Question
I have a question regarding the spirit of men, Is the function of ‘the spirit of men’ outside the body at death and its role? Is it separated from the soul, enjoined after the judgement?
Response
My understanding is that the spirit of man that is part of a man’s immaterial makeup along with the soul. It is one of the two components that comprise the immaterial part of our being. Hence my understanding is that we are soul and spirit in the immaterial part of our being, and body in the material part of our being. And though our immaterial being has these two distinct components (soul and spirit), and they have distinct functions and can even be clearly “divided asunder” in function by the effectual working of the word of God within, as per Hebrews 4:12; my understanding is that our soul and spirit never ‘come apart,’ so to speak, so that they would be two separately existing entities at any time; not now, nor upon death. My understanding is that the only separation to our being that occurs upon physical death is the separation of the immaterial part of our being (soul and spirit) from the material part of our being (the body). And that upon physical death the soul and spirit of man having separated from the body, departs and goes to one of two designated places depending upon whether the person is justified in God’s sight or not.
If justified, the person (soul and spirit) is absent from the body, present with the Lord. If not justified, the person (soul and spirit) is absent from the body, and in hell in the heart of the earth. And in either case, my understanding is that the “spirit” part of the person’s immaterial makeup still functions as the spirit component of a man’s person always functioned. The spirit component of a man’s immaterial makeup is what involves man’s thinking mind, intelligence, realization, processing of information, memory, and the like. And it still has that role and function upon physical death.
When you are dealing with the spirit of man, don’t confuse the spirit that is the component of man’s immaterial makeup along with the soul, with the fact that the word “spirit” is sometimes used to refer to the spiritual issue of the power of life itself that God is the source of and the giver of. This is spoken of as returning to God who gave it when physical death occurs, and not being an issue again until the resurrection. But again, that ‘spirit’ is not a reference to the spirit component of man’s immaterial makeup.
Keith Blades
Enjoy The Bible Ministries
20011114 B58 IM