Millions believe in some kind of life after death. When public-opinion pollsters ask the average person their opinions about life, death and the hereafter - they find most simply unconcerned. They just don’t like to think about death - especially it happening to them.

If anything could be called "instinct" in the human creature, perhaps the "instinct" of self-preservation could. We automatically seek to preserve, to protect, to lengthen and hang on to our lives! How utterly helpless we feel, when we are urging a loved one to "hang on" - to fight to live - and see that life ebbing away right before our eyes!

But when death strikes, we must pause, in our swiftly moving lives, to face death. And we are compelled to ask, "Just what is death?" And, for that matter, What is life?

Can anything, after all, be more important than the answers to these questions?

Let's look into the Bible to see what man really is.

1. What did Jesus Christ say man is composed of? (John 3:6), first part. And is that which is "born of spirit" of a totally different composition? Same verse.

Note: Man is composed of flesh - of protoplasm. Jesus plainly says that if one is born of (and therefore composed of) flesh, he cannot also at the same time be born of (composed of) spirit. He must be one or the other! So this verse alone is strong evidence that man is not an immortal spiritual "soul" in a body of mortal flesh. But let's continue.

2. Did the Apostle Paul speak of himself and his flesh as being synonymous? (Romans 7:18).

Note: Paul did not distinguish between himself and his flesh in this verse. He indicated they were one and the same.

3. God created the first man Adam and He tells us what He made him from so there would be no doubt as to what we really are. Out of what did God form man? (Genesis 2:7). Notice that it was the man - not only the body -that was formed.

4. Was the whole man composed of dust? (Genesis 3:19).

Note: Adam was made from dust and therefore composed of earth!

5. What would eventually happen to the conscious man? (Genesis 3:19, last part.)

Note: "For dust you are, and to dust you shall return."

6. After God had formed the man and made every cell in his body, what did He do to give him life? (Genesis 2:7).

Note: God blew air - "the breath of life" containing oxygen-into the man's lungs through the nostrils, and the man began to live! The verse does not say that God breathed an immortal soul into the man.

7. Is the "breath of life" the same thing which passes through the nostrils of animals? (Genesis 7:21-22.) Is it therefore the breath of life that is cut off when a human being or an animal drowns? (Verse 23.) Then the source of life in man and all animals is the same, isn't it?

Note: If the "breath of life" even remotely meant that man has an immortal soul, then so do animals, birds and even insects gnats, fleas, mosquitoes, etc.!

8. When God had breathed the breath of life into Adam's nostrils, what did he become? (Genesis 2:7, last part.)

Note: Man does not have a soul - man IS a "soul"! The original Hebrew word for "soul" is nephesh. Bagster's Analytical Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon defines it as "breath," and "anything that breathes, an animal." It can also refer to a "person," or even "one dead, a dead body." In Genesis 1:21, 24; 2:19; 9:10, 12, 15, 16 and Leviticus 11:46, the same word nephesh is translated "creature" when referring to animals.

And so man is a creature; man is a SOUL. Animals are creatures or souls, too! Notice! The same word nephesh is translated as "dead body" or "the dead" in Leviticus 19:28; 21:1; 22:4; Numbers 5:2; 6:11 and 9:6, 7, 10. The "soul," then, is merely animal life that is subject to death and decay. It is not immortal!

The soul is composed of the "dust of the ground" - it is material, not spiritual. It is matter. When man breathes, he is a living soul. When man ceases to breathe, he becomes a nonliving or dead soul. That's what your Bible reveals. Are you willing to believe what the Bible plainly says?

9. Can the "soul" die? (Ezekiel 18:4, 20.) If the soul were immortal - eternal - could it die? Is man plainly said to be "mortal"? (Job 4:17.)

Note: Since man is a soul, and the soul is mortal - then man is mortal, subject to death. That is why the Scriptures call human beings "mortal man." (Job 4:17, Hebrews 7:8).

10. Was Adam subject to death? (Genesis 2:17, last part). Was it the body only that would die, or was it the whole conscious man - Adam "thou" -that would die?

11. What one thing befalls both man and beast? Ecclesiastes 3:19. Is this because they all have the same temporary source of life - the breath of air? Same verse.

12. Do all men and animals alike go to the same place at death? Ecclesiastes 3:20.

Note: When an animal dies, it is dead. When man dies, he is completely dead, too, Like "Rover," when a man dies he dies "all over." And all men and animals return to the dust from which they came.

13. Now what does Ecclesiastes 3:21 ask?

Note: Solomon's question actually ridicules the "immortal soul" doctrine which was extant and believed by the pagans even in his day. Therefore he asks a question which no pagan can answer.

Notice that in this verse the Bible refers to "spirit" as common to both man and beast. This word "spirit" comes from the Hebrew word ruach and is translated 28 times as "breath" in the King James Version. Three examples are Genesis 6:17; 7:15 and Lamentations 4:20. The same Hebrew word is translated 90 times as "wind." It is simply the "breath" which is common to both men and animals. When they die, they both "expire" - their breath leaves them.

14. To where does the Bible say the "spirit" -breath returns? (Ecclesiastes 12:7).

Note: While a man is still alive, the Bible speaks of his breath as being in the hand of God - "In whose hand is the soul [nephesh material, physical life] of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind" (Job 12:10). And so when a man dies, he figuratively gives up his breath to God.

15. Man is a living, breathing MORTAL creature, a nephesh, or living soul in whose nostrils he breathes air. What happens to the breath of air that goes into our lungs?

When you take a breath of air, it passes through your trachea, into the lungs and into little pockets or sacs called alveoli. There oxygen is absorbed from the air and goes into the bloodstream. As the blood flows through the blood vessels from the lungs on the way back to the heart, and then is pumped again throughout the body, the oxygen is carried by the red blood cells throughout the body to the individual cells. Each of your 60 trillion cells uses oxygen to "burn" your food to create the energy needed to power your organs and muscles, and to maintain body heat. The life of man clearly depends on the blood, and the blood needs the breath of life to keep the body active and alive.

According to the Bible, is the life of man and animals found in the blood - or in an immortal soul? (Leviticus 17:11, 14.) Does Deuteronomy 12:23 corroborate this?

Note: In these verses, the Hebrew word nephesh is translated "life." Thus nephesh (or soul) can refer either to the fleshly man or the life of man which depends on his blood.

15b. Did Christ make His "soul" an offering for sin? (Isaiah 53:10.) How did He accomplish this? (Verse 12.)

Note: Christ voluntarily offered up His body to be crucified and allowed His life's blood ("soul") to be poured out!

How clear that when a man ceases to breathe the breath of life, his heart stops beating and circulating his life's blood, and he dies.

16. To where does the Bible say the "spirit" -breath returns? (Ecclesiastes 12:7.)

Note: While a man is still alive, the Bible speaks of his breath as being in the hand of God - "In whose hand is the soul [nephesh material, physical life] of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind" (Job 12:10). And so when a man dies, he figuratively gives up his breath to God.

17. When a person dies -becomes lifeless does he still have a conscious existence because of an immortal soul within him? (Ecclesiastes 9:5; Psalms 146:4.)

Note: Since the Bible states plainly that the dead are not conscious of anything, we can logically conclude that man is not born with an immortal soul which is conscious and aware of things happening around it after death!

18. Are the dead able to praise God? (Psalms 115:17.) But if Christians have immortal souls, wouldn’t they be praising God after they die, thankful to be with Him in paradise? Here, then, is more concrete evidence that human beings do not have immortal souls.

19. Is there any remembrance of God in death? (Psalms 6:5.)

Note: Death is the opposite of life. Death is the CESSATION of life! That is the reason dead people can remember nothing.

20. According to Matthew 10:28, is the "soul" something which can be destroyed? Then didn't Jesus plainly show that the soul is not immortal? Let's understand exactly what Jesus was talking about.

Note: Although some people use this text to support their belief of the immortality of the soul, it plainly says the soul is something that can be destroyed in hell! Thus, whatever this "soul" is, it could NOT be immortal!

The Greek word here translated "soul' is psuche. It refers to the same thing as the Hebrew word nephesh. It means life, existence.

In Matthew 10:28, Christ obviously used this word to refer to "life" that man cannot destroy - but which God can. What kind of life could this be? Obviously life which God RESTORES by a resurrection!

Man cannot "destroy" a life that God turns right around and renews. But GOD can destroy it permanently - by casting the resurrected person into the "lake of fire," never to be resurrected again!

Luke makes this scripture plainer: "But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear: Fear him, which AFTER he hath killed has power to cast into hell..." (Luke 12:5). God not only has the power to take our present physical life, but also has the power to resurrect us and - if we have proved disobedient and incorrigible - to cast us into the lake of fire from which there will be No future resurrection! (Rev. 20:14-15; 21:8.)

Although men may kill their physical bodies, true Christians know that men cannot take from them their hope of eternal life.

21. Since man does not have an immortal soul, does this mean he is just an animal - here today and gone tomorrow? Not at all! What is it that makes man different from the animals? Let's understand the amazing truth!

Were animals created in God's image - or were they created each after its own kind? (Genesis 1:21, 24, 25.) But was man created in the "image" and "likeness" of GOD? (Gen. 1:26-27.) Was man to rule over all other creatures? (Verse 26.)

Note: The Hebrew words of Genesis 1:26-27 reveal God's great plan and ultimate purpose for mankind! When God molded Adam of the dust, he was shaped in the "likeness" the outward form and shape - of God Himself. God didn't form any of the other creatures to be an exact clay replica of Himself. This unique form and shape was given to man alone!

Notice again that God said "Let us make man in our image ...." The Hebrew here indicates more than merely the outward form and shape of God, His likeness - far more. "Image" refers to mind and character! God intended for man - to whom He gave the gift of a thinking, reasoning mind - to develop the very mind and character of GOD!

Animals do not have reasoning, self-conscious minds. Animals follow instinctive habit patterns in their feeding, nesting, migration, and reproduction. God has "programmed" their brains, so to speak, with particular instinctive aptitudes. Thus beavers. build dams, birds build nests, etc. These aptitudes are inherited -they are not the result of logical cognitive processes.

But man is vastly different. Man is able to perceive and understand various ways to do any one thing. Man can reason from memorized facts and knowledge; draw conclusions, make decisions, will to act according to a thought-out plan.

Man can choose - he has free moral agency. He can devise codes of conduct and exercise self-discipline. Man can originate ideas and evaluate scientific knowledge because he has a MIND which is patterned after God's own mind! Man can devise, plan, and bring his plans to fruition because he has been given some of the very creative powers of God!

The attributes of mind and character make man God's UNIQUE physical creation. God has shared some of His own qualities with man and expects him to develop the "image" of GOD'S perfect mind and holy character!

What Makes Man's Mind Unique?

Many animals have physical brains as large, or even larger than man's brain, and with similar cerebral cortex complexity - but none has the powers of intellect, logic, self-consciousness and creativity.

What gives man's brain these unique abilities? And what will God use, after the death and complete dissolution of the physical body and brain, to reproduce each individual at the resurrection?

22. Since man has no immortal soul within him which enables him to live on apart from his body after death (remember man is a MORTAL soul), does the Bible speak elsewhere of a ‘spirit in man"? I Corinthians 2:9-14. Notice especially verse 11. Is this spirit "in" man clearly distinguished from the Holy Spirit of God? Same verses.

Note: This spirit is not the man - it is something that is IN the man. Joined with the physical brain of the man, it forms human MIND. It imparts to man's brain his unique powers of intellect and personality - the ability to think rationally and make free-will decisions. It imparts the ability to learn mathematics, languages or any type of philosophical knowledge. But that's all. The spirit that is IN man has no consciousness of itself. It is not an "immortal soul." This spirit is not the "man."

Because of this spiritual element, the Bible often uses the word "spirit" simply to mean man's mind, intelligence, attitude. And it is apparently from the pattern locked up in this. "spirit" (comparable to a tape recording) that God, at the resurrection, will re-create each individual with exactly the same mind, personality and general appearance he had at death.

Why haven't you heard this truth before? Simply because the whole world has been DECEIVED!

23. Can the human mind -having only this human spirit of man - understand the spiritual things of God? I Corinthians 2:11. What must be added before a man can comprehend spiritually revealed knowledge? Same verse.

Note: Spiritual things cannot be seen with the eye, heard with the ear, felt with the hands. The human mind, which can receive knowledge only through these physical channels, can never really comprehend spiritual concepts and principles without the Holy Spirit of God. The greatest minds - scientific, philosophical minds cannot really come to know and understand SPIRITUAL truths with their natural minds.

Just as surely as no animal brain - such as that of a cow, for example - can comprehend or understand human affairs, so no human mind can have comprehension of spiritual things on the divine plane unless and until it has received the Holy Spirit of God! (More about the function and receiving of the Holy Spirit will be contained in a forthcoming lesson.)

Origin of the "Big Lie"

 The truth about the "spirit in man" is so important that Satan tried to twist and warp and pervert it long ago. He clouded the minds of men and got them to believing his "big lie" as far back as the time of Adam and Eve.

In the Garden of Eden, Satan deceived Eve. Notice what happened:

24. What did Satan tell Eve? Gen. 3:4.

Note: Here was the origin of the "immortality of the soul" doctrine preached today! Satan told Eve she would "not surely die" - in other words, she had an "immortal soul" that would live forever. Eve swallowed this lie, hook, line and sinker!

25. Has Satan deceived the WHOLE world? Rev. 12:9.

Note: The devil has deceived the whole world on nearly every point of God's Truth! And virtually the entire world today believes some variation of the ancient "big lie." Millions have been deluded to believe in reincarnation or the transmigration of souls as a result of the false doctrine of an ever-living soul.

Satan has deceived the world with a COUNTERFEIT doctrine - a doctrine which perverts the truth about the "spirit in man." With his cunning counterfeit, Satan has withheld from the minds Of MILLIONS the truth about the "spirit in man," and the need for a resurrection from the dead!

Only GOD Is Immortal!

We have clearly seen that the Bible does not teach the immortality of the soul. But what, then, does the Bible teach about, immortality? Let's notice how the Bible uses the words "immortal" and "immortality."

26. Where is the only place in the Bible that the word "immortal" appears? I Tim. 1:17.

Note: This verse refers to Jesus Christ who was made immortal and very God through a resurrection to eternal life.

27. According to I Timothy 6:15-16, who has immortality inherently - God or man?

28. Who brought to mankind the knowledge of how to receive eternal life and immortality? II Tim. 1:10. Doesn't this verse plainly show that immortality is something man does not already have? Then is the Gospel also the good news about how to receive immortality? Same verse.

29. Is immortality to be sought for? Rom. 2:7. Is eternal life a free gift bestowed on those who seek immortality? Same verse and Rom. 6:23.

30. Now turn to I Corinthians 15:53 and 54. Do these two verses say that man is already immortal? What must man put on? Verse 53. When will man be "clothed" with immortality? Verse 52. Does this happen at the time of the resurrection? I Thes. 4:16.

31. Was David still alive as an immortal soul after he died? Acts 2:29, 34. Will David, King of Israel, be raised from the dead? Jer. 30:9.

Why a Resurrection?

If man were an immortal soul in a material body - and if the death of the body released the soul - then there would be no need for a resurrection to immortal life. Man would merely continue living ,after death. But the very fact that the Bible teaches the resurrection from the dead is further proof man has no immortal soul!

32. If Christ had not risen from the dead, would faith in a future life by a resurrection be all in vain? I Cor. 15:1417. If there will be no resurrection, have those who are dead in their graves perished forever? Verse 18.

33. However, did Christ Himself warn that the unregenerate - unrepentant - man is to perish? John 3:16 and Luke 13:3, 5. If man were an immortal soul, could he actually "perish"? (See in your dictionary that the word "perish" means to CEASE living.)

34. Who will hear the voice of the Son of God at the resurrection? John 5:25. Do they then "rise"? I Thes. 4:16.

Notice Jesus' words when describing the death of Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha

"’Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.' Then said his disciples, `Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.' Howbeit Jesus spoke of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, 'Lazarus is dead"' (John 11:11-14).

Death is pictured as a sleep. Death, like sleep, is a condition in which people are not conscious and from which they shall be "awakened"! Notice the plain evidence of Scripture:

"And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake" (Daniel 12:2). "And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose" (Matthew 27:52). "And when your days be fulfilled," said God to David, "and you shalt sleep with your fathers. . ." (II Sam. 7:12) .

Death is described as a sleep dozens of times in the Bible when referring to the kings of Israel and Judah! "David slept with his fathers . . ." (I Kings 2:10). Notice that it does not say "the body slept while the soul was conscious." It plainly says, "David slept." It was the conscious person who fell "asleep" in death!

In the following verses the same expression is used to describe death. Look each one up and see for yourself that death is compared to a sleep: I Kings 11:21, 43; 14:20, 31; 15:8, 24; 16:6, 28; 22:40, 50; 2 Kings 8:24; 10:35; 13:9, 13; 14:16, 22, 29; 15:7, 22, 38; 16:20; 20:21; 21:18; 24:6; 2 Chronicles 9:31; 12:16; 14:1; 16:13; 21:1; 26:2; 27:9; 28:27; 32:33; 33:20.

Certainly here is conclusive evidence that the dead are not conscious - that they have no conscious "immortal souls"!

35. Job once asked the question, "If a man die, shall he live again?" What was Job's answer to his own question? Job 14:14. What was the change Job spoke of, and when will it take place? I Corinthians 15:51-53.

36. What will Job, David and all those in the resurrection be like? Will they be like God? Psalms 17:15. Is God spirit? John 4:24. Are they therefore to be composed of spirit then? I Corinthians 15:42-49. Compare this with I John 3:2.

37. Why were Adam and Eve not permitted to eat the fruit of the "tree of [eternal] life" after they sinned? Genesis 3:22-24, especially the last part of verse 22.

COMMENT: Adam and Eve could have eventually gained eternal life and become spirit by eating of the fruit of the "tree of life." This plainly shows Adam and Eve did not have immortality inherent in themselves!

The "tree of life" symbolized the Holy Spirit - the way to eternal life. Adam was created incomplete. He was created to need the Holy Spirit of God in order to live forever. If Adam had eaten of the fruit of that tree, rather than of the forbidden tree, he would have received the Holy Spirit (the very life of God) ,and would not have died!

Adam, however, had to choose whether or not he would accept the free gift of the Holy Spirit. He chose. (I Timothy 2:14, first part), by disobeying God, not to receive the Holy Spirit and was consequently cut off from access to the tree of life! Here is yet another proof that no man has eternal life inherent within himself.

Some who believe that Christians have an immortal soul use Philippians 1:23-24 as proof. Do these verses overthrow all of the plain scriptures we have studied? Let's understand what Paul meant.

38. Did Paul have a desire to be with Christ? Philippians 1:23.

COMMENT: All Christians should have the same desire. But does this verse state when Paul would be with Christ? Absolutely not! But people try to read certain ideas into this verse! Let's notice when Paul expected to be with Christ.

39. Did Paul expect to receive something from Christ when he met Him? II Timothy 4:6-8. And when would that be - the time when Jesus returns and all the saints are resurrected? Verse 8. Notice the words "at that day."

40. When Christ returns, will He bring His rewards with Him? Isaiah 40:10; Revelation 22:12. When will all (both dead and living) Christians "meet the Lord"? I Thessalonians. 4:16-17.

COMMENT: Those who are dead in their graves are not conscious; they have no knowledge of passing time. The very next moment of their consciousness will be the time of the resurrection! That is why Paul wrote in II Corinthians 5:9-10: "Wherefore we labor [while yet alive], that, whether present [alive in the flesh] or absent [dead in the grave], we may be accepted of him."

When?

Verse 10 tells us - at the judgment when Christ returns! That is when Paul expected to receive the reward of his labors and to be with Christ. God will judge us at Christ's coming (II Timothy 4:1) - at the resurrection from the dead - the awesome event every true Christian eagerly looks forward to!

There are also some who claim that man is "body, soul and spirit." But which of the two the soul or the spirit -- is immortal, even they never seem quite sure! Let's understand this expression.

41. What does the Bible reveal about "body, soul and spirit"? I Thessalonians 5:23. Does this verse really prove the "immortality of the soul"? Of course not! It does not contradict all the plain verses we have already studied (John 10:35).

COMMENT: Paul here referred to the MIND in man when he used the word "spirit." And to the PHYSICAL LIFE when he used the word "soul." And to the FLESH when he used the word "body."

What's wrong with having your whole mind, your life, and your body preserved blameless - preserved from the penalty of sin - in anticipation of the coming of Christ? (See also II Corinthians 7:1.) Nothing! That is something we should all fervently desire!

How plain the Bible really is. Man is MORTAL, corruptible flesh - organic matter with a temporary life. He has no eternal life inherent within himself - no "immortal soul"! He is a physical, fleshly creature destined to die and turn to dust and remain that way except for the intervention of the Almighty.

But God has sent His Son to make it possible for us to receive the GIFT of immortality and eternal life at the resurrection from the dead! Will you qualify to receive that wonderful gift? [End]

For more information on related topics, request our free articles: Do You Have an Immortal Soul? and Are You Going to Heaven?