Unless otherwise stated, all scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
Used by permission. www.Lockman.org
Among all the living creatures created by God, man uniquely stands out. The creatures that come close to man are angels and animals. Angels are known to be higher than man almost in all respects. And without any controversy, man is higher than animals.
The Bible gives no detailed information on how the angels were created but a description of what they are is revealed. Hebrews 1:14 says, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?” So angels are purely spirits.
But from the account of creation in the book of Genesis, we see the different ways man and animals were created.
Concerning the creation of animals, the Bible says in Genesis 2:19,
“Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name.”
All animals were formed from the ground.
While regarding the creation of man, the Bible vividly says in Genesis 2:7,
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (KJV)
From this account, man is seen to have been formed from two distinct sources. Unlike animals, who were formed just from the ground, man came into being from two sources – the ground and the breath of God. His body, obviously, was formed from the dust of the ground. It is scientifically proven that the elements of our human body are not different from the elements of dust. They are both composed of the same minerals. Furthermore, the Lord clearly said to Adam after the fall in Genesis 3:19,
“By the sweat of your face you will eat bread, till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Then, after man was formed from the dust of the ground, God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, or literally, the spirit of life. Therefore, the spirit of man came directly from God, entered through his nostrils and enlivened his natural body. In the book of Job 32:8, the Bible expressly says,
“But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.”
Or what can be clearer than Zechariah 12:1? It says,
“Thus declares the Lord who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him”
So man had his body from the dust of the ground and his spirit directly from God.
Furthermore, that a third distinct part was formed at the coming together of the spirit and the body should be noted. After the spirit of life from God entered into the body formed from the dust of the ground, the Bible says, “Man became a living soul.” His soul part was produced.
But why was man created differently from all other living beings? It is seen from the Bible that he does not just have a body, just like the animals, or only a spirit just like the angels, but a combination of these two.
The Lord created him not only with a body but also with a spirit, so that he can live on earth and also live after the present heaven and earth pass away. Unlike the angels, whose permanent and God ordained habitation is not the earth, man can live here on earth as long as it remains. Also, unlike the animals, who after death have no existence again, man will continue to live after the end of this world. However, God is presently taking man through a human experience whereby he can determine where he will live after this present world is gone. For according to 2 Peter 3:10, the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. As a spirit that he is, he will need to choose where he will spend his eternity after time has run its course to an end and eternity rolls in.
Jesus said in John 5:28-29,
“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (KJV).
So even if a man dies and he is buried, in the day of judgment, he will rise again. He will not remain dead forever. But the type of resurrection he will have will be determined by the type of life he lived while on earth. There are obviously two types of resurrection: the resurrection of life and the resurrection of damnation. The kind of experience man subjects himself to will define his resurrection, either of life or of damnation.
And apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:10,
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
Again the Bible says we must all appear before judgment. And everyone will be rewarded according to the kind of life they lived while still in their body.
So, even while humans have bodies just like the animals, they should not live “like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed.” ( 2 Peter 2:12). But rather “present their bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1). Man should discipline his body and bring it under subjection, living reasonably and consecrating his body in time that he might have the resurrection of life in eternity.
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