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 12 of 15

SPIRITUAL RELIGION

A spiritual religion results in insight or comprehension that impacts upon the entire person. When our spirits are affected, our whole being becomes involved. Thus, when Paul saw the city of Athens completely give over to idolatry, "his spirit was stirred in him" (Acts 17:16). This was not a mere emotional reaction, although his emotion was surely involved. In full possession of his faculties, he embarked on a course of action that was spiritually rational and productive (Acts 17:17ff).

The involvement of the human spirit is also seen in our Lord's reaction to the unbelief that often surrounded Him. On one occasion, when He forgave the sins of a palsied man, His enemies began to reason among themselves. "Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?" (Mark 2:7). Our Lord's reaction to this indicates much of the nature of spiritual religion. "And immediately when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, He said unto them . . ." (Mark 2:8). The soul is not capable of such discernment! In fact, spiritual perception is not an expression of the soul. It comes from deeper within--from the spirit!

On another occasion, confronted with unbelief, Jesus "sighed deeply in His spirit" (Mark 8:12). The Lord was profoundly grieved by the rampant unbelief that surrounded Him. This was not an emotional outburst, or an uncontrollable reaction. It was the expression of His essential Person -- His spirit!

The Apostle was concerned for the spirits of his readers. Often he would reveal this concern. He wanted them to partake of salvation in its intended fulness. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen" (Gal 6:18). "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit" (Phil 4:23). "The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you" (2 Tim 4:22). "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit" (Phile 1:25). Why did the Apostle so speak? Stability in the human spirit results in the proper management of both soul and body. There, under the control of the highest segment of our persons, we are able to subdue the evil resident in our fallen natures. Salvation effectively works from the inside out; Law ineffectively worked from the outside in!

In salvation, the BASIC part of man is renewed--recreated! All of the resources of heaven are made available to the saved for both "life and godliness" (2 Pet 1:3). The ultimate objective is not conformity to a code, but conformity "to the image of His Son" (Rom 8:29). Such conformity cannot be achieved by subduing the recalcitrant part of our persons--although that is imperative. The reason for eliminating sin is that we might appropriate righteousness! With the energy of a renewed spirit, we are to "cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" 2 Cor 7:1). Here, the word "spirit" refers to the unseen aspect of our nature. The exhortation is to attack sin and its defiling effects at every level, within and without. Armed with the precious promises of God, we engage in this activity in order to "perfect holiness in the fear of God." Holiness does not consist of merely refraining from what is displeasing to the Lord, but engaging in things that ARE pleasing to Him--the "good and acceptable, and perfect will of God" (Rom 12:1-2).

A spiritual religion consists of divine fellowship at the cognitive level. This means we KNOW the Lord in a discerning way. Paul prayed we would participate in this Divine agenda. "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power" (Eph 1:17- 19). Again he prayed, "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God" (Eph 3:17- 19).

These are things that cannot originate in the soul. They are experiences wrought in the human spirit. They DO have an effect upon both soul and body, but they are spiritual, not soulish, in nature. You cannot "know" God in your soul! Because of the present corruption of the soul, this knowledge is resident in your spirit. You cannot "know" why God has called you, the unfathomable riches of His inheritance in you, or the greatness of the power toward you with soul faculties alone! Your intellect, as great as it is, is not equal to this challenge! You cannot discern the extent of God's love by academic prowess. It extends further than your natural capacities can reach. That is why Paul prayed God would bring the knowledge to us. And how does He do this? He brings it to your spirit--the part of you that has fellowship with Him through Christ, by faith, and in the Holy Spirit.

The predominating absence of this in contemporary religion is a cause for alarm. It indicates that, at the very best, soulish religion dominates--and that is religion that simply does not go deep enough to save anyone!

PRAYER POINT: Father, through the Lord Jesus, I thank You for providing resources and fellowship that extend beyond natural capacities. and even into eternity.

-- TOMORROW: THE WITNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT --