Body, Soul and Spirit

Here are a few verses about man as a three part being: 1 Thessalonians 5:23 "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Theologians have wrestled whether man is a two part or three part being. In my view which is acceptable to many Evangelical Christians, man is a three part being. The term often used is that man is a “tripartite” being. But my intention here is more of devotional and to better understand who we really are. A word of warning: let us not be too rigid compartmentalizing, because whether we are ‘two’ or ‘three’ we must accept this unchangeable truth ‘that we are fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). Is it not wonderful that there is some sort of mystery and complexity with regards to our humanity?

First, let me discuss that we are a “body.” Next series we will discuss the next the “soul” and then, the “spirit.” Body- is the seat of world consciousness. The body was made out of the dirt of the ground. Thus, he is earthy or world conscious. The body is that part of you which is the house of the real person. When God made man He first made the ‘house’ for the real person to live. God is a great designer. When He took of the dust of the ground, mould it like what a potter does into a human body. The earthly body was formed and Paul calls it, the body.

This is what the Bible says: 2 Cor. 5:1 “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens". This earthly body is the part of man which makes contact with the world. This body eats, drinks, drives a car, plays with the computer, sleeps and makes love. This is the part of us that others can ‘see’ and describes. Sometimes we say “He is tall, dark, brown eyes, bald and handsome.” That is the way we perceived that person from the outside. That is his outward appearance.

The amazing truth is-this body is the temple of the Holy Spirit; and this Holy Spirit relates to the human spirit. It is this body that also connects to the outside world. This is very important to realise, especially in the area of counselling. The Christian counsellor has a higher and better and spiritual perspective than a non-Christian counsellor. Most compassionate Pastors and well-trained Christian counsellors who are always involved in counselling formally or informally do not put ‘band aids’ on, to deal with the problems, but they go to the very roots of the issue at hand.

This body of ours is the “house” and we have to take care of it, though we cannot prevent it from aging. It was with great pleasure when God made man and woman and put them in the Garden. He did it out of the riches of His grace. One day your body will rise again.

If you have Jesus as your Lord and Saviour your body will be with God forever in heaven where there is pleasure forevermore. But if you reject Christ your place is in the everlasting torment, in the lake of fire, the Bible declares. Now is the accepted time, you have nothing to lose of you trust Jesus now. It is by grace and by grace alone through faith