Consciousness and the Brain

Q: Is consciousness separate from the brain/mind? I would assume so. I consider the brain/mind simply flesh like all other parts that will return to dust when we die. I realize we have the 'mind of christ' but that mind is not our soul, and that mind won't live forever. We will have been transformed at the resurrection, right? The mind is separate from the soul right? I suppose I am really confused. In Genesis, it talks about how God breathed the breath of life into us and we became a living soul. A living soul (consciousness) inside a body (with a mind) that is only sustained by the breath of God (spirit), that's what I take from it. Please let me know if I am incorrect in my thinking that consciousness is separate from the mind/body, and please help me sort this out. I know I have a lot of questions but they are important to me. Thanks, God bless.

A: Thank you for your questions. No doubt your questions have been investigated since as long as we can remember. I do not presume to say that my answers are going to settle the matter, but, hopefully, they will guide you towards the answers you seek.

Is consciousness separate from the brain/mind? Consciousness is defined as "the state of being conscious; knowledge of one's own existence, condition, sensations, mental operations, acts, etc." The mind is defined as "The intellectual or rational faculty in man; the understanding; the intellect; the power that conceives, judges, or reasons; also, the entire spiritual nature; the soul; -- often in distinction from the body." If we accept these two defintions then it would seem that there is a distinction between consciousness and the brain/mind. In a nutshell, consciousness is being aware while the mind is the home of emotion and will. Perhaps, we can say that the mind is our consciousness in action. Biblically, there are not many uses of the word consciousness, but mind, given its varying definitions is used numerous times. Hebrews 10:2 talks about "consciousness of sins" as it pertains to being aware of sins. The word "mind" is used 114 times in the NIV Translation alone. Most usages of the word pertain to an action being undertaken as in "Bear in mind (Exodus 16:29), "call to mind (Lamentations 3:21)" and "men of corrupt mind (1 Timothy 6:5)."

We will have been transformed at the resurrection, right? Yes, Christians will be transformed at the resurrection. How that will affect our mind and brain is not completely known. But, since the brain is flesh and blood, it would stand to reason that it will be transformed as part of our new spiritual bodies. And of course, we will also have consciousness at that time as well. The Bible talks about us being absent from the body and present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). Paul desired to depart and be with Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:23). The story of the Rich Man and Lazarus indicates a conscious existence in the afterlife (Luke 16:19-31). There are souls under God's altar (Revelation 6:9). And the thief on the cross was promised that "today" he would be with Christ in Paradise (Luke 23:43).

The mind is separate from the soul, right? Not necessarily. I believe the mind is a part the soul. The soul is defined as "The spiritual, rational, and immortal part in man; that part of man which enables him to think, and which renders him a subject of moral government." In more common terms, the soul can be described as the "mind, emotion and will" of an individual. While it can be argued that all living creatures have a mind, emotion and will, it is the spiritual component of mankind that separates us from the rest of God's creatures. It is that spiritual component to our souls that leads us to ask questions like, "Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going?" And this leads directly into your concluding statement.

In Genesis, it talks about how God breathed the breath of life into us and we became a living soul. A living soul (consciousness) inside a body (with a mind) that is only sustained by the breath of God (spirit), that's what I take from it. Whether you realize it or not, you have stumbled upon the foundation of the Gospel message. I think what you say here is on the right track. We are all conscious whether or not we have the the life of God (breath of life) in us. Look at it from a different perspective. The passage you reference is Genesis 2:7, where God breathed His life into Adam and he became a living being. However, God also warned Adam that he would die if he ate the forbidden fruit (Genesis 2:17). Adam did eat the forbidden fruit and he died spiritually (Genesis 3:6). That life breathed into Him was removed by God. Adam was alive physically, but spiritually dead to God. That is the problem between man and God. We are all born into the world spiritually dead and in need of the life of God to indwell us. That is where Jesus Christ comes into the picture. Before God could offer His life to us again, He had to deal with the sin that caused Him to remove His life. Jesus, God in the flesh (Matthew 1:23), was the only man born with a life to give that would satisfy God as payment for our sins (1 John 2:2).  Now, raised from the dead, Jesus can now offer the life of God, as a free gift, to all who accept Him by faith (Romans 6:23). And because of the death of Jesus Christ, there is now no sin that will cause the life of God to ever leave a Christian. Thus, the life we have is an eternal life.

From God's vantage point, the problem man faces is not just that he is a sinner in need of forgiveness, but that he is dead and in need of life. It is that consciousness we all have that makes us aware that something is missing. That something missing is the life of God, His indwelling Holy Spirit, that is only available through faith in Jesus Christ. Our brains/minds are what helps us process the evidence God has provided to us so we can investigate His truths and make a choice as whether or not to accept Jesus Christ by faith. My prayer is that this shed some light on the subject for you. Grace and Peace.