Notice, in the above verse, how the Lord God associated Adam with his physical body—not with his inner spiritual nature but with his material form:

Contemporary Christian teaching does not place nearly enough emphasis on the physical body as being an integral part of the personality of man. Many of today's teachers treat the physical body, in accordance with some of the religions of the East, as an evil that will be discarded when we "go to Heaven."

God told Adam and Eve they were "dust," saying nothing about their "immortal souls," which is the Eastern philosophy being emphasized today in the churches of Christ. The fact is, the physical body is important in the plan of God and is central to the topic of this present booklet.

It is important to note that Christ has come "in the flesh" (I John 4:2).

Notice also:

He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. (Acts 2:31)

We never will understand the release of the material creation or the rewards to the overcomer until we appreciate the role of the material body in the eternal purpose of God. The release of the creation has to do with the clothing of the invisible God with a material form. Our material bodies are the rooms of the house of God (John 14:2). Our bodies are the temples of the Spirit of God.

The Inner Spiritual Nature and the Material Form

The love of God has placed the eternal spiritual nature of man in a corruptible body. God's plan is that through Christ human beings can gain the knowledge, the Presence of God, bringing the eternal Life of God into their spiritual nature.

The spiritual nature of human beings is eternal to begin with, meaning their spiritual consciousness, form, and function cannot be destroyed. But the eternal life that Christ brings to our spiritual nature is infinitely more than eternal existence. It is the Life and Presence of God, the personal knowledge of God. Our spiritual nature has eternal life in the sense of enduring forever, and through the Lord Jesus Christ we can gain eternal life and glory in the sense of living in the Presence and Life of Almighty God.

Our material body is dead because of sin. Our body is dead while we are alive biologically because its lusts prevent it from living in the Presence and Life of God.

And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (Romans 8:10)

God will not accept our physical body until we are willing to come out from all uncleanness. God will not have fellowship with sin.

Having therefore these promises [the promises concerning our being the Temple of God; God receiving us and dwelling in us, and being a Father to us], dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Our body is cut off from the Life of God because of the law of sin dwelling in it, and is dead in that sense. Also, the body perishes when biologic life leaves it, whether through sickness, accident, or old age.

To be continued.