Man's Eternal Soul
There is no question of greater importance than the one so often asked, "Does man have an eternal soul?" although materialists, both the religious and the nonreligious, have denied it, nonetheless the conviction is held that, man does have an eternal soul. By "eternal soul" it is meant that there is something of man that is not mortal and which then continues to exist after the fleshly form has returned to the dust in physical death. In proof of this belief notice the following statement from the apostle Paul.
"For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet is our inward man renewed thy by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." II Corinthians 4:16-18.
Paul speaks of an outward man that perishes and an inward man that is renewed day by day. The process of death demonstrates that the outward man that perishes is the physical form that is observable. In view of Paul's statement death also demonstrates that the inward man that is renewed cannot be the physical form and is not seen by the physical eye, for who has ever seen a part of man that does not perish in death? So then the outward man is observable, a thing that is seen, and the inner man is unobservable, a thing that is not seen.
We are also told that Christians place emphasis on things (realities) which are not seen rather than on things which are seen. The reason given is that the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal. It has been shown above that the inner man is not physical and observable, and is therefore a thing that is not seen. Further, since things which are not seen are eternal can there then be any conclusion except that there is a part of man which is eternal? Notice these facts expressed in a major and minor premise, and the conclusion that follows:
Major Premise: Things which are not seen are eternal.
Minor Premise: The inward man is a thing which is not seen.
Conclusion: Therefore the inward man is eternal.
Indeed man has an eternal soul which Paul refers to here as the inner man. It is for this reason that those who save their souls by obeying the word of God (James 1:21) are willing to endure the afflictions of this present life that they might receive "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" in the life hereafter. Will you not obey God's word that your soul may be saved from eternal punishment and that you might then enjoy eternal life?
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