The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - Are There Wicked Spirits?

JESUS CHRIST, who came to earth from the spirit realm, acknowledged the existence of wicked spirits. You may recall that he often spoke of the Devil, and he called him "the father of the lie" and a "manslayer." (John 8:44) For our own protection in this time when lying and murder are on the increase, we do well to examine this subject. 

Many persons, of course, do not believe that there are wicked spirit creatures. Even some who claim to use the Bible that Satan the Devil is only a quality of evil, not and invisible spirit person. But do the facts agree with their belief? What about Jesus Christ own experience with the Devil tempted him? The Bible tells us that the Devil  showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and said to him: "All these things I will give you if you fall down and do an act of worship to me."  "Go away, Satan! For it is written, it is Jehovah your God you must worship.' " Then the Devil left Jesus. - MATTHEW 4:1-11.

During that experience, by whom was Jesus Christ tempted? By a real person or by a mere quality of evil? If he was tempted by a mere quality of evil, in whom did the quality dwell? Was this evil in Jesus Christ? If so, then it could not be true that in him there was no sin. Yet the Bible, God's Word of truth makes it very clear that Jesus was "guileless," undefiled, separated from the sinners." (Hebrews 7:26) The Bible also says: "He committed no sin, nor was deception found in his mouth." (1 Peter 2:22) So Jesus could not have been carrying on a conversation with "evil" in his own self. He was talking to a living spiritual creature. Thus the Scriptures and sound reasoning make clear that Satan is real live person in the invisible realm. - 1 PETER 5:8.

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - RULER OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

 During his earthly ministry Jesus constantly directed attention to the kingdom of God. He taught his followers to pray: "Let your kingdom come. Let your will be done, in heaven as well as on earth." And he urged them to "keep, on, then seeking first the kingdom" (Matthew 6:10, 33) Many of his parables drew attention to the Kingdom. He made it the theme of his preaching. (Matthew 9:35) By his miracles of healing and raising the dead, he showed on small scale what will take place on earth under the kingdom of God. At that time sickness will come to an end, blind eyes will opened, deaf ears unstopped, and crippled arms and legs will be healed. What a blessing that will be! - REVELATION 21:3, 4.

Jesus himself is the one anointed by God as ruler of the Kingdom. However, when Jesus returned to heaven it was not the due time for to exercise that kingly power. He must await his Father's appointed time. (Acts 2:34-36) Yet, he pointed forward to the time when he would return with Kingdom power, saying: "When the Son of man arrives in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another, just as a shepherd separate the sheep from the goats." (Matthew 25:31, 32) We are living in that time of separating now. Soon Christ on his heavenly throne will use his kingly authority to destroy the wicked and deliver sheeplike ones who will inherit the earthly realm of the Kingdom. - MATTHEW 23:34, 41. 46.

By means of Jesus Christ blessings are available to all mankind, but we must exercise faith in him in other to receive them. (John 3:36) We must become his disciples and submit ourselves to him as our heavenly king. Will you do that? (We are talking about the true God, not a traditional God with holidays etc. That is not the true God) There are opposers who want to hinder you, but if you put your full trust in Jehovah you will without fail receive the blessings that God has in store for those who love him. - (PSALM 62:7, 8 [61:8 9, Dy]. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - RELIEF FROM PAIN AND SIN - Conclusion

 Jehovah God did not leave his Son dead in the grave, but raised him to life on the third day. He was given a human life again, because that would have meant that he was taking back the ransom price. But he "made alive in the spirit." (1 Peter 3:18) During a period of forty days after his resurrection he appeared visibly to his disciples a number of times, in materialized bodies, to prove that he really had been raised from the dead. Then, with the disciples looking on, he ascended heavenward and was caught out of sight in a cloud. He returned to heaven, there "to appear before the person of God for us, bearing the value of his ransom sacrifice as the great high priest. (Hebrews 9:12, 24) The requirements of divine justice had been met; relief was now available for mankind. 

Even now we may benefit greatly from the ransom. By exercising faith in it we can enjoy a clean standing before God and some under his loving care. (Revelation 7:9, 10, 13-15) When due to imperfection, we commit a sin, we can freely seek forgiveness from God on the basis of the ransom and confidence that he will hear us. (1 John 2:1, 2) Furthermore, the ransom has opened up the way for preservation through the end of this wicked system of things. It makes possible the resurrection of the dead. And it provides the basis for gaining eternal life in God's new system of things, where it will be applied to every mankind in order to wipe away all the effects of inherited sin. - 1 CORINTHIANS 15:25, 26; REVELATION 7:17.

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The Truth That Leads to Everlasting Life - RELIEF FROM SIN AND DEATH - Continue

 On Nisan 14 of the year 33 C.E. Jesus' enemies put him to death on a torture steak. He could have resisted, but he did not. (Matthew 26:53, 54) He willingly laid down his life in sacrifice for us. As his apostle Peter tells us: "He himself bore our sins in his own body upon the stake, in order that we might be done with sins and live in righteousness. And by his stripes you were healed.' " - 1 PETER2:24; see also HEBREWS 2:9.

That was indeed a marvelous expression of God's love for mankind! The Bible helps us to appreciate it, saying: "God Loved the world so much that he gave his only- begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) If you are a parent who has a dearly loved son, no doubt you can appreciate, at least to some extent, what that meant to God, it surely could warm our hearts toward him to realize that he cares for us so much. - 1 JOHN 4:9-11. 

Next time: The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - RELIEF FROM SIN AND DEATH - Conclusion 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - RELIEF FROM SIN AND DEATH - Continue

 God did not weaken and compromise as to his own laws. This would have merely encouraged further lawlessness by a bad example. Yet he did not turn his back on mankind and leave them without hope. While sticking to his laws, God lovingly provided relief, not for the willful sinner Adam, but for his offspring, who without any choice in the matter, suffered the effects of his wrong. God did this in harmony with a legal principle that he later included in the Mosaic Law, namely, "soul will be for soul." (Deuteronomy 19:21) Let see how that principle applied in the ransom provided through Jesus. 

The "living soul" Adam, who forfeited life for what he lost, another human soul, equal to Adam, was needed, one who could offer his own perfect life as a sacrifice on behalf of mankind. (1 Corinthians 15:45) No offspring of Adam's was qualified for this, because all were born imperfect. As a result they all die because they are sinners, and they have no right to human life that they can sacrifice on behalf of others. (Psalm 49:7 [48:8. Dy]) So God sent his own son to earth. Jesus was born as a human, because it was a human life that was required. But he was born without the aid of a human father, so he would be perfect as Adam was. God alone was the Father of the human Jesus, ashe had also been Adam's Father. (Luke 3:38) Thus Jesus was fully qualified to offer his life as a "corresponding" ransom." - 1 TIMOTHY 2:6; Ephesians 1:7. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - RELIEF FROM SIN AND DEATH

 Jesus knew that his coming to earth as a man was a direct part of Jehovah's arrangement for releasing mankind from sin and death. So he said: "The Son of man came . . . to give his soul a ransom in exchange for many." (Matthew 20:28) Exactly what does that mean? Well, a ransom is the price paid to obtain deliverance from captivity. In this case, Jesus' perfect human life offered in sacrifice was the price paid for to obtain mankind's release from bondage and from sin and death. (1 Peter 1:18, 19) Why was such a release needed? 

This was because Adam, the forefather of us all, had sinned against God. Thus, Adam became imperfect  and lost the right to life. As a willful violator of God's law, he came under its penalty of death. God has also established laws of heredity, which assure that we all receive physical characteristics and other traits from our parents. According these laws, Adam could have passed on tohis offspring only what he himself had; so we received from him an inheritance of sin and death.  (Romans 5:12) All mankind therefore has been dying in payment of the penalty of sin. How could this death penalty be lifted and the requirements of justice still be met? 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - HIS LIFE ON EARTH

 However, something else happened to Jesus at the Jordan. The heavens opened up, God's spirit came upon him, and God himself spoke from heaven, saying: "This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved." (Matthew 3:16, 17) There was no mistake about it; this was the one whom all God's prophets had foretold! There at the Jordan by means of holy spirit, Jesus was anointed by God to the foretold great high priest, and the king of God's kingdom, and to preach while here on earth. (Luke 4:16-21) There was work for him to do. 

For and a half years he preached God's Word throughout the land and he taught his disciples to do the same. (Luke 8:1) Though others in those days superstitiously avoided using the personal name of God, Jesus did not hold back from making it known. (John 17:26) He always spoke the truth, whether it was popular or not. In what he did he provided an example that we should follow if we want to please God. But also accomplished more than that. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - HIS LIFE ON EARTH

 In harmony with God's purpose for blessing men of faith, the due time arrived for this heavenly Son to become a man on earth. This required a miracle of God. Jehovah by his holy spirit or active force, transferred the life of Jesus from heaven to the womb of a Jewish girl named Mary. Announcing this to Mary in advance, the angel Gabriel said: "Holy spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. For that reason also what is born will be called holy, God's Son." (Luke 1:35) It was well within the power of the Creator to do this.  Certainly the One who formed the first woman with ability to produce children could cause a woman to conceive a child without a human father, God himself being directly responsible for the life of the child. This child, Jesus, was not God, but God's Soj. He was a perfect human, free from the sin of Adam. How was that possible? Because as the angel said, the "power of the Most High" was responsible; it even guided his growth while in the womb of Mary. 

As foretold centuries before, Jesus was born in King David's city, Bethlehem of Judea. (Micah 5:2) He lived with his mother and his foster-father Joseph, working a the trade of carpentry until he was about thirty years of age, Then God's time came for him to do other work. So he went to John the Baptist to be baptized or dipped completely under the waters of the Jordan River. This showed that he was presenting himself to God to carry out the work that God had sent him to earth to do. By submitting to baptism Jesus set an example for all who exercise faith in him, and later, he commanded that all who became his disciples should be baptized. - MATTHEW 28:19, 20. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - PREHUMAN EXISTENCE

 Did you know that Jesus had a glorious existence long before he was born as human here on earth? The Bible informs us that he is God's "first-born" Son. This means that he was created before the other sons of God's family. He is also God's "only-begotten" Son in that he is the only one directly created by Jehovah God; all other things came into existence through him as God's Chief Agent. Thus, before being born on earth as a male child, he served in the heavens, where he was known as "the Word," God's spokesman. - JOHN 1:3, 10, 14; Colossians 1:15-17. 

Jesus could therefore properly say: "Before Abraham came into existence, I have been," and, I am the living bread that came down from heaven." (John 8:58; 6:51) Referring to the high position he had held in heaven, he prayed: "Father, glorify me alongside yourself with the glory that I had alongside you before the world was." - JOHN 17:5. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - Jesus Christ, the One Through Whom God Blesses Mankind

 How loving the provision that Jehovah has made through his Son for blessing persons of all races and nations! He has promised deliverance from oppression, sin and death. What a glorious prospect! It is vital for us to appreciate, however, that these blessing will come to mankind only through Jesus Christ. For this reason God inspired the apostle Peter to say of Jesus: "There is no salvation in anyone else, for there is not another name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved." (Acts 4:12) By gaining knowledge of this provision and by exercising faith in God's purpose in connection with Christ, you may put yourself in line for the grand blessings of eternal life. 

For thousands of years men of faith have awaited the fulfillment of this hope, and the promises that God gave them good reason doing so. To the Hebrew family head Abraham, Jehovah made the promise that "all nations of the earth" would be blessed through his "seed." That "seed" proved to be primarily Jesus Christ. (Genesis 22:18; Galatians 3:14-16, 28, 29) God also provided for a priesthood and sacrifices under the law given to Israel. These two pointed forward to Jesus. They directed attention to him as the great High Priest and to the sacrifice of his own human life as the means to take away sins forever and bring deliverance from death. (Galatians 3:24; Hebrews 9:11, 12; John 1:29) Furthermore, Jehovah foretold that the one whom eternal peace would come to humankind would be of King David's family line and would become the king God's Kingdom, ruler over the entire earth. The angel Gabriel, in announcing Jesus' human birth, said: "This one will be great and will be called Son of the Most High; and Jehovah Go will give him the throne of David his father." (Luke 1:32; see also Isaiah 9:6, 7; Daniel 7:13,14) Yes, the entire word of God focuses attention on Jesus Christ as the one through whom Jehovah will administer the blessings through to mankind. - LUKE 2:25-32; PHILIPPIANS 2:9-11. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - WILL THE DEAD LIVE AGAIN?

 The Bible teaching on the true condition of the dead relieves one's mind of much unnecessary fear and worry regarding those who have died. To know that such ones are not suffering helps us to appreciate far more God's love, and his justice. Yet, one may still wonder, if a man dies and simply goes to the grave, what hope is there for the dead? The Bible reveals that there is such a wonderful hope, the hope of living again. 

During his earthly ministry Jesus Christ showed his power over death, actually bringing dead persons back to human life. (Luke7:16; John 11:39-44) He thus provided a preview of what he will do on a grand scale in God's new system of things. The heartwarming prospect is that then hell, mankind's common grave, will be emptied of its unconscious dead. (Revelation 20:13) Some received a resurrection to heavenly glory as spirit creatures, eve as Jesus Christ. (Romans 6:5) However, the vast majority of mankind will be brought back to enjoy life on a restored earthly paradise. - ACTS 24:15; LUKE 23:43.

In God's new system the resurrected dead, if they carry out God's righteous laws, will never need to die again.  (Isaiah 25:8) Certainly, this grand provision for blessing mankind is reason for us to take in more knowledge of Jehovah and His Son, Jesus Christ. Doing so can lead to our eternal life and blessing.

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - GEHENNA AND PURGATORY

 Perhaps someone may object and say that the Bible does not speak of "hell fire," (Matthew 5:22, AV, Dy) True, some versions use this expression, but in such cases the original Greek word here used for "hell" is Ge'henna, and not ha'des. Gehenna occurs 12 times in the Christian Greek Scriptures and refers to the valley of Hinnom outside the walls of Jerusalem. When Jesus was on earth this valley was used as a large garbage dump where fires were kept burning by adding brimston (sulfur) to burn up the refuse. Smith's Dictionary of the Bible, Volume I, explains: "It became the common lay-stall [garbage dump] of the city, where the dead bodies of criminals, and the carcasses of animals, and every other kind of filth was cast." 

So when Jesus said that persons would be thrown into Gehenna for their bad deeds, what did he mean? Not that they would be tormented forever, Jesus used that valley (Gehenna) of fire and brimstone as a proper symbol of everlasting destruction. That is what the first-century listeners understood it to mean. The "lake of fire" mentioned in Revelation has a similar meaning, not conscious torment, but "second death," everlasting death or destruction. It is evident that his "lake" is a symbol because death and hell (ha'des) are thrown into it. Such things cannot literally be burned but they can be done away with, or destroyed.  - REVELATION 20:14; 21:8.

What, then about purgatory? This is said to be a place where human souls are conscious and going through fiery purging after death. Since the Bible clearly shows that the dead are unconscious, how could God be tormenting anyone in such a place? (Psalm 146:4 [145:4, Dy] Actually, neither the word "purgatory" nor the idea of a "purgatory" occurs in the Bible.

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The Truty That Leads to Eternal Life - RICH MAN AND LAZARUS

 There is one place where ha'des occurs, however, that has caused some persons to believe that the Bible hell is a place of physical torment. That is where Jesus spoke of the rich men and Lazarus. and said that the rich man died, and in ha'des experiment torment.  (Luke 16:22, 31) Why is the use of ha'des here so different from its use in other places? Because Jesus was giving a parable or illustration and was not speaking of a literal place of torment. (Matthew 13:34) Consider: Is it reasonable or Scriptural to believe that man suffers torment because he is rich, wears good clothing and has plenty to eat? Is it Scriptural to believe that one is blessed and with heavenly life just because he is a beggar? Consider this too: Is hell literally within speaking distance of heaven so that an actual conversation could be carried on? Also, if the rich man were in a literal burning lake, how could Abram and Lazarus to cool his tongue with just a drop of water on the tip of his finger? What, then, was Jesus illustrating.

In this illustration the rich man stood for the class of religious leaders who rejected and later killed Jesus. Lazarus pictured the common people who accepted God's Son. The Bible shows that death can be used as a powerful symbol, representing a great change in someone's life or course of action. (Compare Romans 6:2, 11-13;  7:4-6.) A death, or change from former conditions, happened when Jesus fed the Lazarus class spiritually, and they thus came into the favor of Abraham, Jehovah God. At the same time, the false religious leaders "died" with respect to having God's favor. Being cast off, the suffered torments when Christ's followers after Pentecost forcefully exposed their evil works. (Acts 7:51-57) So this illustration does not teach that some dead persons are torments in a literal fiery hell. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - WHAT IS HELL?

  Is hell a hot place? Do sheol' and ha'des refer to some place where the wickedafter death?  It is plain that they do not, for we have already seen that the dead are not conscious and therefore cannot suffer. The Bible does not contradict itself with regard to the condition of those in hell. This is proved by the fact that the Bible says that Jesus was in hell. (Acts 2:31, AV, Dy) When the apostle Peter stated this on the day of Pentecost, he clearly meant that Jesus had been in the grave, not in a place of fiery torment. (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4) In saying this the apostle quoted from Psalm 16:10 [15:10, Dy]. Hence the Hebrew word sheol' was used and at Acts 2:31 this word is translated by the Greek word ha'des. This shows that sheol' and ha'des refer to the same thing. The Bible "hell" is actually mankind's grave. 

As further proof of this, consider the case of Job, a righteous servant of God:  "Who will grant me this, that thou mayest protect me in hell [sheol'; the grave, AV], and hide me a time when thou will remember and appoint me a time when thou will remember me. (Job 14:13, Dy] How unreasonable to think that job desired protection in hell if is a fiery-hot place! Clearly, this "hell" is simply the grave, and Job decided to go there so that his sufferings might end. Good people as well as bad people go to the Bible "hell," the common grave of all mankind. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - WHAT IS HELL?

Many religious organizations teach that the wicked are tormented endlessly in a hellfire. But is this belief taught in God's Word? You may know the meaning that your own particular church organization gives to "hell," but have you ever investigated to see the meaning given in the Scriptures? What is hell according to the Bible?

In the Hebrew Scriptures of the Bible ethe word "hell" is translated from the Hebrew word sheol'.  This word occurs 65 times in all.  The King James Version of the Bible, however, translates sheol' 31 times as "hell,' 31 times as "grave," and 3 times as "pit." The Catholic Douay Version of the Bible translates  sheol" has "hell" 63 times is sometimes translated from the Greek word ha'des and as "pit" and once as "death" once.  In the Christian Greek Scriptures the word "hell" is sometimes translated from the Greek word ha'des. Both the King James and Douay versions translate ha'des as "hell" in each of its ten occurrences. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - WHAT IS THE SPIRIT IN LIVING CREATURES? - Conclusion

 Since God is the Giver of life, his Word says that when a person dies "the dust returns to the earth just as it happened to be and the spirit itself returns to the true God who gave it." (Ecclesiastes 12:7) At death the life force eventually leaves all the body cells and the body begins to decay. All conscious thought and actions end. (Psalm 104:29 [103:29, Dy]) How, then, does the spirit 'return to God who gave it'?  Does the life force literally leave the earth and travel through space to God's presence? No, but it returns to God in the sense that now the future life prospects of the person rests entirely on God. Only God can restore the spirit causing the person to live again. 

Some people live in fear of the dead and make offerings to appease dead ancestors. But we can find comfort in knowing that, since the dead are unconscious, it not possible for them to harm the living. And though one person must have loved very much some person who died, God's Word shows that one cannot benefit the dead person by having religious acts or ceremonies performed for such one, perhaps at great expense to the survivors. (2 Samuel 12:21-23) The knowledge of the true condition of the dead also protects us against the practice of trying to speak with the dead. The Bible warns that those who claim to speak with the dead are really getting in touch with demons, wicked spirits that falsely pretend to be the one who has died.  - DEUTERONOMY 18:10-12. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - WHAT IS THE SPIRIT IN LIVING CREATURES - Continue

 This spirit or life force is found in all living creatures, being passed on from parents to offspring at the time of conception. This, God told Noah that he would cause a flood of waters "to bring ruin to all flesh, in which the active force [ru'ahh, spirit] of life is," both of animals and men. - GENESIS 6:17, margin, 1953 edition; see also 7:15, 22, AV, marginal reading. 

Because they all have this same life force or spirit, man and the animals die in a similar manner. For that reason, Ecclesiastes3:19, 20 says: "There is an eventuality as respects the beast, and they have the same eventuality: As the one dies; and they all have but one spirit [ru'ahh] . . .All are going to one place. They all came from the dust." 

Next time: The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - WHAT IS THE SPIRIT IN LIVING CREATURES?  -Conclusion

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - WHAT IS THE SPIRIT IN LIVING CREATURES?

 This was similar to the case of certain newborn babies. Although there is life in the baby when born, it sometimes does not begin to breathe right after birth. The doctor finds it necessary to spank the child to make it start breathing, for without breath the child would soon die. So, too, the life in Adam's body cells had to be sustained by the breathing process in order for Adam to carry on the activities of a breathing person. 

Whereas the human soul is the living person himself, the spirit is simply the life force that enables the person to be alive. The spirit has no personality, nor can it do the things a person can do. It cannot think, speak, hear, see, or feel. In that respect, it might be likened to the electric current of a car's battery. That current can ignite the fuel to make the engine produce power, cause the headlights to shine, sound the horn, or cause the car's radio, to produce voices and music. But without the engine, headlights, or horn or radio, could that battery current do any of these things by itself? No, for it is merely the force that enables the equipment to perform and do such things. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - WHAT IS THE SPIRIT IN LIVING CREATURES?

 From Job 34:14, 15 we learn that there are two things that man (or any other conscious creature) must have in order to be and stay alive: spirit and breath. There we read: "If he [God] sets his heart upon anyone, that if one's spirit [Hebrew, ru'ahh] and breath [Hebrew, neshamah'] he gathers to himself, all flesh will expire together, and earthling man himself will return to the very dust." We know that the first man was formed by God out of the "dust of the ground," that is, the elements taken from the soul. At the time of Adam's creation, God caused the billions of cells in his body to live, to have them the force of life. This active force is what is mean to be here by the word "spirit" (ru'ahh). But for the force to continue in each of Adam's billion of cells, they needed oxygen, and this was to be provided by breathing. So, God next "breathed into his nostrils the breath (neshamah'] of life." Then Adam's lungs begin to function and thereby sustain by breathing the life force in his body cells. -GENESIS 2:7 AV.

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - DOES MAN HAVE AN IMMORTAL SOUL? - Conclusion

 "Soul" can also refer to the life one enjoys as a living soul or person. Now, we can say that someone is alive, meaning he is live person. Or we can say that he has a life as a person. In the same way, man, according to the Bible, is a soul; but as long as he is alive, he can be said to "have soul." So, just as we speak of one's losing his life. we can speak of his losing his soul. Jesus said: "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Matthew 16:26) When Rachel had trouble in giving birth to Benjamin her soul (or life as a soul) Went out from her and she died. (Genesis 35:16-19) she ceased to be living person and became a corpse. And when the prophet Elijah performed a miracle in connection with a dead child, the child soul (or life as a soul) came back into him and "he came to life" He was again a living soul. - 1 KINGS 17:17-23.

Since the soul is a person himself, what happens to a soul at death? The Bible is very clear in stating that the soul is subject to death, saying: "The soul that sinning-It itself will die." (Ezekiel 18:4, 20) The apostle Peter quoted from the writings of Moses concerning Jesus, saying: "Indeed any soul that does not listen to that Prophet will be completely destroyed from among the people." (Acts 3:23) Consistent with this basic truth, not once in any of its verses does the Bible say that either human or animal souls are immortal, deathless cannot be destroyed or cannot perish.  There are, however, dozens of scriptures that show that a soul can die or be killed. (Leviticus23:30; James 5:20) Even of Jesus Christ the Bible says: "He poured out his soul to the very death." (Isaiah 53:12) We see, then, that the human soul is the person himself, and when the person dies, it the human soul that dies.  

Much of this misunderstanding about death has been duet to the confusion in many persons minds as to the meaning of "soul" and "spirit." The Bible shows that they are not the same, as we shall see.

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - DOES MAN HAVE AN IMMORTAL SOUL

Note, please, that after God started man breathing "the man came to be a living soul." Hence, the man was a soul, just as a man who becomes a doctor is a doctor. (1 Corinthians 15:45) Since a huma soul is man himself, then it cannot be some shadowy thing that merely inhabits the body or that can exist apart from the person. In harmony with this fact, the Bible makes plain that the human soul possesses human qualities. For example, the Bible speaks of the soul's desiring physical food, saying: "Your soul craves to eat meat." (Deuteronomy 12:20; Leviticus 17:12.) It says, too, that souls have blood traveling through their veins, for it speaks of "the blood of the souls of poor innocents." (Jeremiah 2:34, AV) Yes, your soul is really you, with all your physical and mental qualities. - PROVERBS 2:10. 

What, then, of the texts that use such expressions as "my soul," or those that speak of a person's soul as though it is within him? These texts of course, must harmonize with the Scriptures already considered, for there can be no contradiction in God's Word. It becomes evident, then, that the word "soul" may be used in different senses. At times it refers to one's own self as a soul. So just as one says "myself" he also says "my soul," meaning basically the same thing. Thus the psalmist wrote: "My soul has been sleepless from grief." - PSALM 119:28 [118:28 Dy]. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - DOES MAN HAVE AN IMMORTAL SOUL

But what about the soul? Is it not a part of man that separates from his body at death and goes on living? To answer this properly we need to determine what the soul is. You may be surprised to know that animals as well as men are called "souls' in the inspired Scriptures. For instance, Numbers 31:28 speaks of one soul. [Hebrew, neph'esh)] out of five hundred, of humankind and of the herd of the asses and of the flock." -See also Revelation 16:3, where the Greek word for "soul," psykhe' appears.

What, then, is the soul? Let us see what the Creator's own written Word says about it. At Genesis 2:7 we read: "And Jehovah God proceeded to form the man out of the dust from the ground and to blow into his nostrils the breath of life, and man came to be a living soul."

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - Where Are the Dead?

 The Bible clearly teaches that the dead are unconscious and lifeless in the grave. Note what Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10 (AV) says regarding the condition of the dead: "For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they have any more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, no knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." This means that the dead cannot do anything and cannot feel anything. Their thoughts have ceased, as the Bible states: "Put not your trusts in princes, nor in the son of earthling man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth: in that very day his thoughts do perish." -PSALM 146:3, 4, AV [145:2-4, Dy].

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life -Where Are the Dead?

 PERHAPS you have experienced the empty feeling that comes with a loved one in death. On such occasions most persons feel not only sad but also very helpless. It is only natural to wonder: What happens to a person when he dies? Is he still conscious somewhere? Is there real hope that the dead will live again? The Bible contains a comforting answer to these questions.  

Simply stated, death is the opposite of life. In sentencing the first man Adam for his willful disobedience, God said: "You [will] return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For dust you are and to dust you will return." (Genesis 3:19) Consider now: Where was Adam before God formed him from the dust and gave him life? Why, he simply did not exist. At his death Adam returned to the same lifeless, unconscious state. He went neither to a fiery hell nor to heavenly bliss, but died-as God said he would. - GENESIS 2:17. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - EFFECT ON OFFSPRING -Conclusion

 However, it is one thing to make unintentional mistakes because of inherited sin, but entirely another matter deliberately to practice that one knows to be wrong. (1 John 5:16) If one is truly repent over mistakes, he can expect merciful forgiveness from God. (Proverbs 28:13) But he must be careful that, once he knows what is right, he does not deliberately choose to follow a course contrary to God's will. To do so would mean loss of God's favor and of life itself. - DEUTERONOMY 30:15-20; HEBREWS 10:26, 27.

Happily, Jehovah has made provision to save repentant ones from the bad effects of inherited sin and death. This grand relief will come through the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Concerning this provision the Bible says: God has sent forth is only -begotten Son into the world that we might gain life through him." (1 John4:9) So, in God's due time, under the Kingdom rule of his Son, inherited human perfection will gradually be taken away, and mankind will no longer feel the effects of Adam's sin. Why even the death we inherited from Adam will no longer have power over us! (Revelation21:3, 4) You can be the one to enjoy such blessings. How? By taking advantage of the provisions that Jehovah has made and proving your love for him, sincere love for him, by keeping his commandments.  -ECCLESIASTES 12:133. 

NOTE:  Remember that Jehovah knows your heart, mind, soul and your very being. He sees everything. So, he will know if your heart is true and sincere towards him. Otherwise, you won't be blessed in that way. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - EFFECT UPON OFFSPRING

 But, since we today did not disobey that law in Eden, why is it that we also get sick and die? It is for this reason: All of Adam's offspring were born after this disobedience. This his offspring inherited sin and death from him. All men inherit imperfection, because all come from Adam and Eve. As the book of Job tells us: "Who can produce someone unclean? There is not one." (Job14:4) Also, at Romans 5:12 the Bible explains: "Through one man [Adam] sin entered into the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men." Just a perfect piece of machinery cannot be produced from an imperfect mold, so Adam and his imperfection could produce perfect children, free from sin. -PSALM 51:5 [50:7, Dy]. 

The effect of Adam and Eve's sin upon their offspring can be compared with what happened when people who ignore God's law and live immorally bring forth children. Such people may get diseased in the sex organs that God gave them to bring forth their children. The children of such "unclean" parents may be born physically or mentally damaged because of the sin their parents, So, too, our first parents became "unclean," imperfect and subject to sickness, and finally death. They could pass on their to their offspring only what themselves had: imperfection, with a future of sickness and death. That is why we all grow old and die, and we so easily do what is wrong.

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - RESULTS OF DISOBEDIENCE - Conclusion

 By this lawless act they became guilty of sin, and so they brought up themselves the penalty of sin. (1 John 3:4) In considering the rightness of God's decision we should not make the mistake of judging the seriousness of what Adam and Eve did by the way many people view things in our time. Today disobedience to parents is common, often going unpunished. Stealing is also common, and many think that, if what is stolen is small, the theft does not matter much Rebellion and speaking against authority are likewise frequent today. But that does not make these things right! Much of the rotten fruitage we see today in the form of growing delinquency and crime is due to failure of parents and others in authority to correct matters at the start. - PROVERBS 13:24; ECCLESIASTES 8:11. 

God was not going to encourage wrongdoing by a failure to enforce his own law. By their disobedience Adam and Eve showed a great lack of love for the One who had provided so wonderfully for them. They were guilty of stealing, because they took what their Creator said was not theirs. Still worse, the joined with God's enemy and, by their actions called God a liar. Jehovah owed it to himself and all his universal family to uphold the law. This, he did. As a result of their deliberate sin the lawless couple were driven out of Eden to die. - GENESIS 3:22-24. 

The effect of sin upon them might be illustrated by happens to a piece of machinery what it used properly, according to the maker's instructions. The machine will develop weakness and, and in time, break down. Similarly, as result of ignoring the instructions of their Maker, Adam and Eve lost their perfection. Their minds and bodies began to break down, and finally ceased to function, in death. That is what disobedience and removal from God's favor meant for them.  (Genesis3:16-19) After Adam had used up the tremendous vitality of his once-perfect body, he dies at the age of 930 years. This was within the symbolic "day" of one thousand years that had God had set. - GENESIS 5:5; 2 PETER 3:8.

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - RESULTS OF DISOBEDIENCE - Continue

 Why was the tree called "the tree of the knowledge of good and bad"? Because, as a result of God's command, it's fruit symbolized God's right to decide for his creatures what is "good" and what is "bad" for them. So, for the human pair to take of this fruit would mean that they were turning their backs on their heavenly Father and rejecting his divine guidance and perfect will. While simple, the test involved much. It involved man's dependence on his Creator and man's recognition of divine authority. Remember, too, that Jesus Christ applied to imperfect humans the rule that "the person faithful in what is least is faithful also in much, and the person unrighteous in what is least in unrighteous also in much." (Luke 16:1) How much more did this apply to perfect creatures!

Why did Eve break God's law and eat of the fruit? The idea did not begin with her but was presented to her by a spirit creature using a lowly serpent through serpent through which to speak.  That spirit creature, identified in the Bible as Satan the Devil, is therefore called "the original serpent." (Revelation 12:9) The invisible creature speaking through the serpent openly denied the truth of God's command that Eve quoted. He represented the tree's fruit as being unable to cause her to be like God, deciding for herself was "good" and what was "bad." Eve then began to view the fruit as very desirable and she disobeyed God by eating of it. Adam her husband, did not oppose her course but joined her in it. - GENESIS 3:1-6; JAMES 1:14, 15; 1 CORINTHIANS 11:3. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - RESULTS OF DISOBEDIENCE

 When Jehovah created Adam and Eve, they became the earthly part of God's great family, which already included a great number of spirit creatures in the heavens, God was the Father of the human pair, since he had given them life. The gift of life, however, was conditional; that is, it would continue to be theirs only as long as they met the condition of loving obedience to their heavenly Father. Obedience to law is necessary to continue peace and good order, so they had to recognize God as their Supreme Ruler. Did they know this? Yes, because Jehovah placed upon thema test that emphasized the seriousness of obedience. He said to Adam: "From every tree of the garden you may eat to satisfaction. But as for the tree and life of knowledge of good and bad you must eat of it you will positively de." - GENESIS 2:16, 17.

The test of obedience was not a difficult one. They were not deprived of needed food, nor were they tested beyond their ability. However, their obedience would show that they appreciated that relationship with God. (1 John 5:3) Although some persons have the idea that the 'forbidden fruit' had to do with sex relations between man and woman, this was not the case. God himself had already told them to be "fruitful and become many and fill the earth." (Genesis 1:28) When God commanded them not eat the fruit pf a certain tree it merely meant that God singled out one of the many fruit trees of Eden and commanded the human pair not to eat of its fruit.

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - Why We Grow Old and Die

 Every normal person desires life with good health. We see relief from pain and suffering that disease brings and we long for some way to escape from the weakening effect old age has on our bodies. It hurts us, too, when we see those afflicted by these things. Because of this, many persons ask, "Was this part of God's original purpose? When God created man, was it his purpose that man should grow old, and become deaf or blind? Did he mean for man's skin to wrinkle with age, his heart to become diseased and his other organs to break down? Really, did God make man to die?" 

No, Jehovah God did not create man for such a miserable future. The Bible tells us that Jehovah provided a lovely garden home for the first human pair. and he blessed them. Reviewing his creative work, God rightly declared it "very good." (Genesis 1:28, 31) This means that Adam and Eve were created perfect. without a defect in mind or body. (Deuteronomy 32:4; Proverbs 10:22) They had the prospect of living forever.

Interestingly, modern scientists know that the human body continually renews itself. And they say that under the right conditions, it is capable of living forever. A Nobel Prize winner, Dr. Linus Pauling, explained that man's body tissues replace themselves and theoretically, should continue to do so forever. Biochemist William Beck also observed: "I see no reason why death in the nature of things, need be inevitable." Yet, in spite of being so made, men continue to grow old and die. Why? God's Word the Bible gives us the satisfying answer. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - WORSHIPPING GOD "WITH "SPIRIT AND TRUTH"

 At Exodus 20:4, 5, in one of the Ten Commandments, God himself says: "You shall not make yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything . . . you shall not bow down to them or serve them." (The Catholic Jerusalem Bible) Some people regard a religious image as an "aid" to worshiping God because they can see and tough the image. But God inspired the apostle Paul to write: "We are walking by faith, not by sight."  (2 Corinthians 5:7) God is very frank about the matter. He tells us the use of images are a falsehood." (Isaiah 44:14-20; Psalm 115:4-8 [113L:4-8, second set of numbers, Dy Even though one may say that the honor given to a religious image is less than given to God, God himself says that he will not share any of his glory and praise with such images. - ISAIAH 42:8.

Lovingly, the apostle Joh warns us: "Guard yourselves from idols." (1 John 5:21) Why not look around your home and ask yourself whether you are doing this? (Deuteronomy 7:25) By bringing your life and way of worship into harmony with Jehovah's loving will you may gain his everlasting blessings. - 1 CORINTHIANS 10:14.

Continue to learn of Jehovah's majesty and his lovingly purposes, and you will grow in love for him. Never let a day go by without thanking him for the good things that you enjoy because of his loving-kindness. As you learn more about him, impress upon your heart the importance of loyalty to him as the great God of the universe. By loving obedience to him, you will put yourself in the way that leads to eternal life. - EPHESIANS 4:23, 24; PSALM 104:33-35 [103:33-35, Dy]. 

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The TruthThat Leads to Eternal Life - WORSHIPPING GOD "WITH SPIRIT AND TRUTH"

 To love and respect a person, one needs to know him as he really is. To give God the exclusive devotion that he deserves, you need to study his Word and 'prove to yourself the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.' (Romans 12:2) The important thing is not how humans want to worship God, but how God wants to be worshipped. 

Religious ceremonies and "aids to devotion" may seem beautiful in the eyes of those who uses them, but how does God view them? Surely, you want to have God's approval. God's own Son tells us that "the true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth." (John 4:23) Is the use of images for example, worship "with spirit and truth"? Does it please God? 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - IS GOD A "TRINITY"? -Continue

 What about the statement at John 1:1 (AV), which refers to Jesus as "the Word," saying: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God"?  Does that not prove the "Trinity"? No. Notice, first of all, that only two persons are mentioned, not three. Also, in this same chapter, verse 2 says the Word was "in the beginning with God," and verse 18 says that no man hath seen God at any time," yet men have seen Jesus Christ. For these reasons, and in full harmony with the Greek text, some translations of verse 1 read: "The Word was with God, and the word was divine," or with "a god," that is, the Word was a powerful godlike one. (AT; NW) So that this portion of the Bible is in agreement with all the rest; it does not teach a "Trinity." 

As for the "Holy Spirit," the so-called Person of the Trinity," we have already seen that it is, not a person, But God's active force.  (Judges 14:6) John the Baptist said that Jesus would be baptized with holy spirit even as John had been baptizing with water. Water is not a person nor is a holy spirit a person. (Matthew 3:11) What John foretold was fulfilled when God caused his Son Christ Jesus to pour out holy spirit on the apostles and disciples during Pentecost 33 C.E., so" they all became filled with holy spirit." Were they filled with a person? No, but they were filled with God's active force. - ACTS 2:4, 33. 

What, then, do the facts show as to the "Trinity"? Neither the word nor the idea is in God's Word, the Bible. The doctrine did not originate with God. But you will be interested to know that, according to the book Babylonian Life and History (by Sir E. A. Wallis Budge, 1925 edition, pp. 146, 147), in ancient Babylon, the pagans did believe in such a thing; (Note: But paganism is not Christianity) they worshiped more than one trinity of gods. 

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