THE SOUL

By Salomon Alexandre YOUTA

www.labibleenseigne.org
Free PDF download at : https://www.labibleenseigne.org/ebooks

1-What is the origin of the living soul?

The living soul is created by God.

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.(Genesis 2:7)

2-what is the difference between the soul and the living soul?

The living soul is holy, just like God. It is the reflection of the glory of
God and the imprint of His person.

‘For I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore consecrate

yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy. Neither shall you defile
yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. For I am
the LORD who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God.
You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. (Leviticus 11:44-45)

"Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them:
You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy. (Leviticus 19:2)

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he
him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:27 )

The soul is not alive . It has to seek the life which was lost when he
turned away from God.

Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I
will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of
David. (Isaiah 55:3 )
But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that
believe to the saving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:39 )

3-Is there another person who has been the image and the
reflection of the glory of God after Adam's fall?

Yeshoua was the express image of God. He was the brigthness of

His glory.

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath
appointed heir of all things,by whom also he made the worlds; who
being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person,
and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by
himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on
high; (Hebrews 1:2-3 )

Yeshoua has revealed the nature of the living soul .

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which
believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of the Messiah, who is
the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

4- When was the human being not anymore a living soul?

The human being was not anymore a living soul, when under the
influence of the greed he turned away from the divine prescriptions and
obeyed Satan. From that time the being has been scattered; the
desires of the body dominated him .His body needs became in
oppositon to those of his soul.

And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, where art
thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid,
because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, who told thee that
thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded
thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, the woman whom
thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
(Genesis 3:9-12)
Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your
wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying,
‘you shall not eat of it’: "Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you
shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall
bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat
of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it
you were taken; dor dust you are, and to dust you shall return."
(Genesis 3:17-19)
5- Is the man’s soul different from his body and his spirit
nowadays ?

Yes, the human being is scattered.The desires of his body, of his soul
and of his spirit are different.

Man is also a flesh.

And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that
he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
(Genesis 6:3)

Man has a spirit

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit
searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows
the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even
so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. (1
Corinthians 2:10-11)

Man has a soul

"Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by
his faith. (Habakkuk 2:4)

Man is a flesh , a spirit and a soul

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your
whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming
of our Lord Yeshoua the Messiah. (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

With my soul I have desired You in the night, yes, by my spirit within me
I will seek You early; for when Your judgments are in the earth, the
inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. Let grace be shown to
the wicked, yet he will not learn righteousness; in the land of
uprightness he will deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the
LORD. (Isaiah 26:9-10)

His body wars against his soul.

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from

fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; (1 Peter 2:11)

6-What are the characteristics of the living soul?

He is just like God.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he
him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:27 )

As Yeshoua , the living soul is the reflection of the glory of God.

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his
person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had
by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty
on high; (Hebrews 1:3 )

He is devoted to the service of God.

"But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father
gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.
(John 14:31)

But He said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know."
Therefore the disciples said to one another, "Has anyone brought Him
anything to eat?" Yeshoua said to them, "My food is to do the will of
Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. "Do you not say, ‘There are
still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift
up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for
harvest! "And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for
eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice
together. "For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ "I
sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have
labored, and you have entered into their labors." (John 4:32-38)

He is totally spiritual

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that
I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63 )

He has crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

And they that are Messiah have crucified the flesh with the affections
and lusts. (Galatians 5:24 )

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication,
uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and
covetousness, which is idolatry: (Colossians 3:5 )

He is holy.

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might
be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: (1 Peter 2:22 )

7-What are the characteristics of the soul which is not alive.

This soul must look for the life which it lost because of carnal greeds.

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do
mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (Romans 8:13 )

It becomes holy and it lives if it dominates the desires of flesh.

I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh:
for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to
iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to
righteousness unto holiness. (Romans 6:19)

It dies if it is dominated by the carnal desires.

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do
mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (Romans 8:13 )

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. (Ezekiel 18:4 )

The soul cannot be sanctified by itself . It needs a rescuer. It

becomes alive through faith in Yeshoua the Messiah, the savior .

But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that
believe to the saving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:39 )

And they that are the Messiah’s have crucified the flesh with the
affections and lusts.(Galatians 5:24 )

8- Can a soul die definitively?

The soul which is overcome by the flesh and its passions dies
definitively. The submission of the soul to the flesh leads to the
eternal death.

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. (Ezekiel 18:4 )

Yeshoua said that the soul can be destroyed.

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul:
but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
(Matthew 10:28 )

9-What is the importance of the soul in the human nature?

In the human nature, the soul is vital. Its value is above anything.

Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark 8:37)

And he spake a parable unto them, saying, the ground of a certain rich
man brought forth plentifully: and he thought within himself, saying,
what shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
And he said, this will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater;
and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my
soul, soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine
ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, thou fool, this
night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things
be, which thou hast provided ? (Luke 12:16-20 )

10-How does man feed his soul ?

The soul is fed with God's Word . Only this word saves the soul .

Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I
will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of
David. (Isaiah 55:3 )

But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that
believe to the saving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:39 )

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and

receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your
souls.(James 1:21 )

The practice of justice revealed by God's word restores life in the soul.

Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he
hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save
his soul alive. (Ezekiel 18:27)

11-How can one cleanse his soul?

The alive soul is soiled because it turned away from God's word. By
returning to this word to meditate it in constant submission, the soul
can be cleansed.To that end,the body, the spirit and the soul must
then be devoted to the service of God's word. This is how a human
being can achieve the process of reconstruction of his soul to
become a living soul..

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the
Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another
with a pure heart fervently: (1 Peter 1:22 )

Originally the carnal greeds diverted the living soul from the
submission to God . In Yeshoua, the word of God , the body with its
passions are crucified and the soul becomes alive. Through the faith in
Yeshoua, the soul is saved.

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not,
yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:receiving
the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8-9 )

12-Is the soul’s life a priority for a believer ?

God's word and the fulfillment of God's will should rather be the
believer’s priority. By serving God, he saves his soul. God's word
should thus be above everything for the soul which wants to live.

He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world
shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me;
and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me,
him will my Father honour. (John 12:25-26 )

Then said Yeshoua unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let
him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
(Matthew 16:24 )

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife,
and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he
cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26 )
The word of God is eternal. Consequently the soul which keeps it
lives eternally.

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the
Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another
with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed,
but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for
ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of
grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the
word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the
gospel is preached unto you. (1 Peter 1:22-25)

God's word gives life to the soul for it is the source of life.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any
twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and
spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts
and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 )

By this word everything has been created. It thus contains the semen
of life.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God.The same was in the beginning with God. All things
were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was
made. (John 1:1-3 )

13-What happens to the soul when the human being dies ?

The human being since his fall is not any more a living soul but a soul,
a spirit and a body.When he dies, his soul is asleep in the sheol
waiting for judgment.

For great is your mercy toward me, and You have delivered my soul
from the depths of Sheol. (Psalms 86:13)

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. (Ecclesiastes 9:10 )

The body returns to the earth and the spirit unto God

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.Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit
shall return unto God who gave it. (Ecclesiastes 12:6-7 )

The soul is sleeping although the body is dust.This soul shall awake
for judgment.

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some
to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.And
they that the wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and
they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
(Daniel 12:2-3 )

The soul dwells in silence after death.

Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in
silence. (Psalms 94:17)

A place where souls are sleeping after death does exist under the
high authority of Yeshoua. He holds the keys.
Will they go down to the gates of Sheol? Shall we have rest together in
the dust?" (Job 17:16)

"The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and
brings up. (1 Samuel 2:6)

"I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them
from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your
destruction! Pity is hidden from My eyes. (Hosea 13:14)

I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore,
Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation 1:18 )

After Lazare's death, Yeshoua said that he was sleeping.He opened

the gate and removed Lazare from the sheol

Yeshoua answered, are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man
walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this
world.But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no
light in him.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.Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.Howbeit
Yeshoua spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of
taking of rest in sleep.Then said Yeshoua unto them plainly, Lazarus is
dead. (John 11:9-14)

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was
lying. And Yeshoua lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that
You have heard Me."And I know that You always hear Me, but because
of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that
You sent Me." Now when He had said these things, He cried with a
loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" And he who had died came out
bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with
a cloth. Yeshoua said to them, "Loose him, and let him go."
(John 11:41-44)
14-Who controls the soul?

Only God has a total authority on all souls.

In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all
mankind. (Job 12:10 )

15- Does God perceive the aspiration of the soul in the sheol ?

The man’s aspirations, his passions, his desires exist in a latent state
after his death. God perceives everything in his creation, including the
aspirations of every man during his life.
The righteous for example dies in the hope of God's justice. This hope
calls out to God .

Those who died in the material wealth attachment also have their
expectations and their passions which regrettably do not correspond to
the eternal purpose of God. They are then enemies of God.

In the sheol, the aspirations of the righteous call out to God.

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls
of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which
they held: and they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord,
holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that
dwell on the earth? (Revelation 6:9-10 )

Abel's aspiration strongly called out to God.

And the LORD said unto Cain,where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I
know not: am I my brother’s keeper?And he said, what hast thou done?
The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.
(Genesis 4:9-10 )

Those who live only for material wealths die in the agonies because
they have to leave their possession which were the most important
aspect of their life. These agonies which are still in a latent state in
their soul also call out to God.

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the
angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
and in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham
afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, father
Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip
of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this
flame. (Luke 16:22-24 )

16- what is the soul?

It is the essential dimension of the being. Originally, it was the being.

But after Adam's fall, it constitutes only a part of the being.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose
his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what
shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul ?Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
(Mark 8:35-37 )

And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the
LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul
come into him again.And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the
soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.And Elijah took
the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and
delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, see, thy son liveth.
(1 Kings 17:21-23 )

The soul is often considered as the being for two reasons:

originally Man was created as a living soul

even after his fall, his soul remains his essential dimension.

And he spake a parable unto them, saying, the ground of a certain rich
man brought forth plentifully:and he thought within himself, saying,
What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
And he said, this will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater;
and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my
soul, soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine
ease, eat, drink, and be merry.But God said unto him, thou fool, this
night thy soul shall be required of thee:then whose shall those things
be, which thou hast provided? (Luke 12:16-20 )