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The Corruption of the Human Spirit
- Thread starter AustinC
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Additional quotes from previous topic
I'll ask a further question here: What exactly is a "spirit" in terms of a human being?
I'll ask a further question here: What exactly is a "spirit" in terms of a human being?
Those are off-topic and not necessary. Please stay on topic and answer.
Genesis 6:5-6,11-12 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.
Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.
Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.
I'd like to propose that a human's "spirit" in this context is the same as a human's "will". So whatever we can say about the human will, we can say about the human spirit.
We know that Paul said to "walk in the spirit, and not in the flesh"
[Gal 5:16-18 KJV] 16 [This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
This is comparable to Paul's consternation in Rom 7, where the flesh fights against the spirit.
[Rom 7:5-6, 14-18 KJV] 5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not [in] the oldness of the letter. ...
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that [it is] good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.
Thus, corruption of the spirit would be that both the spirit and the flesh are pulling toward the same things, rather than fighting against one another.
Ok, but I'd like you to apply the same standard to your own posts. How is this one related to "spirit", since "spirit" doesn't appear in the verses anywhere:
This appears to be off topic, too. Doesn't mention "spirit".
Hopefully you are understanding my point here--the "spirit" corruption is not found in the bible. So if we are going to talk about the corruption of the human spirit, we need to define terms so that we are talking to each other with mutually agreeable terms, as well as reading from the bible the right way, in terms of our topic.
That is like asking how much cancer is too much.
Which is the point.
In the New Testament spirit is also seen as that dimension of human personality whereby relationship with God is possible ( Mark 2:8 ; Acts 7:59 ; Rom 1:9 ; 8:16 ; 1 Cor 5:3-5 ). It is this human spiritual nature that enables continuing conversation with the divine Spirit ( Rom 8:9-17 ).
Flesh and spirit are often juxtaposed. Both can be defiled ( 2 Cor 7:1 ) and both can be holy ( 1 Cor 7:34 ). The flesh (works) and the spirit (fruit) are unalterably opposed to each other ( Gal 5:16-26 ). Spirit is also contrasted with letter. While the letter kills, the Spirit gives life ( 2 Cor 3:6 ). Spirit is also contrasted with human wisdom ( 1 Cor 2:5 ). Weakness of flesh can prove stronger than the spirit's will to pray ( Mark 14:38 ).
Worship of God in the spirit is acceptable, contrasting with unacceptable worship in the flesh ( Php 3:3 ). "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth" ( John 4:24 ).
While God's Spirit is holy, reference is made to unclean, evil, and demonic spirits that are injurious to relationships with God and other humans.
There are a few passages that see the spirit as disembodied ( 2 Cor 5:1-5 ; Heb 12:23 ; 1 Peter 3:19 ). Paul speaks of being absent in body, but present in spirit ( Col 2:5 ), and James notes that the body without the spirit is dead ( James 2:26 ).
Spirit Definition and Meaning - Bible Dictionary
Flesh and spirit are often juxtaposed. Both can be defiled ( 2 Cor 7:1 ) and both can be holy ( 1 Cor 7:34 ). The flesh (works) and the spirit (fruit) are unalterably opposed to each other ( Gal 5:16-26 ). Spirit is also contrasted with letter. While the letter kills, the Spirit gives life ( 2 Cor 3:6 ). Spirit is also contrasted with human wisdom ( 1 Cor 2:5 ). Weakness of flesh can prove stronger than the spirit's will to pray ( Mark 14:38 ).
Worship of God in the spirit is acceptable, contrasting with unacceptable worship in the flesh ( Php 3:3 ). "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth" ( John 4:24 ).
While God's Spirit is holy, reference is made to unclean, evil, and demonic spirits that are injurious to relationships with God and other humans.
There are a few passages that see the spirit as disembodied ( 2 Cor 5:1-5 ; Heb 12:23 ; 1 Peter 3:19 ). Paul speaks of being absent in body, but present in spirit ( Col 2:5 ), and James notes that the body without the spirit is dead ( James 2:26 ).
Spirit Definition and Meaning - Bible Dictionary
Yep (that was my way of agreeing with you). A little sin is a little sin too much.
What did JESUS say being the spirit? John 6:v.63 - ... the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit ... Based in what JESUS said, the words that get out of the mouth of men are spirit. In fact there are many kinds of spirits, I think there are multitudes of them that dwell within men, and they speak by the mouth of men.
Revelation 16:v.13-16:
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the Dragon, and out of the mouth of the Beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
Who is prepared for this battle of this great Day of God Almighty, the seventh and last Day, the Lord's Day, or seventh and last millennium?
On the other hand, remember that our God has seven spirits. And the Word is God.
I do not think that the spirit of human beings can be define or explain in terms of its personality or character.
When Breath of GOD entered Adam's lifeless body Adam became a living being. In other words, Adam received from GOD His eternal energy of life and became alive.
Because GOD is intelligent Being, the part of the energy of GOD (spirit, soul) that Adam received also contained a part of GOD'S intelligence, and this is why Adam was created in the Image of GOD.
Eve was made from Adam's bone and flesh, flesh contains blood, and blood contains the soul that Adam received from GOD, and so in this fashion the blood with its soul passed from Adam to Eve. Eve is not an image of GOD, but the image of man Adam.
Spirit (breath, soul) of GOD that Adam received did not contained any certain characteristic of character or personality, it was blank, it gave only life and intelligence to Adam and nothing else, but character and personality of Adam and Eve were developed later during their life process.
Basically it can be explain in this way, that at birth we received blank spirit (soul) passing to us from the first humans Adam and Eve, and as we grow we are writing on our blank soul our character and personality as we grow.
Ecclesiastes 7.29
29.I have found only this, that GOD made men upright, but they sought out many devices."
GOD made men upright through His Statutes, Commandments, and Laws, not from the beginning of creation of Adam, other wise all humanity from Adam and on will be upright, innocent, and blameless.
So, we are evil or righteous according to our personal preferences, because we have free will to chose our destiny and a way of life.
When Breath of GOD entered Adam's lifeless body Adam became a living being. In other words, Adam received from GOD His eternal energy of life and became alive.
Because GOD is intelligent Being, the part of the energy of GOD (spirit, soul) that Adam received also contained a part of GOD'S intelligence, and this is why Adam was created in the Image of GOD.
Eve was made from Adam's bone and flesh, flesh contains blood, and blood contains the soul that Adam received from GOD, and so in this fashion the blood with its soul passed from Adam to Eve. Eve is not an image of GOD, but the image of man Adam.
Spirit (breath, soul) of GOD that Adam received did not contained any certain characteristic of character or personality, it was blank, it gave only life and intelligence to Adam and nothing else, but character and personality of Adam and Eve were developed later during their life process.
Basically it can be explain in this way, that at birth we received blank spirit (soul) passing to us from the first humans Adam and Eve, and as we grow we are writing on our blank soul our character and personality as we grow.
Ecclesiastes 7.29
29.I have found only this, that GOD made men upright, but they sought out many devices."
GOD made men upright through His Statutes, Commandments, and Laws, not from the beginning of creation of Adam, other wise all humanity from Adam and on will be upright, innocent, and blameless.
So, we are evil or righteous according to our personal preferences, because we have free will to chose our destiny and a way of life.
Jeremiah 17:9
Agreed!
And Matthew 15:v.10-20
10 And JESUS called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
13 But JESUS answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
15 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.
16 And JESUS said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
20 These are the things which defile a man:...
I’ve been thinking more about this question, and I’m not real sure what you’re asking, though I helped to instigate the thread.
Could you complete the question?
“How Corrupt is the Human Spirit and how much corruption is acceptable before God is needed” to do what? To save someone?
I would have to say that a single sin is enough to corrupt a person enough to deny them eternal life. God is then needed for that person to have eternal life again.
What form of help does that person then need from God? I would say he needs a substitutionary atonement. The reason for this is that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin (Heb 9:22)
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That person, who is dead in their trespasses and sins, needs God to make them alive with Christ. Ephesians 2:1-9