I AM A THREE-PART BEING.

“Your body doesn’t really control anything. It just goes with the flow of what it sees, tastes, hears, smells, and feels unless otherwise influenced by the soul. It’s amoral—neither good nor bad. Left to itself, your body just reacts to and goes along with what’s happening in the physical realm. When your soul agrees with your spirit, the life of God in you will manifest itself in your physical body. You’ll experience healing, deliverance, anointing, victory, power, joy, prosperity—on and on it goes!”—ANDREW WOMACK

WE ARE A THREE-PART BEING

“When we know who we are, we will know what to do.”—Craig Groechel

There is much we can learn about who we are when we review scriptures in both the Old and New Testaments.

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.—Genesis 2:7 KJV

God created man’s body from the dust of the ground, and the word “breath” (Hebrew: neshamah) refers to the spirit, and through these creative works, man became a living soul (Hebrew: nephesh).

In Job 12:10, we find a distinction between soul and spirit, in which the “life” of every creature is referred to as “soul” (nephesh), while the “breath” of every human being as “spirit” (ruah).

Then Paul wrote what turned out to be the most popular verse that supports this view:

Now, may the God of peace and harmony set you apart, making you completely holy. And may your entire being—spirit, soul, and body—be kept completely flawless in the appearing of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One.—1 Thessalonians 5:23

THE ROLES OF BODY, SOUL, AND SPIRIT

The body is the physical structure of a person, including the bones, flesh, and organs. It is through our bodies that we perceive the physical world using the five senses — the senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. Natural reactions and perceptions are formed through our physiological responses to the world around us. The body is not saved, as we are not promised a glorified body. We know that Jesus left his physical body behind and went on to greater glory.

The soul is the immaterial part of a human being that gives us personality and drives our responses to others. Our souls perceive the psychological realms through our minds, emotions, and wills. A well-summarized description of the human soul is: “Our soul is our personality, who we are. With our soul, we think, reason, consider, remember, and wonder. We experience emotions like happiness, love, sorrow, anger, relief, and compassion. And we’re able to resolve, choose, and make decisions” (Bibles for America). But the soul is not saved. We know this because despite having received salvation and being born again, we still have thoughts and emotions that do not align with the fullness of God.

The spirit is the immaterial part of a person that connects and communicates with God, who is a Spirit (John 4:24). Humans are the only earthly creature who possesses a spirit, which is the breath of life from God Himself (Genesis 2:7).

The human spirit can perceive spiritual realms or matters and the things of God. The human spirit is the deepest part of a person. Your identity needs to be who you are in the spirit. The spirit is born again!

THE SPIRIT AND BODY ARE NOT JOINED TOGETHER

There is no connection between the physical world and the spiritual world except through the soul.

Our worship and obedience that is spurred in our spirit are only seen in the physical world if we allow our emotions and personality to be shaped not by what we can see (flesh) but by what we can not see (faith).

The mind is the valve that opens or closes to the flow of the Holy Spirit, which is in full, wall-to-wall operation in your born-again spirit.

THE TWO REASONS TO LIVE HOLY

1. Your new nature compels you toward righteousness.
2. When you yield to sin, you’re yielding to Satan.
   God does not reject you based on your actions because God does not reject you – period.

QUICK SUMMARY

The soul is the deciding factor whether you go with spirit or body.
The soul is the valve that can block or release what’s in your spirit. 
Renewing your mind is the key.

STUDY: Ephesians 4:24

When you were born again, your spirit was created in righteousness and holiness. You are a new man, in the spirit, is as righteous as Jesus. God doesn’t give you a little bit of joy, then come and take it away. Your spirit never loses its relationship with God.

STUDY: 1 John 4:17 – “…as He is, so are we in this world.”

One-third of your salvation is complete. God fellowships with us based on our spirit, not our flesh. We are to think about ourselves the way God does. You can’t relate to God based on your performance.

STUDY: 1 Corinthians 6:17

There is only one Spirit: He is – “a singular one to the exclusion of the other”. Our spirits are one with Jesus.
At the new birth, God took out our old, dead spirit and put in Jesus’ spirit (Romans 8:9, Galatians 4:6).

STUDY: Colossians 2:9, 10

We are complete in Christ. If God loves a sinner, then much more should someone who is born again receive God’s love? – Romans 5:8, 9

STUDY: Ephesians 1:13

After you believed, you were sealed. Sin takes place in the body or soul but not in your spirit.

YOUR STUDY SCRIPTURES:

WHAT DO THEY MEAN FOR YOU?
Hebrews 9:11-12 – Jesus obtained eternal redemption for us.
1 John 3:9 – Your spirit cannot sin.
Hebrews 10:1, 2 – no consciousness of sin.
Hebrews 10:10-14 – one sacrifice for all, forever; perfected forever.
Romans 6 – Why do I still sin? What effect does sin have on me?
You’re born a sinner with a sinful nature.

ASSIGNMENT

Write down several Scriptures that tell who you are in your spirit after you’re born again (i.e.: “you are the righteousness of God”; “you are holy, blameless,” etc.).
From this lesson, write down some of the insights you received concerning your new spirit man/woman.

SUMMARY QUESTIONS

Why is it important to renew your mind?
Which part do you believe seems to have the most influence over your life right now – your spirit, your soul, or your body? Explain.
Would you say that you are a person who is performance and/or works-orientated?
Do you feel that God’s love for you and acceptance of you depends upon how well you perform?
Knowing that your born-again spirit has no desire to sin, what should you do when tempted to sin?
Why is it important for you to live holy?