Now that we have an overview of the triune being, that is us, and have a better idea of what the role of each part is, we can investigate even more and gain an even better understanding. Fortunately confirming or disproving basic doctrines is not all that difficult as all you have to do is read the word. The use of a good concordance is useful. I use my trusty e-sword program and that does most of the hard work for us. Also a good idea is to look at every instance of the topic that you are investigating as that will give you a broader picture. With that we come to a bit of a snag in our study, our modern language. Often there are passages of scripture that explain something in the original languages that just is not possible with our modern languages. Also the translators of the bible often use words they think better explains the situation instead of what that word actually means. The result of this is that you have one word in Hebrew but more than one word in English. For example the word “ruach” which means spirit. But the translators also used words like breath, mind, blast, vain, air, anger, cool and wind for the same word. This is where a lot of confusion comes in and the only way to get the clearer picture is by looking at every instance. That translates into a lot of work and searching, but sooner or later the proper understanding comes.
Now that the method is explained let’s look at the “spirit” or ruach as we now know. The word ruach or spirit in mentioned very early in the bible. In fact only the second verse of the bible.
Gen 1:2
The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
This should not surprise us because Jesus taught that God is Spirit and wants us to serve Him in spirit and truth
John 4:24
God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
So if God is Spirit and we are spirit clothed with flesh that has a soul it makes sense that God would want us to serve Him in spirit. But where did we get that spirit or how did it start?
Gen 2:7
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
God blew of Himself or of His Spirit into the man named Adam and Adam became a living soul. That then makes the picture even clearer by reason if God, who is Spirit, put of Himself in Adam He would want Adam to serve Him in spirit. Further because Adam received of God’s Spirit he was considered a living soul. That is a very important point to remember for reasons we will get to a little later on. Now for some doctrinal arguments we have to address the issue that the word says God blew breath into Adams nostrils and not ruach or spirit. So now you get people that say it was just a power to give breath or life and not the actual Spirit of God. It certainly might look that way as the word for breath used in Gen 2:7 is not ruach/spirit but rather the word “neshamah” which means breath. So then this is one of those cases where we have to go seek the answer elsewhere in the word to confirm that it was indeed the Spirit of God that was blown into the nostrils of Adam. Remember, precept upon precept and here a little the a little.
This is what Job has to say on the matter
Job 27:3
As long as my breath (neshama) is in me, And the breath (Ruach/spirit) of God in my nostrils…
Job 33:4
The Spirit (ruach) of God has made me, And the breath (neshama) of the Almighty gives me life.
Job 34:14 – 15
If He should set His heart on it, If He should gather to Himself His Spirit (and) breath, All flesh would perish together, And man would return to dust.
So it seems clear that God did indeed blow of His own Spirit into the soul of Adam and he became a living soul!
Also the Lord makes it very clear that He wants Adam to serve Him in spirit or to walk with Him in spirit. In Gen 3:8 we hear that God was walking in the cool of day wanting to walk with Adam. That seems a little strange. Why would God want to walk during a cool time of day? In fact that is not what it is saying at all. The word translated as cool is actually the word “ruach”. So in fact what the word is saying is that God walked in spirit expecting Adam to walk with Him.
Gen 3:8
And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool (ruach) of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
Next time we will continue with spirit and why it is the Spirit that gives life.
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