Body, Soul, and Spirit

[Deborah13]

It is a reference to your spirit.

Your natural human heart, that pumps blood, is not the dwelling place or Temple of the Holy Spirit but rather your spirit.

And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in His heart, "I will never again curse the ground for man's sake, although the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done. Genesis 8:21



For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12


To me, the way I understand it is.

IMO.

The seat of intellect of the human body is the brain.

The seat of intellect of the human soul is the mind.

The seat of intellect of the human spirit is the heart.

This is what I gather from study and reflection.


In the story of the rich man and Lazarus, it is interesting to note the the rich man had all the faculty's of his soul, such as memory, and concern for his family and that he instantly recognized Abraham, without ever meeting him, yet his brain was in the tomb in his decaying physical body.


JLB

JLB, this is pretty much how I understand it as well.

Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

This is how I interpret these scriptures.
In Paul's analogy he first references the inward man who loves the law of God.
He refers to that inward man as the 'law of my mind'.
There is a separate one that is the problem that he refers to as 'law in my members'.
Now we know that our physical hand has no control of it's own. If it steals it was told to by the carnal thoughts and decisions of man's mind (will).
Would the 'inward man' do this? Paul says no, the 'inward man' delights in the Lord.

Most people will say that it is the 'old man' warring against the 'new man' which isn't a bad interpretation or 'old nature' against the 'new nature'.
But when I read that Jesus says we are 'reborn' or 'restored', a new creature, in Christ, I think about that and wonder. What has been reborn or restored.
2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

So I ask, did my physical body become all new? no
Did my own thoughts and will become all new? no (always obeying the will of God, no sin still lurks)
But my inward man loves the Lord and wishes to please Him.

I see three parts body, soul, and spirit. That it is my spirit, inward man, that has been reborn, restored and reconciled to God. That the Holy Spirit came to dwell with me in my reborn spirit. That it is my spirit that the Holy Spirit uses to teach me and guide me in the ways of God.
Before that spirit was regenerated, restored, I could live a life in the body with my soul in charge but I could not commune with God.

 

[Doulos Iesou]

Interesting question. A thought comes to mind.

Revelation 21:
1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God iswith men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

I'm searching a little here, not challenging your position or disagreeing with you but since God will make all things new and there will be no more pain or sorrow, if we remember everything including our transgressions from our life here on earth and having been saved and made in the likeness of Jesus, would not our memory brings us great sorrow and pain?

Hi WIP,

I think the key phrase is that "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." There surely will initially be great sorrow over the punishment of the wicked and also for the transgressions they committed, but our great God will not just wipe up some of the tears and tell everyone to get it over it. Rather, our great and glorious God will with much tenderness, wipe away every tear from the eyes of his people.

The God of all comfort will not erase our memories, he will console us in our suffering. The God who wept, will wipe our tears and reveal how he has worked all things for good. That the pain and suffering that we endured was not in vain, but was doing something in us who believe, to prepare us for that eternal weight of glory that we would no at that time be entering into.

This is I believe, is what the Bible teaches on the matter.

Blessings,
DI

 

[JLB]

JLB, this is pretty much how I understand it as well.

Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

This is how I interpret these scriptures.
In Paul's analogy he first references the inward man who loves the law of God.
He refers to that inward man as the 'law of my mind'.
There is a separate one that is the problem that he refers to as 'law in my members'.
Now we know that our physical hand has no control of it's own. If it steals it was told to by the carnal thoughts and decisions of man's mind (will).
Would the 'inward man' do this? Paul says no, the 'inward man' delights in the Lord.

Most people will say that it is the 'old man' warring against the 'new man' which isn't a bad interpretation or 'old nature' against the 'new nature'.
But when I read that Jesus says we are 'reborn' or 'restored', a new creature, in Christ, I think about that and wonder. What has been reborn or restored.
2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

So I ask, did my physical body become all new? no
Did my own thoughts and will become all new? no (always obeying the will of God, no sin still lurks)
But my inward man loves the Lord and wishes to please Him.

I see three parts body, soul, and spirit. That it is my spirit, inward man, that has been reborn, restored and reconciled to God. That the Holy Spirit came to dwell with me in my reborn spirit. That it is my spirit that the Holy Spirit uses to teach me and guide me in the ways of God.
Before that spirit was regenerated, restored, I could live a life in the body with my soul in charge but I could not commune with God.

Yes Deb, that is pretty much how I see it as well.

I thought everyone saw it this way as well.

I have never even heard of anyone state that humans don't have a spirit.


JLB

 

[agua.]

JLB, this is pretty much how I understand it as well.

Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

This is how I interpret these scriptures.
In Paul's analogy he first references the inward man who loves the law of God.
He refers to that inward man as the 'law of my mind'.
There is a separate one that is the problem that he refers to as 'law in my members'.
Now we know that our physical hand has no control of it's own. If it steals it was told to by the carnal thoughts and decisions of man's mind (will).
Would the 'inward man' do this? Paul says no, the 'inward man' delights in the Lord.

Most people will say that it is the 'old man' warring against the 'new man' which isn't a bad interpretation or 'old nature' against the 'new nature'.
But when I read that Jesus says we are 'reborn' or 'restored', a new creature, in Christ, I think about that and wonder. What has been reborn or restored.
2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

So I ask, did my physical body become all new? no
Did my own thoughts and will become all new? no (always obeying the will of God, no sin still lurks)
But my inward man loves the Lord and wishes to please Him.

I see three parts body, soul, and spirit. That it is my spirit, inward man, that has been reborn, restored and reconciled to God. That the Holy Spirit came to dwell with me in my reborn spirit. That it is my spirit that the Holy Spirit uses to teach me and guide me in the ways of God.
Before that spirit was regenerated, restored, I could live a life in the body with my soul in charge but I could not commune with God.

So I ask, did my physical body become all new? no
Did my own thoughts and will become all new? no (always obeying the will of God, no sin still lurks)
But my inward man loves the Lord and wishes to please Him.

Yes Deb, that is pretty much how I see it as well.

I thought everyone saw it this way as well.

I have never even heard of anyone state that humans don't have a spirit.


JLB

Deb & JLB have you considered this spirit or "inward man" is actually the spirit Yahweh gave us ie. this is His spirit being renewed/fixed hence making regeneration entirely His work in us ? I suppose we could say the spirit He gave us has been polluted by our iniquity and the regeneration is like plugging us back into the orignal source.

What do you think ?

 

[agua.]

I guess this may just be one of those mysteries for which we have no answer from our human perspective. We can only speculate. It's at these times that I am left to just trust in God and rest on the assurance that He knows and He will provide me what I need to know when I need to know it.

... from our human perspective.

Very well said. It is hard to describe eternal realities from a perspective and vocabulary that has its perception based in a temporary (physical) existence.

Like how do you describe seeing someone with no age.

JLB

 

[Deborah13]

Deb & JLB have you considered this spirit or "inward man" is actually the spirit Yahweh gave us ie. this is His spirit being renewed/fixed hence making regeneration entirely His work in us ? I suppose we could say the spirit He gave us has been polluted by our iniquity and the regeneration is like plugging us back into the orignal source.

What do you think ?

Yes, I believe it is the spirit He gave us.
No, I don't believe it is His Spirit that is renewed/fixed, God's spirit would never need to be fixed.
Yes, regeneration is totally His work in us.
No, I don't believe that the spirit He gave us is ever polluted by our iniquity.

 

[JLB]

Deb & JLB have you considered this spirit or "inward man" is actually the spirit Yahweh gave us ie. this is His spirit being renewed/fixed hence making regeneration entirely His work in us ? I suppose we could say the spirit He gave us has been polluted by our iniquity and the regeneration is like plugging us back into the orignal source.

What do you think ?

It is our spirit as He is the Father of spirits.

JLB

 

[chessman]

4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

I was not aware of this tie-in until recently. Not sure it answers the question however. But it surely is related, no?

Isaiah 25:7-8 And on this mountain he will destroy the face of the shroud,the shroud over all peoples,and the woven covering over all nations. He will destroy death forever,and the Lord Yahweh will wipe off the tears from all faces,and he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth,for Yahweh has spoken.

Is 35:10
And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Is 51:11
And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Isaiah 51:12-13 “I, I am he who comforts you;who are you that you are afraid of man? He dies!And of the son of humankind? He is sacrificed as grass! And you have forgotten Yahweh, your maker,who stretched out the heavens,and founded the earth.And you tremble continually, all day,because of the wrath of the oppressorwhen he takes aim to destroy.But where is the wrath of the oppressor?

Is 65:19
I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress.

 

[Butch5]

I hope in my case my brain isn't reanimated to it's present condition. The older I get the more I forget :biggrin

I hear ya on that one

 

[Edward]

I agree with you Edward. I thought God gave us something, whether it be called a spirit or soul or breath of life Im not sure. What we choose to do with it is ours and as Christians we choose to turn our spirit or soul over to the Lord and become followers. Here is scripture to support this: Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. KJV.

Thank you brother. I've been following this thread with interest and pondering all the different views and scriptures, and the instruction to live for the spirit, and it all fits. This is a good discussion. Live for the Spirit...live for the Spirit.

This is the Spirit of God it speaks of and not of man. I think that some of the confusion in this topic (myself included! lol) comes from the terminology being loosely applied. We know a few things for sure, that we are to live for the Spirit...to be led of the Spirit, Bow the Spirit here is certainly meaning the Spirit of God. i.e., the Holy Spirit.

Now, we were created in Gods image, right? God is a trinity, Father, Son, Holy Ghost. So wouldn't it stand to reason that man also is a trinity? Body-Soul-Spirit. When we perish in our earthly body, the Spirit returns unto God. We all seem to agree on that.

So what's left? The flesh body returns to the dust of the ground, and the soul of man is left, which is what God wants to save, and Satan wants to destroy. It's like I was saying, We choose to give our lives to God, and will be led by the (Holy) Spirit...which bears witness with our spirit and teaches us. We need no other teacher but the Holy Spirit.

1 John 2:27
27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him./

But teaches which part of us then? If our Spirit is Gods Spirit then no need to teach himself. I think we all agree that the mind is not of the flesh and returns to the earth from whence it came. The flesh plays little role in our short existance here. It is but a mere tent, a temporary dwelling for us live while we learn and grow closer to the Lord.

So I think that would mean that our soul encompasses our intellect and personality. It's a spiritual being, we are spiritual beings. We either embrace the world and our soul learns from that, or we embrace the Lord...and be led by the Spirit and let Him teach us and our soul learns from that experience and teaching, and we mature in the Lord and will be saved.

Does that make sense?

We have to be a three part being. There is a difference between the soul and the spirit. Aha! Found one

Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart./

My apologies if this has already been posted. It speaks of the soul and of the spirit and of course we already know that there is also a flesh body. Bless you all brothers and sisters.

 

[Edward]

Luke 10:27 seems to indicate that the soul is ours and it is different than the mind.

Now I see this one, lol. With only a brief reading of it (no word study), it does seem to indicate that the soul and mind are different and so are mentioned separately. So wherein does the mind lie?

I'm off to bed to ponder it some and rest. May the Holy Spirit teach me as I sleep. This is a significant scripture that should be addressed as relevant to the topic.

Good night and God Bless...

 

[agua.]

Yes, I believe it is the spirit He gave us.
No, I don't believe it is His Spirit that is renewed/fixed, God's spirit would never need to be fixed.
Yes, regeneration is totally His work in us.
No, I don't believe that the spirit He gave us is ever polluted by our iniquity.

It is our spirit as He is the Father of spirits.

JLB

Ok this is interesting. You both agree that we have 3 parts which are body, soul, and spirit which are all intrinsically ours is that right ? Considering what Butch has presented concerning what keeps us alive ie. God's breath/spirit where does this spirit of God's fit in ?

Job 34:14-15 KJV If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; (15) All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

What part of us is this breath/spirit of Yahweh's or do you suggest it is external to us ? I think we're not so different here aside from the differentiation of what the spirit in us actually is. Deb you say this spirit can't be God's because it wouldn't need fixing but if every person is kept alive by this spirit then what is it IYO ?

I suggest this spirit, which is Yahweh's, is different than the Holy Spirit ( which cannot be corrupted ) and since it is in every living being ( soul ) then it can be corrupted and need regeneration. Corrupted spirits still originated with Yahweh didn't they ?

A can of worms eh. :D

 

[Deborah13]

Ok this is interesting. You both agree that we have 3 parts which are body, soul, and spirit which are all intrinsically ours is that right ? Considering what Butch has presented concerning what keeps us alive ie. God's breath/spirit where does this spirit of God's fit in ?

I believe that our body, soul, and spirit all belong to God. That saying they are ours is a loose term used for the sake of language. We say my body, not God's body. In truth my body belongs to God and is not mine to do with as I see fit.
I'm still not quite sure what others in this thread believe that breath/spirit provides. It at first appeared to be that the definition was simply breath (air)/spirit that animates the body and allows the brain to think, the physical body to be alive. But I think there has also been concessions made that it must provide something more than that.

Job 34:14-15 KJV If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; (15) All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

What part of us is this breath/spirit of Yahweh's or do you suggest it is external to us ? I think we're not so different here aside from the differentiation of what the spirit in us actually is. Deb you say this spirit can't be God's because it wouldn't need fixing but if every person is kept alive by this spirit then what is it IYO ?

I cannot tell you exactly what the spirit is, I don't understand it all myself.
I know man is born with conscious, the Bible is clear about that. When our own will wants to do something that is wrong we know it. Unbelievers have a conscious, so what is that? People will say that some criminals don't have a conscious, yes they do, they just choose to ignore it and eventually their soul is so corrupt that they just stop hearing it. That is scripture, Romans 2. So is the conscious corrupt? I don't believe so, it is the soul the mind/will that is corrupt and refusing to hear with that conscious what Maybe is that still small voice of God.
When God draws someone to Him, I believe that is the Holy Spirit speaking directly to the spirit that God placed in each person.

I suggest this spirit, which is Yahweh's, is different than the Holy Spirit ( which cannot be corrupted ) and since it is in every living being ( soul ) then it can be corrupted and need regeneration.

I believe that if God regenerates something He doesn't do partial job of it. If God regenerated the soul/mind of man, man would no longer sin, he wouldn't be able to. His will would always be perfectly in agreement with God. I believe it is our (loose term) spirit that is regenerated so that now we recognize the Father and the Son and we can communicate and tabernacle with Him.
Our soul/mind still needs to be renewed. I believe God does this as we communicate with Him and we study His scriptures. "Renew your mind by the Word of God" (para).

Corrupted spirits still originated with Yahweh didn't they ?
A can of worms eh. :biggrin

I don't understand this last question. We are not spirit beings like angels and demons, if that is what you mean?

This is just what I believe. I first began really trying to understand because of Paul's statements. I think he meant what he said about body, soul, and spirit.
If I don't take this statement from Paul to heart, why should I believe him about vails? :shades

 

[Edward]

What part of us is this breath/spirit of Yahweh's or do you suggest it is external to us ? I think we're not so different here aside from the differentiation of what the spirit in us actually is. Deb you say this spirit can't be God's because it wouldn't need fixing but if every person is kept alive by this spirit then what is it IYO ?

I suggest this spirit, which is Yahweh's, is different than the Holy Spirit ( which cannot be corrupted ) and since it is in every living being ( soul ) then it can be corrupted and need regeneration. Corrupted spirits still originated with Yahweh didn't they ?

A can of worms eh. :biggrin

There's an interesting idea. I actually had this thought occur to me, but didn't have enough guts to post it on the forum, lol.
Because I don't know, and haven't given it a tremendous amount of thought, and thought what a can of worms that would be. It's possible I think. I better not go further with this, it needs more thought.

 

[Edward]

Deborah13:... We are not spirit beings like angels and demons

I think we are, sister. There are differences of course, the details of which will be revealed later to us. There are so many indicators to us that this is true, that we should not easily dismiss it. I have heard it said that in Heaven, we will be above the Angels? (That's from memory, be gentle, lol), we were created in Gods image, that's a loose vague term which is not easily understood, but God is a Spiritual being, for sure. We are told that we are in a spiritual war, one fought with principalities and powers... spiritual beings, if you will. That also, we have fallen out of relationship with our God, should seek to be led of the Spirit, to be renewed of the Spirit (Ephesians 4: 23), to be spiritually minded (Romans 8:6), and to seek all things spiritual.

True enough that our so called 'natural' realm has many limitations for us within it. We're stuck here for now. Because of the fall, we are now carnally minded and is all that many know. Maybe this is why we are supposed to become as little children to receive our instruction of the Lord. Because we have not been taught to live, see, and be conscious of the spiritual reality of existence, but only to operate carnally. We have to learn to live all over again, and to put away the carnal man, and to not lean upon our own understanding. Spirit beings live, think and operate on a totally different level than carnal beings do.

I've often wondered...we see our flesh bodies normally, while our soul and spirit are on the inside. Did it used to be different before the fall? Was our spirit on the outside, perhaps with our soul also, or just below the spirit, with our flesh body on the inside? Sounds a bit stupid in a way, but scripture speaks of letting our light shine before men (is this our spirit?).
As we progress and grow in the Lord, does a change take place in the order of presentation of (our) beings? Does our spirit begin to come out of us to the outside? Some have said that they see others with a light about them. Are they seeing the persons spirit man? I don't know. Hmmm.

 

[His_nee (Jeff)]

our spirit when born of God, born again, born of His Will, not the will of man nor of flesh,
is holy.
our spirit is holy.
it is not corrupt, does not need fixing, is not pre-disposed to sin at all.
it is rare to meet someone who is born again. who is holy. set apart for God in Christ Jesus by faith and grace, a sheer gift.
conviction results from meeting someone who is holy. (God's way, not man's )
Godly sorrow that leads to repentance is wonderful, just as it is written in Scripture.
Purity and holiness and set apartness unto God is the life and gift given to believers in Christ Jesus.
mixed, mix-ed, mix-ed-ness - mixing what is holy (life) with what is unholy is unbecoming believers in Christ Jesus. they are convicted of this when they try or do this, and if they are seeking and obedient to God, they turn fully to God and do not continue in sin or sinfulness or the lusts of this world nor the likes and loves of this world nor of the things in this world.

thus, the kingdom of God is at hand, but few there are who enter in. it requires giving up and renouncing everything past and everything of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the world and the pride of life,
and it
is only possible as God accomplishes this in those who seek Him joyfully and totally with abandon(TRUST) obediently like little infants, or children, or for the more mature in Christ, like adults in Christ (very very uncommon and unworldly).

the point is, the Spirit of God reveals all things Truly to those who are His Truly in Christ Jesus.
the spirit of the unsaved is un-alive - not alive - not righteous - not in communion nor in union with God nor in His Likeness.
only those born again in Christ Jesus are even able to recognize any of this, anything from God, anything of Life.

yet the whole world goes on blind rejecting the Messiah Jesus, and making up its own messiahs, its own saviors, its own gods of this world.
that's why there's so many different 'explanations' of different 'gods' and spirits and truth and life,
all to keep as many as possible from finding the real Truth in Christ Jesus, Who Alone, He Alone, Is Able to Save the lost.

 

[His_nee (Jeff)]

.......scripture speaks of letting our light shine before men (is this our spirit?).
As we progress and grow in the Lord, does a change take place in the order of presentation of (our) beings? Does our spirit begin to come out of us to the outside? Some have said that they see others with a light about them. Are they seeing the persons spirit man? I don't know. Hmmm.

a good example , but far away, is the believers in china. similar to the better known smith wigglesworth of wales.
just being in their presence, seeing them in person, resulted in conviction of others around them, both known and unknown (relatives,friends and strangers -- i.e. not dependent on previous knowledge of the person).
not just in conviction, but Godly sorrow leading to repentance from their sinful lives. (everyone's life is sinful, before being purchased by the Blood of The Lamb of God. even the most religious and/or reclusive person is sinful until after being immersed in Yeshua).
the Light people may and should or ought to hopefully see, is the Light of True Life, the Light of Yeshua the Savior Messiah Healer.
as Yeshua said - what you do and speak flows out from you, whatever you are full of , that is what comes out..... and what others see.

 

[agua.]

I believe that our body, soul, and spirit all belong to God. That saying they are ours is a loose term used for the sake of language. We say my body, not God's body. In truth my body belongs to God and is not mine to do with as I see fit.
I'm still not quite sure what others in this thread believe that breath/spirit provides. It at first appeared to be that the definition was simply breath (air)/spirit that animates the body and allows the brain to think, the physical body to be alive. But I think there has also been concessions made that it must provide something more than that.

Cool yeah I agree everything belongs to Yahweh for sure. I'm trying to understand who is in control of the spirit inside us.

I cannot tell you exactly what the spirit is, I don't understand it all myself.
I know man is born with conscious, the Bible is clear about that. When our own will wants to do something that is wrong we know it. Unbelievers have a conscious, so what is that? People will say that some criminals don't have a conscious, yes they do, they just choose to ignore it and eventually their soul is so corrupt that they just stop hearing it. That is scripture, Romans 2. So is the conscious corrupt? I don't believe so, it is the soul the mind/will that is corrupt and refusing to hear with that conscious what Maybe is that still small voice of God.
When God draws someone to Him, I believe that is the Holy Spirit speaking directly to the spirit that God placed in each person.

This spirit that Yahweh placed in each person is the crux of the matter imo and I agree it is the avenue He uses to speak to and regenerate us. What I want to know is if this spirit we're talking about here is the spirit/breath Butch has shown in Job 34. If it is then we can say it isn't something we have control over aside from following or rebelling against.

I believe that if God regenerates something He doesn't do partial job of it. If God regenerated the soul/mind of man, man would no longer sin, he wouldn't be able to. His will would always be perfectly in agreement with God. I believe it is our (loose term) spirit that is regenerated so that now we recognize the Father and the Son and we can communicate and tabernacle with Him.
Our soul/mind still needs to be renewed. I believe God does this as we communicate with Him and we study His scriptures. "Renew your mind by the Word of God" (para).

Yeah Deb this is basically what I think with a couple of nuances. Regeneration is shown as a process and we can see this being played out when Paul talks about the battle between the flesh and the spirit. The question is what is this spirit that Yahweh is communicating with to regenerate/renew us. This spirit seems to have the ability, when provided, to do amazing things which aren't our doing ( the gifts of the Spirit ) and we don't even understand at times. This spirit speaks to the Holy Spirit without any cognition of this from us imo.

Rom 8:15-16 KJV For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (16) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

So this spirit of God's in all men will only begin the regeneration process once the Holy Spirit moves in. Ok how's this. This spirit is in all men and is stifled by our disobedience and fleshly desires and it isn't the spirit being regenerated but the man himself after we turn to God ? This spirit is basically the conduit for the Holy Spirit to work in.

I don't understand this last question. We are not spirit beings like angels and demons, if that is what you mean?

Yeah it was a silly question really please disregard it. ( for now :D )

This is just what I believe. I first began really trying to understand because of Paul's statements. I think he meant what he said about body, soul, and spirit.
If I don't take this statement from Paul to heart, why should I believe him about vails? :shades

:D So you've started wearing a vail ? I think Paul meant what he said too about body, soul, and spirit it's the definitions/distinctions that cause the problems.

I'm very pleased you are now wearing a vail Sister :D

 

[Edward]

Do you all think that our spirit communicates with God? Scriptures say His Spirit bears witness with our spirit, but this is not necessarily our spirit talking back, it's Him bearing witness or talking to our spirit. Maybe our soul speaks to God? Or maybe Ed is confused, lol. I dunno, just thinking...

 

[agua.]

Do you all think that our spirit communicates with God? Scriptures say His Spirit bears witness with our spirit, but this is not necessarily our spirit talking back, it's Him bearing witness or talking to our spirit. Maybe our soul speaks to God? Or maybe Ed is confused, lol. I dunno, just thinking...

I think "our" spirit communicates with God Ed.

1Co 14:2 KJV For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

1Co 14:14-15 KJV For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. (15) What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

This implies to me that God's spirit in us communicates with the Holy Spirit because we don't understand it.