April 2, 2026 4:00 am
Human parents transmit physical characteristics, but our spiritual attributes come from God, who created our spirit, soul nature, and united it with our body at conception. The image of God cannot be transmitted genetically, and our spirit-soul attributes are inseparable from our body until death. We inherit Adam's fallen nature and mortal body, and both are in need of salvation through Christ's redemption.
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Welcome to the Days of Praise podcast, a daily devotional by the Institute for Creation Research. The Father of Spirits.
Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence. Shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits and live? Hebrews 12, 9 Human parents transmit physical characteristics to their offspring, but our spiritual attributes come from God, for He is the Father of spirits. Paul recognized that all men are the offspring of God, and that each man is still the image and glory of God. Thus our spirit, soul nature, as distinct from our body of physical mental flesh, has come from God, who created it and united it with our body, evidently at the moment of physical conception in the womb.
It is obvious that the image of God could not be transmitted genetically via the genetic code and DNA molecules, for these are simply complex chemicals programmed to transmit only the physical and mental attributes of ancestors to their children. Nevertheless, the spirit-soul attributes of each person also seem to be associated inseparably with the body from conception onward, continuing so until separated again at death when the spirit goes to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord, leaving the body behind. In the meantime, however, by the union of flesh and spirit, man inherits Adam's fallen nature as well as his mortal body, for the body is dead because of sin. Both are in need of salvation. Christ gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity.
Therefore we, like Paul, can pray that our whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23. If you've enjoyed today's devotional, be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. And please rate and review so more listeners can find us. To support ICR's ministry, visit icr.org/slash donate.
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