The scripture says that when a person is born again in Jesus Christ. 1. That person is a new creation. II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! This is interesting because the person looks the same. He has a body and is alive. We know life is in the blood so we can say the person has a body and a soul (Leviticus 17:11, 13-14). Soul is the life in the body and the life is found in the blood.
Now in the book of John Chapter 3 verses 1 through 5. We see Nicodemus a Pharisee speaking with Jesus about being born again. The scripture is reprinted below staring at verse 1.
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Jesus said to Nicodemus that he had to be born again. Further that except a man be born of water (baptized), and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. So the new believer or Christian is not just body and soul. The new believer is now body, soul and spirit and in having a spirit is a new creature; reborn.
The Christian / Believer is then restored to having a relationship with God and is able to communicate with God as did Adam and Eve before the fall into sin. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, part of them died. Not the body and not the soul but the spirit died. They could no longer communicate with God.
The spirit is the part of the believer that is immortal and as Jesus told Nicodemus every believer must have one. Must be born again of water and of the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God. So the body is not immortal and it must die. The soul is not immortal and when the life goes out of the body so goes the soul. But the reborn Christian has a Spirit and when the believer dies the Spirit lives on and goes to be with Jesus Christ in heaven. The body and soul perish for they are mortal but Spirit lives on for it is Eternal.
The apostle Paul said in Philippians 1 verse 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. He also said in II Corinthians 5 verse 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. A. So the body dies and the soul passes away but the new creature, the Spirit, is eternal and goes to be with Jesus Christ in Heaven. 2. So the soul might sleep but the Spirit is very much alive and with the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is important to know my brothers and sisters that when you believe on Jesus Christ and you ask him to forgive your sins and make his home in your heart. That an amazing thing happens. You are reborn in the Spirit and are a new creation. It is also important to get baptized because Jesus said you must be born of water and of the Spirit. Baptism is an important expression of the process of becoming Christian and fulfills Jesus words of being reborn of water and of the Spirit. Come Lord Jesus
Reference List
- https://www.jba.gr/Articles/nkjv_jbamay96.htm
- https://www.epm.org/resources/2010/Jan/18/are-we-instantly-lord-when-we-die/
A. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+5%3A8&version=NKJV All Scriptures biblegateway.com
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