1661. I. In Denying Spirit or Angels, the Sadducees Denied the "Spirit" Which Dwells in Man

I. In Denying Spirit or Angels, the Sadducees Denied the "Spirit" Which Dwells in Man

According to Sadduceeism, man must be a dual creature, possessing only body and soul.

Such a contention does violence to the Bible. The Word of God distinctly says: "Your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, blameless at the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:" therefore, man possesses a spirit.

Mary said, "My spirit hath rejoiced in God" (Luk_1:47).

Christ, as a child, "waxed strong in spirit" (Luk_2:40).

When the daughter of Jairus was raised from the dead, "Her spirit came again" (Luk_8:55).

Luke said, "Jesus rejoiced in spirit" (Luk_10:21).

Paul was "Pressed in the spirit" (Act_18:5).

Paul said: "Whom I serve with my spirit" (Rom_1:9).

Stephen said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" (Act_7:59).

Christ said, "Father into Thy hands I commend My spirit" (Luk_23:46).

Paul spoke of being "Absent in body, but present in spirit," again he speaks of the "spirit being saved in the day of Christ" (1Co_5:3; see 1Co_5:5).

We read of: "The spirits of just men made perfect" (Heb_12:23).

The angels themselves are spoken of as "ministering spirits." Of them God says, "Who maketh His angels, spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire" (Heb_1:14, Heb_1:7).

Sadduceeism, in denying that there is either spirit or angel, necessarily denies the "spirit" which indwells in man, and also the fact that the "spirit" lives after death. In all of this Sadduceeism is at variance with the Bible.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR