Genesis 2:7 (AKJV): “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.”
My understanding of “breath of life” is the intrinsic value of life as only to man, what we we call spirit; Then “living soul” is ones mind will and emotions. When Adam sinned, that sin was passed to all them that followed; every human, because of Adam, all mankind has sin. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23. With that sin came death, spiritual death: “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Genesis 2:17. Man had spiritual life till Adam sinned and has physical life being born. Being in Adam we died spiritually as did Adam, as in Adam we died: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22. Paul tells us that we are dead and need life, Jesus said that He was life: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6.
Our physical body is only a carrying case for our spirit which is dead by sin. When one dies physically the soul and spirit leaves the body and returns unto God who gave it: “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was (Gen 2:7): and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” Ecclesiastes 12:7.
Side bar: Have heard reputable teachers say that “if even only one atom is left of a man God is able to resurrect that individual”. That flies in the face of scripture: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17. “a new creature” one is made new in Christ, immediately in spirit, the spirit receives life from God upon belief of the gospel: “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. And our physical body too when Christ returns for His church: “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-54.
From God’s perspective when Adam died, he was no longer spiritually alive but was dead to God. This is played out when eternity is realized in mankind by experiencing it. “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;” 1 Thessalonians 1:8-9. There in eternity, there is a time when God will remove from His own knowledge, those who have rejected salvation available in the LORD Jesus Christ’s death, burial and resurrection “through faith”. The reason I say it that way is because of “from the presence of the Lord” verse 9. The ends and outs of that is so far beyond me I have to receive it, believe it by faith.
To wrap this up, my thoughts in blue: “I am crucified with Christ ( I’m dead spiritually and die physically, God’s perspective with Christ who died both physically and spiritually): nevertheless I live (being dead am able to receive life, His life that He, Christ received from God when begotten i.e. resurrected); yet not I (being dead, needing life I by grace through faith can receive life which is revealed by believing faith), but Christ liveth in me (Christ’s life now is my life by faith this is seen when Paul wrote: “For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.” Philippians 1:23-25”) which is borne out when I read) “and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God,” (I live this life by His, Christ’s faithfulness to His Word, I have no part in the doing but only the receiving by faith what God has, again has, provided) who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate (by not believing what has been said and made available to one who just believes in His completed word to mankind on my behalf) the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:20-21.
Sidebar: Many will take “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” Ephesians 1:3, take this verse as something to be held as being sure and yet not experienced. From God’s perspective ones who have believed and are in Christ are already blessed. But will take other verse as shown earlier and spin them to be something that they aren’t. This is why we as believers must take God at His Word always whether we understand or not, thats faith “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 with “(for we walk by faith, not by sight:)” 2 Corinthians 5:7. Be all in or out but quit playing church with only what one sees, voiding faith!
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