Christian Living
Ch. 3
Here is a question from a friend:
Is our soul the seat of intellect or is the spirit? Are you referring to "two" intellects, one being the basic "animalistic" takes care of hunger, cold, fear, with the "second" "higher" intellect being born of Spirit and a completely different way of "thinking"?
It is a different perspective which allows a different way of thinking. The source thereof is an open path through the spirit man we are as he is connected to the Holy Spirit. This important result determines a change in how we position ourselves in life, from being physically in the world to being in the spirit dimension where we are made whole and all we need or want resides. The condition of existence described by the term wholeness is ultimate in its importance.
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Wherefore we henceforth know no man after the flesh: even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know (him so) no more. 17 Wherefore if any man is in Christ, (he is) a new (never before existed) creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new. 18 But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech (you) on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God. 21 Him who knew no sin he made (to be) sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him. ASV
According to verse 16, do we know the brand new creature as a physical being or spirit being? If he is not flesh or body/soul he must be spirit/soul. Paul instructed we should know NO man after the flesh body and the nature thereof. This concept is ground work to see and understand the nature of the reconciliation.
Reconciliation simply means a settling of differences, our darkness has been made light. Our flesh nature is no longer a dominant influence concerning how we know ourselves and our purpose in relation to the desires of the Lord toward us.
I do not know of any information saying man has two intellects, the Bible does repeat many times how our mind must be renewed, leading to all things becoming new as mentioned above. Part of the soul is the intellect or mind which the spirit man influences with the life of God or the death of the spirit of Adam.
Obviously the part of the mind which operates basic responses may change some. Renewing our mind to truth may cause us to lose fear of certain things. If it has to do with basic bodily functions I think this falls under instinct and a part of the soul "Psuche" in basic brain function. Renewing can change our emotions as well, I think mostly through a lifting of them as a result of a new hope.
Hebrews 4 says the sword of the Spirit can pierce the indivisible soul and spirit, I think they are the same intangible entity. Remember the scripture’s intent is to clarify operation of the two, no more. We are spirit and we possess a soul and body. We are not a soul which possesses a body. Man’s soul was never intended to rule his
life and determine his purpose.
Maybe the best way to look at the soul is the simplest; it is the gate keeper which determines the context of our life experience. I say gate keeper because we trust and live by what we believe, knowledge we gain through
education. People can be open or closed minded. A mind can be blinded and it can be renewed but only by His Truth.
I believe a person could lose their mind and be alive in spirit and still function. Just me. I also think the spirit man includes the soul but we are most familiar with the souls operation, as far as intangibles goes, as the part of us which thinks or feels emotion and desire.
Yet the spirit is unchangeably like God, if alive however. In the spirit resides life or death, union or separation concerning God. In the spirit man is imparted identity and purpose and these are unchangeable without a decision about Who Jesus is and what He did. I also believe the spirit man and his soul are drawn by Him in unison.
Genesis says God breathed the spirit of life into Adam and he became a living soul, literally, a thing alive. The Hebrew words for spirit or breath of life and soul are two different terms.
I think the spirit man keeps the body alive until the appointed time for him to depart. While alive, the soul is the go between agent and intermediary for body/physical world and spirit man. Whether the spirit man is dead or alive the information accumulated by the soul affects the spirit.
For instance, I have felt the drawing of the Holy Spirit from within me and I then make a decision to respond, go to church or read a book or pray etc. I could choose to ignore the feeling to do the same, which response is correct? Either one affects the ability of the spirit man to influence our life. We should desire the influence of the spirit, one of wisdom.
Romans Twelve says we go from being conformed to this world system through the metamorphosis by the renewing of the mind.
What is a metamorphosis? It is an effortless transformation from within resulting in the emergence of the child of Elohiym. What is within? The real spirit man who still carries the declarations the Lord made to us in Genesis One. Jesus came to restore the declaration.
A transformation is a marked change in nature, form or appearance. Nature is the typical qualities or character of a person. Renewing our mind to the truth spoken to us by the Lord will bring forth a reconciliation whereby we become partakers of His divine nature.
Do you refer to the spirit man in conversation as "it" or "who"? One of my sentences above could have said, "... the spirit man which still carries..." and you would have given it no thought for being incorrect or at least uncomfortable in context.
This must change; we do not know what we are or who we are from the most important aspect of our very makeup as living beings created in His image. I believe we will never see enough of what Jesus did for us unless we adopt this perspective by choice nor will we live the life He came to give us. If we choose, He will reveal.
The spirit man cannot be possessed by the man, his soul or body. The spirit man is now a purchased possession by the Savior but we do not own him, he was created to exist as his Father does.
Do you want to know why I say this? Because everything which is not spirit within us is shifting sand. The mind changes with every wind of doctrine unless anchored by Truth.
Look at this verse from Acts and how the people Paul found in Greece were always searching for more knowledge.
Acts 17:19-21
And they took hold of him, and brought him unto the Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by you? 20 For you bring certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. 21 (Now all the Athenians and the strangers sojourning (living) there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.) ASV
Our mind has been trained to interpret our environment. We approach and treat the Truth the same and never gain any of Its promises because we are morally good one day and not the next. One day circumstances look favorable and the next they do not and our mind feeds us the information with its interpretation thereof and we judge ourselves accordingly. We either deserve the "good" things in life or not based on the only evidence we have in the present and how we feel, a very short sighted perspective. This is not the intent of our Father.
But if we connect to the regenerated, living spirit man who never changes, he is forever alive and represents completely what he was made to be thus opening communication from the Helper to the spirit/soul for directions and purpose.
The regenerated spirit man must gain control of the soul in order to live an abundant life. Jesus said the true worshipers of God will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.
Psalms 103, Bless the Lord oh my soul and all that is within me bless His Holy Name. KVJ
So for believers in Jesus, the spirit man is recreated and made alive, 2 Cor. 5, the mind or soul must be renewed, Romans 12, and the mortal body is made alive from within, Romans 8, exactly what Jesus came to do for us, MAKE US WHOLE! Pnuema, Psuche, and Soma, or translated spirit, soul and body.
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
Reader Count & Comments
Date
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 464 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by Dusty Farrell or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 464 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.