Philologos
Bible Prophecy Research
Title: Life is in the Blood
Submitted by: research-bpr@philologos.org
Date: March 23, 2001
URL: http://philologos.org/bpr/files/Misc_Studies/ms080.htm

Life is in the Blood
Premarital Sex, Cloning, etc.

28 Adar, 5761
March 23, 2001

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A Voice in the Wilderness
Issue 082
April, 2001

"And the LORD God...breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul". (Gen2:7) "But you shall not eat flesh with its life - its blood". (Gen9:4) "For the life of the flesh is in the blood...for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul"(Lev17:11)

What we consider in this lesson (and follow-up commentary) is a subject that, when its Truth hit me, it was of such profundity, I have come to realize it is a major doctrine that SHOULD BE taught more, but isn't. The seed for this discussion came from listening to a sermon tape of a Godly pastor of a church in Madison, Wisconsin. The seeds his message planted, sprouted in my heart as the Holy Spirit flooded me with related Scriptures; thus, I knew what he had proclaimed, although not commonly heard from pulpits, was God's Truth. As I share with you in a small way, here, what the Lord has revealed to my heart, perhaps you who are True Believers will then experience the Holy Spirit opening His Word to you in a similar fashion. This discussion is for blood-bought and redeemed children of God. The unsaved will likely not have a clue.

Medical science understands a partial significance of blood. They can take blood samples and if they conduct all the necessary tests, they can presume to know "everything" about the physical health of the owner of that blood. The blood supplies nutrients to empower the body, oxygen to make those nutrients work, other mechanisms to remove impurities. The blood is the pathway for pathogens which make a person sick. It is also the conduit for chemotherapy which often makes the body well again.

But there is another aspect which medicine has apparently not detected under their microscopes and centrifuges. Life, actual LIFE, is in the blood. No; blood is not merely the conduit of nutrients to keep the body alive; but the blood, -itself-, is-and-contains LIFE. Medical science says a person is dead when the brain waves stop. But when a person has drowned (for instance) and brain activity has ceased, and they are revived, what is the concern about 'time and the brain'? The lack of 'blood' to the brain. You might quickly suggest, "Well, sure... the brain needs its nutrients and oxygen, which the blood -supplies-." True. But 'what' makes the brain work? We have observed in the past how the brain is merely an organic "computer". As with electronic computers, computers don't program and operate themselves; somebody, or some thing, needs to enter commands to make the computer function. We have spoken in the past of demon-possession, and how demons can only enter an "empty house". (Mt12:43-45) How charismania uses Tibetan/Hindu/TM/Yoga type shamanistic "meditation" techniques to empty one's mind in order to become "spirit-filled". But we wonder, when a person is in their 'normal' [non-possessed] state, -where- is that seat of understanding? Where is the soul? Where does the consciousness of a person reside? Where is the "operator" of the "computer"? Well, by the time we have finished here, perhaps we will come to realize that the concept of "-heart-" may not be as far-fetched a concept as we might have thought. "For from within, out of the heart [the 'blood' organ] of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness." (Mk7:21-22)

To understand this, we must look at the Hebrew. In our opening passages, the words "soul" and "life" come from the same word, "nephesh" (Strongs 5315) Now, what does "nephesh" mean?

Nephesh == "living being, individual, seat of the appetites, seat of emotions and passions, activity of mind, activity of the will, activity of the character." In other words, one's personality, decision-making, emotions, morality... conscience and knowing what's right and wrong. The N.T. Greek for "soul" (psuche Strongs -5590) has a definition not all that different, in practicality, from "nephesh"; so, for simplicity and consistency, this article will stick with "nephesh".

In Gen2:7, "man became a living soul [Nephesh]". In other words, "man became a living [Life]". Lev17:11 "life [nephesh] is in the blood". In other words, the "[soul] is in the blood".

Before we get along with Scripture, here, let's address some objections that are likely already arising in some minds; food for thought from the realm of life practice and experiences, as we then continue seeing what Scripture says... When people receive blood in transfusions, there is apparently a phenomenon where the recipient often feels as though someone -else- is "with them". They can't explain it, but their thoughts are plagued, and they sometimes have strange dreams they cannot understand. This phenomenon also often occurs for those who receive an organ transplant from somebody else. Also consider the "blood brother" practise where those joining together cut themselves and join their blood with each other's, 'Klingon' style. Where did that concept come from? There is the satanist ritual of drinking blood and all that that entails and signifies. Pagans who conquer others, often drink some of the blood of the strongest members of their enemies, in order to "receive their strength". If one of their enemies was particularly brave and courageous, drinking their blood is supposed to give the recipient some of that person's courage. (Again, like the Klingon "blood wine") Where do such ideas come from? Well... Most perversions come from distortions of Truth, some place... way-back-when.

When Cain killed Abel, what did God say about Abel? "The voice of your brother's -BLOOD- 'cries' out to Me from the ground." (Gen4:10) For years I have looked at that verse 'figuratively'. I mean, how can 'physical' blood make a sound? "Figurative" that Cain's killing of Abel was something he should not have done, and it was displeasing to God, and that such an act required retribution because of its violence and evil.

Consider some statements: "Surely I saw yesterday the blood of Naboth, says the LORD.." (2Kg9:26a) "O earth, do not cover my blood, and let my cry have no place!" (Job16:18) "The dying groan in the city, and the souls [nephesh/life] of the wounded cry out.." (Job24:12) "the sorrows of Sheol [place of the dead, grave] surrounded me" (2Sam22:6) "Will they go down to the gates of Sheol? Shall we have rest together in the dust?" (Job17:16) "For You will not leave My soul [nephesh/life] in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption [physical decay]." (Ps16:10) And there are -MANY- more like these.

A medical examiner would be able to see how the 'physical' aspect of blood would decay in the ground as he would analyze its physical components under his microscope. And yet Job speaks of "after my -skin- is destroyed.." in decay (Job19:26) Not blood or [nephesh]. But notice the distinction of the "life" component which is yet in the ground... as other places speak of "death" and the "depths of the earth". (Ps71:20, Eze31:14,16,18, 32:18) Is there a component of blood that they cannot see in their microscopes that is not destroyed? As Christ's [nephesh] was not left in Sheol, notice that Jesus prophesies concerning Himself, "..so will the Son of Man be...in the heart of the earth" (Mt12:40) Where His blood would drip into the ground, that's where He was going. Just as Abel's blood [life/nephesh] cried to God from the ground, that was the same place Jesus went when He shed His blood [life/nephesh].

Those who give their lives in martyrdom during the 70th week are pictured as being "under the altar" and they cry out "with a loud voice" to God about the avengement of their blood [life/nephesh]. (Rev6:9-10) You can be sure their killers assume they are "dead" and now "quiet". But God hears them. This soul [nephesh] life is obviously on a different dimension than can be microscoped. But it is "in the blood". People often say the eye is the "window to the soul". When a doctor shines that light and looks in the eye, what is he looking at? The health of the blood vessels in the eye's retina. You want to know a person's substance? Don't look at body parts... look at the blood. Perhaps this explains Jesus' comment better when He spoke of the eye being "sound/healthy" (Mt6;22) indicating the whole person being "full of light". Perhaps this is where the term "hot blooded" came from to describe a person of quick temper?

Yes, I realize this article is not giving us the "how" in all this. I don't know. And I don't know that Scripture explains it. But it says that it is so. There are many mysteries that we do not yet understand. But we accept them by faith.

So, now that we have a slight 'peek' into the realm of this mystery, so what? Why is this of any kind of significance?

If we remember back to the past series on "Covenants and Dispensations" (in the Library) we considered how that, after Noah's flood, God introduced a new covenant with mankind. While there are many things which reside in man's 'conscience' (Rom2:15), there was ONLY ONE edict upon the human race. As God is changing vegetarianism (Gen1:29-30) into a diet that now also includes meat (9:3), and has just destroyed the corruption (which we will discuss more in-depth later) and is starting fresh, He also stipulates to not eat the blood. (vs4) And He explains, "for in the image of God He made man". (vs6) We'll come back and explain this point more completely in the commentary. [Editor: I know we are starting to get what appear to be a lot of unanswered loose ends. But by the time we finish the commentary, I think they will have all been pulled together for the complete whole.]

There is a passage that has always puzzled me; and any explanations I have ever heard from anybody's pulpit never quite 'witnessed' with my spirit. Now, I believe a window to its Truth has begun to open. It is a controversial passage, as claims are made that part of it doesn't exist in the Greek manuscripts. In 1Jn5:6-8, vs7 is said to not appear in the Greek texts, that's why it's italicized. So, to give the benefit of such doubts, let us look at this with vs6 & 8. As John is speaking, "he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God" (vs5) he then goes into a description of Jesus. "This is He who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. (vs6)

First of all, John is explaining that this is a concept only understood by/through the Holy Spirit, and thus, by those who are indwelt by the Spirit. (Rom8:9, Jn16:13, 1Cor2:9-16) If you are not a Believer into Jesus Christ, don't expect to understand -any- of what we are talking about here. Only the Holy Spirit will open this up into the heart of those He indwells. If you are not a Believer, pardon my bluntness, but may I suggest you stop reading at this point, and go on to something else. The glorious things we are about to discover here are not for you. This is a wonderful "pearl of great price" (Mt13:46) that is only for True Believing Christians.

Jesus came by "water and blood". (vs6) Man, on the other hand, is born "from above" of "water and spirit". (Jn3:5) Man's physical anatomy is -mostly- 'water'. While Nicodemus was trying to figure out how to be born again, physically, Jesus was telling him he needed the Holy Spirit. (Jn3:6-8) But when Jesus came to give life, He came as "water and blood". He came, not only as a human (water), but also as Deity (blood). Remember that God breathed [nephesh] (soul/blood/life) into Adam, as man was made in God's "image". That's the 'blood'.

So, when Jesus died and the spear was pushed into His side -after- he was dead (Jn19:33-34) [Editor: there is a most damnable heresy going around saying that some "missing verses" indicate that the spear is what killed Jesus, that would seek to undermine this most glorious truth!], it says, "and immediately blood and water came out". When a body is dead, apparently the blood separates in this way.

Before His crucifixion Jesus said, "I am in the Father, and the Father in Me". (Jn14:10-11) "I and My Father are one." (Jn10:30) But as Jesus was bearing the sin of the world, the Father turned His back upon the Son, and Jesus cries out, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me??" (Ps22:1, Mt27:46) You see, at that very moment, Jesus' blood began separating into "water and blood". That union between Jesus' Deity and humanity were no longer "one". -THAT- was 'how' Jesus died!!

So, what does all this mean to us in any meaningful way? After all, we were saved when we came before God imploring His mercy upon us, as sinners. (Lk18:13) And we received Jesus Christ by faith. (Rom10:17, Eph2:8, Jn1:12) Perhaps it will give us a greater appreciation for exactly 'WHAT' Salvation consists of, and 'HOW' it is that Jesus saved us.

When Israel came out of Egypt, they killed the Passover lamb, and put its blood on their doors, and God's promise was, "And when I see the blood, I will pass over you.." and not destroy. (Ex12:13) I think we typically look at the "death" of the Lamb in that story. When we 'see' them 'slapping' (with hyssop and "-strike- the lintel.." -Ex12:22) that blood on their doors, reminiscent of how Jesus would be whipped to a shredded bloody pulp, we are seeing the blood as a symbol of "death". But remember? The what? The [nephesh] "life" is in the blood!! When the Death angel came over Egypt, he was not looking for death... but Life! The blood on the doors meant "Life" to the occupants of the house.

When Israel made all those thousands of sacrifices all those years, if we remember "nephesh"... "For the life...is in the blood...to make atonement for your LIFE; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the LIFE." (Lev17:11 paraphrased)

Let's look at Jesus again. Peter reminds us that it was "the precious blood of Christ" (1Pt1:19) by which we were saved. That He "loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood" (Rev1:5) And "without shedding of blood there is no remission" (Heb9:22) Remembering Lev17:11, consider Isa53:10-11: "Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul [nephesh] an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days... He shall see the travail of His soul [nephesh], and be satisfied" as in this manner He "justifies many" and "bears their iniquities".

The Gospel states "that Christ DIED for our sins.." (1Cor15:3) The soul that sins must "die". (Eze18:4, Rom6:23) Thus, Jesus paid our "death" -penalty-. But that is only merely a 'part' of what He did. He also needed to provide the "ransom/redemption". He came to "GIVE His LIFE a ransom.." (Mt20:28) "No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself." (Jn10:18) If Jesus had only "given -UP-" His life, He would have been "dead". But He did more than that. When He shed his blood, He shed His Life. As though to say to the Judge, the Heavenly Father:

Remember... we were "dead". (Eph2:1) No amount of 'sprucing up' could make us "better". We could not work at being "better". What we were in need of was "Life". Jesus gave us -HIS- Life!! This is how we were "raised" to "newnewss of life". (Rom6:4) He gave us His blood in which was Life [nephesh]. Thus, the Lord's Supper. "This cup is the new covenant in My blood" (1Cor11:25) of which we are instructed to "Drink all of it". (Mt26:27) We cannot be 'partially' into Christ. It is an all-or-nothing proposition. "..unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you." (Jn6:53)

See what I mean? If you are not saved, you will not understand this, just like the unbelieving Jews didn't when Jesus told it, and stopped following Him. (Jn6:66) But they are the "words of eternal life"(vs68)

So, what is the nature of this New Life? It is a "mystery" to those who are not saved... "Christ in you, the hope of glory". (Col1:27) Paul explains it as a marriage between a man and his wife. He quotes back to the beginning, "a man shall...be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh". (Eph5:31, Gen2:24)

How do two become one? As we remember the story, Eve was taken from a rib which came out of Adam. (Gen2:21-24) Eve started out having come from the man. She was "bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh". (vs23) That's where it started. But how does "two become one" continue through the generations?

When a man enters a woman he gives her part of himself. That "seed" he imparts contains blood plasma. He gives her some of his [nephesh]. His life. Yes... his soul. Remember how we noted, above, how people who receive transfusions or organs often feel another 'presence' with them? When a couple come together, they are becoming "one" with each other. The longer a couple lives together, and they "do not deprive one another" (1Cor7:5a), the more their souls become shared with each other.

Now, while there is "exchange" between the two, note that it is a primarily 'one-way' transaction. The man's essence goes -to- the woman. Why? Adam was in need of a "helper SUITED TO HIM". (Gen2:20) How is a woman to be best suited to the man, unless she also has some of his soul, to understand him and know him? You see, by design, the woman comes under submission to the man; not the other way around. (1Cor11:3, Eph5:22, Col3:18) Sorry, feminists!!

And today's "church" is like feminism. It is like the predominance of "matchmaker" ads one might read. The "church" is looking, like a preponderance of today's females, for somebody to 'pamper' them and make them "feel special". So many of today's "christian" songs are "love songs" where the singers swoon and 'strain/rasp' their voices in love-making kinds of sounds, "mmmy hhhAdonaaaiii". They want their "knight in shining armor" to come along and "sweep them off their feet". They do not seek to "receive" Christ's [nephesh], and become WHAT HE IS. They do not seek to become LIKE HIM as they submit to Him. Today's female generically does not submit to her husband, and neither does the "church" (small "c") to Jesus Christ!

Perhaps this also explains today's epidemic of wives who leave their husbands in order to "find themselves". The new "spirituality". It is satan's attack on God's design of 'Life'! "..she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.." (1Tm5:6) Perhaps this also explains the abortion epidemic. That which the man gave into the woman is rejected by her. She does not want to submit to the man's [nephesh], and as such...God's Life. Let's just have the momentary "passing pleasures of sin" (Heb11:25), without the rich fullness of "two become one" as God intended it.

Eve was brought to Adam as one "suited" -to- him. In the same manner, Christ is not "for" the Church, but the Church is for Christ. He is the "Head". The Church is His "body", and is -His- "fullness" (Eph1:22-23) It is our duty to grow in maturity to become "suited" -to- Him.

So, do we now begin to understand how that when Christ is "in you" (Col1:27) we then grow in our "knowledge of Him". (Eph1:17) as we "grow up in all things into Him" (4:15) and our "unity" is based on the "knowledge of the Son of God" (vs13) as we become mature. Our lives are not "our own". (1Cor6:19) We are not striving for "what -I- want", but what Christ -IS-. As we mature we should not be growing up into "better SELVES" ...but "of the stature of the fullness of Christ". (Eph4:13)

The longer a couple lives together, it is noticed the more they "look alike". The longer they are together, the more they think alike. If they are conversing with others, they often finish each other's sentences because they know each other's thoughts. As Christians we "have the MIND OF CHRIST". (1Cor2:16)

Does this explain why the union between a husband and his wife is not -just- "sex", but is often called, "knowing". Because it is an example of the Believer's union with Christ, where we come to "know Him". (Phil3:10)

Jesus knows us intimately, the division between our soul [nephesh] and spirit. As He is in us, and we have His [nephesh], He knows our "thoughts and intents". (Heb4:12) And just as a wife receives of her husband's [nephesh] and becomes more "suited" to him, we are to be "conformed to the image of His Son". (Rom8:29)

How do we become like Christ? What do we "do" to become like Him? Well, how does the wife become "suited" to her husband? By submitting to him, and receiving his [nephesh]. In the same way we must submit to Christ and receive His [nephesh]. When we do so, by nature of the fact that we have His soul, we become characterized by His: "seat of the appetites, seat of emotions and passions, activity of mind, activity of the will, activity of the character." His character fills us. And this He does by the Holy Spirit. (Jn16:13-15, Rom8:9) Thus, His desires are our desires. His passions are our passions. His holiness is our holiness. His purity is our purity. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2Cor5:17)

Right now we are "flesh and blood" (1Cor15:50) and cannot get into Heaven. Before He gave Himself, Jesus also "shared" in man's flesh and blood-ness. (Heb2:14) But notice, after He rose from the dead, and is calming the fears of the disciples, He says, "Handle Me and see, for a spirit [ghost] does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." (Lk24:39) There is a well-known teacher who proclaims from this that Jesus, in resurrected form, no longer has blood...and suggests that when we are "changed" from "corruptible" into "incorruption" (1Cor15:53), that we will no longer have blood, either, since it is the case that, when we see Him, "we shall be like Him.." (1Jn3:2) However, just because Jesus only mentioned "flesh and bones" does not indicate that He did not have blood. The need of the moment was to show them that He had an actual "body" that could be felt; not a 'ghost'. Flesh is something one can feel, and bones gives structure to the body.

If the "life is in the blood", and we have "everlasting life" (Jn3:16), it somehow seems unlikely that we would cease to have blood. But that is a mystery, yet for the future. Whatever the case, we know we will be "like Him"... whatever that is.

But with all this knowledge of just "what" Jesus did for us, and now a little better idea of "how" He did it, and knowing that as we are presently coming to "know" Him more and more as He is "in" us, anticipating the hope of being "like Him"...

"..everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." (1Jn3:3)

Amen!

3/17/01

A Voice in the Wilderness
Commentary
April, 2001

If we consider that the union of a man with his wife involves a giving of the man's [nephesh] (soul/life) to his wife through the blood, perhaps God's loathing of adultery and sodomy can be better understood. And why the Law seems to "pick on the woman" more regarding adultery; and why "sodomy" is mentioned so much, but not lesbianism.

"They say, If a man divorces his wife, and she goes from him and becomes another man's, may he return to her again? Would not the land be greatly polluted?" (Jer3:1)

Why would the land be "polluted"? Because of the blood of marriage. In Deuteronomy ch24, the law said that, if a woman left a man and went to another man, if she left that second man and/or that husband died, she could not come back to her first husband. She first received the soul of one man, and then, from another.

It might be difficult to understand "why" this is so. We can only see the physical. We cannot 'see' the soul. We cannot observe the spiritual. (Jn3:8) We must take God's Word in faith in this. But understand that this is so important a matter, that when the demons came and became one with the women in Genesis ch6, the pollution was so great, it says "the earth also was corrupt before God" (vs11) that He sent the flood to wipe out all living flesh; except for what was saved in the ark. And Noah was saved, with his family, because he was "perfect in his generations". (vs9) "perfect" in this case meaning, "to have integrity" or being "in tact". It had not been corrupted.

Why is sodomy condemned so much in Scripture? Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed? "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination." (Lev18:22) Remember what happens in marriage? The man gives his [nephesh] to his wife. His soul becomes part of the woman through his seed. It is a "one-way" relationship. But when two men do what they do, it becomes a "two-way" situation. They are each giving each other their soul/s. It becomes like the "blood oath" of cutting and sharing the blood. Same as those cultures that would drink the blood of their vanquished enemies. Those cultures which God wiped out of existence and all we have left are their ziggurat ruins as reminders of their former greatness, and how far they fell under God's judgment.

And then there's that other matter found in the O.T. Law given through Moses. And please pardon that we even mention such matters. But if it was important enough that it is in Scripture, then, as we receive understanding of these things, it is also important enough to mention in a writing such as this. "Also you shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness [have sex] as long as she is in her customary [menstrual] impurity" (Lev18:19) Modern people wonder "why" such a law? Modern medicine says that there is nothing wrong with being together when she is having her period. But... what is the nature of menstruation? BLOOD. The 'woman's' blood. If she is in her time of blood, some of her blood [nephesh] goes to the man. Why is that wrong? We'll answer this in just a moment...

Originally God decreed, "therefore -a- man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh". (Gen2:24) Church leaders are to be "the husband of ONE wife.." (1Tim3:2) You see..."a" man and "a" woman.

The question is often raised... Why did so many men in the O.T. have more than one wife? Why did God allow that? In fact, in the Law God makes special edicts for the case where a man has more than one wife. "If a man has two wives, one loved and the other unloved..." (Deu21:15) But notice, you never see a Scripturally sanctioned situation where one woman has more than one husband. Why? The answer should be obvious when we consider the 'direction' of flow of the [nephesh]. It goes from the man to his wife, just as Christ's Life [nephesh] comes to the Church. And in some ways, the husband who has more than one wife might be another sort of picture of Christ and the Church, the "many members in one body" (Rom12:4, 1Cor12:12,20) Please understand... this is not to sanction polygamy. But as the one man would give to his plurality of wives, so Christ gives to the plurality which is His body, the Church.

So, perhaps it is now easier to see why harlotry is condemned. The woman thus engaged is piling on upon herself all these souls [nephesh] of everybody she is with. It becomes a question of "Who is she??" Perhaps this explains why all these people today who continually 'play the field' have so many emotional problems and "identity" crises!! They are on the "fast track", but also see their therapist on a regular basis. And sodomy...well...we have said enough. Put "two-and-two" together; it equals "four"; and the more they mix it up, it becomes factors of multiplication. If it can be said that there are 'degrees' to perversion, perhaps this explains why sodomy is even more loathesome in God's sight!

It is a common understanding that when a couple is married, the woman undergoes a "change". Psychology labels it as a kind of "emotional attachment" to the man; but I don't know if they have ever figured it out as to "why" this is so. It is so much more than -mere- "emotions". She receives the man's soul. On these TV news documentary shows, when they tell of a man who is found to have been polygamous, most people, as well as the news reporters, wonder why the various wives don't just "away with him". But so often, even though the various wives discover that they are not his "only one", and even meet each other, they still desire to remain with him, and they will be seen sitting together in the same room with each other, each saying that they "love" him. This is because they all possess his [nephesh]. For as much as Jacob's wives strove with each other like scratching, hissing cats, they -all- desired to be with Jacob and bear his children. In addition, perhaps this explains, a bit, that "glow" women speak of that they see in each other when the other has been with a man??

This is also the explanation of why a woman should keep herself a "virgin" for -THE- man she will marry. Today's lust-filled society says, "play the field". "Experiment". Go "shopping" and figure out exactly "what" it is -you- "want". THEN, you will be ready for the "right man" when you find him. Trouble is, by the time she has dallied around so much, and received of all these different souls, her own identity is ruined/lost. 'Ever wonder 'why' some women simply cannot seem to be able to "give" themselves to their husbands, once they have settled down? Why the divorce rate is so high? The world says, that "shopping" will "enhance" the marriage once it comes. Trouble is, the "first one" -was- her marriage. By playing the field, she actually essentially obliterated ALL HOPE of -ever- having a decent marriage! Listen to this well, and TAKE HEED!! God knows what He is talking about when He recorded it all in the Scriptures.

And fathers... if you molest your daughters... SHAME ON YOU!!! You are MOST perverse! And are not fit to continue living! "According to the doings of the land of Egypt [the world]..you shall not do. You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am Jehovah your God. None of you shall approach anyone who is near of kin to him, to [have sex] with them: I am Jehovah... Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you...therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it...for whoever commits any of these abominations, the persons who commit them shall be cut off from among their people. Therefore you shall keep My ordinance...and that you do not defile yourselves by [these abominable customs]: I am Jehovah your God." (~Lev18:1-30)

So now, as Believers...who do we spend our time with? The world? or Christ? Do we take upon ourselves the world's [nephesh]? If we have Christ, taking on the world is "defilement". It is corruption. It is a mixing of different souls. As we asked about the harlot, we then ask about ourselves, "Who are we?" And this is the question that keeps coming up about the "pretend church". Who are they? The world certainly can't tell! And True Believers are always questioning, never sure.

But there is an even greater reason, and actually, the NUMBER ONE reason. This, that we speak of in the next couple paragraphs, is the VERY 'CRUX' of the whole matter. As all these things were flooding in upon me, the nagging question that was not being answered immediately in my mind/heart was "WHY?" SO WHAT if a person has several souls/[nephesh]? Why is such a thing so detestible to God? And when the Lord allowed me to understand the answer, I was finally at peace over this whole topic. Somewhat like the psalmist, "When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me--until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end." (Ps73:16-17)

For this we go way back, again, to the beginning. Remember? God made man "in His own image". (Gen1:26-27) What is God's image? "The LORD our God, the LORD is -ONE-" (Deu6:4) God is -ONE-! "..the LORD Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there IS NO OTHER." (Deu4:39) "Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one." (Is44:8) "I am the LORD, and there is no other.." (Is45:5)

When a man goes into a woman, it is a picture of when God "breathed into" man and gave him H/his soul [nephesh]. There is only -ONE- God for man. By the same token, there is only -ONE- man for the woman. Anything else is like idolatry. When God said, "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Ex20:3), if we understand what marriage is, the same holds true and the husband could say, 'you shall have no other husbands before me'. (Hos3:3) God is "jealous" when people go after other gods (Ex20:5) just as a man is jealous when some other man is with his wife. "For jealousy is a husband's fury; therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance." (Pr6:34) In spite of today's permissive TV socialist PSAs on "domestic violence" that say the man should not "restrict" his wife in terms of "...who she can see...", jealously is given to the man by God, to help maintain purity.

Back to the picture of Christ and the Church. There is -one- body and -one- Spirit, -one- Lord and -one- 'FAITH'. (Eph4:4-5) When a woman goes to another man she has "cast off [her] FIRST FAITH". (1Tm5:12)

You see, the order is "God - Christ - Man - Woman". (1Cor11:3) Just as God breathed into the man, Adam (Gen2:7), the woman is "from man". (1Cor11:8) "Nor was the man created for the woman, but woman for the man" (vs9, Gen2:20) Again, sorry feminists and lesbians. This is God's creative order of things. I'm not being chauvinistic in this. This is God's design. The blood, and therefore the [nephesh] goes from the man to the woman. It simply does not work the other way around. "Adam was formed first, then Eve." (1Tim2:13) And two women cannot give it to each other in God's designed/ordained manner; it is simply impossible.

I don't yet understand how "because of the angels" (1Cor11:10b) fits into this. But there is something about this beautiful "pearl" that they understand and observe. When satan's demons were with women in Genesis ch6, he was perverting God's design. And when mankind today lives an orgy-like existence, they are spitting in God's face saying, We don't need God... we are our own gods! And we will procreate ourselves (our [nephesh]) any ol' way we wish!

And while we are talking about all these different sorts of things, let's insert here... this is why cloning is wrong. That new life does not come about by God-ordained man-to-woman giving of the nephesh. One's own [nephesh] becomes copied. There becomes more-than-one [nephesh] of that person's self. Remember that God is "One". Man is in God's "One" -image-!

And so, Dear Reader...the question is asked of you. Who are you? Do you claim to be a "Christian"? You claim to be "in Christ"? But are you also "loving the world"? "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1Jn2:15) Remember, we "cannot serve two masters" (Mt6:24) We either love one and hate the other, or hate the first, and love the second. Man, are you a 'pure' man? Woman, do you have only -one- man's [nephesh]? As a Christian, do you have -only- Christ's [nephesh]? Or do you have the [nephesh] from all sorts of different sources of the world? If a person observes you, do they ask the question, "Who is he/she??" I can't tell. They say one thing out of their mouths, but their lives tell a different tale. WHO ARE THEY? Whose soul [nephesh] do they have?

So again... Who are you?

Amen!
3/20/01

Q/A Topics & Misc Thoughts on "Life is in the Blood"

Closing Remarks

VW EDITOR:

There have been some questions that have been answered privately, mainly because there needs to be an 'end' to the time we spend on this subject publicly. The incident about Onan (Gen38) was raised. Some things I don't necessarily know the answers to. This is a kind of topic that, as we consider things we know in life around us, the light can flip 'on' suddenly and we react, "Oooh yeah...! That makes sense now!" On soooo many things. And conversely, if you are like I was when everything flooded in upon me, I began to see the utter evilness of soooo much in this world... the way sin has taken God's beautiful creation and utterly corrupted it. Some of those things I flip channels away from on TV, I do so with even greater disgust now!

And it seems like the biggest reaction to this series, and probably not surprisingly so, is more questions. Questions arising from, "I have lived a life of .... now, does this mean that all these [nephesh] are involved in 'my' situation? If the woman finally settles down to 'one' man, will all those other nephesh 'fade away' from existence as the [nephesh] from the current person 'builds up'?" And essentially the question, "How does one become 'purified' from all these different people" that one has been with?

Isn't it utterly sad and heartbreaking how such a 'beautiful' thing God created for a man and his wife, a picture of Christ's relationship with His Church, due to sin has been reduced down to... "how can we 'fix' things we messed up?" !!

First of all, does the [nephesh] "build up" and/or "die away"? Many of you sent questions, hoping I would have the answers for you. Please keep in mind that this is a new topic to my understanding, too. I don't have all the answers yet. And I expect that many questions won't have answers yet in this life, but must wait for clarification until that day when we "see Him as He is" at which time "it" will be "revealed". (1Jn3:2) We only now "know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known, when we see Him "face to face". (1Cor13:12) Remember, right now we "walk by faith, not by sight". (2Cor5:7)

Remember the Scriptures. [Editor: I may not give all the references again here. We've already seen them in the series. Go back and review if you need to. If you missed some of the mails, the whole series is at the website...begin at the April article, and the links will follow through the rest of the series in order. We're just going to 'talk' here for a few moments.]

The two become "one -FLESH-". Remember the little boy's 'board', and let's change the example. A man and woman are together and are "one". ("one" nail in the board) Now, the woman is with another man and becomes "one" again. (another nail) And again... How many nails are in the board? Each nail is "one" nail. But what's the situation with the board? These nails don't get pulled out. It is not like being possessed by a 'spirit', where demons can be cast out. The two became one "flesh". The [nephesh] is "soul", not spirit. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit". (Jn3:6) Do you see how the situation doesn't get "fixed" just because a person got saved after this kind of life? Salvation is a "spiritual" birth. (Jn3:8) But whatever a person did "in the flesh" is part of the "flesh and blood" which "cannot inherit the kingdom of God". (1Cor15:50)

The point in time where it all becomes "fixed" is at the Resurrection and Rapture, where the Believer receives the new "spiritual body"; that which is "in glory" and "incorruption"; no longer of earth, but of the "heavenly". (1Cor15:42-49)

So, until that day, 'what' do we do to put our lives on a straight course? At other times in the past we have seen how Scripture provides us with several possible scenarios. Let's review them briefly.

The #1 thing which Paul gives us is to "stay put". "Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called". (1Cor7:17,20,24) Has your past involved sleeping around, but now you are with the "last" in that series? Stay with whomever it is you find yourself now. Just stop the 'musical chairs' and 'sit down'. And "do not deprive one another". (1Cor7:5) Live a full marriage. You are now married to this present person... live a married life with them, as 'husband and wife'. Put the past in the past. Don't cling to past relationships. Don't worry about being "nurturing and loving" to all these people you have been with. Make a "complete break" from them and cleave to your present spouse. (All the "caring" for all these others is part of the reason you got into trouble in the first place. Let them go...out of your life.) In spite of the past, God has a way of causing "all things [to] work together for good to those who love God" (Rom8:28) Just trust Him!

Now, what if the "last" person you were with has subsequently been with another? Say "good bye" to them. It is the same as the O.T. command about the wife leaving one husband, going to a second, NOT coming back to the first. You are now free and alone.

What about if there are children from various past liaisons? Now 'that' becomes a tough one! See why it becomes such a mess? It is not the child's fault that you messed up! But they are reaping the rewards of your sin. In this, I don't know if I have a clear word from God's Word in the matter. While society typically suggests that parents have "visitation -rights-", and it is also always assumed that children need their "-birth- parents" to grow up healthy, one has to wonder what "so many different" parents does to the child's perspective of a proper marriage. They learn by observing. When a parent comes around to 'collect' the child for their 'time', there is contact with the forsaken spouse. Children need the stability of "one" home. Remember that God is "one", and the husband and wife become "one". The family, in my view, needs to be "one" also. But how to achieve that? People must seek the Lord earnestly... and it might be that one parent might need to make a huge personal sacrifice of their own "rights" for the child's good..?? After all, when the parent exceeded God's design by dallying around, they lost whatever "rights" they think 'they' have. They are now stuck with 'consequences'. In the illustration where the boy pulled nails out of the board when the sins were forgiven, the 'holes' remained. Yes, you will have a big "hole" where your child is missing from your life.

Oh, please, don't everybody flood me with hate mail on this one. Please re-read... I already said you must "seek the Lord earnestly". Where the children are concerned, I don't know if Scripture gives hard-n-fast rules. But they do need "stability". And they are also surprisingly 'resilient', once a new path has become forged and is stable, if the parents don't tell them "how sad" they 'will' be. Life continually throws curves at children, when a parent dies... or both parents die, or become ill, etc. Children are a "gift from the Lord" (Ps127:3-5) and they belong to Him. Samuel did quite well once he was given 'back' to the Lord and lived at the tabernacle, away from his parents. Children, while being a by-product of the relationship and are a "one flesh" which results from the marriage union, it is the husband and wife that are "one" with each other. The children eventually "leave father and mother" to become "one" with -their- 'own' spouse. (Gen2:24) But the husband and wife remain together until death. (Rom7:1-3) No, the parent-child relationship is not the "strongest bond". No, grandparents do not have "rights". While God designed the "family", He did not ordain the "faaaaam'ly", and what are today called "traditional family -values-". The strongest, most important human bond is of a husband and his wife. Today's "family values" tells new couples that they are 'still' answerable to "the family"... and the family '(M)atriarch'.

God's design is for children to be raised by their father -and- mother. (Pr1:8) But the primary burden for the raising of the children in God's Law is given to the father. The 'men' would have been gathered as the Law was given, "you shall teach them diligently to your children" (Deu6:7) Since the father gave his [nephesh] for the child to be born, in continuing God's order Paul says, "..fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." (Eph6:4)

And this, then, brings us to another Scriptural scenario. What to do? Many of the men of Israel's captivity who returned to the land married and had children by the heathen women of the land. It's found in Ezra ch9-10. This was a slightly different situation, because it involved the "priests and levites" (9:1) and they had stricter rules about marriage to keep their blood-line pure. They were to only marry virgins of Israel, or widows of priests. (Lev21:13-14, Eze44:22) In this case, they "put away their wives" (Eze10:19), and in many cases, I would have to assume, the children, also. (vs44)

So, just as Paul tells the Believer that if an unbelieving spouse leaves "let him depart" (1Cor7:15), it seems like there could be some (more rare) situations where a Believer might initiate the end of a relationship in order to sanctify/purify himself.

But, primarily, STAY PUT. Once you have sorted out 'who' your present 'spouse' is, like the man-made marriage vows say, "forsake all others". Say "good-bye" to them, and don't go see them again. And in view of the past, don't remain -just- "friends". You need to make "clean breaks" from your past. Devote yourself -TOTALLY- to your 'present' spouse.

Don't worry about "how many" [nephesh] somebody may have. Or, will the old [nephesh] "become less"? Whatever the case is, the [nephesh] is a God-given thing. Man cannot make 'adjustments'. God gives life. God "breathed" into Adam and made him into a living soul/nephesh. So, once you have confessed and "forsaken" (Pr28:13) your sin, then, leave the rest in God's capable hands. Whatever you need to do regarding relationships (and children), make those decisions in faith before God. (Rom14:5,22-23) Nobody else can tell you what to do. And don't allow some KJV-only-toting pharisee from the church of Ephesus to badger you into a guilt-trip of what -they- 'think' you should do.

But once you have cleaned up the mess according to God's leading, and are now headed down your new path, don't continue to second-guess what God led you to do. Satan just absolutely luuuvs to throw your sin back in your face. He is, after all, the "accuser of the brethren". (Rev12:10) And yes, some of those from Ephesus (satan's servants) will reject you and cast you out from their fellowships, too. Don't worry about that... many of them are not saved, anyway. But if you have confessed, are cleansed, and have made the necessary inter-personal adjustments, rest in the assurance that "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit". While you may still see the "nails" in that board, and occasionally shed tears of regret, "..the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death" (Rom8:1-2) This is a transformation which -God- works in us.

Forget the "things which are behind" and stretch forward "to those things which are ahead" and "press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus". And leave the results in God's hands. Whatever you need to know in these matters, "God will reveal even this to you". (Phil13:13-15)

Amen!

March 29, 2001

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