Context: A few days ago, I suddenly saw that the souls of the living and the souls of the dead are exactly the same. As always, I looked for further information about this in the Scriptures, and here is the result:
- The souls of all the living, and the souls of all the dead are just the same, because to God all are alive:
He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive (Luke 20:38; NIV).
- Our souls come from God, remain part of God during our exile here, then return to God:
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; KJV).
Behold, all souls are mine (Ezekiel 18:4; HNV).
The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7; NIV).
- Every soul belongs to God:
Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord (Romans 14:8; NIV).
- The purpose of our lives is to become more and more like God:
Learn to know your Creator and become like him (Colossians 3:10; NLT).
Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy (Ephesians 4:24; NLT).