ForTheBodyOfChrist

As Christians, we need to understand how we are made. You have a body, soul, and spirit. The soul and the spirit are not the same. Let’s look at the scriptures.

Creation of man

We can see the body, soul, and spirit when God created man in the scriptures.

Genesis 2:7 KJV

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.

• The body is formed from the dust of the ground
• God gave man a spirit when he breathed life into him
• Because of these two above, man became a living soul.

We are souls that have a body and a spirit.

Job 33:4 KJV

The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.

Job 32:8 KJV

But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

Sanctification of man

We also can see the body, soul, and spirit in sanctification of man.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 KJV

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Division of Man

• Man in made of 3 parts.

Hebrews 4:12 KJV

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

• The spirit contains the mind.

1 Corinthians 2:11 KJV

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

Romans 1:9 KJV

For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

Romans 7:25 KJV

I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Ephesians 4:23 KJV

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

• Without a spirit the body is dead.

James 2:26 KJV

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Your spirit and your flesh

• The spirit of man isn’t the holy Spirit.

We all have a spirit but if you aren’t born again, your spirit is dead. Once you become born again, your spirit is born. Your spirit is also joined to the Holy Ghost.

John 3:3-7 KJV
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. [4] Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? [5] Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. [6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [7] Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV

But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:16 KJV

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

• The flesh lusteth against the Spirit

The flesh wants to sin but the spirit wants to serve God. We must be led by the spirit and not the flesh. The flesh is weak.

Galatians 5:16-18 KJV
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. [17] For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. [18] But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Romans 7:25 KJV

I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

John 4:24 KJV

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Romans 12:2 KJV

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 7:23 KJV
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

• They that are after the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:5-8 KJV
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. [6] For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. [7] Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. [8] So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Death of man

What do you lose when you die? Your body and your spirit. Your body goes into the ground and your spirit goes upward.

Ecclesiastes 3:21 KJV
Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

Ecclesiastes 12:7 KJV
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

• We see man giving up his spirit multiple times in God’s word.

Genesis 25:8 KJV
Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

Genesis 35:29 KJV
And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Mark 15:37 KJV
And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

• The Lord showed me this. Look at the next scripture if you still don’t believe it.

Luke 23:46 KJV
And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

• Jesus told a story in Luke chapter 16. This story was not a parable.
• A man went to hell. He died and lost his body but once he got to hell, he still had eyes, fingers, and a tongue.

Luke 16:19-24 KJV
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: [20] And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, [21] And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. [22] And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; [23] And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. [24] And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

• This took place before the new testament. The new testament doctrinally begins once Jesus is crucified. Abraham’s bosom doesn’t exist anymore.