Man: A Threefold Being
Man is a spirit being that possesses a soul and lives in a body. 1 Thess. 5:23.
Man is a spirit being – a critical concept in our understanding of the spirit realm and our authority in it. The root of who you are is in your spirit. Gen. 1:26.
When God put the spirit of man into a body, man became a living soul. Gen. 2:7, Luke 21:19, Luke 8:55. The heart of man.
Man as a spirit being indwelt by the Holy Spirit originally had authority over all the earth. Gen. 1:26-28
Man lost the Holy Spirit’s presence in his spirit and his authority in the fall. Gen 2:16, 17.
The authority was transferred to Satan. Luke 4:6.
Jesus came and took back the authority that Adam’s sin had given to Satan by dealing with Adam’s sin. Romans 5:12-21, Matt 28:18.
Jesus gave it to the Church. Eph. 1:19-23, 2:6 Authority is the basis of your faith to do miracles.
Authority: Exousia – delegated power, the jurisdiction to judge and therefore bless or punish.
Exousia – made up of the words ek and esti. Ek – out of, esti i am.
Authority is what comes out of you when you know who you are.
The question is, who are you?
The Christian’s Identity
The Christians spirit is indwelt by the Holy Spirit at the time of the new birth. John 14:17, Romans 8:16, 1 Peter 1:23.
The difference between soul and spirit. Heb. 4:12
Christ is to be formed in our souls. Gal. 4:19
The question of salvation – are we saved by grace or by holiness, i.e. works?
The expositors of grace based salvation cite verses like Eph.2:8,9 and Romans 6:23. The expositors of works based salvation cite verses like heb. 12:14 and matt 16:24-27.
How do you reconcile these two positions? They are both right!
One refers to the spirit of man, saved by grace at the time of the new birth, and cannot be lost. The other refers to the soul of man, which must be saved by works and can be lost. James 1:21, 1 Peter 1:9.
What are the consequences, if any, of man being saved in his spirit but not in his soul?
Every man will be judged. 2 Cor. 5:10. The man would still have eternal life because that is by grace.
Two theories regarding the situation of not being saved in the soul:
Loss of rewards. 2 John 1:8
Loss of position in the kingdom of heaven – outer darkness ‘millenial exclusionism’ Matt. 8:10-12, 22:10-14, 25:30
God is a king; we are his children and heirs to his throne. Romans 8:16, 17.
A western heir would ascend to the throne upon the death of their father or mother. An eastern heir could become a sub regent or co regent upon their growth to maturity and request of the king.
We are crown princes and princesses in the royal family of God.