The difference between the Spirit, Soul, Body!

I. God Created Man as a Three-Part Being

Scripture:

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (KJV)

Key Point:

• You are not just a body
• You are a spirit, you have a soul, and you live in a body

Teaching Emphasis:

• Salvation, growth, and maturity happen when we understand which part of us God is working in

II. What Is the Spirit? (The God-Conscious Part of Man)

Scriptures:

• Genesis 2:7 – God breathed into man the breath of life
• John 4:24 – “God is Spirit…”
• Romans 8:16 – The Spirit bears witness with our spirit
• Proverbs 20:27 – The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord

Key Points About the Spirit:

• The spirit is the part of you that:
  • Communes with God
  • Is born again
  • Is instantly regenerated at salvation
• Your spirit is perfected when you are saved
  (Hebrews 12:23) - to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

Teaching Truth:

👉 God speaks to your spirit, not your emotions

III. What Is the Soul? (Mind, Will, and Emotions)

Scriptures:

• Genesis 2:7 – Man became a living soul
• Matthew 26:38 – Jesus spoke of His soul being sorrowful
• Psalm 42:5 – “Why art thou cast down, O my soul?”
• Romans 12:2 – Renewing of the mind

Key Points About the Soul:

• The soul includes:
  • Mind (how you think)
  • Will (how you choose)
  • Emotions (how you feel)
• The soul is not instantly changed at salvation
• The soul must be renewed, trained, and disciplined

Teaching Truth:

👉 Many believers are saved in spirit but struggling in soul

IV. The Body (The World-Conscious Part of Man)

Scriptures:

• 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 – Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost
• Romans 6:12 – Don’t let sin reign in your mortal body

Key Points:

• The body connects you to the natural world
• It responds to:
  • Senses
  • Habits
  • Discipline (or lack thereof)

Teaching Truth:

👉 The body should be a servant, not the master

V. How to Tell the Difference Between Soul and Spirit

Key Scripture:

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful… piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit…”
— Hebrews 4:12

Key Points:

• Only God’s Word can clearly divide:
  • Emotional reactions (soul)
  • Spiritual truth (spirit)
• Feelings can lie
• God’s Spirit never contradicts His Word

VI. Common Confusion in Believers

Soul-Led Living Looks Like:

• Emotional Christianity
• Faith based on feelings
• Easily offended
• Up and down walk with God

Spirit-Led Living Looks Like:

• Stability
• Obedience even when feelings disagree
• Peace in chaos
• Growth and maturity