The Spirit — The Spiritual Man

Chapter Two – The Spirit and the Soul

The Spirit

It is of utmost importance for a believer to know that they have a human spirit. As we shall see shortly, all of God’s dealings with humanity take place within this spirit. If a believer does not understand what their spirit is, they will not know how to fellowship with God in the spirit. Instead, they may mistakenly substitute the functions of the soul—such as the mind or emotions—for the operations of the spirit, resulting in a life that remains soulish rather than spiritual.

1 Corinthians 2:11 says: “For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within?” (NRSVue)1 Corinthians 5:4 says: “...when you are assembled, and my spirit is present with the power of our Lord Jesus...” (NRSVue)Romans 8:16 says: “It is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God...” (NRSVue)1 Corinthians 14:14 says: “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unproductive.” (NRSVue)1 Corinthians 14:32 says: “And the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets...” (NRSVue)Proverbs 25:28 says: “Like a city breached, without walls, is one who lacks self-control.” (NRSVue)Hebrews 12:23 says: “...the spirits of the righteous who have been made perfect...” (NRSVue)Zechariah 12:1 says: “Thus says the Lord, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the human spirit within...” (NRSVue)

These verses prove clearly that human beings have a spirit. This spirit is not the soul, nor is it the Holy Spirit. It is through this spirit that we worship God.

According to the Bible’s teaching and believers’ experience, the human spirit consists of three parts, or we might say it has three primary functions: the conscience, intuition, and communion (fellowship with God).

• Conscience is the faculty that discerns right from wrong. Its judgment is not based on rational understanding in the mind, but through an inherent and direct perception. Even when something appears reasonable, the conscience may still bring a different judgment. Its operation is solitary and direct, not swayed by outward influences. When a person behaves wrongly, the conscience issues a voice of accusation.

• Intuition is the direct sensing or knowing within the spirit. It is completely distinct from bodily sensation or emotional feeling. It is called “intuition” because it is immediate and requires no external aid. The knowledge that arises from it does not rely on the mind, emotion, or will. While the mind enables us to “understand,” it is through intuition that we truly “know.” All divine revelation and the Holy Spirit’s work are made known to believers through intuition. The voice of conscience and the knowledge of intuition are both inward and independent of reason.

• Communion is the capacity to worship God. The mind, emotions, and will—functions of the soul—are incapable of worshiping God. God is not known through thought, feeling, or desire. He must be known directly in the spirit. Worship and communion with God occur directly in the spirit, in the "inner man," and not in the soul or the outer man.

Having seen the above, we understand how the conscience, intuition, and communion are deeply interconnected and work in harmony. The conscience and intuition are related because conscience uses intuition to make judgments. Conscience judges actions that do not align with intuition as being wrong. Likewise, intuition and communion are connected, because it is through intuition that God is known and reveals Himself and His will. Hope and speculation cannot reveal God to us. Since we will explore these matters in more detail in the chapters to come, we only provide an outline here.

The Function of the Conscience

The spirit has the function of the conscience (though the spirit itself is not the conscience). Consider the following scriptures:

• “The Lord your God hardened his spirit...” — Deuteronomy 2:30

• “He saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18

• “Put a new and right spirit within me.” — Psalm 51:10

• “Jesus was troubled in spirit.” — John 13:21

• “He was deeply distressed to see that the city was full of idols.” — Acts 17:16

• “You did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear...” — Romans 8:15

• “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit...” — Romans 8:16

• “...my spirit is present to pronounce judgment on the one who has done such a thing.” — 1 Corinthians 5:3

• “My spirit was not at rest...” — 2 Corinthians 2:13

• “God did not give us a spirit of cowardice...” — 2 Timothy 1:7

The Function of Intuition

The spirit also has the function of intuition or direct perception. Consider these verses:

• “The spirit indeed is willing...” — Matthew 26:41

• “Jesus perceived in his spirit...” — Mark 2:8

• “He sighed deeply in his spirit...” — Mark 8:12

• “He was greatly disturbed in spirit...” — John 11:33

• “Paul was occupied with the word, testifying...” — Acts 18:5

• “He spoke with burning enthusiasm, being well versed in the scriptures.” — Acts 18:25

• “I am compelled by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem...” — Acts 20:22

• “Who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person?” — 1 Corinthians 2:11

• “They refreshed my spirit as well as yours.” — 1 Corinthians 16:18

• “His spirit was refreshed by all of you.” — 2 Corinthians 7:13

The Function of Communion

The spirit also functions in communion or worship:

• “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” — Luke 1:47

• “True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth...” — John 4:23

• “...I serve God with my spirit...” — Romans 1:9

• “...serve in the new way of the Spirit...” — Romans 7:6

• “You have received a spirit of adoption...” — Romans 8:15

• “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit...” — Romans 8:16

• “Anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.” — 1 Corinthians 6:17

• “I will sing praise with the spirit...” — 1 Corinthians 14:15

• “You give thanks well enough, but the other person is not built up.” — 1 Corinthians 14:16

• “He carried me away in the spirit to a great, high mountain...” — Revelation 21:10

These passages show that the spirit at least includes the conscience, intuition, and communion.

The State of the Spirit Before Regeneration

Although those who are not yet born again have not received divine life, they still have a conscience, intuition, and the capacity for worship (though they worship false spirits). Some manifest these spirit functions more clearly than others. However, this does not mean they are spiritually alive; the New Testament never equates a sharp conscience, keen intuition, or spiritual interest with salvation. These things only prove that humans possess a spirit, distinct from the soul’s faculties of reason, emotion, and will.

Before rebirth, the human spirit is separated from God's life. It is only when a person is born again that God’s life and the Holy Spirit enter the spirit, bringing it to life and making it an instrument of the Holy Spirit.

The goal of studying the spirit is to help believers understand that we possess a distinct human spirit, separate from our thoughts, will, and feelings. This spirit includes the functions of conscience, intuition, and communion. It is in this part of our being that God regenerates, instructs, and leads us into His rest. Because believers have long been ruled by the soul, they have little knowledge of the spirit. We must reverently ask God to teach us through experience what is spiritual and what is soulish.

The Need for Separation of Soul and Spirit

Before rebirth, a person’s spirit is immersed in the soul, wrapped up in it, and fused with it. Thus, the operations of the spirit are confused with those of the soul. Since the spirit’s primary capacity for relating to God has been lost and is essentially dead, it functions as a mere extension of the soul. When the soul’s faculties—mind, emotions, will—are strong, the operations of the spirit become unnoticeable.

Even after regeneration, a believer still needs a clear separation between soul and spirit. When we read Scripture, we see that the spirit of an unregenerate person behaves almost the same as their soul. Consider these examples:

• “Pharaoh’s spirit was troubled.” — Genesis 41:8

• “Their anger (spirit) subsided.” — Judges 8:3

• “One who is quick-tempered acts foolishly.” — Proverbs 14:29

• “A broken spirit dries up the bones.” — Proverbs 17:22

• “A fool gives full vent to his anger (spirit).” — Proverbs 29:11

• “Those who err in spirit will come to understanding.” — Isaiah 29:24

• “Wailing because of a broken spirit.” — Isaiah 65:14

• “I know what you are thinking in your spirits.” — Ezekiel 11:5

• “What comes into your mind (spirit) shall never happen.” — Ezekiel 20:32

• “But his spirit became arrogant.” — Daniel 5:20

These verses show the spirit of the unregenerate behaving just like the soul. Though they are described as “spirit,” these actions are expressions of the deepest part of their human self, which is still ruled by the soul. The spirit remains present, though its actions are shaped and influenced by the soul.