RENEWING THE MIND – XXVI (What is Man - 6)

WBS.163

FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

RENEWING THE MIND – XXVI

WHAT IS MAN? - 6

Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of IAUE.

We have died in Messiah.  We have been raised to new life in Messiah.  Messiah is in us and we are in him; and Messiah’s righteousness within us is to transform us into the likeness of IAUE’s character.  How does that happen?  It occurs only as we come to understand, embrace and DO the will of IAUE.

When we are “born again” our spirit, which was once in darkness, is regenerated and filled with the light and life of IAUE; and it is immersed into Messiah, such that Messiah is in us and we are in him.  Being in him makes us a part of the Body of Messiah, which is also referred to in Scripture as THE NEW MAN.  It is insufficient that we be in Messiah.  It is insufficient to know the doctrinal truths of being born again and being in Messiah.   

Ephesians 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after IAUE is created in righteousness and true holiness.

The new man is created in righteousness and true holiness.  We have discussed in recent posts that righteousness is the term the New Testament scriptures use to refer to “the likeness of IAUE” (see Genesis 1:26).  Paul tells us that we area to PUT ON this new man, to adorn it like clothing upon our bodies.  If it remains exclusively within our spirit, it fails to serve the purpose for which we are brought into union with Messiah.

Colossians 3:10  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Also, this new man is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.  If we are astute to pay attention, we will see throughout the Scriptures, and especially in the New Testament, that IAUE created man in His image and after His likeness; and when man forfeited that inheritance, IAUE immediately put into play a strategy to restore those attributes to man.  It is His intention to bring “many sons unto glory” (Hebrews 2:10).  This does not mean bringing them to Heaven.  It means cultivating the development of their image and likeness unto an esteem that is comparable to Himself---like Father, like son, in both appearance and nature.  This has always been His plan.   

Let’s look at this matter of “glory” for a minute.  In Exodus 34, we see the story of Moses returning from the mountain with the stone tablets of the commandments and the skin of his face shone for having been with IAUE.  It terrified the people, so Moses wore a vail.  Later, the Scripture tells us that the vail also concealed from the people the fact that the “shine” did not remain, but faded from Moses’ face. It was not permanent.  What the Old Testament referred to as “the skin of his face shone,” the New Testament refers to as “glory.”  

2 Corinthian 3:9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

Paul refers to the period of time under the Torah as a ministration of condemnation; because the law was given first and foremost to convince the Hebrews of their sinfulness and of the justness of the judgment of IAUE upon their iniquity.  If the holiness of that purpose of the law revealed a glory depicted in the face of Moses, then redemption from the law unto the righteousness of Messiah within us, quite logically, should exceed in glory.  The condemnation of the law was to bring man down to his knees in repentance.  The righteousness of the gospel of Yahushua Messiah is to bring us into the likeness of that which had been forfeited by sin.  “How shall we who are dead to sin live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:2)

Paul continues his use of the illustration of the vail Moses wore.

2 Corinthian 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Messiah.

15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

When Moses wore the vail, the Hebrews could see neither the shine on Moses’ face nor the absence of the shine.  After time, their minds were blinded to the fact there was no more shine.  It is similar to a dog that has been restrained by a fence for a period of time.  Once the fence is removed, in the dog’s mind, the restraint is still there; and he cannot let himself experience the liberty to move past where the fence once was.  The dog is blinded in his mind to the liberty that is his.  Such is the condition of man.  The vail is upon the heart preventing any revelation that would positively impact his soul.  The vail must be removed from his heart.

2 Corinthian 3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to IAUE, the vail shall be taken away.

17 Now IAUE is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of IAUE is, there is liberty.

When the Spirit of IAUE brings man to repentance and faith in Yahushua, the vail is removed.  More specifically, we cease to be blind because birthed within us is light; and the darkness is dispelled.  We can see for the first time in our life.  But what actually do we see?  This is the point that I want to address with today’s post.

2 Corinthians 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Messiah, who is the image of IAUE, should shine unto them.

5 For we preach not ourselves, but Messiah Yahushua the Master; and ourselves your servants for Yahushua’s sake.

6 For Elohim, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of IAUE in the face of Yahushua Messiah.

In Messiah we are no longer in darkness.  IAUE has shined within us, and that light is accessed through the knowledge of IAUE’s esteem/honor/prestige as it can be seen upon the face of Messiah.  He has shined within us for a singular purpose; and that is to bring into fulfillment His created design of man to be “in His image and after His likeness.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of IAUE, are changed into the same image from glory (esteem) to glory (esteem), even as by the Spirit of IAUE.

Let’s consider this matter of “beholding as in a glass.”  A “glass” is a mirror.  When you look into a mirror you are able to “see” the condition of your physical body.  As well as seeing how lovely you are, you can also see every imperfection, every blemish, every hair out of place.  When you look into a mirror, you know exactly what you need to do to correct your physical appearance.  A literal mirror is how the body knows what it looks like and what condition it is in.

The soul of man---the mind, will and emotions, is a mirror unto itself.  Via introspection, we can know instantly how we feel, how we think, what our mood is, what our opinions are, what our convictions are, what our intentions are.  Should someone ask you how you feel, you would know.  If someone asked you about your attitude toward someone or something, you would know.  The soul is its own mirror that can be consulted at any time to evaluate its condition.

What about the spirit in man?  Its condition is not perceived by a physical mirror.  You cannot look into a mirror determine the condition of your spirit by what you see.  Neither through the introspection of the soul can you determine the condition of your spirit. You cannot know what is going on in your spirit by how you feel, how you think, or by any other natural perception of the physical body or of the soul.  In order to comprehend the condition of our spirit we must look into the face of Yahushua Messiah.  We must look into the Word of IAUE to understand what IAUE says what is our condition, what we have become, and what we must do about it.  What IAUE says in the Scriptures we are like, that is what we are like.  The condition of our spirit is whatever the Scriptures say our condition is, despite our “feelings” to the contrary.  Our feelings are of no use or benefit in ascertaining the truth about the nature, character, condition and abilities of our spirit; any more than a mirror is useful in helping us determine what we think about something or how we feel about politics.  Our soul does not reveal the nature of our spirit  any more than a mirror reveals the condition of our soul.

What we know about the spirit, so far, is that what is invested within it is intended to aid our soul in transforming into the likeness of IAUE, to transform into a righteous and holy man.  How is that done?

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

We look into the Scriptures and we see Yahushua.  We see ourselves IN HIM, and we believe that even as he is so also are we in this world, now.  However, it isn’t just believing the Scriptures.  That is only the first step.  We must DO what we see in the mirror of the Word of IAUE.  Without corresponding actions, there is no changing from glory to glory; and THAT is the whole purpose. If we harden our hearts and refuse to allow what IAUE has created within our spirit to shine through our heart to our soul, then Messiah is become of no effect to us.  We are deceiving ourselves if we only believe.  We must DO.  We must obey the will of IAUE; for it is in our obedience to His will that the transformation of our soul occurs.  Ultimately, this is why Paul commands us to renew our minds so that we can comprehend and act upon the will of IAUE.

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Kingdom heart: a heart that offers no resistance to the performance of the will of IAUE.

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RENEWING THE MIND – XXV (What is Man - 5)

WBS.162

FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

RENEWING THE MIND – XXV

WHAT IS MAN? - 5

Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of IAUE.

What is righteousness?  It is a word that is seldom used in any secular context.  Within the Scripture it refers to the flawless moral correctness and perfection of character of IAUE.  In other words, it is what Genesis 1:26 refers to as “the likeness” of IAUE.

Last week we observed that one of the missions of Messiah was to provide for the restoration of man to the image of IAUE.  Specifically, that refers to what is commonly referred to today as the “resurrection body,” for we shall experience the redemption of our bodies as a consequence of the resurrection of the saints.  We saw that such redemption would at least include losing our mortality in exchange for immortality, losing our corruptibleness in exchange for incorruption, and receiving back the garment of the glory of IAUE to conceal our nakedness.  Anything more than this would just be more cause for rejoicing.

Man was created in the image and after the likeness of IAUE (Genesis 1:26).  The image of IAUE refers to His appearance.  Man was created to “look” like IAUE.  IAUE has a head with two eyes, two ears, a nose and a mouth.  He has two arms and two legs, a chest and a belly.  How can we say this with certainty?  It is because we were made to look like Him.  In Adam’s fall in the Garden of Eden, Adam was responsible for causing man to forfeit other attributes of IAUE’s appearance and some of the attributes of his body (immortality, incorruption and glory).  The sacrifice of Yahushua purchased the redemption of our bodies, a restoration to the original design seen in Adam when he was first created.

Today, we turn to the “likeness” of IAUE.  This word “likeness” is from a root word meaning “like.”  The word “like” (along with the word “as”) is a word that introduces what in the English language is called a “simile.”  A simile is an expression that compares one thing with another in order to give the listener/reader an understanding of the nature of the thing being compared.  For example:

Today’s sunset is “like” a Monet painting.

The food at that restaurant is “like” the menu of Heaven.

Bob’s snoring is “like” the trumpet section of an orchestra.

Terri’s cooking always smells “like” a toxic chemical spill.

That dog’s pelt feels “like” a satin sheet.

These illustrations are all comparisons made as perceptions of the five physical senses of man.  Man quite naturally compares the things which his/her body experiences with other things perceived by the five physical senses in order to attempt to communicate to others the nature of his/her experience of things in this world.  The greatest collection of similes in the Scripture is in Revelation 1, where John attempts to describe the resurrection body of Yahushua.  He says:

“one like unto the Son of man”

“His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow”

“his eyes were as a flame of fire”

“his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace”

“his voice as the sound of many waters”

“his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength”

John was attempting to describe something that was entirely outside of the experience of man by using comparisons with things within man’s experience.  Unfortunately, we end up thinking of a man with a lamb on his head, fire for eyeballs, molten brass for feet with rushing water pouring out of his mouth, and everything bathed in glorious light.  Obviously, that is not what John saw; but it is impossible for us to understand what John saw until what he saw is also within our own experience.  A simile only works when the imagery to which something is compared is being used to quantify something that is also within the experience of the one to whom it is spoken.  Imagine if I said to you, “That tarfillig was like cows dancing to Beethoven.”  You could probably imagine cows dancing to classical music; but because you don’t have a clue what “tarfillig” is, you cannot possible understand the simile.  Only when you know what “tarfillig” is will the simile make sense or edify you.

Man was created in the “likeness” of IAUE.  He was created to be “like” IAUE. The “likeness” of IAUE, His nature and character, are made known to us through the 6^th sense gate of man, the heart.  The heart of man functions much like a gasket where the spirit and soul of man are joined together. It is the heart of man that senses and perceives what is within the spirit and brings understanding of it to the soul of man. When man is born into the world, however, being born of the seed of Adam, he is born with a spirit that is not connected to the light and life of IAUE.  The result is NOTHING is communicated from the spirit through the heart to the soul of man. We cannot become like IAUE if we cannot see or experience Him.  Until we can experience His light and life, He is tarfillig to us.  As long as He is outside the realm of our experience we cannot become like Him. Everything man learns and comes to understand, both in knowledge and in character, he learns through his other senses that can only communicate what he can see, taste, hear, smell and feel in the physical world around him; and we are told in the Scripture that:

1 John 5:19b …the whole world lieth in wickedness.

It was the separation of the spirit within man from the life and light of IAUE that severed man from his inherent capacity to become “like” IAUE in His nature and character. Nothing in this world is able to reproduce within man the life and nature of IAUE. However, when man bows his/her knee to the Master Yahushua, and in faith trusts in the provision he made for us at his impaling, we become a new creature in Messiah Yahushua. What is this new creature?  Was it a new body?  No (but Messiah provided for a new body yet to be revealed).  Was it a new soul?  No (but Messiah provided for our soul to be transformed).  Was it our spirit?  Yes.  The spirit within man was revived, reborn, reconnected to the light and life of IAUE.

1 Corinthians 15: 45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

47 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Master from heaven.

48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

Yahushua is a life-giving spirit; but notice the simile in this passage of Scripture.  “As is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.”  The new birth produces within us a life that is “like” the heavenly life.  It is “like” IAUE’s life. Not only is life birthed within us, our newborn spirit is immersed into Messiah.  We are in him, and he is in us (see 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; John 17:20-23).  Finally, within man’s spirit, the life and light of IAUE can be communicated through the heart to the soul of man.  The capacity to mature after the likeness of IAUE is restored in the newbirth.

2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Messiah constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

This verse by the hand of Paul provides a preliminary explanation of the new creature we have become in Messiah (see 2 Corinthian 5:17).  Becoming a new creature in Yahushua Messiah is predicated upon our having first died in Messiah.

 A story is told of the American civil war that a family in Virginia had two sons.  In the early part of the war, the elder son received a draft notice to be conscripted into the Union army. Because the role he played in the support of the family was critical to the continuation of their farm and the family’s livelihood, the younger son reported to the Union army in his brother’s name.  During the course of the war, the younger son died.  Later in the war, the Union army, looking for new eligible young men to serve, appeared at the family’s house to see if they had any sons of age to go to war; and they found the elder son there.  They attempted to conscript him into the service but his father said that he had already served in the Union army and had died.  They checked the service records and sure enough, they saw that this young man had been drafted, served, and died in combat.  Since he had already died, they could not draft him; and he remained with his family.  He could not be forced to serve the military again, as he had already died in his brother who had served in his name.  Was this not just a technicality? Yes; but one with legal force.  The elder son had died in his brother and was buried.  The records were unmistakable. 

There is a logical expectation of this kind of substitutionary death.  The surviving one can no longer expect to continue to live his own life as he might have intended.  He is indebted to live the remainder of his life for the one who had died in his place.

2 Corinthians 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Yahushua Messiah were baptized into his death?

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Messiah was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

6 Knowing this, that our old man is impaled with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Of what benefit is the new birth, the new creation, to man if he chooses not to lay down his life which has been conformed to this world to take up the life that has been created in his spirit?  Do we actually believe that the new birth is an end unto itself?  It is not.  It is a means to an end. 

1 Corinthians 15:34  Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of IAUE: I speak this to your shame.

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true Elohim, and Yahushua Messiah, whom thou hast sent.

In last week’s post, we saw that the “likeness” of IAUE could be defined in one word:  righteousness.  It was righteousness that Adam lost in the garden; and the loss of righteousness is why he then gave birth to a son after his own likeness, and not after the likeness of IAUE.  It is righteousness that Messiah died to restore to man; and it is Messiah’s own righteousness that is communicated to man through the new birth.  Understanding this transfer of righteousness is key to our becoming like IAUE.  Becoming a new creature does us no good if we do not allow the righteousness of IAUE to be communicated through our heart to our soul, and to become conformed to it.  By now, you may have noticed that this is the process that is defined by the verse that heads up our current series of lessons.

Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of IAUE.

We have died in Messiah.  We have been raised to new life in Messiah.  Messiah is in us and we are in him; and his righteousness within us is to transform us into the likeness of IAUE’s character.  How does that happen?  It occurs only as we come to understand, embrace and DO the will of IAUE.

More on this next week.

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Kingdom heart: a heart that offers no resistance to the performance of the will of IAUE.

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RENEWING THE MIND – XXIV (What is Man - 4)

WBS.161

FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

RENEWING THE MIND – XXIV

WHAT IS MAN? - 4

Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of IAUE.

After the fall, Adam was not able to pass to the succeeding generations the image and likeness of IAUE.  It had become corrupted, severed from the source. Having been cut off from the light of IAUE, it would have been impossible for man to continue to mature and grow in the character and nature of IAUE having no access to it to learn from it.  The soul of man had lost its way, and there was no avenue for restoration available.

Let us start, today, by recounting what we have said about man.  First, we realized that the entire universe, the whole “time/space continuum” with its billions of galaxies full of planets, moons, stars, black holes, dark matter, etc., even though we can only see a literally insignificant number of stars, was created for one purpose---to provide a home for man; the crowning glory of the creation of IAUE.

Secondly, we observed that IAUE created man in His image and after His likeness.  The body of man was what He made in His image.  Adam and Eve looked like Him in their physical appearance.  Their soul is what was made after His likeness.  The soul of Adam and Eve had the capacity of maturing into the fullness of the character and integrity of IAUE. This was possible because the animating spirit, the breath of IAUE, that gave life to man’s body, was continuously transmitting the nature of IAUE to man.

Finally, this past week we saw that in the day Adam disobeyed the word of IAUE, he died.  We likened this to the story of the fig tree that Yahushua cursed.  The moment he spoke to the fig tree, death took hold of its roots; but it took at least 24 hours for that death to manifest in the “body” of the fig tree.  When Adam disobeyed IAUE, his animating spirit was cut off from the light and life of IAUE.  The spirit did not die as we understand death.  It was not “terminated”; but it was no longer capable of transmitting the nature and light of IAUE to man.

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true Elohim, and Yahushua Messiah, whom thou hast sent.

True life is knowing IAUE.  When the spirit of man was cut off from the light of IAUE, it became full of darkness.  Man’s spirit was not full of evil.  It just was void of light; consequently, the soul of man was disconnected from IAUE.  What does this mean in terms of man’s created purpose?  It means man lost the capacity to mature “after the likeness” of IAUE.

So, in the fall, man lost both the image of IAUE as well as the capacity to become after the likeness of IAUE.  Few believers ever grasp that THIS is the central story of human history; and THIS is the focus of all of the works of IAUE and the very purpose of Messiah coming into the world.  Yahushua did not come to “take us to Heaven.”  He did not come just “to forgive us of our sins.”  Yahushua came to “redeem” man unto his created purpose, to restore man to the image and likeness of IAUE. All of creation was fashioned to serve such a man.  Creation is wholly useless to man that is not in the image and after the likeness of IAUE.

If we take this to heart, if we comprehend that it is the designed purpose of IAUE to have a people who are in His image and possessors of His very nature and character, it will quite literally transform your understanding of the gospel; as well as transform your understanding of how you should be living from day to day.

Now, let’s look at what Yahushua Messiah provided for us.  To do this, we have to backtrack a bit. 

When Genesis 1:26 announced IAUE’s intention to make man; the word “man” in Hebrew, was “adam.”  In fact, throughout the first three chapters of Genesis, this is the word used every time the male that IAUE created was identified. “Adam” became his name by default; it was not a given name.  The word “adam” (as with all Hebrew nouns) has a three-letter root word, “dam.” This word means “blood.” In essence, IAUE identified man as “of the blood.”  Scripture later reveals for us:

Leviticus 17:11 For the life (nephesh) of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls (nephesh): for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul (nephesh).

This word “nephesh” refers to the soul.  The soul of the body is in the blood.  This is why blood sacrifices were used in the atonement sacrifices in the Levitical priesthood; and why the blood of a perfect man was ultimately required to be offered up on behalf of fallen man.  When Adam disobeyed the commandment of IAUE, the spirit within man was cut off from the life and light of IAUE, and the righteousness of man’s soul was forfeited.  It was this forfeiture of righteousness from the soul of man that ultimately led to his physical death; because man’s soul no longer had the life and light of IAUE running through it.  This is why when Adam and Eve gave birth to their children; and their children had children, on down the line for every single generation, the blood was void of righteousness; for Adam could not pass to his descendants a connection to the life and light of IAUE.

What actually is righteousness?  It is a word that is seldom used in any secular context.  Within the Scripture it refers to the flawless moral correctness and perfection of character of IAUE.  In other words, it is what Genesis 1:26 refers to as “the likeness” of IAUE.

When Messiah was born of a virgin, his blood was not of the contaminated lineage of Adam.  The spirit breathed within Yahushua was connected to IAUE.  Yahushua’s soul was in constant communion with his Father; and as he grew up, the Scripture tell us:

Luke 2:52 And Yahushua increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with Elohim and man.

He grew up “after the likeness” of his Father.  This is why, towards the end of his ministry, he was able to answer Phillip’s request to “show us the Father,” by saying “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” (John 14:8-9) 

Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Yahushua had attained unto IAUE’s purpose for man; and having attained it, he offered it as payment in full for the redemption of man.  See what the writer records for us in this verse?  Yahushua gave his soul, his morally correct and perfect character, by shedding his blood (the soul is in the blood) in order to bring many sons unto glory.  That does not mean he did it to take them to heaven.  It means he did it to restore the image and likeness of IAUE to man.

Here we see the Scriptures discussing the restoration of man’s body to the image of IAUE.

2 Corinthians 5:5 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of IAUE, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is IAUE, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Notice that the apostle Paul speaks of the restoration of our bodies to the image of IAUE.  He says we must “put on” or “be clothed upon” with that which will restore our bodies once again to “bear the image of the heavenly.” This clearly speaks to what was forfeited in the fall of man, and why Adam was not able to bear children in the image of IAUE. Man had become corruptible, mortal, lacking the glory of IAUE. Yahushua came to restore many sons unto “glory.”  It seems quite likely that it is incorruption, immortality and glory that was forfeited and needs to be restored. 

When the glory departed from man he knew he was naked.  Notice Paul’s words above:

2 Corinthians 5:3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

The glory of the resurrection body will conceal man’s nakedness.  This body, this restoration to the image of IAUE, is a promise in Messiah.  This concept is one of the primary reasons the early church was so charged with spreading the gospel; and why they loved not their lives even unto death.  The promise of being restored to the image of IAUE was very real to them.  Think about it.  How does that idea impact you?

Next week we will observe how the “likeness” of IAUE is restored to man.

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Kingdom heart: a heart that offers no resistance to the performance of the will of IAUE.

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RENEWING THE MIND – XXIII (What is Man? - 3)

WBS.160

FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

RENEWING THE MIND – XXIII

WHAT IS MAN? - 3

Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of IAUE.

Man is NOT a spirit.  Man is an image (body) with a likeness (soul) that is sustained by a spirit that is given by IAUE.  

After creating His man, IAUE gave specific instructions regarding his use of the garden of Eden. 

Genesis 2:15 And IAUE Elohim took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

16 And IAUE Elohim commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

17  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.

After giving Adam His duty (dress the garden and keep it), his privilege (you may eat freely of every tree) and his limitation (you may not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil), IAUE brought a deep sleep upon Adam, removed a rib from his side and fashioned from it his mate. It is both interesting and important to note that the one thing IAUE said about his man and woman after they were created was:

Genesis 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Then in Genesis 3, we are told that the serpent beguiled the woman; and she ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; then she gave to Adam who was beside her, and he ate as well.  The next thing we are told about them was:

Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

They had become “self-aware.” For the first time in their lives, they became aware of their appearance in a way that mattered to them. Why is this?  How did this happen?  Until this moment, they had only cared about their fellowship with IAUE and mutually enjoying the garden He had entrusted to them; but now they were concerned about “their” image; not the image of IAUE.

IAUE had said that in the day Adam ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he would surely die.  Adam lived more than 800 years beyond that day, dying at the age of 930; so what died that day?  Most theologians would tell you that his spirit died; but a spirit cannot die in the sense of being terminated.  The Scripture says that when a man dies, whether he is a believer or an unbeliever, the spirit returns to IAUE who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7). 

“Spiritual death” is often defined as “separation from IAUE.”  Let’s examine this concept from the perspective of an event that occurred in the ministry of Yahushua (Mark 11:12-21).  Yahushua approached a fig tree with leaves hoping to find some fig to eat; but there were no figs, so he spoke to the fig tree and said no man would ever eat figs from it again.  The following day, Peter observed the same fig tree having withered because it had died from the roots.  The roots, immediately upon the words of Yahushua, had ceased taking in nourishment and water from the soil.  The part of the fig tree that was responsible for receiving and transmitting what the tree needed both to sustain life and to grow and bear fruit was no longer capable of performing that function; and, in time, the body of the tree withered and died.  In like manner, when Adam ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the spirit within him was cut off from the provision of the life and light of IAUE.  In a very real sense, the light was turned off because the spirit no longer had access to the light of IAUE.  The “nature” of Adam, his life force, had been light, providing access to and fellowship with IAUE; but now, he was cut off from the source; and all that remained within his spirit was darkness.

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true Elohim, and Yahushua Messiah, whom thou hast sent.

The fig tree took 24 hours to die physically once it was severed from the source of its nourishment.  Adam’s body took over 800 years to die after being cut off from its source. The different between the two was Adam’s soul had only known life all of the years prior to his act of disobedience.  His mind was trained by IAUE to think like IAUE.  “Life” was still the manner in which he thought.  It took centuries of darkness within Adam for the idea of “death” to find root enough in him to force the aging and withering of his body.  Even though cut off from the light of IAUE, there was enough in the memories of Adam of the ways of IAUE, and enough desire to continue to walk in His ways, that physical death was abated for a very long time.

Solomon tells us that “There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25); but Solomon wrote that 3,000 years after the fall of Adam in the garden.  It took generations after Adam’s fall for man to forfeit completely the thoughts of IAUE in favor of the ways of the world, the ways of death; and the lifespans of man began to rapidly diminish as death worked in him to kill his body. 

Let’s consider in more detail this proverb of Solomon; because it unfolds an important truth in our current study.  There is a way that “seems right to a man.”  To what faculty of man does this refer?  Does the spirit contemplate ideas that are ways of death?  No.  The spirit is simply the breath of IAUE that animates man.  That breath is not characterized by having ideas, preferences or the ability to make choices or to evaluate options. Does the body of man contemplate ideas that are ways of death?  No. The body of man does not have ideas, preferences, or the ability to make choices or to evaluate options.  The body simply has needs which the soul of man recognizes and decides how to meet. It is the soul of man (his mind, will and emotions) that thinks, evaluates and makes choices. 

Death seized the reins of man’s soul.  How did this happen?  It happened as a consequence of the “nutrients and water” of IAUE no longer being able to be absorbed by the spirit within man.  If we compare this to our illustration of the fig tree, it really is the soul of man that was the object of death in the garden of Eden.  We have always focused on the spirit as that which died; but the spirit within man was not the only thing that was separated from IAUE in that very instant of disobedience. Man’s soul was instantly separated from IAUE; and that is why we see the very first comment regarding man after the fall was an expression of the fallen soul of man.  He knew he was naked; and he was ashamed.  This self-awareness was the first manifestation of the death of man.

Genesis 2:7  And IAUE Elohim formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

The roots of the fig tree were cut off from the source of life.  The roots, like the spirit in man, were simply the avenue through which life flowed into the fig tree.  The flow of life being stopped resulted in the death of the tree.  It just took man much longer than the fig tree to die.  Without the flow of life from the spirit to man’s soul, the soul was lost, having no immediate or ongoing direction. It was alienated from IAUE.  The longer man was separated from IAUE, the more corrupt his thinking became, as the memories of IAUE and the stories of IAUE became more and more like myths or fairy tales to a humanity that had no personal input of the reality of such things.

Remember, when IAUE created man, He made man “in His image” and “after His likeness.”  We have already discussed the difference in these terms.  His image is IAUE’s appearance…what He looks like.  His “likeness” is his nature, His character.  Man was made to look like IAUE and to become like Him in His nature.  After the fall we see a different thing happening with regards to this nature in man’s creation.

Genesis 5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that Elohim created man, in the likeness of Elohim made he him;

2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth:

After the fall, Adam was not able to pass to the succeeding generation the image and likeness of IAUE.  It had become corrupted, severed from the source.  He passed down his own image and likeness.  In the fall, Adam lost some aspect of the physical appearance of IAUE.  Most scholars speculate it was a cloud of glory that covered his body…hence impeding his awareness of his own nakedness.  The light of IAUE clothed their bodies. (There is no way of expressing with any certainty what was forfeited; but this is a reasonable speculation.) What can be declared with certainty is the reason for the forfeiture of the likeness of IAUE.  Having been cut off from the light of IAUE, it would have been impossible for man to continue to mature and grow in the character and nature of IAUE having no access to it to learn from it.  The soul of man had lost its way, and there was no avenue for restoration available.

Next week we will discuss the impact of redemption upon the spirit, soul and body of man.

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Kingdom heart: a heart that offers no resistance to the performance of the will of IAUE.

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RENEWING THE MIND – XXII (What is Man - 2)

WBS.159

FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

RENEWING THE MIND – XXII

WHAT IS MAN? - 2

Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of IAUE.

What is man that IAUE is mindful of him?  The answer is: Man is the darling of the heart of IAUE.  Nothing would exist apart from IAUE were it not for His purpose in creating man to be the object of His love.  Once we grasp this truth, how could we not aspire to obey His every word? 

Now that we understand that “man” is the pinnacle of all the creative works of IAUE; and in man rests the fullness of IAUE’s creative purpose, we need never again to wonder if IAUE is for us or against us.  We need never concern ourselves with how long He will endure with us in His efforts to bring us to repentance and to restore us to Himself.  His mercy toward us is from generation to generation, and His compassion toward us is renewed every single morning.  He desires all men to be “saved” and to come to the knowledge of this truth.  IAUE is not our enemy.  We do not need to fight him, barter with Him, negotiate with Him, or weigh our deeds upon a scale before we approach Him with expectance that He will hear us and answer us.  IAUE created us to dote upon us like a loving Father whose love is endless and whose power to protect us and to meet our needs is limitless.

Now, let’s take a look at what IAUE created.  What IS man?

Genesis 2:7 And IAUE Elohim formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Here we see how IAUE’s man came into existence: Man was “formed” (yatsar – to fashion as a potter fashions a shape out of clay) out of the “dust” (aphar – the dry earth) of the “earth” (adamah – the earth/land).  The first thing IAUE did was to use the raw materials of the earth that He had created to shape a body for man, fashioning it like a potter molds a vessel into the shape of his choosing?  What was the shape chosen by IAUE?

Genesis 1:26  And Elohim said, Let us make man in our image…

From this we understand that the body of man has been shaped and proportioned to look like IAUE.  It might even be safe to assume that Adam looked like IAUE’s twin.  Man’s body was made of the earth over which IAUE was to give him complete dominion (see Genesis 1:26-30).  This also lets us know that man was intended to be an earthbound creature.  His destiny was never to be “with IAUE in Heaven,” but rather to walk and talk and have fellowship with Him upon the earth. Man’s physical essence was of the land over which he was to exercise dominion.

So, we see that the body of man is an integral part of what “man” is for two specific reasons.  One, his body was made in the image of IAUE; and two, his body was made of the earth over which he was placed in charge.

What came next?  IAUE breathed into the nostrils of man’s body “the breath of life.” This clearly relates to a spirit being breathed into man.  We know from James’ epistle (James 2:26) that the body without the spirit is dead; so we may conclude that the body WITH the spirit is alive.  Here we see after breathing spirit into the lifeless body that had been shaped into IAUE’s image, that “man became a living soul.”  It is the soul of man that is his true identify.  The soul of man (which comprises the mind, the will and the emotions) is what forms the personality of man.  It stores the knowledge and memory of man and forms the basis for the choices man makes.  It forms his temperament, his attitudes, his sense of humor (or lack thereof), etc.  The body of man is merely a vehicle through which the soul expresses its identity.  The body does whatever the soul instructs it to do.  The body has no personality of itself, no will, no ability to make choices.  It is what links man to the physical world so the soul is able to exercise dominion over it. The body of man is what is made in the image of IAUE; but it is the soul of man that is made after His likeness.

Genesis 1:26  And Elohim said, Let us make man…after our likeness…”

This means that the soul of man has built within it the capacity for maturing into the same character, integrity, morality, compassion, etc., of IAUE; so that we are reproducing His nature within us.  It is in this same way that fathers in the earth, today, raise up their children to be like them.  They want to reproduce their character and wisdom and principles and morality within their offspring.

Notice that the Scripture says IAUE formed “man” out of the dust of the earth; and that “man” became a living soul; but it does NOT say that the spirit that was breathed into him was “man” or “man’s spirit.”  It is imperative that we understand that the Scripture did NOT say that IAUE breathed into his nostrils “the spirit of man.”  Why is this important?  It is because for the last 40 years or more there has been a prevalent, although false, teaching that “Man is a spirit. He has a soul; and he lives in a body.”  Man is NOT a spirit.  Man is an image with a likeness that is sustained by a spirit that is given by IAUE.  

The spirit within man is both the power source of the body (as long as the spirit remains within the body, it animates the flesh and allows the soul of man to express its will in the earth), and it is man’s link to and connection with the spiritual world; thus, it is also man’s link to IAUE.   

We see, then, that IAUE created man to be a soul operating within a physical body in order to look like IAUE and to behave like IAUE, and to exercise dominion over his domain; much in the same way that IAUE is a spirit (John 4:24); and He exercises dominion over His domain. 

Solomon’s search for whatever is profitable under the sun came to an interesting conclusion.  As he paints a picture of an elderly man coming to the end of his days and nearing death, he says:

Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto Elohim who gave it.

The body will decay back into its earthly elements (the dust of the earth); and the spirit that had animated the body will return to Elohim who gave it.  Here, the body and the spirit are more plainly seen as man’s points of contact with the physical world and the spiritual world.  Neither the body nor the spirit is seen as man’s true identify; but what of the soul? Of the soul, Solomon said this:

Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear Elohim, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

We have just scratched the surface of this subject.  In the next couple of posts, we will examine the impacts of both the fall of man and the redemption of man.

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Kingdom heart: a heart that offers no resistance to the performance of the will of IAUE.

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