07.05.2016 2.

ManATrinity(Spirit,Soul,Body)

2.ManATrinity(Spirit,Soul,Body)

TheChristiandoctrineofimmortalitycannotbeunderstoodapartfromtherightconceptionofthe
tripartitenatureofmen.Manythinkthatmanisaphysicalbeingonly.Thereisagreatdangerofany
manthinkingthusofhimself.Inhisdesiretosatisfytheneedsofthebodythereisthetendencyon
mansparttolosesightofthefactthatheisimmortal.Therehavebeenpersonswhohavelivedallof
theirliveseitherinignoranceorwillfulneglectofalifeafterdeath,butupontheirdeathbedthey
suddenlyrealizedthattheyweremorethanphysicalbeings.

Thereisanideaalsothatprevailslargelytodaythatmanconsistsofonlytwocomponentparts:
namely,bodyandspirit.Inthethinkingofthewriterthisviewappearstobeonethatmightcreate
confusioninthemindsofanyChristians.Whilesoulandspiritaresocloselyrelatedthatitis
sometimesdifficulttodistinguishaccuratelybetweenthem,thereseemstobeonlyonelogical
conclusion:namely,thatsoulandspiritarenotthesame.TheBibledoesmakeadistinction.

ManisatriunebeingbecauseheiscreatedintheimageofGod.Godsaid,LetusmakemaninOur
image(Genesis1:26).WeknowthatGodisaTrinity.TheHolyTrinityisclearlysetforthinthe
ApostlePaulsbenedictionthatclosedhisSecondCorinthianEpistle:ThegraceoftheLordJesus
Christ,andtheloveofGod,andthecommunionoftheHolyGhost,bewithyouall.Amen(2
Corinthians13:14).OurLordHimselfsaid,inwhatwecallTheGreatCommission:Goyetherefore,
andteachallnations,baptizingtheminthenameoftheFather,andoftheSon,andoftheHoly
Ghost(Matthew28:19).CreatedintheimageofGod,manislikewiseatrinity.Hehasaspiritual
naturethatisseparateanddistinctfromthebodyinwhichitdwells.

ThetwofollowingpassagesfromtheBibleclearlyestablishthefactthatmanisatriunebeing
composedofspirit,soul,andbody:

IprayGodyourwholespiritandsoulandbodybepreservedblamelessuntothecomingofourLord
JesusChrist(1Thessalonians5:23).

ForthewordofGodisquick,andpowerful,andsharperthananytwoedgedsword,piercingevento
thedividingasunderofsoulandspirit,andofthejointsandmarrow(body),andisadiscernerofthe
thoughtsandintentsoftheheart(Hebrews4:12).

InspiteoftheerroneousteachingofJehovahsWitnessesandofotherfalsesectsthatnomanhas
asoul,theBiblestatesemphaticallythatmanwascreatedatrinityofspirit,soul,andbodyevenas
theeternalGodisHimselfatrinityofFather,Son,andHolyGhost.Thetrinityofmanisanessential
partoftheimagerelationshipbetweenhimandGod.Lifeisnotultimatelyphysicalandthebodyis
notthewholeman.Andwemightaddthatneitherthebodyinitself,northesoulinitself,northespirit
initselfmakesupthewholeman,butheisspiritandsoulandbody.Thismustbeseriously
consideredanddefinitelyagreedtobeforewecancomprehendwithanyaccuracythesubjectoflife
afterdeath.Inthisopeningchapterweshallconfineourmaterialtothespiritandthesoulinasmuch

https://bible.org/seriespage/2mantrinityspiritsoulbody 1/5
07.05.2016 2.ManATrinity(Spirit,Soul,Body)

asthebodywillbeconsideredinsucceedingchaptersontheresurrection.

TheSpirit

ThewordspiritwhenusedintheScriptureshasseveralmeanings.WheneverthewordSpirit
appearsusedwithacapitalletter,ithasbutonemeaning.ItisthenameofthethirdPersonofthe
Trinity,theHolySpiritofGod.Thewordspiritspelledwithasmalllettermayhaveoneofseveral
differentmeanings.Itcanhavedirectreferencetothespiritofmanwhichisasmuchapartofthe
tripartitenatureofmanastheSpiritofthelivingGodisaPersonoftheHolyTrinity.Oritcanindicate
anevilspiritsuchasanyagentoftheDevil.WewillconfineourselvesheretotheBiblicalusageofthe
wordonlyasitrelatestothespiritofman,oneofthethreeconstituentpartsofhisbeing.

Thethreefoldnatureofmanmightbeillustratedinseveralways.Dr.ClarenceLarkinusesthree
circles(RightlyDividingTheWord,page86).Theoutercirclestandsforthebodyofman,themiddle
circleforthesoul,andtheinnerforthespirit.AtthispointitwillbewelltoquoteaportionfromDr.
Larkinsbook:

IntheoutercircletheBodyisshownastouchingtheMaterialworldthroughthefivesensesof
Sight,Smell,Hearing,TasteandTouch.

TheGatestotheSoulareImagination,Conscience,Memory,ReasonandtheAffections.

TheSpiritreceivesimpressionsofoutwardandmaterialthingsthroughthesoul.Thespiritual
facultiesoftheSpiritareFaith,Hope,Reverence,PrayerandWorship.

InhisunfallenstatetheSpiritofmanwasilluminatedfromHeaven,butwhenthehumanracefellin
Adam,sinclosedthewindowoftheSpirit,pulleddownthecurtain,andthechamberofthespirit
becameadeathchamberandremainssoineveryunregenerateheart,untiltheLifeandLightgiving
poweroftheHolySpiritfloodsthatchamberwiththeLifeandLightgivingpowerofthenewlifein
ChristJesus.

Itdevelopsthenthatthespiritofman,beingthesphereofGodconsciousness,istheinnerorprivate
officeofmanwheretheworkofregenerationtakesplace.Dr.JamesR.Grahamsaysthatthemain
theatreoftheHolySpiritsactivityinman,andthepartofmansnaturewithwhichHehaspeculiar
affinity,isthespiritofman.TheApostlePaulgivesustheWordofGodonthis,apassagethatis
sadlyneglected.QuotingfromthesixtyfourthchapterofthebookoftheProphetIsaiah,Paulwrote:

Butasitiswritten,Eyehathnotseen,norearheard,neitherhaveenteredintotheheartofman,the
thingswhichGodhathpreparedforthemthatloveHim.

Agreatmanypeoplestophere,contenttoremaininignorance.However,Paulcontinues:

ButGodhathrevealedthemuntousbyHisSpiritfortheSpiritsearchethallthings,yea,thedeep
thingsofGod.

Forwhatmanknoweththethingsofaman,savethespiritofmanwhichisinhim?Evensothethings
https://bible.org/seriespage/2mantrinityspiritsoulbody 2/5
07.05.2016 2.ManATrinity(Spirit,Soul,Body)

ofGodknowethnoman,buttheSpiritofGod(1Corinthians2:911).

Maninhisunregeneratestatecomestoknowthethingsofmanbytheoperatorofthespiritofman
whichisinhim.IfIhaveawilltoknowcertainscientificfacts,bymyhumanspiritIamenabledto
investigate,think,andweighevidence.IfIsetmyselftothetask,Imaybecomeascientistofworld
renownandofgreataccomplishments.However,myhumanspiritislimitedtothethingsofman.IfI
wanttoknowaboutthethingsofGod,mydeadanddormantspiritisnotabletoknowthem.

ThenaturalmanreceivethnotthethingsoftheSpiritofGodfortheyarefoolishnessuntohim
neithercanheknowthem,becausetheyarespirituallydiscerned(1Corinthians2:14).

Thehumanspiritrequiresthesparkofregenerationbeforethereisanunderstandingofthethings
ofGod.MansspiritualnaturemustberenewedbeforethereisatrueconceptionofGodliness.Only
onethingstandsasaguardatthedoorofmansspirit,andthatishisownwill.Whenthewillis
surrendered,theHolySpirittakesupHisabodeinthespiritofman.Andwhenthattransactiontakes
placewewillknowit,for,saysPaul:

TheSpiritHimself(meaningtheHolySpirit)bearethwitnesswithourspirit,thatwearechildrenof
God(Romans8:16R.V.).

ManypeopleconfessthattheygetnothingoutoftheBibleeventhoughtheyattendchurchandread
theirBiblesregularly.Perhapstheydonotknowthattheyarenotregeneratedandthattheyneedto
yieldtheirwilltotheSpiritofGodsothatHecanrenewtheirhumanspirits.ThedeepthingsofGod
neverwillbeunderstoodbytheworldoutsideofJesusChrist.OurLordwarnedHisdisciples,

Givenotthatwhichisholyuntothedogs,neithercastyeyourpearlsbeforeswine(Matthew7:6).

ThespiritoftheunregeneratemanhasnomorecapacitytoappreciatethethingsofGodthanadog
hastoappreciateholythings,orahogagenuinepearlnecklace.WereadthatThedogisturnedto
hisownvomitagainandthesowthatwaswashedtoherwallowinginthemire(2Peter2:22).This
theydidbecausethedogwasadogandthesowwasasow.Noamountofreligionorchurchactivity
canchangethespiritoftheunregenerateman.Remember,saysDr.G.CampbellMorgan,ifoutof
falsecharityorpityyouallowmenofmaterialidealsandworldlywisdomtotouchholythings,to
handlethepearlsoftheKingdom,presentlytheywillturnandrendyou.Thisisthewholehistoryof
Christendomsruin,inthemeasureinwhichChristendomisruined.Wegaveholythingstodogs.We
castthepearlsoftheKingdombeforeswine.TheministryofChristsChurchdarenotbeentrusted
toanymanwhohasnotbeenbornagain,forThatwhichisbornofthefleshisfleshandthatwhich
isbornoftheSpiritisspirit(John3:6).

TheBiblesaysThereisaspiritinmanandtheinspirationoftheAlmightygiveththem
understanding(Job32:8).Herewearetoldthatitisthespiritofmanthatisgivenunderstanding.
Thematerialisttellsusthatthespiritofmanistheairthathebreathes,andthatmansbodyisall
thereistohispersonality.Suchisnotthecase.Thespiritofmanishispersonalityanditisthatwhich
differentiateshimfromtheloweranimalcreation.Ifspiritmeantmerelybreath,Godcertainly
wouldnotdealwithitasapersonality.HeiscalledTheGodofthespiritsofallflesh(Numbers
https://bible.org/seriespage/2mantrinityspiritsoulbody 3/5
07.05.2016 2.ManATrinity(Spirit,Soul,Body)

16:22),andtheFatherofspirits(Hebrews12:9).ItisbyhisspiritthattheChristianbothservesand
worshipsGod.Paultestified:ForGodismywitness,WhomIservewithmyspiritintheGospel
(Romans1:9).Jesussaid:GodisaspiritandtheythatworshipHimmustworshipHiminspiritand
intruth(John4:24).

TheSoul

Mannotonlyhasalivingsoulbutheisalivingsoul.TheBiblesays:AndtheLordGodformedman
ofthedustoftheground,andbreathedintohisnostrilsthebreathoflife,andmanbecamealiving
soul(Genesis2:7).Wemustbecarefulnottoconfoundthatwhichistrulyspiritualandthatwhichis
merelysoulishorpsychical.Wehaveseenthatthespiritofmanisthesphereofactivitywherethe
HolySpiritoperatesinregeneration.JustsoisthesoulthesphereofactivitywhereSatanoperates
makinghisappealtotheaffectionsandemotionsofman.

Satanknowsfullwellthathedominatesthepsychicalorthesoulishman.Thereforehedoesnotcare
ifamangoestoachurchwheretheSpiritofGodisnotinevidence.Heknowsthathisvictimisa
creatureofemotions,anditmattersnotiftheemotionsarestirredtosentimentalismoreventotears,
justsolongasmansspiritdoesnotcomeincontactwithGodsHolySpirit.Personally,Ibelievethat
Satanwouldratherhavemangotoamodernisticchurchwherethereisfalseworshipthanhewould
havehimgotoahouseofprostitution.Thesoulistheseatofthepassions,thefeelings,andthe
desiresofmanandSatanissatisfiedifhecanmasterthese.F.W.Granthassaidthatthesoulisthe
seatoftheaffections,rightorwrong,oflove,hate,lusts,andeventheappetitesofthebody.

HamorsaidtoJacob,ThesoulofmysonShechemlongethforyourdaughter(Genesis34:8).Of
DavidandJonathanitiswritten:ThesoulofJonathanwasknitwiththesoulofDavid,andJonathan
lovedhimashisownsoul(1Samuel18:1).Thesepassagesshowthesoultobetheseatofthe
affections.Butasthesoulloves,soitalsohates.WereadofthosethatarehatedofDavidssoul(2
Samuel5:8).

Itisinthesoulwherefleshlylusts,desires,andappetitesarise:

Abstainfromfleshlylustswhichwaragainstthesoul(Peter2:11).

Ascoldwaterstoathirstysoul,soisgoodnewsfromafarcountry(Proverbs25:25).

Itshallbeevenaswhenahungrymandreameth,andbehold,heeatethbutheawaketh,andhis
soulisemptyoraswhenathirstymandreameth,andbehold,hedrinkethbutheawaketh,and
behold,heisfaint,andhissoulhathappetite(Isaiah29:8).

Thesoulofman,thatis,hisaffectionsanddesires,areneverdirectedGodwarduntilafterthespirit
hasbecomeregenerated.MancanneverloveGodnorthethingsofGoduntilheisbornfromabove.
Hemayhaveatroubledconscienceorbesostirredemotionallythathemayweepbitterly,andstill
remaindeadintrespassesandinsins.Wedonotfeelthatweareguiltyofjudgingmenwhenwe
statethatsomewhohaveansweredanaltarcallandshedtearsneverwerebornagain.Mans
desiresandaffectionsareturnedtowardGodwhenherealizeshissinfulconditionandGodsgrace

https://bible.org/seriespage/2mantrinityspiritsoulbody 4/5
07.05.2016 2.ManATrinity(Spirit,Soul,Body)

insalvation.WhentheSpiritofGodilluminatesthespiritofamanwithdivinelightandlife,thatman
beginstoyieldhisaffectionsandfacultiestoGod.

TheVirginMarysaidMysouldothmagnifytheLord,AndmyspirithathrejoicedinGodmySaviour
(Luke1:46,47).ShecouldnotextoltheLordinhersouluntilshehadrecognizedGodinherspiritas
herSaviour.TheinitialtriumphisinthespiritwhenJesusChristisacknowledgedaspersonal
Saviour.

InthatimmortalclassicofthePsalms,Davidsays:Herestorethmysoul(Psalm23:3).TheHebrew
wordtranslatedrestorethissaidtomeanquiteliterallyturnethback.AtnotimehadDavidlosthis
salvation,butthereweretimeswhenhisaffectionsanddesireswereturnedfromtheLord,asinthe
caseofhissinwithBathsheba.HavingbecomeoneoftheDivineShepherdsflock,hetestified:The
Lordturnethbackmysoul.TheChristianwhoisenjoyingunbrokencommunionwithhisLordwill
thenbeabletosay,BlesstheLord,Omysoul,andallthatiswithinme,blessHisholyname(Psalm
103:1).

https://bible.org/seriespage/2mantrinityspiritsoulbody 5/5