Scholars across the ages attempt to mingle the
concept of spirit and soul as one entity. However, Bible truth differentiates
between these two realms within our human essence. Our spiritual union with
Christ takes place in our spirit, which is Born Again at Salvation (John
3:5-6; Romans 8:9, 16; Acts 26:18). Then the Holy Spirit spends
our lifetime sanctifying our soul. Paul makes this clear when he refers to the
entire sanctification of body, soul and spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23). God’s
Word divides the soul and spirit (Hebrews 4:12). The
more we submit to His holiness, the more fully we partake in His divine nature (2 Peter
1:4). Paul lays out the entire purification process for us in Romans 6-8.
Our soul leans toward sin during our initial walk
with the Lord (Romans 7:17-18, 20-21, 23). As
the Word of God quickens His Truth to our soul, these sinful habits start
grieving our spirit as much as they do the Spirit of God (Ephesians
4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19). The lusts of our flesh conflict with the
desires of the Spirit of God in our spirit (Galatians 5:17; Colossians
1:8-9; Romans 13:14; Galatians 5:24; Ephesians 2:3; 1 Peter 2:11). As we
mature, the Spirit births more and more holiness in our soul (Galatians
4:19). We see the work of Christ in us as He dwells in us and gives us His
hope of glory (Colossians 1:27; 2 Corinthians 13:5). We no
longer live our life, but Christ lives in, through and instead of us (Galatians
2:20). Jesus Christ is our whole life and we live in union with Him (Colossians
3:4; 1 Corinthians 6:17).
Prior to salvation we lived for our self. After
salvation, we are crucified with Christ and receive a whole new life with a new
heart (Romans 6:4,6; Ezekiel 36:26; 2 Corinthians 5:17). As we
live in Christ, our humanity decreases and His life in us increases (Romans
6:6; Ephesians 4:22; Colossians 3:9; John 3:30). He writes His laws on
our heart (Hebrews 8:10). God sees us as perfect in Christ (Philippians
3:15; Hebrews 12:23). He renews us day by day (Romans
12:2; Ephesians 4:23). We are dead to sin and we live in the
righteousness in Christ (Romans 6:11; 1 John 3:9; 1 John 2:1). We
are made righteous and present our self to God as an instrument of His
righteousness (Romans 5:19; 6:13).
Satan fishes in our desires to catch us off guard
and hook us into choosing to listen to his evil suggestions so he may employ
our carnal character and selfish habits for sin. Christ in us changes us from sinner to
Saint (Romans 5:19, 8:9; Ephesians 4:12). We are dead to sin, slaves to
righteousness and Christ reigns as Lord and Savior in our life (Romans
6:2,11,17; 1 John 3:8). Our spirit is now alive in Christ and sin is
expelled and exorcised from our soul (Ephesians 2:5; Philippians
3:12-15). This requires no self-effort; the Spirit completes this work in us as we cooperate with His Spirit (Galatians
3:1-3). We are free from sin’s torment and temptation (Romans
6:7,18,22; Acts 26:18). Christ in us then expresses Himself through us (Romans
5:10; Matthew 1:21; 1 John 4:4).
Prayer:
Father God, we thank You for the fact that our
authentic Christian identity is no longer rooted in our personality, but in
Christ. Our fleshly desires have less and less control over us as we walk in
our union with Christ in us (Galatians 5:17). Our
desire is for Your divine character, power and authority to completely take
over our body, soul and spirit. We thank You for redeeming us through Christ’s
sacrifice and filling us with Your Spirit, so we can walk in Your will each
moment of the day. Lead and guide us to be in the right place at the right time
to affect Your plan for us in this world. Drench us with Your peace and joy in
the midst of all of the sorrow and devastation in the earth in which we live.
Thought for the Day:
As God reveals a defect in our character or an idol
in our life, we willingly submit it to His Lordship; then the Spirit cleanses
us from these sins and replaces our defective humanistic character with the
fruit of His Spirit (1 John 1:9; Romans 13:14; Galatians 5:22-23).