Bible Questions and Answers

When a person dies where does the spirit go? Does it survive death?

Spirit in scripture describes 2 things:

1. The Spirit of God by which all life is energised.

• Job 33:4
• Job 34:14,15
• Ecclesiastes 8:8
• Ecclesiastes 12:7

We might think of this like the electricity energising an electrical appliance. When it is switched off the appliance ceases to function.

2. The spirit of a man — his character, the way he thinks

• Job 7:11
• Daniel 2:3
• Daniel 7:15
• Luke 1:47
• Luke 9:55
• 2 Corinthians 2:13

When we understand the Gospel and are baptised into Jesus Christ we begin a process of changing the way that we think. Jesus describes this as being born of the spirit.

• John 3:5
• Romans 8:9
• 1 Corinthians 2:16

This is not a supernatural influence from God. Our character or spirit is moulded by the way that we apply the word of God in our lives. It is this way of thinking which makes us acceptable to God.

• Luke 23:46
• Acts 7:59

Our spirit does not continue in a conscious existence after death.

• Ecclesiastes 9:5
• Psalms 146:4

For this reason death is spoken of as sleep:

• 1 Kings 2:10
• 1 Thessalonians 4:14

The hope of a Christian is that of resurrection from the dead when Christ returns. 1 Corinthians 15:22,23

From this we see that the spirit of a man doesn’t go anywhere at death, but if a man’s spirit/character is acceptable to God he will be raised to life when Christ returns. When we are raised we will be raised as ouselves - our spirit restored - and if found faithful energised no longer by the circulation of blood, but by the Spirit of God. Romans 8:11

I hope this helps.

God bless,
Glenn