Spirit, Soul and Body- Part 2
1 Thessalonians 5:23 [TEV], May the God who gives us peace make you holy in every way and keep your WHOLE BEING—spirit, soul, and body—free from every fault at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“We are a spirit, we possess a soul, and we live in a physical body.”
Romans 5:12 [TPT], When Adam sinned, the entire world was affected. Sin entered human experience, and [spiritual] death was the result. And so [spiritual] death followed this sin, casting its shadow over all humanity, because all have sinned [NKJV—“thus death spread to all men”].
1 John 4:17, As He is, so are we in this world.
“If all of that is true, then why do we all struggle with living like Jesus in this world?”
Romans 7:15, 18-19 [NLT], I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 18…I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.
2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Galatians 5:17 [TPT], For your self-life [flesh] craves the things that offend the Holy Spirit and hinder Him from living free within you! And the Holy Spirit’s intense cravings hinder your old self-life [flesh] from dominating you! So then, the two incompatible and conflicting forces with you are your self-life of the flesh and the new creation life of the Spirit.
Galatians 6:7-9 [AMP], Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap. 8 For the one who sows to his flesh [his sinful capacity, his worldliness, his disgraceful impulses] will reap from the flesh ruin and destruction, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap [a harvest], if we do not give in.
“How do we know if we are reaping of the flesh or of the Spirit?”
Galatians 5:19-21 [TPT], The cravings of the self-life [flesh] are obvious: Sexual immorality, lustful thoughts, pornography, 20 chasing after things instead of God, manipulating others, hatred of those who get in your way, senseless arguments, resentment when others are favored, temper tantrums, angry quarrels, only thinking of yourself, being in love with your own opinions, 21 being envious of the blessings of others, murder, uncontrolled addictions, wild parties, and all other similar behavior. Haven’t I already warned you that those who use their “freedom” for these things will not inherit the kingdom realm of God!
Galatians 5:22-23 [TPT], But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit.
“Which list keeps popping up in your life more often than not?”
Galatians 5:16, 24-25 [NIV], So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. …24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.