The Godhead

[Maureen]

Christ was *just* a spirit before He was born. When He was born on earth He took upon Himself flesh also. Why is it so hard to see the pattern?

From the Protestant perspective, Christ was never *just* a spirit - Christ was God. In taking upon himself flesh, he became God incarnate.

...We are dual nature beings. We have both a spirit and a physical body.

Actually our nature is our humanity, but we exist as three in our humanity; body, soul, spirit. This is how we are created in the image of God.

Christ, in that regard, is just like us, a dual natured being. The evidence is all there to suggest the Father is a dual nature being as well.

Yes, Christ was both human and divine. But only he, God the Son, has a dual nature. Edited July 21, 2009 by Maureen

[Justice]

From the Protestant perspective, Christ was never *just* a spirit - Christ was God.

It wasn't an attempt to demean God. Dr T quoted the scripture "God is spirit." I meant "just" a spirit as in did not have flesh and blood. He was whatever He was before He took a body... I believe He was just a spirit with no body.

In taking upon himself flesh, he became God incarnate.Actually our nature is our humanity, but we exist as three in our humanity; body, soul, spirit. This is how we are created in the image of God. Yes, Christ was both human and divine. But only he, God the Son, has a dual nature.

I don't understand your view of body, soul, and spirit and how they are related. Can you explain what you believe they are?

[JohnnyRudick]

I don't understand your view of body, soul, and spirit and how they are related. Can you explain what you believe they are?

I could be wrong but correct me if I am,(like you won't:p unless I ask you)

I think the writer believes that a person has two supernatural essences living inside.

One called the Spirit that God gives and also a "soul".

Kinda like an egg.

The hard shell on the outside would be the flesh.

Then the white would be the Soul and the yolk in the center would be the spirit.

All making us one good egg.

Could be something to it but the Scripture says that God gives us the spirit and

we then become a living soul.

Genesis 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.

Body and spirit make us a soul, so goes the Scripture but I do see where they

get the tri-part ideas also.

Bro. Rudick

[Maureen]

...I don't understand your view of body, soul, and spirit and how they are related. Can you explain what you believe they are?

I found this awhile ago and thought it describes body, soul and spirit very well:

...the ‘Body’ is shown as touching the Material world through the five senses of ‘Sight,’ ‘Smell,’ ‘Hearing,’ ‘Taste’ and ‘Touch.’

The Gates to the ‘Soul’ are ‘Imagination,’ ‘Conscience,’ ‘Memory,’ ‘Reason’ and the ‘Affections.’

The “Spirit” receives impressions of outward and material things through the soul. The spiritual faculties of the ‘Spirit’ are ‘Faith,’ ‘Hope,’ ‘Reverence,’ ‘Prayer’ and ‘Worship.’ (from Rightly Dividing The Word by Dr. Clarence Larkin)

Our body is our physicalness, our soul is our personality, etc and our spirit is what helps us connect with God.

M.

Edited July 22, 2009 by Maureen

[Justice]

Interesting.

Although not always used in scripture accurately, we are taught that the spirit and body are the 2 parts of man. When they are joined together they become a living soul.

We have other scriptures that clarify this, but since you do not believe they are scripture it wouldn't matter if I posted them.

[JohnnyRudick]

I found this awhile ago and thought it describes body, soul and spirit very well:

...the ‘Body’ is shown as touching the Material world through the five senses of ‘Sight,’ ‘Smell,’ ‘Hearing,’ ‘Taste’ and ‘Touch.’

The Gates to the ‘Soul’ are ‘Imagination,’ ‘Conscience,’ ‘Memory,’ ‘Reason’ and the ‘Affections.’

The “Spirit” receives impressions of outward and material things through the soul. The spiritual faculties of the ‘Spirit’ are ‘Faith,’ ‘Hope,’ ‘Reverence,’ ‘Prayer’ and ‘Worship.’ (from Rightly Dividing The Word by Dr. Clarence Larkin)

Our body is our physicalness, our soul is our personality, etc and our spirit is what helps us connect with God.

M.

Does Dr. Larkin include Scripture to back up this elaborate combination or just this poetical opinion?

Bro. Rudick

[Maureen]

Does Dr. Larkin include Scripture to back up this elaborate combination or just this poetical opinion?

I don't know, his quote I found at bible.org. But here's a couple scripture:

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. (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged 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. (Hebrews 4:12)

[JohnnyRudick]

I don't know, his quote I found at bible.org. But here's a couple scripture:

These are two of the verses I was thinking of too when I said I see where you get this idea.

I can think of a few more also.

Thanks again.

Bro. Rudick

[Hemidakota]

Body and spirit make us a soul, so goes the Scripture but I do see where they

get the tri-part ideas also.

Bro. Rudick

I always use the basic black government pen:

INK = Intelligence

METAL TUBE = Spirit Body

PLASTIC PEN HOUSING = Mortal Body

Now, to all, is it better to ask for a personal testimony of the Godhead vice with struggling with speculation? I would think so...

[JohnnyRudick]

I always use the basic black government pen:

INK = Intelligence

METAL TUBE = Spirit Body

PLASTIC PEN HOUSING = Mortal Body

Now, to all, is it better to ask for a personal testimony of the Godhead vice with struggling with speculation? I would think so...

Cool:mellow:

OK, I see, Our spirit is the house of the intelligence that God organized.

Our physical bodies are the houseing for the Spirit Children of our Heavenly Father.

Now that I understood.

Maybe not in the way that you explained but. . .

I was trying to make sense of the "soul" that many believe in and the Scripture alludes to that can be separated from the flesh.

I find scripture like this

Genesis 35:17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour,

that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this

son also.

Genesis 35:18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in

departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but

his father called him Benjamin.

Genesis 35:19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to

Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.

And even though I reason that the death of the flesh ends the life of the soul for a time until the resurrection of the body (that is where some mistake "soul sleep", making it a doctrine confusing the soul with the spirit.

Just trying to figure out a way to be helpful.

Bro. Rudick

[Hemidakota]

as her soul was in

departing, (for she died)

A writers prospective....:)

Never consider the Spirit a soul but comprise another layer of refine material called a body to house the Intelligence.

[JohnnyRudick]

A writers prospective....:)

Never consider the Spirit a soul but comprise another layer of refine material called a body to house the Intelligence.

Exactly.

That is the way I see it.

I try to explain that the "soul is departing" because the spirit left.

But how do you explain something to people who have been

corrupted by Greek gnosticism?

Oh well;)

Bro. Rudick

[Justice]

D&C 88:

14 Now, verily I say unto you, that through the redemption which is made for you is brought to pass the resurrection from the dead.

15 And the spirit and the body are the soul of man.

Teraching of the resurrection, Jacob (Nephi's younger brother) taught:

2 Nephi 9:

12 And this death of which I have spoken, which is the spiritual death, shall deliver up its dead; which spiritual death is hell; wherefore, death and hell must deliver up their dead, and hell must deliver up its captive spirits, and the grave must deliver up its captive bodies, and the bodies and the spirits of men will be restored one to the other; and it is by the power of the resurrection of the Holy One of Israel.

When this restoration happens, or the resurrection, man will be an eternal soul.

D&C 93:

32 And every man whose spirit receiveth not the light is under condemnation.

33 For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy;

34 And when separated, man cannot receive a fulness of joy.

If a man receives the light (Christ) he will receive a fulness of joy after the resurrection. When man is mortal, or not "inseperably connected," he cannot receive a fulness of joy.

Search the on-line D&C for "soul" and read what comes up. It's pretty clear.

[JohnnyRudick]

Yes, those are the same verses I have in mine also:)

I guess I did not make myself very clear.

I have had over 45 years to absorb these teachings and understand them adequately.

Just don't know how to present it to people who are so convinced and think they are looking at scripture that backs up their position.

They care nothing for my BoM or D&C and want me to convince them with their bible.

Sometimes it works but most of the time it is a bust.

Yet on balance, the Bible supports our position over theirs. . .