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FAQ # 42
QUESTION 42
: You said in this chapter that the soul and spirit are different,
while the spirit is God built in us and the soul is the real you. Can
you verify this?
Long after writing that I cited another source with the same thing.
He wrote:
The bible teaches that we consist of body, soul and spirit: “May your whole spirit, soul
and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus” (1 Thess
5:23). Our material bodies are evident, but our souls and spirits are
less distinguishable.
In the preceding passage, the Greek word for soul
is psuche. This word implies our mind, will and desires as seen in our
personal preferences, choices, and emotional responses to life’s situations.
Our soul is reflected in our personality.
The Greek word for spirit is pneuma. It refers
to the part of man that connects and communicates with God. Our spirit
differs from our soul because our spirit is always pointed toward and
exists exclusively for God, whereas our soul can be self-centered. The
joy, comfort and peace of God’s presence can only be experienced through
our spirit.
While everyone’s soul is fully active, not everyone’s
spirit is, because when Adam fell the spirit died and was separated from
God. Only in Christ is the spirit reconnected and reconciled: “At one
time you were separated from God. But now Christ
has made you God’s friends again…by his death…” (Colossians 1:21-22).
{Source: Pastor Coy, Sun Sentinel,
Sept 13, 2003}
With that said it should be
clear as to the spirit and soul. Spirit – God, Soul - you,
Body - you in a earth suit. What you should also know is that Spirit
is one but you have many different types of spirits. Soul is the “name”
we use for human spirits, angels is the name for another type of spirit
and so on with all the creatures of the heaven. That’s why the bible said,
“God is a spirit” (John 4:24), “Father of spirits” (Heb 12:9), “The Father
of lights” (James 1:17), and as it pertains to our souls “the God of the
spirits of all flesh” (Num 27:16). That’s why many are confused
with soul and spirit, because we are really spirits capped in a body distinct
from other spirits, but our human spirit is called a soul (so to speak).
So when someone refers to you by saying your spirit they are not entirely
wrong, but be it known that when used with the other two (soul and body)
then we should strive to show the difference.
Notice that God’s nature is spirit and spirits are basically light.
He is the father of spirits because he made all spirit beings and being
spirit meant that their nature is also light; thus making him the father
of lights. Notice that light and spirit are used interchangeable, because
if you literally saw a spirit you would see pure light, clearer than crystal
(Ex 24:10). Hope that helps.
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