THE SPIRIT AND THE SOUL

"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Heb 4:12).

Devotion 10 of 15

AN OVERVIEW OF OUR MAKEUP

In order of their priority, we each possess a spirit, soul, and body. The body is the most external part of us, and our spirit is the inmost part. Our soul can be governed by the flesh or by the spirit. The redeemed find the soul capable of spiritual thoughts and feelings of immense magnitude. It can also plummet to the very depths of hell with degenerative contemplation and impulses.

Technically, we are only one-third saved at this time. Our spirit has been born again, and is being changed from "glory to glory by the Spirit of God" (2 Cor 3:18). Our bodies are obviously not redeemed. They shall be, however, and we are waiting for "the adoption, to wit, the redemption of the body" (Rom 8:23). That body will be "fashioned like unto His glorious body." We have confidence this will occur, because our Lord is able to "subdue all things" to Himself--even our bodies (Phil 3:20).

Our souls remain in an imperfect state, often influenced by Satan as well as the Holy Spirit. They are capable of troubling dreams and corrupting lusts from which we must abstain (1 Pet 2:11). We have not yet attained perfection, and the state of our "soul" confirms this to be the case. Often we must subdue its anger, as well as its defiling thoughts.

The two-thirds of our makeup yet unregenerate constitutes "the flesh." It includes intellect as well as emotion, and culture as well as crudeness. There is a "mind of the flesh," and it is an aspect of "the soul" (Rom 8:5-7; Col 2:18). Both "flesh" and "soul" have been unchanged by regeneration. They are subordinate to our renewed spirits only as we captivate them in the energy of the Holy Spirit.

Satan attempts to lure the child of God out of the spirit into the flesh. He does this by means of "fiery darts," or "flaming arrows" that are hurled at the soul. Satan's darts cannot get into our spirits. The "wicked one" cannot "touch" that part of us that is born again (1 John 5:18). Those who choose to live "in the flesh," however, make themselves vulnerable to the devil. If he manages to entice them into the forbidden realm of "flesh," they will yield to him. If, however, they choose to "walk in the Spirit," they will "not fulfill the lusts of the flesh" (Gal 5:16).

In the heavenly kingdom, "will" takes precedence over thought. A properly affected "will" produces acceptable thought. Jesus put it this way, "If any man is willing to do His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from Myself" (John 7:17). The sanctified "will" is a part of our spirit, and ranks high in the heavenly kingdom. Paul acknowledged that his "will" was right, even though his "flesh" was not. "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh), dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not" (Rom 7:18).

Those who choose to live by faith, giving heed to their renewed "will," find this to be the truth: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Rom 8:1).

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, thank You for a salvation that is simple enough to be joyously experienced, yet complicated enough to engage all of my person.

-- TOMORROW: EVERYONE WHO IS OF THE TRUTH --