Man's Nature

Highty Ho Neighbor
We have covered much ground, together, in the knowledge of God's word. We, by now, I'd hope, acknowledge that we are made of God and in His image and likeness. He is 3 fold, and so are we. We have three distinct parts, body-soul-spirit. Let's see together, what God's Word has to tell us about this. First, look at the Greek words for our three parts; soma body, psyche soul, and pneuma spirit. There is reference, in Paul's writings about these. 1Cor 2:14, speaks of the natural man, speaking of it's worldly existence. This part of man is not saved or eternal, only the soul and spirit live forever. This is talking of the soma. In 1 Cor 3:1-3, Paul talks about the spiritual and carnal man, and how they can effect our perceptions. The man is one, yet spiritual things must be discerned spiritually. We must guard ourselves. 1Thes5:23, confirms quite nicely, that we are 3 fold, in nature.
The Soma man (body) has gates, through which things may gain entrance, into us. Even though the Word tells us; it is not what comes into a man that defiles, but what comes out. We must take care what come in and how it may enter. Let's list these gates. They are what we refer to as the five physical senses. Touch is the feel gate. Taste is the mouth gate. Hearing is the ear gate. Smell is the nose gate. Sight is the eye gate. Five gates = five senses. These are not direct, to the spirit man, but connect to the soul, by way of the heart. The heart, (not the organ), is not in the soma nor the psyche, alone, yet rests between and gives continuity. There are soulish senses as well. These are similar to the physical ones, in that there are five, yet they are deeper senses. Listen to these. We'll call these faculties. they are; faith, hope, reverence, prayer, and worship. As you now see, these cannot be of the body. they are sensors of the heart and triggers of the mind. The mind settles not in the soul or in the spirit, yet between, just as the heart is between the body and soul, the mind links the soul and spirit. How do they function?, you might ask. The soul has gates, as well. These gates are; imagination, conscience, memory, reason, and affection. The faculties are the door bells, if you will to the gates of the soul and triggers to the mind. Are you with me, so far. These doorbells make impressions on the spirit, by way of our mind. The only way to a man's spirit is by way of the soul. The body has nothing, in the soul, as we learn from Paul. This is why the five physical senses cannot discern spiritual things. When man attempts an act of this nature, it cannot be God, but man alone. The spirit has but one and only one gate. It has no name that I can find, but there is something rather significant about this gate. This gate has a guard. Can you guess? The guard is man's will. Man's will stands guard at the gate of his spirit. Nothing may enter without his permission. No amount of anything can over power this will. The mind, too, is subject to man's will. We must choose. This gate or door is what Jesus refers to. "I stand at the door and knock". As we know, He will not force His way in. We must let Him in. When our will stands aside and allows, the Holy Spirit come into us, (our spirit) and takes up residence. This is the beginning of regeneration. Man is not renewed, without the Holy Spirit. Man is still 3 fold, in this, for His Spirit and our spirit are one. He in us! Are you getting this? The Holy Ghost is not limited. He has access to any and all levels of man. If this were not so, we could not have healing, power of the Spirit, or any other of the gifts. Man was made for two worlds, the spirit world and the physical world. We are made to sit in heavenly places! Right? Amen. Man is created in the image and likeness of God. We are not the only creation made on this template.
Look at the Jewish Tabernacle, for a moment, also created in 3 fold. The courtyard, is liken to and represents the body. The Holy place, is liken to and represents the soul. The most Holy place, is liken to and represents the spirit. Isn't this wonderful! Just as I have stated earlier, there can be no communication between the body and spirit, as there is none between the courtyard and the most Holy place. Only, by way of the soul. So man is created complete in body, soul and spirit, but his spiritual nature is unregenerate until the Holy Ghost takes residence in the spirit compartment of man. This by the acceptance of the knock and the submission of the will at the door. This is rebirth. With this, man is born again!
There is much to be gained in Paul's teachings. We must grow and learn of our 3 fold nature, to do so. Let us not stay on milk but partake of bread and the meat of the Lamb. If speaking, I may elaborate more, but in writing, I hope I have covered, well, the high points.

God is with you




GW