Spirit Soul and Body

Spirit, Soul and Body

A study of the essential elements of the individual human person and how this relates to Salvation in Jesus Christ.

(1 Th 5:23, 24 KJV) And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

SPIRIT

(Gen 1:26, 27 KJV) And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

God created man in His own revealed triune image and likeness, spirit, soul and body.

Here we have a translation into English of a word borrowed from Greek philosophy describing an element of the human creature. The word used for spirit in the New Testament is the Greek word pneuma (pnyoo'-mah) meaning: breath or current of air. It is used figuratively to refer to a spirit whether human, divine or demonic. It is also used when referring to life or mind (of the spirit). It implies that part of the individual human whole where the essential life of the person exists. This is the part which is replaced by the "new creation" of the born again experience. This is the spirit of the individual person, justified, made perfectly sinless, made complete in Christ Jesus, made one spirit with Him at the new birth. It is essential to note that this is the only part of the individual person that is changed by the new birth.

(2 Cor 5:17 KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he (spirit) is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

(John 3:6 KJV) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (pneuma)

(John 3:8 KJV) The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit (pneuma).

SOUL

This Greek word, psuche, psoo-khay', describes the personality of the individual human and is translated: heart, life, mind (of the flesh), soul. Herein we find the mind, will and emotions of the "person", in other words the "self" or "soul". This is not changed by the new birth and must, as scripture clearly states, be "renewed by washing with the water of the Word". Any part of the soul not "transformed by the renewing of your mind" will not be eligible for Heaven. While the spirit is saved eternally at the new birth, the salvation of the "soul" or "self" must be worked out with "fear and trembling" for the duration of our time in this present context.

(Rom 12:2 KJV) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

All which is fleshly in the Church will be cleansed by the working of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to make her ready to be received into the glory of her Savior at the last day.

(Eph 5:25, 27 KJV) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

BODY

The Greek word soma, so'-mah, is translated body (as a sound whole).

(Rom 8:10 KJV) And if Christ be in you, the body (soma) is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

(1 Cor 15:45 KJV) And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul (psuche, nephesh); the last Adam was made a quickening spirit (pneuma, ruach).

This verse has been misapplied by many because of the contrived doctrines of men. Adam became a living soul (person, self), Christ came a life giving Spirit. Whenever the scriptures refer to the personality or self of man the word soul is used. When referring to the new creation spirit of the new birth it uses spirit.
Hebrew: nephesh, neh'-fesh; person, self, soul.
Hebrew: ruwach, roo'-akh; wind; by resemblance breath, fig. life, unsubstantiality; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being:--air, spirit, tempest, wind.
Hebrew: chay, khah'ee; alive; hence raw (flesh).

(Mat 27:50 KJV) Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost (pneuma).

(Acts 7:59 KJV) And they stoned Stephen, (as he was) calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

That part of the human person which is taken unto God at death of the believer is the spirit and that part of the soul which has been redeemed by the washing of water with the Word.

(Heb 10:39 KJV) But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul (psuche).

(Heb 4:12 KJV) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul (psuche) and spirit (pneuma), and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

(Mark 2:8 KJV) And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit (pneuma) that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

(Phil 2:12, 13 KJV) Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Clearly, the heart is that union of soul and spirit where they come together to do business. Soul and spirit are not the same but operate in such intimate union as to be indistinguishable from each other except by the clarifying work of the Word and the Holy Spirit.

(2 Tim 2:15 NKJV) Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

We can see clearly by these verses that it is essential to rightly divide the Word. As is so often the case in reading and understanding the Bible, what seems simple and obvious can be completely misunderstood if read through the eyes of men rather than hearing by the Holy Spirit.
Newness is in the spirit not in the soul.

(2 Cor 5:17 KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he (spirit) is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

(John 3:6 KJV) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (pneuma).

(John 3:8 KJV) The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit (pneuma).

(Rom 7:6 KJV) But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit (pneuma), and not in the oldness of the letter.

(John 4:23, 24 KJV) But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit : and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

(John 6:63 KJV) It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life (zoe).

(Rom 1:9 KJV) For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

WHAT ABOUT MY SECURITY IN CHRIST?

(Rom 8:16 KJV) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

(1 Cor 2:10, 12 KJV) But God hath revealed them unto us by his : for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

(Rom 8:9-11 KJV) But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

(1 Cor 5:5 KJV) To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

So much misery and destruction has come from failure to rightly divide the Word of Truth. There rages constant, vehement, ungodly debate over the question of whether we are saved eternally or can be lost by committing one too many intentional sins. A simple understanding of the clear and unwavering Word of God erases this debate and settles the question. It is clear and certain for everyone who will discern with the spirit and not reason with the sin adulterated mind of the flesh.
In the scripture above the Apostle Paul clearly states the reality as the Holy Spirit inspired him to write it. The unredeemed, unrenewed fleshly self, that is the soul and the body can be destroyed and thus "lost" but the new creation spirit of even this intentional sinner, the worst of the church, will be "saved " in the day of the Lord Jesus". Note this action was ordered before the man had repented. His eventual repentance saved him from physical death not from losing his salvation. The intent of the Apostle's order was to stop the man from further wanton sinning and the harm such action causes, knowing his spirit was born of incorruptible seed and therefore would not be lost in death.

(1 Pet 1:22, 23 KJV) Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

(1 Pet 1:5 KJV) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

(1 Pet 3:4 KJV) But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

(1 Cor 6:11, 12 KJV) And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

(2 Cor 1:22 KJV) Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

(1 Cor 6:17 KJV) But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. (With Him!)

(Gal 4:6 KJV) And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

The only way the spirit of a born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ could be "lost" is for Jesus and therefore God Himself to die also.

THEN WHY ALL THE WARNINGS ABOUT STANDING FIRM IN THE FAITH?

Throughout the New Testament the Apostles warn believers to "stand firm" and the revealed Christ in the book of Revelation warns each believer to "endure to the end". Again, we must read with the hearing of the Holy Spirit and not yield to the temptation to reason with the human intellect. It is a given that the spirits of believers are saved, made righteous. It is not by any means certain their souls or "selves" will be saved. Once washed and cleansed from Sin we must now walk in newness of life. We (our soulish man) must not draw back to the sensual, demonic things of earthly desires and reasoning. We must go forward in faith, conquering our souls, renewing our minds and bringing every thought captive to the Truth that is in Christ Jesus. Whatever is not of, or from, faith is sin! Doubting God's incalculable grace and His ability and commitment to work a complete and finished work at Calvary, doubts His truthfulness and His Love for His creation. Presuming to judge the Living God by our meager experience and rational thoughts is the most egregious sin of all, the sin of arrogant pride!
If we are truly believers and born from above of the Spirit of Jesus Christ , we may waver, we may even doubt at times, we will certainly commit sin in our souls (1 Jn. 1:8-10 ), but we will ultimately and repeatedly return to the Light. His Love constrains us to seek Him out and to repeat again and again the wonderful news of the simple, elegant Gospel of Jesus Christ! Even in the depths of desperate failure, we who are His will always be drawn back to His unwavering Love and boundless Mercy. But, the choice is always ours , whether to continue in fleshly (sensual, mental, emotional) lusts or turn, in true repentance and in full assurance of faith , to the One Who not only loves without condition but Who has already received us in His beloved Son!

(Eph 1:6 NKJV) to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.

(1 Cor 6:19, 20 KJV) What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

(Gal 5:25 KJV) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

(Rom 8:1, 2 KJV) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

(Rom 8:4-7 KJV) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Our walk is in the flesh but after the manner of the spirit.

(Gal 5:16-18 KJV) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

(Gal 6:8 KJV) For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption (in his soul, self); but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting (in his soul, self).

(Gal 5:25-6:1 KJV) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

(1 Pet 4:1, 2 KJV) Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

(Jude 1:18, 19 KJV) How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

Not everyone on earth will hear and heed the Gospel. Some will however, enjoy the fellowship and social benefits of belonging to a church group and participating in its rituals. These may well receive the associated blessings of God on His people. Remember, God is no respecter of persons, He pours out His blessings abundantly on anyone who will receive them. There are unbelievers who will benefit more from their openness to blessings than believers who, because of man's doctrines, miss those blessings. There are also the merely religious who think they can manipulate God by "keeping the law" and doing what is expected of them. These are the ones spoken of by Jesus when He said, (Mat 7:22, 23 KJV) "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." The essential qualification is not whether we know Christ, but whether He knows us! Clearly, not everyone who professes faith in Jesus Christ is truly a believer, born from above of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
Sadly, there are many who, acting out of fear and not faith, have said the "sinner's prayer" like some ritual magic words, and gone on their ways thinking they are now safe from perdition. They have merely been "inoculated" against the Gospel because they no longer think they need salvation.
If you have truly, with all your heart (spirit and soul together) given up your life to the Lord Jesus Christ and received of Him a new spirit created after His likeness in Godliness and true holiness, then you can confidently say with the writer of the letter to the Hebrews, "we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but believe to the saving of the soul (psuche)".

(Heb 10:39 KJV) But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul (psuche).

(Col 2:8-12 KJV) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead.