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Does the soul exist?

This is a fundamental question about the existence and identity of humans. Also it’s so important that it could affect the entire life of someone. Some have been devoted to finding the answer to this question. Whether or not the soul exists has been a major concern and  subject to much debate across the ages and in all countries of the world.

A lot of philosophers insisted that the soul exists, including Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.  Also, many scientists such as Raymond Moody and Michael Sabum have tried to explain the existence of the soul through the studies on “life after death.” However, no one suggested a clear answer to the reality of the invisible soul. It’s because that the issue of the soul belongs to the supernatural domain beyond human abilities.

The fundamental question about ourselves: “Does the soul exist or not?” Who can answer this question? Let’s hear from God who created mankind.

The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the  breath of life [soul], and the man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7)

God the Creator revealed the existence of the soul in Genesis Chapter 1. He did not only form the man from the dust of the ground [body], but also breath into his body the breath of life [soul].  When the soul entered the body, the man became a living being. Then, what will happen when a man, who is the combination of the soul and the body, dies?

…and the dust [body] returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. (Ecclesiastes 12:7)

When a man dies, the body returns to the ground it came from. How about the soul which was breathed into the body by God? It’s written, “the spirit returns to God who gave it.” Therefore, even if the body dies, the soul still exists. Besides, the fact that the soul does not disappear after death of the body was recorded in various verses in the Bible (Job 19:26; Matthew 10:28; Luke 16:19-31; James 2:26.)

Then, which is more important between the body and the soul? Who is a wise man: one who lives for the body, or one who lives for the spirit?

“The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”‘ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you [Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: KJV]. Then who will get [own] what you have prepared for yourself?’ (Luke 12:16-20)

The body without the soul is no more than an outer shell or an empty tent. When a man dies, he cannot get what he has prepared for the body. God wants us to place more value on the life of the  soul which will last forever, than on the life of the body which does last for a moment only. Which life should we live between the life of the body and the life of the spirit? On which life do we need to place more value while we are living on this earth?

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“The passage “the spirit returns to God who gave it” shows that we were angels before we came to this earth. Jesus said that He came to seek and save sinners (Matthew 9:13; Luke 19:10.) For our salvation, Jesus established the Passover of the New Covenant 2,000 years ago. In this age, Christ Ahnsahnghong brought us the Passover which had been disappeared for more than 1,300 years since 325 AD. The World Mission Society Church of God believes in Christ Ahnsahnghong who restored the New Covenant according to the prophecies of the Bible.