8/4/75

DOCTRINE OF MAN’S STATUS AT THE FALL

A. Originally man was trichotomous, having a body, soul, and spirit, Gen 2:7.

B. The unbeliever is dichotomous, 1 Cor 2:14. Therefore, it is impossible for dichotomous man to have a relationship with God as did Adam and the woman in the Garden, Jude 19.

C. The believer today is called trichotomous, 1 Thes 5:23. This indicates that what Adam lost in the fall we have regained at the cross.

D. Spiritual death effects the soul in the sense that the soul is separated from God. Salvation also effects the soul in the sense that the soul cannot exist in the presence of God apart from the human spirit. The soul has to be saved, Ps 19:7, 34:22; Mk 8:36-37; 1 Pet 1:9; Heb 10:39, and is saved by the creation of the human spirit at the point of faith in Christ.

E. The human soul and spirit are distinguished as two separate invisible inner entities in Heb 4:12. The human spirit was destroyed in spiritual death. Because there were no human spirits, neither the man nor the woman were capable of entering the classroom in the Garden when Jesus Christ came to teach them. This is one reason why they hid themselves.

F. Adam and the woman can now only understand Gospel information. Gen 3:15 is the first Gospel presentation. The Holy Spirit acts as a human spirit, making the information real to them, Gen 6:3; Jn 16:8-11; 1 Cor 2:14-16.

G. The status of the original parents is summarized by Rom 5:12.

H. The old sin nature resides in the body. Spiritual death resides in the soul in the sense that the soul without the human spirit is dead to God. Therefore, the volition of the soul makes the decision by which we are saved.

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R. B. Thieme, Jr., Bible Ministries 5139 West Alabama, Houston, Texas 77056 (713) 621-3740

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