God's Purpose, Part 2
In The Beginning God Made Us With A Body, Soul And Spirit:
Gen 2:7…. Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath or spirit of life, and man became a living being.
Ephesians 2:10…. For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].
Do You Know Yourself?
LUKE 9:52 56.... And He sent messengers before Him; and they reached and entered a Samaritan village to make [things] ready for Him; but [the people] would not welcome or receive or accept Him, because His face was [set as if He was] going to Jerusalem. And when His disciples James and John observed this, they said, Lord, do You wish us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, even as Elijah did? [2 Kings 1:9 16.] But He turned and rebuked and severely censured them. He said, You do not know of what sort of spirit you are, for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them [from the penalty of eternal death]. And they journeyed on to another village.
1 PETER 5:8 11.... Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the dominion (power, authority, rule) forever and ever. Amen (so be it).
The Mysterious And Marvelous Working Together Of Spirit, Soul And Body:
The following are some quotes from respected Bible authorities to see what they claim the Bible has to say about our spirit, soul and body. We can’t include everything they have to say on the subject, but this should help us as we begin to examine how God makes us new creatures in Christ Jesus.
2 Cor. 5:17…. Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!
The third great act of creation was that of man and woman "in the image of God." Each human being has a very complex physical body – more complex than any other creature – and the ability to reproduce other human beings. In addition, each man and woman is specially created in God’s own image. Each person possesses a body and soul, transmitted by genetic inheritance from his or her first parents, Adam and Eve. Each person, also, however, possesses an entity called "God’s image." Since this required a special act of creation (in addition to the creation of the physical elements and life-principle that were designed to be transmitted by genetic reproduction) it must be assumed that this creation is not transmitted by genetic inheritance and thus that each person’s "share" of God’s image was individually created for him or her. This creation took place for everyone not at the time of conception, when the mere transmission of physical and biological components takes place, but apparently at the time of the very first creation of this entity (with each "image," as it were, reserved in God until it is sent forth at the time of conception). The details of this marvelous transaction have not been clearly revealed, of course.
In any case, it is clear that each human being possesses an eternal spiritual personality, specially created for him or her in the everlasting image of God, capable of knowing and loving God and forever sharing His fellowship and purposes. (Quote from The Biblical Basis For Modern Science, written by Dr. Henry M. Morris, pp. 76-77, Emphasis added.)
It may be that God gives us our spirit at the moment that we are birthed and begin to breath. As Dr. Morris says later in his book, "In fact, the soul seems to be connected physically somehow with the blood supply apparatus and the spirit with the air supply, at least while the person or the animal is alive." (p. 381). The birth and death of man is very important to God, and He takes special note and is probably personally involved at the time, "Thus says God the Lord – He Who created the heavens and stretched them forth, He Who spread abroad the earth and that which comes out of it, He Who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it:" (Isa. 42:5), and "Then shall the dust [out of which God made man’s body] return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to God Who gave it ." (Eccl. 12:7).
SOUL: Cremer has characterized this use of the word in a sentence: "Nephesh (soul) in man is the subject of personal life, whereof pneuma or ruach (spirit) is the principle" (Lexicon, s.v., 795).
1. This individuality of man, however, may be denoted by pneuma as well, but with a distinction. Nephesh or "soul" can only denote the individual life with a material organization or body. Pneuma or "spirit" is not so restricted. Scripture speaks of "spirits of just men made perfect" (Heb. 12:23), where there can be no thought of a material or physical or corporeal organization. They are "spiritual beings freed from the assaults and defilements of the flesh" (Delitzsch, in loc.). For an exceptional use of psuche in the same sense see Rev. 6:9; 20:4, and (irrespective of the meaning of Ps. 16:10) Acts 2:27. (from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Electronic Database Copyright (c) 1996 by Biblesoft, Emphasis added.)
SPIRIT: Hebrew ruwach, Greek pneuma. Man in his normal integrity ("whole," holokleeron, complete in all its parts, 1 Thess. 5:23) consists of "spirit, soul, and body." The spirit links man with higher intelligences, and is that highest part receptive of the quickening Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 15:47). The soul (Hebrew nephesh, Greek psuchee) is intermediate between body and spirit; it is the sphere of the will and affections. (From Fausset's Bible Dictionary, Electronic Database Copyright (c) 1998 by Biblesoft, Emphasis added.)
New Testament Distinctions: (1) In the New Testament psuche appears under more or less similar conditions as in the Old Testament. The contrast here is as carefully maintained as there. It is used where pneuma would be out of place; and yet it seems at times to be employed where pneuma might have been substituted. Thus in John 19:30 we read: "Jesus gave up his pneuma" to the Father, and, in the same Gospel (John 10:15), Jesus gave up His "psuche for the sheep," and in Matt. 20:28 He gave His psuche (not His pneuma) as a ransom a difference which is characteristic. For the pneuma stands in quite a different relation to God from the psuche. The "spirit" (pneuma) is the outbreathing of God into the creature, the life principle derived from God. The "sour" (psuche) is man's individual possession, that which distinguishes one man from another and from inanimate nature. The pneuma of Christ was surrendered to the Father in death; His psuche was surrendered, His individual life was given "a ransom for many." His life "was given for the sheep" (from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Electronic Database Copyright (c) 1996 by Biblesoft, Emphasis added.)
We have all heard the testimonies of people who claimed to have had after-death experiences and then returned to life to tell of them. While this is quite possible (Jn. 11:39-44), it is not a normal human experience; even when we sleep, we are not aware of what is going on around us – our spirit and soul are shut down as well as our body. The normal function of our soul and spirit is to enable us to be aware of ourselves and our surroundings, to think and relate to others, and occasionally with God. Our relationships with others seem to be on a very superficial, shallow or limited level purposely designed by God, probably because it would be detrimental to our well-being for a greater spirit-to-spirit communication – as in the case of divination or channeling, which God strictly forbids. Therefore, He limits our abilities in this life, but will greatly enhance them when we go to be with Him.
Thus, what God has given us and the limits He has placed upon these gifts, is what is best for us and God’s kingdom. I think it Biblical, for practical purposes or ever-day living, to consider our present bodies a temporary dwelling for us to live in, our soul the person we develop into as we interact with other people and our environment, and our spirit the mind with which we think, reason and direct our lives. Since we inherit our physical characteristics and sinful nature from our parents (1 Cor. 15:21-22), it seems likely that our soul is also a part of this inheritance at conception. Then if God gives a spirit to the person the moment they begin to breathe at birth, the soul and spirit become entwined at that moment. Of course we are much more complicated than that, but this may be all that we need to know until God makes some future changes. Therefore, if this working model is correct, then we can understand why it is so very important and life determining what we take into our bodies and minds and thus allow them to influence and form us.
We Cooperate With The Working Of God As We Learn Of Him:
As we read God’s Word and learn of Him, He uses the truth conveyed to continually form and mold our soul into the very image of Jesus.
2 Cor. 3:18.... And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.
Romans 8:26-31…. So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance. And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will. [Ps. 139:1-2] We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren. And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being]. What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?]
Philemon 3-6…. Grace (spiritual blessing and favor) be to all of you and [heart] peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). I give thanks to my God for you always when I mention you in my prayers, because I continue to hear of your love and of your loyal faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and [which you show] toward all the saints (God's consecrated people). [And I pray] that the participation in and sharing of your faith may produce and promote full recognition and appreciation and understanding and precise knowledge of every good [thing] that is ours in [our identification with] Christ Jesus [and unto His glory].
Matthew 11:28-30…. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. [Jer. 6:16.] For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good--not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.
Colossians 3:1-5…. If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [Ps. 110:1.] And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory. So kill (deaden, deprive of power) the evil desire lurking in your members [those animal impulses and all that is earthly in you that is employed in sin]: sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed and covetousness, for that is idolatry (the deifying of self and other created things instead of God).
The Christian Has Two Lives Or Natures That He Can Live By:
The Christian has two lives to live by, the old one we were first born with and the new one that we were born a second time with when we received Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior. As we read in Colossians above we should deny the sinful desires of the old life, and set our minds upon living the new life which is hidden with Christ in God; just as Jesus did when He was tempted by the devil: "And the tempter came and said to Him, If You are God's Son, command these stones to be made [loaves of] bread. But He replied, It has been written, Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:3-4). That is, "Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action), so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
The Bible presents our old body and soul (old nature or life) as having been crucified with Christ, and as having been given a new soul, nature or life at our conversion along with a rejuvenation of our spirit by the entrance and abiding presence of the Holy Spirit of God. This new nature or life is the one that God is apparently working with us on to constantly improve until we finally arrive at the stage that He calls being "molded into the image of His Son" (Rom. 8:29). And when we go to be eternally with Jesus we shall also receive a new spiritual body.
1 John 3:9…. No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, for God's nature abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God.
Part of our being conformed to the image of Christ will be as recorded in 1 Cor. 13:8-12: "Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth]. For our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect), and our prophecy (our teaching) is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect). But when the complete and perfect (total) comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away (become antiquated, void, and superseded).
11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside. For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood [by God]." And then we will be complete in Christ Jesus. So don’t give-up, but constantly recall these things to mind and be encouraged in Christ Jesus our Lord and what He has provided for us!
The Magnificent Provisions Of Christ Make Possible All These Benefits:
If we read the first three chapters of Ephesians along with the above information, we are justified in concluding that as we learn more and more about Jesus and what He has done and provided for us we realize:
1. God through Christ Jesus has paid the penalty for our sins.
2. Crucified our old sinful nature.
3. Forgiven us and given us new everlasting life, and a new nature or soul as well as the indwelling Holy Spirit with which God is working to form our new nature or soul and our mind or spirit into the very image of Christ. With this new equipment making it possible for a born-again person to live without sinning (1 Jn. 3:9); it seems that if a Christian does sin (1 Jn. 2:1), a judicial court is held in heaven where Jesus our intercessor sees to it that the sin is placed upon our old soul or nature and our new nature remains sinless.
4. Then when we go to be with Him we shall receive our new spiritual bodies (1 Cor. 15:42-45).
5. And to make everything complete, we are all made part of the family of God with a grand inheritance (1 Peter 1:3-7).
6. Thus we are God’s workmanship from beginning to end, and workers together with Him (1 Cor. 3:9) as we cooperate according to His Word!
Additional Scriptures To Reinforce The Above Section.
1 Corinthians 2:5-16…. So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God. Yet when we are among the full-grown (spiritually mature Christians who are ripe in understanding), we do impart a [higher] wisdom (the knowledge of the divine plan previously hidden); but it is indeed not a wisdom of this present age or of this world nor of the leaders and rulers of this age, who are being brought to nothing and are doomed to pass away. But rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom of God once hidden [from the human understanding] and now revealed to us by God--[that wisdom] which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification [to lift us into the glory of His presence]. None of the rulers of this age or world perceived and recognized and understood this, for if they had, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But, on the contrary, as the Scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, [all that] God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed]. [Isa. 64:4; 65:17.] Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the [Holy] Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God [the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man's scrutiny]. For what person perceives (knows and understands) what passes through a man's thoughts except the man's own spirit within him? Just so no one discerns (comes to know and comprehend) the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God. And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who possess the Holy Spirit]. But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated. But the spiritual man tries all things [he examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things], yet is himself to be put on trial and judged by no one [he can read the meaning of everything, but no one can properly discern or appraise or get an insight into him]. For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.
1 Corinthians 3:9-10.... For we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God; you are God's garden and vineyard and field under cultivation, [you are] God's building. [Isa. 61:3.] According to the grace (the special endowment for my task) of God bestowed on me, like a skillful architect and master builder I laid [the] foundation, and now another [man] is building upon it. But let each [man] be careful how he builds upon it.
1 Peter 2:5.... [Come] and, like living stones, be yourselves built [into] a spiritual house, for a holy (dedicated, consecrated) priesthood, to offer up [those] spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.
Phil. 3:7-21.... But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as [one combined] loss for Christ's sake. Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed one), and that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law's demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed one), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith.
10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] that if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body]. Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.
13 I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward. So let those [of us] who are spiritually mature and full grown have this mind and hold these convictions; and if in any respect you have a different attitude of mind, God will make that clear to you also. Only let us hold true to what we have already attained and walk and order our lives by that.
17 Brethren, together follow my example and observe those who live after the pattern we have set for you. For there are many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, who walk (live) as enemies of the cross of Christ (the Anointed one). They are doomed and their fate is eternal misery (perdition); their god is their stomach (their appetites, their sensuality) and they glory in their shame, siding with earthly things and being of their party. But we are citizens of the state (commonwealth, homeland) which is in heaven, and from it also we earnestly and patiently await [the coming of] the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [as] Savior, Who will transform and fashion anew the body of our humiliation to conform to and be like the body of His glory and majesty, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself.
Colossians 3:8-11…. But now put away and rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward others, curses and slander, and foulmouthed abuse and shameful utterances from your lips! Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old (unregenerate) self with its evil practices, and have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it. [Gen 1:26.] [In this new creation all distinctions vanish.] There is no room for and there can be neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, [nor difference between nations whether alien] barbarians or Scythians [who are the most savage of all], nor slave or free man; but Christ is all and in all [everything and everywhere, to all men, without distinction of person].
Colossians 3:15-17…. And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]. Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts. And whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in [dependence upon] His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him.
Ps. 119:96-100.... I have seen that everything [human] has its limits and end [no matter how extensive, noble, and excellent]; but Your commandment is exceedingly broad and extends without limits [into eternity]. [Rom. 3:10 19.] Oh, how love I Your law! It is my meditation all the day. [Ps. 1:2.] You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies, for [Your words] are ever before me. I have better understanding and deeper insight than all my teachers, because Your testimonies are my meditation. [2 Tim. 3:15.] I understand more than the aged, because I keep Your precepts [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].
Ps. 119:129-130.... Your testimonies are wonderful [far exceeding anything conceived by man]; therefore my [penitent] self keeps them [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them]. The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple.
Ps. 119:160.... The sum of Your word is truth [the total of the full meaning of all Your individual precepts]; and every one of Your righteous decrees endures forever.
God’s Word is the only source of Truth that we can completely trust and rely upon!
Man’s Attempt To Be Their Own Handiwork:
God has stated that He originally created man with tremendous ability as we see in the Scriptures below.
Genesis 3:22-24…. And the Lord God said, Behold, the man has become like one of Us [the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit], to know [how to distinguish between] good and evil and blessing and calamity; and now, lest he put forth his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever-- therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the Garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So [God] drove out the man; and He placed at the east of the Garden of Eden the cherubim and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep and guard the way to the tree of life.
Genesis 11:4-8…. And they said, Come, let us build us a city and a tower whose top reaches into the sky, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered over the whole earth. And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. And the Lord said, Behold, they are one people and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do, and now nothing they have imagined they can do will be impossible for them. Come, let Us go down and there confound (mix up, confuse) their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from that place upon the face of the whole earth, and they gave up building the city.
So, God built man in such a way that if they would become one people and have one language they will have the ability to do amazing things. That is what the whole world is so fascinated with and attempting to do today.
The following is a quote from Gwyneth Arnold at The Ensign Message in London on May 2017, which has excerpts taken from Dave Hunt’s book A Woman Rides the Beast.
At Babel, God scattered mankind and confounded their language so they could not communicate their evil designs to one another. On Mars Hill in Athens Paul declared that God separated races and nations so they could concentrate upon seeking Him (Acts 17: 26-27). The consensus of opinion today is that we need just the opposite. The solution to mankind’s ills will come about through unscrambling the languages and uniting all nations in scientific enterprises which will ultimately turn planet Earth into a paradise once again.
"Such was the declaration of a recent Lockheed Corporation ad in Scientific American featuring an illustration of the ancient Tower of Babel. Touting Lockheed’s technological accomplishments, the ad boasted that its scientific advancements were "undoing the Babel effect" by bringing mankind together and making it possible for all to speak one language. In other words, Lockheed was countering God, the One responsible for what it called "the Babel effect."
"International Business Machines" has also used an artist’s depiction of the Tower of Babel in some of its ads, with modern high-rise buildings protruding from the half-finished structure. Why this nostalgic return to what most people today dismiss as a myth? There seems to be an innate sympathy with Babel, a recognition that modern man is carrying on where Babel left off and is pursuing the same ambition of achieving immortality by human effort.
"God scattered the builders of Babel, but today’s determination is the opposite: to unite all nations into one new world order. God confounded the languages, but today’s technology is aimed at breaking down every language barrier. Soon there will be phones on the market which allow English spoken into the receiver in Los Angeles to come out the other end in Tokyo as Japanese.
"Dare we suggest that something is wrong? Why not encourage and enjoy what intellect and talent can accomplish? Even God acknowledged the limitless bounds of human capabilities when He said, "Whatever they imagine they will be able to perform".
"God, however, had already declared that "the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth" (Genesis 8:21). Thus human ingenuity, as God foresaw would create ever-increasing evil until the very survival of mankind would hang in the balance. Surely today’s threats to survival have all come from scientific genius.
Quote from Jack M. Germain at TechNewsWorld on Jul 23, 2019
Win-Win for Both – Microsoft is all about collaboration and open source since Satya Nadella took the reins. He recognizes that AI is the latest and greatest arms race, observed Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group.
"As a result, they are embracing Open AI to increase the speed of development for their projects largely with an IT focus," he told TechNewsWorld.
Both partners in this deal can learn and benefit from this effort, which is collaborative by design. Participating allows not only earlier access to the result but also a deeper understanding of it, Enderle said.
A Large Promise to Fulfill -- In promising to deliver on artificial general intelligence's potential, the two companies are not dreaming small, noted Arle Lommel, senior analyst for CSA Research, but that dream may be a reach too far.
"They intend to solve something that nobody has solved yet and that we aren't remotely close to solving today," he told TechNewsWorld, "but beyond that, accomplishing that will mean 'solving' language as well."
That means having computers really understand language and use it on par with humans. Despite press release claims about getting near-human quality, that goal is as far beyond present capabilities as a moon landing is beyond a Roman chariot, Lommel quipped.
"That said, I suspect they will get much further along with machine vision, categorization, diagnostics, etc.," he said. "In other words, I expect this could result in improved versions of what AI already does well. But unless there is some fundamentally different secret sauce, I don't expect that it will 'solve' language and human intelligence."
From God’s Word it seems evident that this trend will continue until the Anti-Christ will take full control of all the nonbelievers in the world for a short time before Christ comes to destroy him.
Thoughtfully consider this: If we don’t continue to learn of Him by obedience and reading His Word, we lack the knowledge that God uses to build us up in Christ Jesus. And our faith and confidence, which God uses to grant us His peace and contentment, will begin to wain and grow weak.
Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified Bible , an English version of the Bible which claims to Capture the Full Meaning Behind the Original Greek and Hebrew.
