CPR For the Soul?
Ever taken a CPR class? Those of us who have, know that one of the first things one learns is that CPR stands for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. The purpose of CPR is to restore partial flow of oxygenated blood to the brain and heart when an event has interrupted that flow. The objective is to delay tissue death and extend the brief window of opportunity for a successful resuscitation without permanent brain damage. The heart (blood pump), lungs and brain are all parts of our physical bodies; therefore, the term CPR cannot be rightly applied to the soul of man.
There is however, a Biblical principle in which the soul can be revived when sin has been allowed to do severe damage to that soul. This can only be fully understood in light of scripture. In Genesis 2:16-17 we find the Commandment of God to Adam in the Garden of Eden. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. We are also told in 1John 3:4 that breaking God’s Law is sin. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. When Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, they broke God’s Law, but did not experience immediate physical death. From this, we can surely conclude that they died spiritually.
James 2:26 tells us death is a separation. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. So, when one is “separated” from God by sin, the soul needs to be revived by bringing it into a proper covenant relationship with God in accordance to His Word. God’s plan from before time began was to redeem the souls of men. All of God’s dealing with man from the time of Abraham was to bring His Son to earth through the descendants of Abraham so that in the fullness of time, the souls of man could be revived and through His Son have the promise of eternal life.
Jesus, in the latter part of John 10:10, states His whole purpose for coming to earth. . . . I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. The means for this was to be provided by Christ and His death on Calvary’s cross. However, none were “automatically” saved upon the event of Christ death. Jesus taught that this could not occur until the kingdom came for which He died. In John 3:3 the Lord explained to Nicodemus that one must be “born again” which shows that this is a spiritual birth. This is when the soul is revived. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Then in John 3:5-6 Jesus also explained the way in which that birth would occur would be in baptism “for the remission of sins”. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. When one is “born again”, one enters into the kingdom and a proper covenant relationship with God. When something is new, it usually works as it should. 2Corinthians 5:17 tells us: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
But what happens when a child of God no longer functions as they should and their soul has need of reviving? Again, Spiritual CPR, is not taught in the Word of God, but there are things we need to do to maintain our spiritual health so drastic measures aren’t required. 2Corinthians 4:16 clearly indicates that our soul needs to be “renewed” daily for optimal performance. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. How is this accomplished? 2Timothy 2:15 is a great place to start. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
The idea of spiritual exercise for the benefit of our soul’s well-being had been previously addressed in 1Timothy 4:6-9 as the Spirit had Paul write. Timothy was to help his brethren to remain fit spiritually. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. 7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
Because CPR for the soul is not a real thing, we are to help our brethren to do all they can to maintain a strong and healthy soul. Hebrews 3:13 is one of the scriptures that shows that we are to encourage each other before souls are irreparably harmed. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. We don’t want any Christian to become as those described in 2Peter 2:20. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. If you are a child of God, and your soul needs to be revived, repent and pray as Acts 8:22 tells an erring Christian to do. If you are not a Christian, you’ve not been born into the kingdom and your soul is in danger of eternal separation from God. Obey the gospel today.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
