1. A living soul

While God formed other living creatures like birds, fish, and animals, what was unique about the creation of the human family?

Genesis 1:26-27

KJV ²⁶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. ²⁷ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. NLT ²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” ²⁷ So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

We were made in the image of God.

Read Genesis 2:7

KJV 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. NLT ⁷ Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.

How did the LORD create a living human soul?

He formed him from he ground and breathed life into his nostrils.

Why is it important to understand that human beings are living souls rather than beings that possess souls that can exist apart from a body?

(KJV, NKJV) Acts 27:37

KJV ³⁷ And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. NLT ³⁷ all 276 of us who were on board.

2. Mortal souls

What important truth can we learn about the human soul from the word of the LORD recorded by the prophet Ezekiel?

Ezekiel 18:4

KJV ⁴ Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. NLT ⁴ For all people are mine to judge — both parents and children alike. And this is my rule: The person who sins is the one who will die.

Ezekiel 18:20

KJV ²⁰ The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. NLT ²⁰ The person who sins is the one who will die. The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness.

What additional insight about our mortal souls can we learn from Solomon?

Ecclesiastes 3:19-20

KJV ¹⁹ For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. ²⁰ All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. NLT ¹⁹ For people and animals share the same fate — both breathe and both must die. So people have no real advantage over the animals. How meaningless! ²⁰ Both go to the same place — they came from dust and they return to dust.

Is it possible to possess eternal life now and still be mortal, subject to death?

John 6:40

KJV ⁴⁰ And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. NLT ⁴⁰ For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.”

Why is the resurrection from the dead when Jesus returns in glory so important for mortals who have been redeemed by faith in Jesus as their Savior?

1 Thessalonians 4:15-18

KJV ¹⁵ For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: ¹⁷ Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Wherefore comfort one another with these words. NLT ¹⁵ We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. ¹⁷ Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ So encourage each other with these words.

3. The breath given by God and returning to God

What happened when the breath of God entered the lifeless form of Adam?

How is death an undoing of creation?

Ecclesiastes 12:6-7

KJV ⁶ Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. ⁷ Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. NLT ⁶ Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. ⁷ For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

Psalm 104:29

KJV ²⁹ Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. NLT ²⁹ But if you turn away from them, they panic. When you take away their breath, they die and turn again to dust.

While we have hope in a resurrection from the dead through faith in Jesus, why is losing someone in death such a painful experience?

Why is it healthy to grieve with hope when a loved one dies?

1 Thessalonians 4:13

KJV ¹³ But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. NLT ¹³ And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.

How can we grieve with hope even if we are not certain about the final destiny of a loved one who has fallen asleep in death?

Why are the following prophecies such an encouragement for our lives today?

1 Corinthians 15:26

KJV ²⁶ The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. NLT ²⁶ And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Revelation 20:14-15

KJV ¹⁴ And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. ¹⁵ And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. NLT ¹⁴ Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. ¹⁵ And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.

The sleep of death

What word did Jesus use to describe death?

John 11:11-14

KJV ¹¹ These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. ¹² Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. ¹³ Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. ¹⁴ Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. NLT ¹¹ Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.” ¹² The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!” ¹³ They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died. ¹⁴ So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.

Sleep

Why does the apostle Paul emphasize the importance of not being ignorant regarding those who have fallen asleep?

So we do not grieve like people who have no hope.

According to the Scriptures, what is the human condition in the sleep of death?

Psalm 146:4

KJV ⁴ His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. NLT ⁴ When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them.

Thoughtless

Ecclesiastes 9:5

KJV ⁵ For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. NLT ⁵ The living at least know they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, nor are they remembered.

They know nothing

They have no rewards

They are forgotten

Ecclesiastes 9:10

KJV ¹⁰ Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. NLT ¹⁰ Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

No work

No planning

No wisdom

Psalm 115:17

KJV ¹⁷ The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence. NLT ¹⁷ The dead cannot sing praises to the Lord, for they have gone into the silence of the grave.

They are silent

Job 3:11-13

KJV ¹¹ Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? ¹² Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck? ¹³ For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest, NLT ¹¹ “Why wasn’t I born dead? Why didn’t I die as I came from the womb? ¹² Why was I laid on my mother’s lap? Why did she nurse me at her breasts? ¹³ Had I died at birth, I would now be at peace. I would be asleep and at rest.

They rest

Share a time when you lost a loved one in death.

What comfort did you find in knowing the truth about death from the Scriptures?