ABSTRACT The Holy Spirit is an active participant in creation all the way back to Gen 1:1, as He moved over the surface of the water, and He continues to sustain us. In terms of a Creation Model, human design has a Holy Spirit interface design feature that should be characterized. This paper examines the biological extent to which individuals acting in our Imago Dei missional calling are supported by the work of the Holy Spirit. The premise is that the Holy Spirit uses and revitalizes an individual’s capabilities through engagement with their spirit, soul, and body. Redemption is not only a spiritual act but can be traced to the redemptive response in our body. The term that is used for this concept is biological redemption. Man’s heavenly final state will be with the glorified body God intends for us. In the present, we have biological redemption as a byproduct of spiritual formation and supportive spiritual community involvement. In clinical studies, prayer and spiritual activity have been proven to impact health and disease recovery. The Holy Spirit is a constant resource to empower individuals in our missional work, including refreshing our bodies in the fallen world. Our bodies are a necessary part of our human ministry. To share the Great Commission, a believer must engage other individuals physically using one’s body. Thus, the body must be in good order to do this missional role. The paper shares theological and biological insights into how our bodies can accomplish refreshing and remembering a restorative state. Paul shows us how he could transcend his situation through fellowship, prayer, singing of hymns, and glorifying God. His spirit was elevated, and his body was refreshed. At times even miraculous interventions took place (Acts 16:22-30). Epigenetic research shows one of the biological pathways to switch how the body responds due to spiritual and communal activity and to remember a redemptive state. Exploring biological redemption is a rewarding theological and biological endeavor where we can give God glory for how the body responds to the Holy Spirit’s handiwork. KEYWORDS Divine design, epigenetics, biological redemption, Holy Spirit, biological enablers for Christian missional calling THE AUTHOR James D. Johansen has an interdisciplinary Ph.D. from Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, USA, in 2019, two master’s degrees in science and religion, and Christian apologetics, from Biola University, La Mirada, CA, USA, in 2015 and 2012, and electrical engineering master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA, in 1985 and 1982. He is an adjunct professor at Liberty University in their engineering and computational science department, an adjunct professor at the Master’s University, Placentia, CA, USA, a researcher in theoretical biology, and an adjunct professor at Biola University, La Mirada, CA, USA, in their chemistry, physics, and engineering department, a part-time assistant professor at Azusa Pacific University in their engineering and computer science department, and an adjunct professor at Regent University in their graduate school. He has over two decades of experience in systems engineering at two federally funded research and development companies supporting the aerospace industry. He has over 20 conference papers and journal articles, plus a book chapter. He is a member of INCOSE, IEEE, MORS, ETS, CBS, and EPS professional societies. James D. Johansen, Engineering and Computational Sciences, School of Engineering, Liberty University, 1971 University Blvd., Lynchburg, Virginia 24515 jdjohansen@liberty.edu © Cedarville University International Conference on Creationism. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of Cedarville University. 9th 2023 633 Johansen, J.D. 2023. Holy Spirit’s refreshing our bodies via biological redemption and the creation model [abstract]. In J.H. Whitmore (editor), Proceedings of the Ninth International Conference on Creationism, p. 633. Cedarville, Ohio: Cedarville University International Conference on Creationism. HOLY SPIRIT’S REFRESHING OUR BODIES VIA BIOLOGICAL REDEMPTION AND THE CREATION MODEL
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