THE TRINITY OF MAN

• Gen 2:7 (KJV)
  • In this verse the Hebrew word for life is "chay". It is used in the plural sense which literally means "lives". God  breathed into man the breath of lives. This refers to the spirit and soul. God then told Adam not to eat the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. In the day they would eat of it they would die. What died? It was the spirit and it must be the spirit that is born again. 
• 1 Cor 2:14 (KJV)
  • The Greek word for natural is "psuchikos" which means "animate". It pertains to that which you can see, the physical or body part of man. The natural man can not receive the things of God because he only believes in what he can see, hear, touch, taste, or smell.
• 1 Cor 2:15-16 (KJV)
  • The Greek word for spiritual is "pneumatikos" which means "supernational, regenerate" or born again. Through sin the spirit man died. Through the new birth the spirit man is brought back to life.
• 1 Cor 3:1-4; Rom. 8:6 (KJV)
  • The Greek word for carnal is "sarkikos" which means "animal, unregenerate". It pertains to the soul. That part of man which you can not see but it is real. It is the intellect (reasoning), emotions, and will. It can not truly know the mind of God. It can only be religious. The soul must be in submission to the spirit or both will die.
• 1 Thes 5:23; Heb 4:12; Luke 1:46-47 (KJV)
  • Many Christians have come to believe that man consists of two parts; body and soul. According to the Scripture, however, man is composed of three parts: spirit, soul and body. The scriptures that differentiate soul and spirit are numerous. It is important for the believer to understand that man has a spirit as well as a soul. The communication of God with man occurs in the spirit. God speaks by His Spirit to our spirit. This is then understood by our soul.
• Let us take a quick look at the different functions of the spirit, soul and body.
  • The human spirit is comprised of three functions; Conscience, Intuition and Communion.
    • Conscience is the discernment organ of the spirit. It distinguishes right from wrong.
    • Intuition is the sensing organ. It allows you to know.
    • Communion. True worship of God takes place in the spirit.
  • The soul is comprised of three functions as well. The will, mind and emotions.
    • The will is the instrument for decision, the power to choose.
    • The mind is the instrument of our thoughts.
    • The emotions - our likes, dislikes - love, hate, happy, and sad.
  • The flesh is comprised of three functions in which we can be tempted by sin. The five senses, physical and ego.
    • The Lust of the Eyes. The five senses.
    • The Lust of the Flesh. The physical chemistry.
    • The Pride of Life. The ego
• An illustration to help differentiate the soul from the spirit
  • The flesh.
    • Satin or demonic forces appeals to us through our five senses. The Lust of the eyes.
    • In our physical chemistry we desire it. The Lust of the flesh.
    • Our ego sees it as something that will make us wise or seem important. The Pride of life.
  • The soul.
    • Mind. We desire to do something with good reason.
    • Emotion. We delight in it.
    • Will. Finally we decide to do it. This could be something good or evil.
  • The spirit. We call this a check in our spirit.
    • Conscience. Somehow in the inner sanctuary of our being a quite voice strongly opposes this action.
    • Intuition. It may look good in the natural but somehow you know it's wrong.
    • Communion. Your spirit cries out to God saying; "Lord I love you more then this thing. John 21:15-17.
• Read Romans 7:22 through 8:17
  • Unless you see man as a trinity these verses are difficult if not impossible to understand. The Soul is where the mind or intellect is at. The power to reason.  It is also where the will is at. The power to chose or decide on a course of action.   The soul can receive input from the Spirit man, if he is born again.  He can also receive input from the Carnal man also known as the body or flesh of man. This is why Jesus said you must be born again. Now lets take a quick look at these verses and see what is happening.
  • Rom. 7:22
    • Here we see that the inward man or the Soul delights in and embraces the Law of God. Law represents power and authority.
  • Rom. 7:23
    • Here we see this conflict begin to develop. The Soul which delights in the Law of God is in conflict with the flesh which delights in the Law of Sin.
  • Rom. 7:24
    • Here the Soul cries out to God for deliverance from this body which is bringing him to death. He is under the power and authority of sin.
  • Rom. 7:25
    • Here Jesus responds to the cry of help from the Soul. Jesus paid the penalty for sin. He has delivered us from the power and authority of sin. The Spirit man comes to life and we are born again.
  • Rom. 8:1-4
    • Here we see the GOOD NEWS revealed. There is no condemnation for those who surrender there life to Jesus and walk in the Spirit.
  • Rom. 8:5-13
    • Here we see that we still have this flesh to deal with. The flesh is an enemy of God. The flesh can only relate to what it can experience through the five senses. Each day the Soul must decide to surrender to and trust in the Spirit or to surrender to the flesh. If the Soul lives according to the Spirit there is life and peace. If we live according to the flesh there remains only death and turmoil.
  • Rom. 8:14-18
    • Here we see that only those who are led by the Spirit are the children of God. There is sometimes a price to be paid in order to remain faithful, but it is definitely worth it. Amen and Amen!!!