LIFE OUT OF BALANCE: Previously, we established that there are four basic dimensions that make us human (1) the mental, (2) the physical, (3) the spiritual, and (4) the social, all of which work in agreement with one another. What happens when the physical is separated from the social, spiritual, and mental?
This series addresses the concerns we all have: the concern for sin, evil, death, dying, and what happens after we die. Is there hope after death? When God created us, humans, he intended for us to live forever in a loving, peaceful relationship with him. But this relationship has been broken by sin.
Here, we address the origin of sin and look more closely at death and dying.
But, instead of looking at death negatively, we look at it in the context of hope, the promised hope based on what Jesus did for us when he died and came back to life again.
From the Sabbath School Adult Bible Study Guide 2022 Quarter 4: Sabbath.School (See also Hope Sabbath School and 3ABN Sabbath School)
Asking for God’s Help
Holy Father, help us to understand the value of our human existence better and help us to live our lives in harmony with your Divine will. In Jesus’ Name Amen
Our life becomes out of balance when we attempt to place the physical, mental, spiritual, and social in separate compartments and use them only as we see fit.
For example, many enter a relationship that may be coupled with the social, and the physical, but leave out the mental and the spiritual. The results: utter failure!
Why? Because two of the major dimensions were not involved. The mental, and spiritual were left out. The point is that anything that we do in life, to be successful, must include all four dimensions. For more details on these dimensions review our previous lesson,
Day 2 at SabbathSchoolDaily.com
To be successful, we must develop these four dimensions. However, if we have a false misconception about our makeup, we will not see the value in developing all four. Some work only on the spiritual, some work only on the physical, others on the mental, and still others on the social but, most do not recognize that our lives are ineffective when these are not operating as a whole.
We cannot live successful lives without intermingling all four, which also includes the spiritual. We are physical, mental, social, and spiritual beings.
But there are many false ideas out there that seek to defy this notion.
For instance, in terms of the physical body, there is the false idea that we have an immortal soul that lives inside a mortal body. This is known as the dualistic theory. From this belief, many other theories have developed.
For instance, ancient Greek philosophers believed that the human body was a prison for the soul. Whereby, the soul was freed from this “prison” at death.
Today in our contemporary society, many maintain the same ancient pagan concept. Many Christians today have adopted this belief. They believe that the physical body is a temporary house for the immortal soul. Their premise is that the soul does not die when the body dies.
The idea is that at the Second Coming, God will not need to wake up their souls from the dead; He will only need to give them new bodies for their souls to live in. Thus, the soul reintegrates with the body in the resurrection at Christ’s Second Coming.
In contrast, Pantheists believe that God is in everything He made. They see the human body as divine. They maintain that God and the universe are one and the same.
The point is that there are so many conflicting and confusing ideas about the physical body.
But there is hope; if our foundation is on the word of God, the Bible we do not have to be concerned about these conflicting ideas because the Bible does not leave us ignorant regarding the nature of humanity.
I Corinthians 3:16-17 and 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20 lets us know that our bodies are temples.
I Corinthians 3:16-17
16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. (I Corinthians 3:16-17)
I Corinthians 6:19-20
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. (I Corinthians 6:19-20) (Split)
Thus, the Bible establishes that the body is “the temple of God” and “the temple of the Holy Spirit dwells in your temple.”
Just knowing that our bodies belong to God and are a place in which the Holy Spirit resides should be enough to influence how we live our lives.
God created Adam and Eve according to Genesis 1:26, 27 in his own image and likeness.
26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:26-27)
Adam and Eve were not only to reflect God in character but also in their physical appearance.
But sin has ruined our bodies and minds. And it has tainted our minds and has even hidden his image in us. Therefore, God devised a plan to restore his image in us. He wants us to become the way He first made Adam and Eve. God wants us to have healthy minds and bodies as much as possible in this life.
God’s plan for complete restorations of our minds and bodies will be finished only at Jesus’ Second Coming. At that time, God will change our bodies according to 1 Corinthians 15:53, 54.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” (I Corinthians 15:53-54)
At that point, we will become immortal; we will never die.
John wrote to his friend Gaius in 3 John 1:2, saying: “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul” (3 John 1:2, NRSV).
Remembering, each person is made of four basic dimensions: physical, mental, spiritual, and social helps us to understand the value of taking care of our temple. Thus, maintaining good health is part of our spiritual duty, and it influences our ability to be sociable and mentally sound.
1 Corinthians 10:31 provides an important guide for us to follow: “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31, NKJV).
You see, The greatest praise that we can bring to God is to become consecrated channels through whom He can work. Time is rapidly passing into eternity. Let us not keep back from God that which is His own. Let us not refuse Him that which, though it cannot be given with merit, cannot be denied without ruin. He asks for a whole heart; give it to Him; it is His, both by creation and by redemption. He asks for your intellect; give it to Him; it is His. He asks for your money; give it to Him; it is His. “Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price.” 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20. God requires the homage of a sanctified soul, which has prepared itself, by the exercise of the faith that works by love, to serve Him. He holds up before us the highest ideal, even perfection. He asks us to be absolutely and completely for Him in this world as He is for us in the presence of God.—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 566.
But remember that we still live in a world where good people can do their best and yet suffer the consequences of a sinful human nature and a sinful environment. So, we should trust in God and do our best, and we leave the results with God.
Our physical bodies are the temples of God, and we are therefore expected to treat the as such. In harmony with our bodies should be how we treat our minds. How can we maintain a healthy mind? Find out on Day 4, The Mind of Christ
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