Living Souls

One of the commonest statements made by the opposers of the truth is, that as all other living and moving creatures are said to have living souls as well as man, there is therefore no more proof of a man having an immortal existence than brutes. Now the answer is plain and unquestionable. Brutes have living souls as a part of their creation, concerning which God said, “Let the waters bring forth,” or, “Let the earth bring forth”; whereas God formed man of the dust of the ground, and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Gen. 1:20, 24, 30; margin; 2:7).
Thus man was not only unlike every other creature in that he was created in the image of God, but he “became a living soul” by God’s in-breathing. Hence his immortality hence his existence after death. If he dies in his sins, after death is judgment. His body only is spoken of as mortal.
We must not, however, confound immortality with eternal life. Eternal life is by our being associated with Christ the Savior by faith; and thus receiving the gift of eternal life.
God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life (1 John 5:11, 12).
First and Second Chapters of Genesis
A very old attack of rationalists as to these chapters giving two accounts of the creation, and contradicting each other, has lately been revived, and largely published. The perfection of the two chapters are wholly unperceived by them; so true is it, that “the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 2:11). The truth is, that in the first section of the book of Genesis, which extends to the end of the third verse of the second chapter, we have God’s work and His rest. God only (Elohim) is spoken of all through. It is not God giving us an account of everything He created, for angels and other heavenly beings are not there included; but it is God giving us so much as He judged best for our profit and blessing. After the general statement in the first verse, the second verse shows us the chaotic state the earth was in when God began to form the present heaven and earth. for man. Between the first and second verses, a considerable time may have elapsed, and vast changes have taken place, so as to account for geological discoveries; for the earth, not the heaven, was without form, and void. The earth, no doubt, when created, must have been perfect. “As for God, his way is perfect.”
In the first chapter it is God making everything for man’s comfort and blessing day after day, on the sixth day forming man, and on the seventh day resting because all was finished. God is mentioned in this section about thirty times; but in the second chapter we have not simply God (Elohim), but all through it is the Lord God (Jehovah Elohim). Why is this? Because it treats of man’s relationship with God. Now relationship is formed, God reveals Him self as Jehovah God. Unlike the first chapter, it is not here God giving a consecutive account of what He made in six days, and then rested; but this chapter enters into details more in moral order than in a consecutive style, and very especially occupies us with Jehovah Elohim’s thoughts and ways with “the first man.” He is long afterward spoken of in Scripture as “the first man,” and this chapter is authenticated by being quoted from in that he “was made a living soul” (1 Cor. 15:45). Gen. 2 informs us, that “Jehovah God formed man out of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” He was to till the ground. He might eat of every tree except “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,” and if he did eat of it, death would be the result. As he was created to have dominion over every living creature on earth, Jehovah Elohim brought them to him to name them; and whatever he called them, that was the name thereof. The account also recorded of the formation of Eve, gives us one of the. most striking types of Christ and the church found within the whole compass of Scripture. There is also the intimation, that redemption was not brought in merely to repair what man had spoiled; but that, before sin entered, God’s eternal counsel and purpose as to Christ and the church were before His mind, and, as we are afterwards told, we were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. The earth, however, would be the platform on which man must be tested; man innocent, and man guilty; man without law and man under law; man in Christ’s presence on earth, and now during the presence and power of the Holy Spirit come down; and man will be tested also under Christ’s reign in righteousness, and as judge of all. And in the eternal state while the earthly people occupy the sin-cleansed earth in unchanging blessedness, the church — the bride and body of Christ — shall share the inheritance with the Heir of all things, and shine in heavenly glory throughout all ages (Eph. 3:21). Thus in the type Adam could say, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh” — “one flesh,” and all the result of the man’s “deep sleep,” so that she shares with him his dominion and glory. Few chapters have been more thoroughly authenticated by our Lord and His apostles than Gen. 2. On one occasion, when an inspired writer referred to Adam and Eve, he says, “Adam was first formed, then Eve” (1 Tim. 2:13). This chapter unfolds this to us, and gives most important information as to man’s accountability, privileges, and blessings, as well as enters into detail as to what took place on the sixth day. It also gives us the divine institution of marriage, and that man and wife should now typically set forth Christ and the church (Eph. 5). Had we not all this instruction, in what darkness and uncertainty as to these things should we be; and if men were hearkening to God, and seeking to learn of Him in reading and pondering His holy word, instead of expressing themselves with such temerity and mistaken zeal, the alleged inaccuracies would never have been heard of.
It does not say in the first chapter that Adam and Eve were made at the same time; nor does it say in the second chapter that man was formed before the animals. Each chapter is perfect after its kind. In the first, we have the consecutive account of God having made all in six days, and then rested. In the second chapter we have the moral order of Jehovah Elohim’s relationship with man; hence the statement that, man having been formed of the dust of the earth, God breathed into him “the breath of life, and man became a living soul”; his responsibility as to the trees, his dominion, and the blessing of an help-meet, have a more fitting place here than in the first chapter.
The oft-repeated and irreverent statement, that in writing the first two chapters of Genesis, Moses copied from two different “theories of creation” which contradict each other, is a mere fable, and carries with it its own refutation. A moment’s reflection is enough to convince any fair mind, that no one could give a true account of creation unless God had revealed it. Besides, as we have seen, the second chapter, in divine perfection, follows the first in giving us further information as to Adam and Eve, which could not properly be introduced into the first, which chiefly sets forth God’s creatorial ways. We do well to remember that Moses was commanded to write, that he often gave his authority with, “Jehovah said unto Moses,” that he abode in the mount with God forty days and forty nights at a time, and is spoken of as “faithful in all his house as a servant.” Moreover we ask, Where in Scripture is there a shred of authority for such charges against the book of Genesis?
No human being, however much spiritually instructed, pretends to understand all Scripture, or to be able to clear up all the difficulties that may be presented. On the contrary, even the most gifted apostle, when contemplating God in His dispensational actings, says, in a worshiping spirit,
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” (Rom. 11:33).
For any of us to suppose, that we can comprehend all the mysteries of divine truth, would only be the clearest proof of our ignorance.
If any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know (1 Cor. 8:2).
If apostles were wont to say, “We know in part,” how small must be the measure of any of us now! It is not by argument we advance spiritually; but humble souls God will bless. We have never yet known a child of God, who has quietly waited on God for the teaching of the Spirit as to difficulties in Scripture, but could say that some things which seemed to be inexplicable, have not only been cleared up, but have brought blessing to his soul. Jeremiah felt the need of this in his day. He said, “Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud; for Jehovah hath spoken”; for it was as true then as it is now, that, “the proud he knoweth afar off.” Logic is not faith. Happy are they who bow before God, and say, “Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.” Happy are those who are obedient to His word.