“We are a spirit; we have a Soul, and we live in a Body”. This statement is a common understanding of our three-part human nature. Our spirit is the divine part that connects us to God, while our soul is the seat of our emotions. The soul connects the spirit to the body, which is the physical vessel that interacts in the physical world. The question is, who is in control?
The Bible is clear that our physical man is an enemy to our spirit man. “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be”. (Romans 8:7). Paul emphasizes in his letter to the Galatians, “Walk by the Spirit so that you do not fulfill the lust of the Flesh”. (Galatians 5:16-26).
Jesus has provided a way for us to live by our spirit and not fulfill the lust of our flesh. Since we have been born again, God replaced our old spirit man with His Spirit. Romans 8:11 tells us the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead now lives inside us. This is the heart of the Gospel and is our hope and assurance. It is God’s power now inside of us and living through us. God did not leave us on our own to work it out since it would be virtually impossible to walk in the spirit otherwise.
Our fleshly body has a way of barking louder and demanding more. Our carnality sees, hears, smells, tastes, and feels all this world has to offer. It takes the power of the Holy Spirit on this side of Heaven not to give into the demands of the flesh.
The interesting point about the soul is that it is somewhat indifferent. Imagine you have the flesh on one side of a line and the body on the other side with the soul connecting the two. The soul acts as a filter. When walking by the Spirit, it is in control and when life happens, you can allow yourself not to fall apart because your spirit man is in control, not the flesh. You are in control of your emotions instead of allowing your emotions to be in charge.
Romans 12:2, sums this up, “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed BY THE RENEWING of your mind”. The Christian life is now about renewing your mind and recognizing what Jesus has done.
Realize that Jesus already did all the work on the cross and now it is up to us to renew our minds, accept, and recognize who we are in Him. Allow our Spirit man to lead and not our flesh. Choose to allow our Spirit to be the in control.
Rhonda L. Smart – rhondalsmart@gmail.com
