice for those who would dare not walk with God, "Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment" (Ecclesiastes 11:9). In essence, Solomon says to the young man, "You have the power to do, believe and teach anything you want. However, be forewarned, that in the end you will stand in judgement before God, the creator of the universe." Simply because someone believes there is no spirit, no resurrection, no God and no resurrection does not mean it is not so. It is true whether it is believed or not.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; And take not thy holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; And uphold me with a willing spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; And sinners shall be converted unto thee" (Psalm 51:10-13).