This is a revisit of an older post. My reason for this is I keep hearing it taught that we are spirit beings and our soul and spirit is immortal. For truth's sake, I've decided to cover it again. So the question is, do we have an immortal soul?

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28

Man's Soul from the Beginning

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. Genesis 2:7

I believe this beginning verse discloses the fact simply, “…and man became a living soul”. I fail to understand any confusion here. It does not say man has or possesses a soul. If we provoke the principle or law of first mention, God wants us to understand that man became a soul! Again, this means we are souls. This point is so vital to understand because subsequent doctrinal points stem from this belief. The most debated one is whether unrepentant man will experience eternal torment as supposed to eternal death.

 

The Soul as Referenced in Scripture

We can find many references to the soul in scripture. In Genesis 12:13, Abram asked Sarai to say she is his brother “and my soul will live because of you.” What do you think Abram meant when he said this? Would Pharaoh reach in and kill his soul? This is depicted in the movie “The Chronicles of Riddick”. In this movie, The Lord Marshall, leader of the Necromongers, allegedly pulled the soul out of the body of a man who challenged him and killed it by throwing it to the ground. Thus, the man died. I submit to you that Abram meant he would live. Thus, he is the soul he refers to. Exodus 12:15 refers to a soul being cut off from Israel. Is the soul destroyed leaving the body behind? No, but the person again is the soul being referred to. Souls in scripture can hunger (Proverbs 19:15), desire (Deuteronomy 12:20), and even die…

 

Death of the Soul

Saying the soul is immortal is a direct contradiction of scripture. In fact, the soul can die.

Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. Ezekiel 18:4

This might be argued since it is said that our true self is spirit. Nevertheless, soul and spirit are often linked together as being immortal. And more so because the soul is said to be the seat of emotions. No matter our thoughts to the contrary, the scripture is clear. The soul can die and the soul that sins will die!

 

Body, Soul, and Spirit

This is an anchor point for the argument of immortality. Even though no verse I have found that proves beyond any shadow of doubt, we are spirits who live in a body and possess a soul, it is presumed that Paul confirms the separation of the body, soul, and spirit.

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Paul was referring to Genesis in making this statement. God formed man from the dust of the ground (body). He blew into his nostrils the breath of life (spirit, wind, air). By this man became a living soul (soul). Why didn't Paul just say he desires God to preserve you blameless?  There is a deeper meaning.

He desired that we be blameless in what we do (body), in what we believe (soul), and in what we say (spirit)! We act with our bodies, we think and feel in our hearts, and speak with our mouths using the breath (ruach). If you look at the preceding verses for context, you will see Paul emphasizing this.

Unfortunately, this verse is taken out of context to prove a point. We often describe ourselves as being like God. Since the Godhead consists three persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), and it is thought we are like God, He made us tripartite (three parts – Body, Soul, Spirit). And since God is a Spirit, He made us spirits as well.

But that's the thing. We are not like God. We are made in His image and after His likeness, not His content (spirit) or context (triune). And there's more. He is eternal. We are not. He has all power. We do not. He is infinite. We are finite. I can go on but I hope you get the point.

 

Does the Bible Say We Are Immortal?

The word immortal appears once in scripture. And in this verse, we are not mentioned. It speaks of Jesus.

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:17

Another one also speaks of Jesus and answers the question of who is immortal…

Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. 1 Timothy 6:15-16

This verse cannot be explained away. Only Jesus has immortality. Don't believe it? Then why should we seek immortality?

To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: Romans 2:7

And why do we need to ‘put on' immortality if we are already immortal?

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 1 Corinthians 15:53

No matter what we currently think or believe or who told us otherwise, the scriptures say we must seek for and one day put on immortality! And no, Paul did not mean our flesh must become immortal and be joined to our spirit. If this is true, I welcome anyone reading this post to present biblical evidence as proof.

 

Is Man a Spirit Being?

I believe my post on Body, Soul, and Spirit goes deeply enough into the question of whether we are spirit beings or not. I hope I have proven the bible states we are not immortal. We do die. Not only that, God said the soul that sins dies. Furthermore, if we are spirits that go on existing somewhere after death, Why would Solomon say this?

For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Ecclesiastes 9:5

You cannot be in Heaven or Hell (as it is described), and not know anything! You will not see, feel, or remember anything in death. That's why it is called rest and sleep. Both Old and New Testament confirms this.

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Daniel 12:2 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 1 Thessalonians 4:14

God never intended for us to be spirits like the angels. In fact, we are made a little lower than the angels.

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. Hebrews 2:9

Yes, this verse is about Jesus. But what about Him made lower than the angels? The flesh! We are flesh, blood, and bone. We have the breath of God (spirit, wind) in our lungs. We are a soul! When we are changed or raised incorruptible, we will have a body like Jesus after His resurrection. He was flesh and bone, not spirit! Here is biblical proof…

Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. Luke 24:39 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2

The Truth Makes Us Free!

For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again. Psalms 78:39

Knowing that we are but flesh, we can rest in peace and hope! Think of the loved one who you know died in their sins. Would you rather them be at rest now or in torment? Think of all the people who died in sin since Adam. Are they really in torment from that day until now? Every man that rejects Christ's work on the cross will give account for their sins. And their punishment will be according to those thing done, not as soon as they die!

For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Matthew 16:27

When will man pay for sins? When Jesus returns. How will they pay? According to their works. Think of the fairness and righteousness of God and you tell me. If man hands out punishment for crimes according to the crime, would God do any less? Revelation 20 describes the time and method. Truth can be difficult to take when we have believed something else for so long. But God wants us to know the truth. Why? Our eternal existence depends on it!