Integumentary System

In this lesson we will be looking at the following:

Anatomical structures that compose the Integumentary system. Physiological functions of the Integumentary system Spiritual lessons that this system and its components can teach us.

When God did form a man from dustHe knew that skin was just a must

To cover those delicate organs from viewAnd adorn him with beauty that stretched as it grew

That was to last without end, and wear not outBut alas, then sin came, and knocked it about

Not glowing in glory as it did in the pastForever to shine and forever to last

Having to sweat when it didn’t beforeAs work became toilsome and labor a chore

Feeling the chill of the evenings night airHaving to be covered though once it was bareSensing the pain that it had not ever known

Wrinkling with age and losing its toneSuffering the cuts and bruises that wrought

Through a willful rejection of a God that had soughtTo heal all the afflictions that it bore every day

There was only one answer, to make His skin payBy having it torn by the wipe and the blow

Was the only way possible, to make you to knowThe price that He was willing to give you your skin

In offering His life for a ransom from sin

PRIMARY LESSON OF THE INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM: To teach us of righteous by faith as our defense against the attacks of Satan.

Would you be motivated by an advertisement that boasted of a coat that was waterproof, stretchable, washable, non stainable, permanently pressed, that repairs itself automatically when torn or burnt with invisible mending and was guaranteed to last a life time with reasonable care? Sound like a good deal? Thank God then that he gave you one in forming your skin!

1. Structure: The Integumentary System consists of the skin and the subcutaneous (under the skin) layer, which contains structures extending from the skin. The skin itself consists of two main layers, which are different from each other in structure and function.

The skin is a remarkable organ and is the largest organ of the body weighing in at about six pounds, which is about the combined weight of the liver and the brain. On an average adult it covers over 3000 square inches, and receives about one third of the total blood volume that passes throughout your body. Each square inch of the surface of the skin contains fifteen feet of blood vessels, four yards of nerves, 650 sweat glands, 100 oil glands, 1500 sensory receptors, and three million cells that are constantly

dying and being replaced. The skin is also called the integument, which simply means covering. The skin’s two major layers are The Dermis and the epidermis.:

A.) Epidermis: Outermost layer, which is subdivided into layers, and is made entirely of epithelial cells with no blood vessels. The epidermis has four layers of skin that cover the body (except the palms and soles of feet) just as the Sanctuary does that was built by Moses, (read Exodus 25.)

B.) Dermis: The next layer beneath the epidermis, also known as true skin, which has a framework of connective tissue and contains many blood vessels, nerve endings and glands.

Types of membranes: There are four major types of membranes: serous, mucous, cutaneous, and synovial.

Serous membranes: These are membranes that line the cavities that do not have openings to the outside. They form the inner linings of the thorax and abdomen, and they cover the organs within these cavities. Such a membrane consists of a layer of simple squamous epithelium covering a thin later of loose connective tissue. It secretes a watery serous fluid, that helps to lubricate the surfaces of the membrane.

Mucous membranes: These line cavities and tubules that open to the outside of the body. Such membranes include the oral and nasal cavities and the tubes of the digestive, respiratory, urinary, and reproductive systems. These membranes are composed of epithelium overlying a layer of loose connective tissue. Specialized cells within a mucous membrane secrete mucus (a thick fluid substance).

Cutaneous membrane: An organ of the integumentary system (also commonly referred to as the skin).

Synovial membranes: These form the inner linings of joint cavities and help in the movement of bones, and are located between the ends of bones. These membranes include fibrous connective tissue overlying loose connective tissue and adipose tissue. They secrete a thick, colorless synovial fluid into the joint cavity, which lubricates the ends of the bones within the joint.

Sudoriferous Glands: As well as the skin the Integumentary System contains sweat glands, also known as sudoriferous glands, which assist in expelling waste and regulating body temperature.

Sebaceous Glands: These are saclike in structure and lubricate the skin and hair to prevent drying.

Hair & Nails: Hair is composed mostly of keratin, and is not living but dead. Nails are protective structures made of hard keratin, produced by cells that originate in the outer layer of the epidermis.

Hair follicles: Hair is present in all the skin surfaces of the body except the palms, soles, lips, nipples, and various parts of the external reproductive organs. Hair was given by God to give us more beauty, especially for the woman, “But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.” 1Cor.11.15.

Each hair develops from a group of epidermal cells at the base of a tubelike depression called a hair follicle. This follicle extends from the surface into the dermis and may pass into the subcutaneous layer. The epidermal cells at its base receive nourishment from dermal blood vessels, which occur in a

projection of connective tissue at the base of the follicle. The epidermal cells at its base receive nourishment from the dermal blood vessels. As these cells begin to divide and grow, older cells move upward and away from their nutrient supply becoming keratinized and die. Their remains constitute the shaft of a developing hair. Hair, like the outer layer of skin is also dead and is composed of dead epidermal cells.

The hair of the women in the Bible is representative of her glory (1 st Cor 11.15). She is to be the glory of man. “For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.” 1Cor.11.7. Man’s glory is as the flower, “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:” 1Pet.1.24. However God gives man something in which to glory in. “Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.” Jer.9.23,24.

There was a man in the Bible called Absalom who had a thick head of hair: “But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. And when he polled (shaved) his head, (for it was at every year's end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels (about 5 lbs) after the king's weight. 2Sam.14.25,26. It is a shame that firstly people praised him for his beauty (as happened to Lucifer) and secondly that he accepted their praise and adoration.

To place so much attention on external beauty of the hair and neglect the inner adornment is one of the sins of the last days. For those who pursue such a course is written; “And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.” Isa.3.24. God leaves no room for conjecture as to what constitutes true Christian piety of Christ-likeness in their adornment. “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided (plaited) hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;” 1Tim.2.9

This is not to say that the hair should not be neat and attractive, however the emphasis is not the neglecting of inward adornment for personal appearance. The attraction of a Christ like spirit is always to be paramount in ones appearance, and the outside will correspondingly parallel that spirit.

Wake-up or Make-up: More and more of those who profess Christianity are using make-up to give them something that they feel they missed out on through genetic factors, disease or old age. Many reasons may be sited in favor of its application, however as a Christian the first thing to consider is “What does God want me to do”, after all He knows what is best, He created beauty, He even loves beauty, just look at nature, it will tell you, read the book of Genesis it will spell it out, God loves beautiful things and that is why He hates artificial things, because He gets none of the glory, and they are at the best 2nd best.

Make-up is no new thing, it has been around for a long time, the Egyptian ladies wore it, Baal worshipers used it, and we can even find a record of it in the scriptures.

There was a wicked woman in the Bible called Jezebel, she was a Baal worshiper and hated the God of the Israelites, and used her seductive powers to bring down the forces of truth and justice.

However things were soon to change: “And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face (she put make-up on), and tired her head, and looked out at a window. And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master? And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs. And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot. And when he was come in, he did eat and drink, and said, Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a king's daughter. And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands. Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel:” 2King.9.36

This story does not suggest that make-up caused her to become wicked in any way, but that it was a sign that her outward condition typified her inward condition. Those who try to patch up the outside to make themselves more beautiful often do so to cover up what they lack on the inside, the beauty of the heart. We have not been given any patch work religion to cover ourselves. Jesus said, “No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.” Matt.9.16. We can use a principle from this text to understand the issue of make-up. Our skin can be likened to our garment, if we try to patch it up and do a little repair job to our face, it will make it worse.

Make-up will cover the pores of the skin and inhibit air circulation, starving the skin of its need of oxygen, which functions in cellular respiration. You also put poison into your skin, as the skin absorbs substances placed on top of it. Make-up has lots of artificial chemicals that are very toxic to the body, and will create a worse skin condition in the future. Also animal fat (such as pig fat is used) in its ingredients, which is unclean of itself. Another factor needs to be mentioned that ladies very rarely consider, which deals with the psychological factor of the man. If a lady does attract a man through her artificial make-up, what kind of man has she really got? What is he really interested in? Will he love her for who is she underneath? What will happen when he wakes up one day and sees what is under the make-up, and what effect will that have on the woman? A true Christian man will love her more for her inward beauty. That is not to see that we should not be attracted to that persons looks, or that it is wrong to feel that way. However what keeps people together is not their looks, it is what is on the inside that counts. If we pay more attention to adorning the inner sanctuary of the soul, we will become more attractive even in looks, our face will shine with the love of God towards us, and everyone will see it.

Another factor to consider in the restoration of the natural beauty of the skin is that of diet, we need to eliminate animal foods, sugars, refined foods, fried foods, chocolates and eat more vegetables, fruits, grains and seeds, with a moderation of nuts.

TRUE BEAUTY OF FACE: “No face has true beauty in it that does not mirror the deeds of a noble soul. There is not a thought, word, or deed, that does not leave its autograph written on the human countenance; and we care not whether kind nature has given her child an ugly face or a handsome one, if the heart that beats underneath all is warm and loving, and if the soul that looks out from the eyes be true and pure, the face will be beautiful always, for it has found the true foundation of youth, and

though time may fold the hair in silver, and furrow the brow, yet there will ever be a beauty lighting it up that years cannot dim, for the heart and soul never grow old.” HR.1871-10-01.015

Just as our skin is our first line of defense, so too is Christ’s robe of righteousness. Our moth eaten garments our full of holes and are loathsome to look upon, but the robe of righteousness has no such blemish, perfected fitted to cover the most wretched mortals and withstand the greatest onslaught of attacks from the destructive foe. We have nothing to fear friends, as long as we are covered with that garment, we can’t afford to have a patch work religion, or to trust in our righteousness, and become satisfied in our works. Our only safety in complete and unreserved surrender of our wills to the imputed righteousness of God, given up completely on ourselves to save ourselves and acknowledging our weakness before the omnipotent Holy One of Israel. Trusting in the garment that He has provided for, and falling into His everlasting arms of love, knowing and believing the love that He has for us.

2. FUNCTION: Throughout the day the skin has many important jobs to do, such as protecting the body against harmful rays of the sun or against bacteria and moisture loss, as well as injury to the body.

Sensory Perception: The skin also has nerve receptors embedded in it, which give this organ perceptive abilities, and many types of different sensory information, such as pleasure and pain, is constantly being relayed through the nervous system to the brain to be processed.

When Jesus healed people He often touched them: Healing came forth from the touch of His hand. “By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.” Acts.4.30

Leprosy was the worst skin condition in the time of Jesus, and was considered to be a curse from God. It deadened the nerves so that the afflicted could not perceive pleasure or pain and was one of the most loathsome diseases to behold. Cut off from the people of God and bearing the added weight of believing the curse of God was open you, and having been forced to leave your home and family, and beg for food, was enough to break the most strongest of hearts.

Yet despite this horrid condition there came a sympathizing healer from Galilee to bring comfort and peace to these troubled hearts. “And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” Matt.8.3. “Immediately a change passed over the leper. His flesh became healthy, the nerves sensitive, the muscles firm. The rough, scaly surface peculiar to leprosy disappeared, and a soft glow, like that upon the skin of a healthy child, took its place.” DA.263.004

It was Jesus righteousness that healed people, and brought grace and comfort to their hearts. Those who felt the masters touch would never forget it, the love of God was conveyed through the touch of Jesus, and the pleasure of being reconciled back to God, would have been almost more than most people could bare. The nerves would have thrilled with excitement, and the skin was the medium in which the message of love was transferred to the receiver of His grace.

Just imagine if God had taken nerves out of our skin, we wouldn’t know the temperature of things, and could easily burn ourselves. We wouldn’t be able to experience the pleasure of a loving touch, such as holding someone’s hand, or our spouses loving touch. We couldn’t feel the cool breeze on a hot summers day, or the warmth of a fire in winter. Thank God He gave us the skin, to help us to feel the

love that He has so abundantly for us. “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psa.16.11

Covering & Protection: If it wasn’t for skin, besides looking very unattractive we would be in constant danger from our surroundings. Many people who have lost a lot of their skin through burns or accidents, have died as a result of losing their protective covering.

If you were able to unzip your skin and look at everything underneath the sight would be loathsome to our sight. It is the same spiritually, Isaiah found this out when he saw the glory of the Lord. “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” Isa.6.1-5. It is not until we see the glory of God that we can discern the deformities of our own soul.

“As the apostles set forth the glory of the only begotten of the Father, 3,000 souls were pricked to the heart, and they were made to see themselves as they were, sinful and polluted, and Christ as their Saviour and Redeemer. Christ was lifted up, Christ was glorified, through the power of the holy Spirit resting upon men. By the eye of faith these believers saw him as the one who had borne humiliation, suffering, and death, that they might not perish, but have everlasting life. As they looked upon his spotless righteousness, they saw their own deformity and pollution, and were filled with godly fear, with love and adoration for Him who gave his life a sacrifice for them. They humbled their souls to the very dust, and repented of their wicked works, and glorified God for his salvation.” RH.1892-11-29.005

A lesson from the good Samaritan: “And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.” 10.30-34.

Well, you may wonder what has this story got to do about skin? It shows us the power of God to heal the skin through His divine appointed agencies. Primarily it is a lesson of how God heals the sinner who is wounded through sin, but we can only learn the spiritual lesson through a physical truth. The good Samaritan poured oil and wine into the wounds. The oil represents the spirit and the wine the blood, Zech.4.3-6, Matt.26.28,29. We see in the body that it is the blood that brings healing into the wounded area of the body, of course this parallels the blood of Christ to bring healing to those wounded in spirit. As soon as there is a wound in the body, there comes healing agencies to correct and restore, if this is so physically, how much more is it spiritually. “He was the Redeemer before as after His incarnation. As soon as there was sin, there was a Saviour.” DA.210.002. Friends, can you see how much power there is in the blood of Jesus to restore you and heal you! What have we to fear, save trusting in ourselves to save ourselves and looking away from our source of strength.

We need Christ’s covering: “Those who think they are complete without Christ's righteousness will find in the end that they have lost their souls. Faith is made perfect by works. Those who make no change in character, though claiming the privilege of being called Christians, have not on the wedding garment. They think that in themselves they are good enough, virtuous enough. Without faith in Christ, they rest upon their own merits. True repentance for sin they have never felt. Therefore when Christ comes in to examine the guests, the command goes forth, "Bind him hand and foot, . . . and cast him into outer darkness." RH.1900-05-08.017

“Without the grace of Christ, the sinner is in a hopeless condition; nothing can be done for him; but through divine grace, supernatural power is imparted to the man, and works in mind and heart and character. It is through the impartation of the grace of Christ that sin is discerned in its hateful nature, and finally driven from the soul temple. It is through grace that we are brought into fellowship with Christ, to be associated with him in the work of salvation. Faith is the condition upon which God has seen fit to promise pardon to sinners; not that there is any virtue in faith whereby salvation is merited, but because faith can lay hold of the merits of Christ, the remedy provided for sin. Faith can present Christ's perfect obedience instead of the sinner's transgression and defection. When the sinner believes that Christ is his personal Saviour, then, according to his unfailing promises, God pardons his sin, and justifies him freely. The repentant soul realizes that his justification comes because Christ, as his substitute and surety, has died for him, is his atonement and righteousness.” RH.1890-11-04.006

Temperature regulation: Another job that the skin performs quite effortlessly is that of temperature regulation. On a hot sunny day the skin can serve as a means for releasing almost 3000 calories of body heat-enough heat or energy to boil over 20 liters of water! It does this by regulating sweat secretion and by regulating the flow of blood close to the body surface. The principle of heat loss through evaporation is basic to many cooling systems.

Just as the skin keeps us at the right temperature so too does the righteousness of God. “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed...” Rev.3.15-18.

Here Laodicea are considered to be comfortable in a warm temperature. God wants to heat them up, but they are satisfied with their condition, part of the remedy is to buy the white raiment, which is the righteousness of God, Rev 19:8. When someone is active they get hot, the skin regulates heat loss and sweat is generated, which rids the body of toxins. It is the same spiritually, if we are actively engaged in service for others we get hot for the Lord, or as some would say “On fire for Jesus”, and the by product is the eradication of sin from our souls.

The 15 feet of blood vessels per square inch of the skin dilate when the body needs to lose heat. Heat tends to dilate the blood vessels where as cold constricts them. Based on this physiological phenomena hydrotherapy is found to be very successful, in acting as a pump, like the heart, to direct the blood into the needed area faster than what would normally take place, thus assisting the body’s efforts to heal.

The condition of your skin reflects the health of the underlying tissues. The skin also has functions which are strictly its own, such as BREATHING, PERSPIRATION, SENSORY PROCESSING, and OIL PRODUCTION. Any skin ailments are best attacked from within rather than without. Attacking

from within means concentrating on purifying the blood, and allowing the blood to eliminate skin conditions.

This can be applied spiritually as well, we need to attack our real problem, which means concentrating on purifying the blood, which is represented as purifying our characters with the spotless blood of Jesus Christ, who cleanses us from all sin. It is the blood of Christ that eliminates our self righteous disease conditions. Just as the pores of the skin need to be washed in order to remove impurities, we also need to be washed by the Word of God that the impurities of our character may be removed. “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” Eph.5.26

In the course of a day the skin will eliminate more than a pound of waste products in the form of sweat. Almost anything the body tries to expel through the skin is a symptom of unwanted, impure poisonous waste products in the blood. Under a toxic buildup the skin is used as a greater waste elimination organ, because of the fact that the other channels of elimination are overloaded. On the other hand if the pores of the skin are blocked, an extra burden is placed upon the other organs of elimination, such as the kidneys, lungs and liver. If these organs have too much load placed upon them they will give the skin the toxic waste to get rid off and skin diseases in various forms result. A toxic buildup can be likened to a build up of sin that mares the righteousness of God and creates many foul conditions.

Regulation of Body Temperature: Of vital importance to the body is the regulation of body temperature, it is imperative to the survival of the human organism, and that of other living creatures.

The body functions at an average temperature of 36.8 degrees C, and the maintenance of a stable temperature requires that the amount of heat lost by the body be balanced by the amount it produces. Therefore the skin carries the added responsibility of maintaining homeostasis of the body, by the regulation of body temperature.

Heat is actually the by-product of cellular respiration. The more active the cells become, the more heat they produce. The active most cells include muscle cells, and the cells of certain glands such as the liver.

When the body undergoes physical exertion to excessiveness, nerve impulses stimulate structures in the skin and other organs to react in ways that promote heat loss. During physical exercise, active muscles release heat, and the blood carries away the access. A part of the brain senses the increasing body temperature and signals muscles in the walls of dermal blood vessels to relax. As the blood vessels dilate, more heat carrying blood enter the dermis, and some of the heat is likely to escape to the outside of the body.

At the same time, the nervous system stimulates eccrine glands to become more active and to release fluid onto the surface of the skin. When this fluid evaporates, it carries away with it the heat from the surface of the skin, which in turn cools the skin.

God has given us a wonderful built in air-conditioning unit that has the ability to cool us down when overheated. Wearing clothes helps us to maintain a good circulation of the blood and aid the body in equalizing body temperature. This is where proper clothing is important for one to be a good steward of their skin, for without adequate protection the body will suffer and the blood will become impure.

Re-absorption of waste: When we don’t keep the skin clean, due to inadequate hygiene and cleanliness it becomes recycled back into the body and poisons the blood. “A great amount of

suffering might be saved if all would labor to prevent disease, by strictly obeying the laws of health. Strict habits of cleanliness should be observed. Many, while well, will not take the trouble to keep in a healthy condition. They neglect personal cleanliness, and are not careful to keep their clothing pure. Impurities are constantly and imperceptibly passing from the body, through the pores; and if the surface of the skin is not kept in a healthy condition, the system is burdened with impure matter. If the clothing worn is not often washed, and frequently aired, it becomes filthy with impurities, which are thrown off from the body by sensible and insensible perspiration. And if the garments worn are not frequently cleansed from these impurities, the pores of the skin absorb again the waste matter thrown off. The impurities of the body, if not allowed to escape, are taken back into the blood, and forced upon the internal organs. Nature, to relieve herself of poisonous impurities, makes an effort to free the system. This effort produces fevers, and what is termed disease. But even then, if those who are afflicted would assist nature in her efforts, by the use of pure, soft water, much suffering would be prevented. But many, instead of doing this, and seeking to remove the poisonous matter from the system, take a more deadly poison into the system, to remove a poison already there.” RH.1899-12-12.008

Before God made His presence felt in the camp of the Israelites he got them to wash their clothes; “And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.” Exo.19.14. Physical impurities of skin, as well as spiritual impurities of their heart had to be cleansed of in order to stand before the Holy One of Israel. What a Holy God we serve friends, just pause for a minute and consider the holiness of the one in whom we serve. Think of His majesty, and glory that caused the earth to shake and the rocks to tremble. Let us make sure that we come before God as clean vessels, in body and in spirit. We cannot always keep our bodies clean, especially when we are working, but we can keep clean them up afterwards, especially when entering the house of the Lord.

When does the living look like the dead? Answer: When it has skin on. When you look at yourself in the mirror next time consider this: everything you see is actually dead. That may sound strange, but not when you understand that the outermost layer of skin cells has already died and become hard, ready to one day slough off. The Bible says that in heaven there will be no more death, Revelation 21.4. So when we get there you will able to look at someone who is completely alive, (including their skin!)

We have a totally new covering of epidermal cells every 35-45 days, and millions are lost each day without us even seeing them.

You may ask “if the skin is represented by righteousness, why is it then that is dead?” Well, it is not altogether a true statement that the skin is dead, but it is more correct to say that part of the skin is dead, and only that part that is the furthest from the blood, which is most of the epidermis layer, that forms the outside of the skin. Showing us that the further we get from the source of life (the blood) the more dead in sins we become, and our cast off like the outside cells of our body. Just as part of the skin is dead and part of it is living, so too did it represent the life of Christ. In Him was life, however He had to receive death to give us that life, therefore the skin shows us that righteousness is composed of life and death, a death to self that is cast off from the soul, and a life that is hid below the surface with God as our personal savior.

How would the skin change if it would be brought into contact with God’s presence? “And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the veil upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.” Exo.34.35 Just think friends that our skin

will be shining when beholding the glory of the Lord. If our face can shine on earth from beholding Christ, then how much more when we see Him face to face!

Sweat glands: “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” Gen.3.19. Sweat glands occur in nearly all regions of the body, however are most numerous in the soles and palms. Each gland consists of a tiny tube that originates as a ball shaped coil in the dermis or subcutaneous layer. At the coiled portion of the gland is closed at the end and lined with sweat secreting epithelial cells.

There are two types of sweat glands, the apocrine glands, and the eccrine glands. The apocrine glands respond to emotional stress and become active when a person is frightened or suffering in pain. They are usually connected with hair follicles and found more numerously in the armpits, and groin areas. These glands are developed by sex hormones, and begin to function at the onset of pubity.

The eccrine glands however are not associated with hair follicles. They function throughout life and respond primarily to elevated body temperatures associated with environmental heat or physical activity. These glands are common of the forehead, neck, and back, where they produce profuse sweating on hot days, as would have occurred with Adam, upon the tilling of the soil to labor for his families needs.

“In his youth, Christ was subject to his parents,--an example of obedience to all the youth. In his youth he learned the trade of a carpenter, and earned his bread by the sweat of his brow. Thus he honored physical labor. It should be an encouragement and source of strength to every human being, in the performance of the commonplace duties of life, to know that Jesus toiled to provide for his own temporal wants.” RH.1898-07-12.007

“While our first parents obeyed God, their labor in the garden was a pleasure; and the earth yielded of its abundance for their wants. But when man departed from obedience, he was doomed to wrestle with the seeds of Satan's sowing, and to earn his bread by the sweat if his brow. Henceforth he must battle in toil and hardship against the power to which he had yielded his will.”

“It was God's purpose to alleviate by toil the evil that was brought into the world by man's disobedience. By toil the temptations of Satan might be made ineffectual, and the tide of evil stayed. And though attended with anxiety, weariness, and pain, labor is still a source of happiness and development, and a safeguard against temptation. Its discipline places a check on self-indulgence, and promotes industry, purity, and firmness. Thus it becomes a part of God's great plan for our recovery from the fall.” PH145.024.

The fluid that is secreted by these glands is mostly made composed of water, however small traces of salt and certain wastes , such as uric acid and urea are also secreted.

The skin has an amazing ability to heal wounds. Let’s have a look at some of the phases that the skin goes through in order to heal itself. God has given us lessons in the skin to help us understand how He heals His people from sin.

Inflammatory Stage, (Physical Truth): When a wound takes place in the body such as a cut, the body doesn’t waste any time in remedying the problem. First it goes through what is called an inflammatory stage, where the local area that is wounded starts to inflame and swell, and white blood cells are called

in to defend the body against harmful pathogens, and phagocytosis (which is the ingestion of foreign particles) takes place.

Inflammatory Stage, (Spiritual Truth): The Bible relates the body to the church, see Colossians 1.18. When the church is wounded by sin, souls instead of cells are lost, but just like the physical body God sets in operation a plan to help it. Though this is painful and affects all the members, God’s plan is to heal and not destroy, after all He is a merciful God. Just as the white blood cells are notified in the body, so too are the angels of God who work to destroy sin in the church.

Migratory Stage, (Physical Truth): Then the next phrase is the migratory phase, where cells underneath the skin are drawn together and unite so that it closes up the area around the wound to prevent pathogens from entering in, and also restricting the blood loss.

Migratory Stage, (Spiritual Truth): After the church suffers loss through some of its members being lost in sin, the other church members unite and are drawn together by the affliction of the body and block of the enemy off righteousness from infecting the whole of its members.

Proliferation Stage, (Physical Truth): After that comes the proliferation stage where the cells begin to populate at a rapid rate to make up for the ones that have been lost.

Proliferation Stage, (Spiritual Truth): The members of the church are so closely united by bonds of love, now that they have an influence to increase its members, which in turn replaces those that have been lost as a result of sin.

Maturation Stage, (Physical truth): Lastly we have the maturation stage, when the cells under the skin have completely bridged the wounded area and have come to the surface of the skin and the wound becomes completely healed as though it never was.

Maturation Stage, (Spiritual Truth): The tragic loss of souls that has occurred has been healed and has caused those members in that local area to be matured through that crises and God has healed those broken hearts as though it never had been.

BURNS: Burns are caused by intense heat, electricity, radiation, or certain chemicals, and can be life threatening by damaging the protective layers of the skin tissues. Burns denature cell proteins and cause cell death in the affected areas. Burns are a leading cause of death for people under forty, and is considered the third leading cause of death in all age groups.

Burns cause loss of body fluids resulting in dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, which in turn leads to renal shutdown and circulatory shock. Burns require immediate attention of cold water. Aloe Vera has been acknowledged to be the best treatment for burns.

We too are in spiritual danger from our surroundings, and it is only through the covering of Jesus righteousness that we are shielded from its deadly influence. Many people have lost their life as a result of being burnt with sin, and loosing their covering of righteousness. “Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin.” Selah. Psa.85.2. “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” Isa.61.10.

There is one type of burn that can never be healed, and that is the fate of the wicked, “For behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.” Malachi 4.1. “For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12.29.

Although the sun can burn it also has the power to heal. “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as the calves of the stall.” Malachi 4.2. Although this text uses the word ‘sun’ instead of ‘son’ (Jesus) it unfolds to us the power of both to act as a healing agent.

FACTS ABOUT SKIN FROM THE BIBLE

THE SKIN OF THE BULLOCK WAS BURNT BY FIRE WITHOUT THE CAMP EX 29.14

MOSES SKIN SHONE WHEN HE CAME DOWN FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD EX 34.29

LEPROSY WAS A PLAGUE OF THE SKIN LEV 13

THE SKIN OF THE HEIFER WAS TO BE BURNT NUM 19.5

SKINS OF BADGERS WAS THE OUTER COVERING IF THE SANCTUARY EX 26.14

THOSE WHO HAD KILLED OR TOUCHED THE DEAD WERE TO PURIFY ANYTHING MADE OF SKIN

NUM 31.19,20

JESUS GAVE HIS SKIN TO BE SCOURGED JOHN 19.1

JESUS SUFFERED HIS SKIN TO BE PIERCED WITH THORNS JOHN 19.2

JESUS’ SKIN SWEATED AS IT WERE GREAT DROPS OF BLOOD LUKE 22.44

JESUS ALLOWED HIS SKIN TO BE SMOTE MATT 26.67

JESUS HAD HIS SKIN BROKEN BY A ROMAN SPEAR JOHN 19.37

For more information on the physiology of the skin read “The Seven Channels of Elimination,” and for the spiritual lessons on the skin read, Leprosy analysis under Bible study section.

PHYSICAL TRUTH SPIRITUAL TRUTH REF.Skin is our physical protection and

coveringRighteousness is our spiritual protection and

coveringIsa.61.10

Skin is a physical armor that is resistant to invasion of micro-organisms that

create disease

Righteousness is our spiritual armor that is resistant to Satanic attacks that create

spiritual disease.

Eph.6.14

Skin gives us physical beauty Righteousness gives us spiritual beauty Exo.28.2 & Rev. 19.8

Skin regulates heat production determining our temperature

Righteousness regulates our spiritual heat, determining how hot we are for God.

Rev.3.16-18

Skin throws off filth and waste Righteousness throws off sin and every defiling thing.

Dan.4.27

SPIRITUAL PARALLELS OF THE SKIN & RIGHTEOUSNESS

Skin has oil secreted upon it Righteousness has the anointing of the oil of gladness upon those who come under His

righteousness.

Psa.45.7

Skin is repairable and can heal the deepest of wounds by the action of the

blood

Righteousness can repair the deepest of spiritual wounds by the action of the blood

of Jesus Christ.

Jer.30.17Luke.10.341John.1.7

Skin covers every member of the body Righteousness is to cover every member of the church.

Matt.22.12

Skin needs active labor to throw of waste

Those who are created in righteousness need to labor that they throw off the old life of

sin.

Eph.4.24,28.