Human brains are similar to the brains of many mammals. In fact, some mammals—whales, dolphins and elephants—have brains larger than ours. But humans have minds with phenomenal wisdom compared to animals, and no biological analysis of our brains can explain why.There is a transcendental difference between the animal brain and the human mind. Some scientists in the field of brain research admit there has to be a nonphysical component to the human brain that does not exist in animal brains. But they are unable to explain what it is.
The key ingredient that makes our minds so amazing is revealed in the Maker’s Handbook – the Holy Bible. It is called in Scripture the spirit of man, or the spirit in man. The Bible mentions this spirit in man in a number of places. Zechariah 12:1 says, “Thus says the Lord, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him.” Job 32:8 tells us: “But there is a spirit within people, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.” And 1 Corinthians 2:11 states: “For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?” It is the human spirit which imparts the power of intellect to the human brain – that which makes us homo sapien – “wise man.”
Note also the words of Jesus in those final moments before He died on the cross. He cried with a loud voice: “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last (Luke 23:46). Following His resurrection three days and three nights later He suddenly appeared to His disciples in the upper room and, after they got over the initial shock of this sudden appearance, they recognised who He was. This shows by example that in the resurrection we will recognise family members and friends we have in this life. (See also John 20:19-20 and Luke 24:28-31).
Ecclesiastes 12:7 metaphorically describes what happens after one dies: “The dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it,” When a person dies, the only component that survives is his or her spirit, which returns to God who gave it. It is held in God’s safekeeping until the time when he or she is resurrected from the dead (Acts 24:15).
The spirit in man serves as the permanent record of each and every human being. It defines who we are and our personal and unique identity — recording and preserving our character, personality, memories and understanding, which will be used as the code or “blueprint” for restoring all those features when we are resurrected with a new body, no longer flesh and blood, but composed of spirit as explained by the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 15:42-54.
As indicated in the previous article in this issue of Bible Insights Weekly the spirit in man does not mean we have an immortal soul. In the Bible, the word “soul” is basically a synonym for a person or a life. We are all souls. (See our free study guide What Happens After Death?)
It should be noted the spirit of man has no consciousness or functionality of itself. Ecclesiastes 9:5 and 10 tell us “the dead know nothing” and “there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave….” Psalm 146:4 says: “His breath goes forth; he returns to the earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” (KJV). Psalm 6:5 states: “For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?” The dead have no consciousness, which is implied by the Bible’s most frequent metaphor for death, which is sleep (Psalm 13:3; John 11:11-14). The dead will be awakened from the sleep of death in a resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:18-23, 50-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; Job 14:13-15; John 5:25-29).
God’s desire is for everyone to eventually receive the gift of His Holy Spirit, upon believing the Gospel, repenting and being baptized for the forgiveness of their sins. (See our free study guide What You Need To Know About Baptism). Then one of the great purposes of the human spirit is fulfilled—to receive and integrate with the Holy Spirit and become spiritually “converted” (Acts 2:38, 3:19), enabling us to “be partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). Romans 8:16 tells us, “His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children” (NLT). A converted person’s spirit is a combination of the spirit of man and the Holy Spirit.
Human beings are made in the image of God, and the spirit of man gives us marvelous minds with the opportunity to receive the indwelling gift of God’s Holy Spirit. Then those who have the Holy Spirit and who remain faithful to God will receive the most precious gift of all—everlasting life.
