Depending on a person’s understanding of the Bible, some people believe our soul is part of us at conception. In Jeremiah 1:5 it says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” Most people believe we develop our personality as we grow in our mom’s womb and will begin to show it soon after birth. We all are given “free will” as part of our makeup; however, we cannot use that until later in our growth. Most of us can do the very basics of life at that point, but we must rely on others for all our needs.
Other animals are more independent very soon after birth; however, God created humans to be in His image to be different from animals. We can feel things that animals cannot feel. We have the free will to make decisions. I believe humans go through a much longer period to get to adulthood so we can develop a bond with our parents and develop our character that will be with us for the rest of our lives. Our body parts serve different purposes and allow us to do so many things without much thought. We might say we use our brains to think about options and our hearts to make decisions. Our brains do much more than think, it is the control unit that automatically senses throughout our body and sends signals back with commands to the various organs. Our heart works with the signals and pumps blood throughout our body to keep us alive and our body parts from decaying.
Our soul is fully formed at birth including our unique identity, but without the characteristics we will develop during our life. The physical changes our body goes through as we age will be the characteristics that others might use to describe us; however, our character is the additions we add to our soul that become our compass that guides us through our life. It is our soul that communicates with God and with others, not our physical body parts. Our feet and hands can become tough when we walk barefoot on rough surfaces or do heavy chores and that thick skin helps to reduce cuts and bruises. However, that skin does not feel so good when touching a loved one’s soft skin.
Our world has laws and rules that we must follow, and we should always do that. There are other things we should do because it is the right thing to do. A good person will do the right things when others are watching, but a person of good character will do the right things when no one is watching. We are born into a sinful world with the God-given gift of “free will”, not just so we can do what we please, but so that we can show “love”. Making bad and good decisions is part of developing our character of who we choose to become.
Our character completes our personalized soul. That will guide our decisions and will also provide a guilty feeling when we have made a decision that is not in agreement with who we are. If you never feel guilty, then your character is like that tough skin that just feels nothing. That character/soul does not communicate with God and does not know what love is. Salvation is only available by the grace of God when our soul learns true love from what Jesus Christ did for each of us. It is possible to be a good person, liked by many people, you may have strong faith, and you still may not have salvation.
Thousands of gods are worshiped around the world today. It has been said that every god that is worshiped, is the same because there is only one God. One truth does not make everything true. Either Jesus Christ is a liar, or the other beliefs are based on lies. In the Book of John, chapter 14, he tells us things Jesus said, as Christians, we must believe in “the truth” and not “a truth”. This chapter is especially important to every Christian and the entire Book of John will give you a better understanding of Jesus. The verses below are Jesus speaking to his disciples, preparing them for events He knew would follow within hours. In verse 6, Jesus is clear that He is the only path to be with God.
1“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:1-6 NKJV
We can be considered good citizens by following whatever our current society defines as good, but as a child of God, only God makes the rules and those are what count on our judgment day. God only gives us one key to Heaven and Jesus Christ is the key available through grace and the price paid by the blood of Jesus. The Book of Hebrews was a letter to the congregation of Hebrew believers located in Rome when they were facing persecution. Some were going back to their Jewish practices or avoiding appearances of the Christian faith. Chapter 13, it gives directions to guide us during times like they were experiencing. In verse 8, it is stated that God does not change when societies change throughout history.
13 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. 3 Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. 5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say:
“The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.
Hebrews 13:1-9 NKJV
