God's breath of life transformed dust-formed man into a living soul, giving him an immortal inner self and pointing to Christ as the life-giving Spirit.
Genesis 2:7 records that Adam became a living soul when God breathed into his nostrils. Les uses this to show that man's soul/spirit is immortal, distinct from every other creature, and that this prepares us for the New Testament comparison of Adam with Christ. For Les, the same breath-of-life principle explains how the Spirit will animate the believer's resurrection body.
Genesis 2:7 — This is the actual breath-of-life event: God's inbreathing produces a living soul.
1 Corinthians 15:45 — This is the New Testament commentary on Genesis 2:7, contrasting Adam with Christ as the life-giving Spirit.
In Genesis 2:7, the Bible states: "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." This verse records the creation of man's body from the dust and the inbreathing of life that resulted in a "living soul." Later, in 1 Corinthians 15:45, Scripture looks back to this event: "And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit." Verse 46 adds, "Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual." These are the biblical anchor points for the significance of the breath of life.
Les points to Genesis 2:7 and teaches that the breath of life is what made the dust-formed man a living soul. He emphasizes that this separated man from all other categories of life because the soul or spirit is immortal. He also says the body is like a tent, a dwelling place for the real self, and that the inner self is a direct creation of God and therefore eternal, made with a will so man can make a choice.
In Genesis 2:7, the Bible says Adam became a living soul. Les teaches that this made man immortal in the area of the soul/spirit and separated him from all other categories of life. He also stresses that the real inner self is a direct creation from the heart of God, making it eternal and giving man the capacity to choose.
Paul directly connects the breath-of-life event to Christ in 1 Corinthians 15:45: the first Adam was a living soul; the last Adam is a quickening, or life-giving, Spirit. Les highlights this comparison and notes that "quickening" means giving life, the same language Paul uses in Ephesians 2:1 when he says believers were dead in trespasses and sins and God has quickened them.
Les teaches that the eternal, resurrected body will be flesh and bone, not flesh and blood, because flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Since life is in the blood in this present creation, the Spirit of God will become the life-giving substance that keeps the eternal body functioning. The breath of life in Genesis is the pattern: just as God's breath made Adam a living soul, the Spirit will animate the believer's eternal body.
Creation of Adam: Body, Soul, and Spirit Explained
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Now isn't that beautiful? What's He claiming? He's the I Am. He is the pre-eternal, self-existent I Am who would be more and more and more revealed. Now just follow that up. We've already seen Him revealed coming up through the Old Testament in various and sundry ways.
Spirit as Life Source in the Eternal Body
Les ties God's breath at creation to the last Adam—Christ—and explains that the Spirit will replace blood as the life-giving substance in the believer's eternal flesh-and-bone body.
Immortal Soul and Living Soul
Les teaches that the breath of life made Adam a living soul and that this immortal soul/spirit separated man from every other category of life.
Direct Creation: The Eternal Part of Man
Les explains the inner self is a direct creation of God and therefore eternal, and that this eternal self is given a will for the purpose of making a choice.
First Adam vs. Last Adam
Les highlights Paul's contrast between the first Adam, a living soul, and the last Adam, Christ, a quickening (life-giving) Spirit, and connects "quickening" to Ephesians 2:1.
Ezekiel 37 Explained: Israel's Dry Bones Prophecy Fulfilled?
Verse 5, "...Thus saith the Lord God, unto these bones," in other words, to these Israelites scattered throughout the world, "...Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live." In other words, a national breath. They're once again going to become a nation of people. Verse 6, "...I will lay sinners upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you.
Comparing Scripture With Scripture
Les instructs readers to compare Scripture with Scripture, placing Genesis 2:7 alongside 1 Corinthians 15:45-46 to see Adam and Christ in contrast.
Flesh and Bone Resurrection Body
Les teaches that the resurrected body is flesh and bone, not flesh and blood, and that in eternity the Spirit will take the place of blood as the source of life.
Genesis 2:7: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
The foundational text for the breath of life: man becomes a living soul.
1 Corinthians 15:45: And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
Paul refers back to Genesis and contrasts Adam with Christ as the life-giving Spirit.
1 Corinthians 15:46: Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
Paul notes the natural came before the spiritual, showing the order of creation and resurrection.
Ephesians 2:1: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Les uses this verse to explain that 'quickening' means making alive, as in the last Adam being a quickening Spirit.
1 Corinthians 15:50: Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Supports Les's point that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom, which leads to his teaching about the Spirit animating the resurrection body.
It caused the dust-formed man to become a living soul. Les says it made the human soul/spirit immortal and set man apart from all other life. The body remains mortal, but the inner self is eternal.
Because Paul compares Genesis 2:7 with Christ in 1 Corinthians 15:45. The first Adam became a living soul; the last Adam, Christ, is a quickening, or life-giving, Spirit. For Les, this points to Christ as the one who gives life, including eternal resurrection life.
Les explains that the believer's resurrection body is flesh and bone, not flesh and blood. Since life is in the blood now, in the eternal state the Spirit will become the life-giving substance that keeps the body functioning, just as God's breath first made Adam a living soul.
In the available clips, Les does not explicitly identify the breath of life as the Holy Spirit. He teaches it made Adam a living soul and later says the Spirit will provide life in the resurrection body.
Watch the Teaching: Creation of Adam: Body, Soul, and Spirit Explained