(3)- The Spirit Of Man Never Dies

(GEN. 1:26) God said, "Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. - God said "us" (Father, Son & Holy Ghost). God was & is Spirit, but now the Son has an eternal physical body similar to our future eternal body. (1 John 3:2) We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.- Since at the time God had no physical image, the reference could only be to the spirit. God made animals with only a body & a soul, but God gave man a spirit also. This gave man a higher intellect & a God conciousness. (Dan. 4:33)- God punished King Nebuchadnezzar by taking away his spirit for 7 years leaving him with only a body & soul- the King was now like an animal. A man's spirit is the part of him that is eternal. In the OT when a saint (A saved sinner) died his spirit went to Paradise. Paradise was a part of Sheol located in the earth. They couldn't go to heaven until Jesus died on the cross, purchasing the Church with His blood.-(Acts. 20:28) Think of Lazzaras & the rich man in different sections of Sheol. (Place of the dead) On the cross, Jesus told the thief " Today thou shalt be with me in Paradise". Paradise was still in the earth. (Eph. 4:8-10) He who ascended first descended into the lower parts of the earth, not into flames as some teach, but into Paradise, along with the Thief. He took Captivity captive & led them on high (To Heaven), but first He resurrected and talked to Mary Magdalene at the Tomb. Jesus said, " Don't touch me for I have not yet ascended to the Father. (John 20:17) Go & tell my disciples I go to My God & your God & My Father & your Father. Jesus immediately took Paradise to Heaven. If He meant his ascension 40 days later, He could have told them Himself that very evening inside the locked room. With Paradise in Heaven, at death we are absent from the body & present with the Lord. (1 Thess. 5:23)- We are body, soul & spirit. Before becoming a Born-Again Christian our soul-spirit was one entity. Often soul & spirit were used interchangeably. (Heb. 4:12)- The Word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword even to the dividing of soul & spirit and joints & marrow. The dividing of soul & spirit takes place when Jesus saves us. He divides our soul & spirit, then indwells our spirit with the Holy Spirit. This is then the beginning of our eternal life. In Christ, Con NOTE:- Dissagree? correct me. Agree- Encourage me.