In order to understand the gospel and our identity in Christ, we need to look at the story of the creation and the results of the fall of mankind. Genesis 2:7 says: God created Adam from the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and Adam became a living soul.
Scholars of theology have debated whether Adam’s generation consists of two or three existential parts. The group that believes in the three parts of man say that we are made up of three parts: body, soul (including thought, emotions and will) and soul. The group that believes in the two parts of man say that man simply consists of There are two parts, material and immaterial, that is, the external person and the internal person. They actually consider soul and spirit as one.
Suffice it to say that we have an outer self, that is, a physical body that is in contact with the world through the five senses, and an inner self that is created in the image of God (Genesis 26:1, 27). Being created in God’s image is what gives us the capacity to think, feel, and choose fully. When God breathed the breath of life into Adam’s nose, he became alive physically and spiritually.
physically alive
The physical life that we have inherited from Adam is best represented in the New Testament by the word bios. This word describes the union between your physical body and your immaterial self, which is thought, emotion, and will. Being physically alive means that your soul or soul/soul is united with your body. Physically dying means that you are separated from your temporary body.
In the Bible, to die means to separate, and to live means to be united. Paul said that to be absent from the body is to be in the presence of God (2 Corinthians 5:8). It is clear that your identity must be more than your physical body, because after death, the body remains while you are with God.
Although your core identity is more than your physical identity, you cannot exist in this world without a physical body. The immaterial self needs your material self to live and function in this world.
For example, your physical brain is like the hardware of a computer and your immaterial thought is the software (program) of this computer. A computer can’t do anything without software, and a program can’t do anything without a computer. You need your physical brain to control your movements and reactions, and you need your immaterial mind to think and make good judgments. The brain cannot function independently of the program given to it. The best human brain cannot do anything in a mindless corpse. Your mind can be the best programmed, but if your brain is damaged by Alzheimer’s disease, you cannot function well as a person.
I personally have to function in this material body as long as I live in this material world. Therefore, I intend to take care of my body in the best possible way through exercise, proper nutrition, etc. But the fact of the matter is that our body is mortal and deteriorating. I don’t look much like myself twenty years ago, and I don’t have much hope for the next twenty years. In 2 Corinthians 1:5-4, Paul describes the believer’s body as a tent, a temporary place for the soul to dwell. Using this image, I have to admit that my tent pegs are coming off, the poles are wobbly, and the seams are fraying! My only happiness at this age is that there is more in me than a disposable earthly garment (meaning the body) in which I walk.
Spiritually alive – the original creation
We have also inherited the capacity of spiritual life from Adam, Paul said: “Even though our outer man wears out, the inner man is renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 16:4). He was referring to the spiritual life of a believer in such a way that this shell does not age and wear out like the outer shell. To be spiritually alive, as defined in the New Testament by the word zoe, means that your soul or soul/soul is in union with God. This is the same condition in which Adam was created, that is, he was resurrected both physically and spiritually, and was placed in a perfect union with God.
For a Christian person, being spiritually alive means union with God. In the New Testament, this spiritual life is often associated with “being in Christ” or “in Him”. We were created like Adam to live in union with God. But as we will see later in this chapter, Adam sinned and his union with God was in trouble. This is God’s eternal plan to bring the created man back to himself and restore the union he had and enjoyed with Adam at the time of creation. This restored union with God, which we find “in Christ”, is the basis of our identity as children of God.
In the original creation, mankind was given a divine purpose for being in the world. Mankind was given the power to rule over other creatures. “And God said, Let us make man in our image and according to our likeness, so that he may rule over the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky and the animals, and over all the earth and all the insects that crawl on the earth. So God created man in his own image. He created him in the image of God. He created them male and female” (Genesis 26:1-27). One did not need to earn merit. This was a characteristic that was given to him as a result of creation. Satan had to lie down in the presence of God like a snake. He was not the Lord and the head of this world at that time. Satan usurped the authority given to Adam and his descendants after Adam sinned and his relationship with God was severed.
One not only felt worthy, but also enjoyed the sense of safety and security. All his needs were met there, it is recorded in Genesis 29:1-30: “And the Lord said, Behold, every herb that bears seed that is upon the face of the earth, and every tree in which the fruit of the tree bears seed, You gave it to be food for you. And to all the beasts of the earth, and to all the birds of the air, and to all the insects of the earth in which there is life, I gave every green herb for food. In the garden, Adam was well cared for. All his needs were met. He could eat the fruit of the tree of life and live forever. He was safe and secure in God’s presence.
Apparently, Adam enjoyed the intimacy and personal relationship he had with God, but something was missing. And the Lord God said, it is not good for man to be alone. So I will make him a deputy who agrees with him” (Genesis 18:2). Adam and Eve felt a sense of belonging not only to God, but also to each other. When God created Eve, he founded the human society, which had a meaningful, receptive, and cooperative relationship. Adam and Eve were naked and they were not ashamed of it. They had nothing to hide. There was no dirt on their bodies. God created them male and female and told them to be fruitful and multiply. They could have intimate and open sex in the presence of God.
Unfortunately, the great position of the Garden of Eden fell apart. Genesis chapter 3 tells a sad story about Adam and Eve, how they lost their relationship with God because of their sin. The effects of the Fall of Man were staggering, swift, and far-reaching, affecting every member of the human race.
Today in the article : The original creation We reviewed useful information about the Bible and the way of Jesus. If you wish, you can view other articles of Ali Vahidi about Christianity
