What were we first made like???

[Jacqueline]

We were first created in the image of God right? Jesus said that God is a spirit which means that we were first created as a spirit right? Then God made our bodies from the ground and then He breathed into our nostrils the breathe of living life and we became an living-soul. Is that right??? Someone please explain this to me.

God Bless You

Jacqueline

[Leonard]

It sounds like you've got it right; what did you you need explained?

[Dad Ernie]

We were first created in the image of God right?  Jesus said that God is a spirit which means that we were first created as a spirit right?  Then God made our bodies from the ground and then He breathed into our nostrils the breathe of living life and we became an living-soul.  Is that right???  Someone please explain this to me.

First:

1 Cor 15:44-47 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 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 Lord from heaven.

Adam was composed of the dust of the earth and was given life (the soul) as God breathed into him. The "spirit of man" is developed IN that person. It is not created separately and then given to man. Man's "spirit" can develop evily or holy.

Okay, let's put these together. I have written on this before, but perhaps you missed it:

1 Thessalonians 5:23 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.

Man is a "tripartite" (3 parts) creature. God is "tripartite" in nature and is composed of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. So in this regards it might be said we are also created in His image, but the text of creation really doesn't say that.

Read this carefully:

Genesis 1:26-27 And 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. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Even as God has "dominion" over all His hands have created, so He gave Adam "dominion" over all that is of the earth.

So in this manner Adam was created in the "likeness of God" - "in His image".

Now in the "incarnation" what happened? God became man, made "a little lower than the angels". Jesus was made in "man's likeness, in his image". Jesus willingly gave up His omni-qualities to become completely man. He gave up POWER AND DOMINION. Where you see Him expressing miraculous powers it was because from birth He was "filled with the Holy Spirit". In this He gave us a perfect example, because we too, if we are "filled with the Holy Spirit" regain the POWER AND DOMINION which Adam relinquished in the Garden to the Serpent.

Okay, I pointed out that we are "tripartite" creatures. The body (dust) has certain "physical requirements", it is the "soul's" business to supply the needs for that body. This is what it is concerned with. It is totally selfish and self determined to fill the needs of the body. Now the "spirit" of man is what reaches out from SELF to others and to God. As we "mature" in mind and "spirit", it is our "spirit" that either subordinates itself to the whims of the flesh, OR reaches outside the body/soul to others or to God. It is the "spirit" that must learn to control the flesh (body/soul). If guided by the Holy Spirit, our "spirit" is enfused with the Power of God to bring the body into subjection to itself.

Now a person CAN subordinate his/her spirit to an evil spirit, and thus the vehicle of the body/soul becomes evil and bent towards perdition.

So now I want you to consider this:

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Have you reached the maturity yet to see the difference between "soul and spirit"?

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[Jacqueline]

I guess I'm a babe. I'll go study the scripture. One question when was our spirit given to us? If our spirit is to develop as we grew in Christ as I do believe when were we given this wonderful gift?

God Bless You

Jacqueline

[Dad Ernie]

I guess I'm a babe.  I'll go study the scripture.  One question when was our spirit given to us?  If our spirit is to develop as we grew in Christ as I do believe when were we given this wonderful gift? .

Greetings Jacqueline,

Out "spirit" is not given to us, it is born with us. It is the soul (breath of life) that is given us. It is God's Holy Spirit that is given us when we become born again.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[Guest Madaline Rose]

[quote=Dad Ernie,Dec 21 2004

Read this carefully:

Genesis 1:26-27 And God said, Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness:

Before I ask my question I would like to write the same quote from my Bible, Book of Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let US make a man---someone like OURSELVES, Also; Genesis 3:22 Then the Lord said, "Now that the man has become as WE are, knowing good from evil,

I think you get my point here. No matter what edition or denomination of Bible you read from, it is always the same. It is as though there was someone else with God during the creation of man. Any theories as to who this may be? Who are the "our", "us", "ourselves", and "we" that are referred to in Genesis?

In God's Light,

Miryai Madaline

Edited December 24, 2004 by Madaline Rose

[Leonard]

I have no 'theory' about that, just the plain sense of the Scripture, and 2,000 years of teaching on the Scriptures by the greatest Christian minds in history. Whether Eastern or Western Christians, the Church has always interpreted this as a very early presaging of the doctrine of the Trinitarian Nature of God.

[Dad Ernie]

Read this carefully:

Genesis 1:26-27 And God said, Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR  likeness:

Before I ask my question I would like to write the same quote from my Bible, Book of Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let US make a man---someone like OURSELVES,    Also;  Genesis 3:22 Then the Lord said, "Now that the man has become as WE are, knowing good from evil,   

    I think you get my point here.  No matter what edition or denomination of Bible you read from, it is always the same.  It is as though there was someone else with God during the creation of man.  Any theories as to who this may be?  Who are the "our", "us", "ourselves", and "we" that are referred to in Genesis?

Greetings Madaline,

It is commonly accepted among the vast majority of Theologians that the US and OUR and WE that God speaks of is the Trinity - Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. We know from the NT that Jesus was WITH the Father prior to the incarnation, even from before the foundation of the world. The Holy Spirit could not come till AFTER Jesus returned to the Father, probably because in Him (Jesus) dwelt the Godhead fully and until Jesus was once again encompassed fully in the Glory of the Father, the Holy Spirit could not be released at Pentecost and later. A bit of conjecture here, but I think we can derive that from the scriptures.

Hope that helps.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie