Renewing Your Mind (series): The Immortal Soul

Matthew 10:28

"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul."

Did Jesus give us a clear distinction between the body and the soul in the above scripture? Yes He did!

The first century Christians understood that life did not end after their bodies were killed, the scriptures tell us they were beheaded, sawn in two, fed to lions, and tortured to death, but they looked forward to a better resurrection!

Hebrews 11:35

"Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection."

How could they face such persecution and death like they did? Their minds were renewed to the truth of who they really were in Christ!

If today's Christian would understand that they are immortal souls just inhabiting a physical fleshly body then they could begin to live life in a completely new way, they would have a different perspective on the world and every thing in it!

That's why Paul said we no longer regard anyone from a fleshly point of view!

2 Corinthians 5:16-17

"Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

The first century apostles understood the makeup of a human being and knew that after their bodies died their souls would live on!

2 Peter 1:12-14

"For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed

me."

The KJV translation uses the word 'tabernacle' instead of 'tent'. Both words come from the Greek word 'Skenoma' which means:

The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon

Strong's Number: 4638
Original Word Word Origin
skhvnwma from (4637)
Transliterated Word TDNT Entry
Skenoma 7:383,1040
Phonetic Spelling Parts of Speech
skay'-no-mah Noun Neuter

Definition

1. a tent, a tabernacle
      a. of the temple as God's habitation
      b. of the tabernacle of the covenant

    *c. metaph. of the human body as the dwelling of the soul

2 Corinthians 5:6-8

"So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord."

The Greek Interlinear bible says in verse eight:

"We are assured, then, and think it good rather to go away from home out of the body, and to come home to the Lord."

Did you know that we will be judged according to what we have done while IN the body?

2 Corinthians 5:10

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in (through) the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."

John 11:25-26

"Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

In Jesus,

Tyrone