THE TWO FORMS OF LIFE
By W. G. Guy
There is the physical biological life, then there is the spiritual eternal life. Which is most important to you and which do you focus your attention on?
John 14:6 – Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Here we see that Jesus is the very source and force of life; that is eternal and spiritual life. The word translated life in the above verse comes from the Greek Zoe. This is not physical or soulish life that everyone already has being a living life form; this is life as God has it, and gives it.
A little biblical history is needed to understand this topic better.
Leviticus 17:4 – For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
Here we see that physical life of the mortal body is in the blood. When the blood is gone out of the body it dies. However, blood does not sustain the soul and spirit which is a totally different aspect and source of life. The soul and spirit are from God: actually from God’s breath as it was breathed into Adam.
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.
(Note: the word breath and spirit come from the same Greek root for breath or breathed, as being breathed into or unto.)
This source of eternal, or spiritual life, was lost due to original sin in the garden. However this source of life is restored by believing and accepting Jesus Christ as our atonement for sin, (as listed in Leviticus 17:4 above). This is also clearly demonstrated when the resurrected Jesus appeared to the disciples in the closed upper room.
John 20:21-22 – Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: (This is when they were born-again of the Spirit.)
Accepting Jesus as your atoning savior is receiving His Spirit into your spirit which is being “born again”, or being born of the Spirit.
John 3:4-6 – Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Thus we see that there are two aspects of life: physical and spiritual. The physical life is by the blood and maintained by blood. The spiritual eternal life is by the breath of God, (the Word breathed by God), that we believe and receive by faith. The blood sustains physical bodily life; but the Word (Jesus and breath) of God gives and sustains our spiritual eternal (zoe) life.
Now I want to deal with these two aspects of life: so which is most important to us? Which do we focus most of our attention on? Which do we spend most of our money, time and care on? Is it our fleshly body, with its lusts and desires? Or is it on our soul and spirit? Which is more important to God and Christ? Which is more important to you? That which is temporary, or that which is eternal? Consider the following:
Romans 12:1-2 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Do you seek to preserve and walk in the flesh with its bodily lusts, or do you seek to walk and live according Christ and His Word, being led of the Spirit?
Romans 8:1 & 5-9 – There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ….. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
To be led of the Spirit is to walk with and follow Christ, as He directs in His Word. This requires death to “self”, or putting off the dictates of the selfish fleshly lusts. Jesus said this is required to be His disciple, to follow and represent him in this life.
Luke 9:23-24 – And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
The question of life needs to be addressed: What needs to be saved, the body or the soul? It is the soul that needs to be saved and born-again by the Spirit!
Hebrews 10:38-39 – Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Why do we spend so much time and money on our body and not attending to our soul and spirit? This physical body is going to die and be discarded returning to dust and ashes. We see women spend a fortune on their body: makeup, hair, nails, clothes, shoes and accessories. Men also spend much on their lusts: cars, sports; entertainment, and worldly pleasures. Such a waste!
Ask yourself, “Which is eternal”? Please recognize that the body is temporary, it dies and is cast off. It is the spirit and soul that are eternal, and as such are headed for one of two eternal destinations: heaven to be with God, or the Lake of Fire and eternal torment.
The body of the born-again are to be resurrected and rejuvenated as a new form of life; a glorified body that is incorruptible, that will not die, that will not experience pain or suffering; that lives in righteousness, peace and joy in the kingdom of God.
Romans 14:17 – for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Psalm 16:11 – … in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Our bodies are precious to us; that is why we try to care for them in order to maintain our physical life. We spend a great deal of money for medical care with doctors and hospitals to accomplish this. However, should we not put even more effort and emphasis on preserving and maintaining our soul and spirit life? As the hospital is for the saving and preserving this physical, carnal body, the church, (as intended by Christ), is intended for the saving of the soul, spiritual growth and maintenance unto spiritual maturity.
God, the Father, has offered this eternal life to us; but there is only one way to obtain it.
John 14:6 – Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
However. we all face an opposing force in this pursuit of life; that opposition seeks to destroy what God has made and provided.
John 10:10 – The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Choose life; the more abundant form of life that is eternal, that is Christ centered and provided for.
