Tom, I agree there are principles we must follow as we read the Word of God. I take things literally unless it is absurd to do so, or if it contradicts something plainly revealed in the Word. I see nothing absurd or contradictory about believing God literally dwells in us. Do you?

Yes. I think the meaning is clearly dealing with the intimate communication God has with us, mind to mind. Any other meaning would to me be absurd.

i was addressing your use of omnipresent. is there a bible verse that says animals do not have a "soul"?

Thank you, Tom, for the candid response to my question. I have no doubt what you believe about it. I appreciate the clarity.

Teresaq, yes, God is omnipresent. I take this literally. That is, I believe He is everywhere at the same time. In the New Earth, I imagine myself sitting on His lap while at the same time He is everywhere.

I am equating "soul" with moral consciousness, the ability to reason and choose. Animals and humans are different in this way. The following insights seem to suggest as much.

The training of children must be conducted on a different principle from that which governs the training of irrational animals. The brute has only to be accustomed to submit to its master; but the child must be taught to control himself. The will must be trained to obey the dictates of reason and conscience. A child may be so disciplined as to have, like the beast, no will of its own, his individuality being lost in that of his teacher. {FE 57.2}

He was placed, as God's representative, over the lower orders of being. They cannot understand or acknowledge the sovereignty of God, yet they were made capable of loving and serving man. {PP 45.1}

The education of children, at home or at school, should not be like the training of dumb animals; for children have an intelligent will, which should be directed to control all their powers. Dumb animals need to be trained, for they have not reason and intellect. But the human mind must be taught self-control. It must be educated to rule the human being, while animals are controlled by a master and are trained to be submissive to him. The master is mind, judgment, and will for his beast. A child may be so trained as to have, like the beast, no will of his own. Even his individuality may be merged in the one who superintends his training; his will, to all intents and purposes, is subject to the will of the teacher. {3T 132.1}

i was addressing your use of omnipresent. is there a bible verse that says animals do not have a "soul"? [/quote]



if God is able to literally be in us because He is omnipresent then why couldnt He also be, literally, in everything else?
wouldnt it make sense that we view His indwelling as we do
a husband and wife becoming one flesh? i mean, it seems to me that the other view may keep us from seeing the real import, what we need to do to make that oneness a reality.......

another verse:
Joh 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
we know that we cannot physically, or literally, abide in Jesus. so why should we believe that He literally, or physically, abides in us?



but is that the biblical definition? isnt the biblical definition "breath of life" which even the animals have?

perhaps another topic on mind, soul, spirit?

You said the same thing a little while ago, which was the first time I had heard this idea. I think it's right on. A husband and wife are not literally one flesh, but it's a wonderful metaphor. We know what it means. Similarly God "dwells is us" conveys a thought of great intimacy, based on communication and a sharing of thoughts/ideas/aspirations.

I suppose being everywhere and being in something is two different realities for God. I don't know. Perhaps God can be in us in the same way He was in Jesus while He sojourned here in the flesh?


Comparing two humans becoming one flesh in marriage with God dwelling in a human seems awkward to me. God is so different than a husband or wife that it is difficult for me to compare the two different realities named above.


Because the Holy Spirit is God and is very much different than humans. He has abilities we cannot even dream of.


Yes, the term "living soul" is the combination of body and breath and being. And, yes, animals are also a combination of these elements. However, animals and humans are different in significant ways. I assume you agree. The SOP quotes I posted above touches on ways they are different. I suspect these differences account for why God can literally dwell in humans and not in animals. I don't know.

Why are you so sure God does not literally dwell in us? I do not dispute what you wrote, for God does indeed dwell in us in the way you described, but I'm curious why you dispute what I wrote.

Here are some ways the Bible talks about it:

John
14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
14:11 Believe me that I [am] in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

Romans
8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

1 Corinthians
3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are.

2 Timothy
1:14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

1 John
3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

1 John
4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son [to be] the Saviour of the world.
4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

From the SOP:



I'm sure if you went through each of the other Scriptures you posted, you would find similar comments.

Let's consider the case of Christ. Do you think it's literally true that Christ dwells in our hearts?