The Parts of Man According to Scripture  – A Study

By Arthur J Licursi

 

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

 

Three Parts of Man are “Outward, Inward & Inner” (Amplified translates”belly” in Jn 7:38 “innermost”)

Our Body or Outward man is “perishing” / Our Inward Soul man being “renewed daily”

2 Cor. 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward (body)   man perish, yet the inward (soul) man is renewed day by day.

 

But, our “innermost” man, our human spirit, is completed by Christ in you.

          Our spirit is now alive & complete by Christ in us (Neither perishing, nor being renewed).

1 Cor. 15:45 … the last Adam (Christ) was made (became) a quickening (life-giving) spirit.

Col. 2:10a And ye are complete in him, … 2 Tim. 4:22 …Christ be with thy spirit ... 

1 Cor. 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

 

Soul – (Greek, psuche) is The Inward Man … it is the seat of …

Satisfaction (emotion)… with Knowing (mind)… what is Truth

Romans 7:22 For I delight (rejoice) in the law of God after the inward man:

Psalm 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

 

NOTE and Compare these two references to see that the “Inward parts” are … the “mind and heart” of the soul.

Jeremiah 31:33 …saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Jer 31:33 “inward parts”  is REQUOTED In The NT below as the “mind & heart”

Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them (deposit them) in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

 

“Inward affection” is an emotion function of the soul

2 Cor. 7:15a And his inward affection is more abundant toward you,

 

Spirit (Greek, pneuma) Relates to the Inner (innermost) man

Zech. 12:1 The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.

Daniel 7:15a I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body,

Ephes. 3:16b be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner (“innermost”) man;

Proverbs 20:27 The spirit of man is the candle (lamp reservoir) of the Lord, searching all the inward parts (see below, soul’s thoughts, intents) of the belly.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word (Christ as the word in us is spirit & life) of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged 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.

Three Parts of the Soul – 3 faculties

The Mind  - Knowledge is part of the soul

Psalm 13:2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

Psalm 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Proverbs 2:10 … wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

Proverbs 19:2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

Proverbs 24:14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

Remembrance is in the soul

Lament. 3:20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.

 

The Will is part of the soul, for setting, choosing and refusing

Job 7:15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.

Job 6:7 The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.

1 Chron. 22:19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the Lord.

Desire as a soul function – is the burning in man driving his choices

Deut. 14:26 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,

1 Samuel 20:4 Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee.

 

The Emotion as part of the soul for Enjoyng, Loving & Hating

Love as a soul function

1 Samuel 18:1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

Psalm 42:1 To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

Song 1:7 Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?

 

Hatred is of the soul

2 Samuel 5:8 And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.

Psalm 107:18 Their soul abhorreth …

 

Joy of the soul

Psalm 86:4 Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

 

Grief of the soul

Judges 10:16 And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the Lord: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

 

Three Parts of the human spirit  “… the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.”  Zech 12:1

 

The Conscience

Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Romans 9:1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost (located in our spirit),

Deut. 2:30 But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the Lord thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.

Psalm 34:18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

 

Capacity for Fellowship or CommUnion

John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit (their human spirit) and in truth.

1 Cor. 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

Romans 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve (I minister) with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

Romans 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness (fellowships) with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Ephes. 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit (spirit), and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Luke 1:47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

 

The Intuition – spontaneous “knowing” (Gk. “eido”) is inborn at rebirthing

1 Cor. 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man …

Mark 2:8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

Acts 18:5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed (compelled) in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

1 John 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know (eido) all things.

1 John 2:27 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.

1 John 5:20 we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ.

Four Parts of the Heart  (Consists of ALL 3 Soul parts … plus the Conscience of the spirit)

Soul’s “mind” is in the heart, which thinks

Matthew 9:4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

Genesis 6:5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged 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. John 16:6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

 

Soul’s “will”  is in the heart

Acts 11:23…them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

 

Soul’s “emotion” is in the heart

John 16:22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

 

Spirit’s “conscience” is in heart

Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil (dirty) conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

1 John 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, …

 

Our Relationship is Initiated & Maintained with the Lord by the heart

Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

·        The Heart is the Gateway to our being.

·        As a door to a building - to keep people out from the rooms inside.

·        Whatever enters comes via the heart of a man.

·        The heart therefore controls (limits) a man - to open or close

 

So, God Deals with our Heart

 “:… for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

 

Lord Attracts & Speaks from Outside (to unsaved)… into man’s heart via conscience;

Romans 2:14-15 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

1.     … via a mans spirit (as the antenna receiver)

2.     through the bridge of “conscience“

3.     into the heart to convict him of his need for a savior

(realizing his need of Another life comes later)

4.     then speaking words of “love”, forgiveness & acceptance in Chrisrt

 

Man Doesn’t Know His Own Heart

Jeremiah 17:9-10 The heart is deceitful (to man himself) above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

 

So the Lord Permits C&S to Reveal it to Man (God knows already)

The Lord knows our heart ^”I the Lord search the heart, I try (test) the reins (interior motive), even to give every man according to his ways (course of living - motive), and according to the fruit of his doings.” <<< Actions & Consequences to teach us

Many Christians say,“I just don’t hear God” or “He never reveals things to me”

It is most often because they are not“pure” - They have a mixed motive!

·  We all start out as a “self-for self”

·  Mostly we proceed in that way until God deals with our heart

·   Yes, They seek God, BUT, they also have other ambitions for themselves.

 

KEY>> “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8

 “Pure” Defined: Unmixed (NOT just Outwardly “Clean”)

·        Pure means: elementally pure through & through

·        Without mixture - mixture means it contains “two or more” elements

Mixture - like two eyes looking in two directions …makes “things blurred”

·        Christians may have … more than one aim or goal in their heart?

·        Aiming to walk by Christ … but also

… also to be somebody in their, job, career, ministry, reputation?

 

E.g., Mixture is to seek to Have “Christ Himself” & “YOUR OWN” Christian ahenda

·        To satisfy the self-interest       - to be successful

·        To be somebody     - to be regarded      – to be in control

… BUT, Christ must be our ALL & the He must be the worker in us for work to be done

 

The Work LOOKS THE SAME - But, the MOTIVE of HEART is the issue !

Col. 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness (pure, without mixture) of heart, fearing God:

 

So, The Lord Changes Our Heart

2 Cor. 3:15-17 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 16Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 17Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. ¹⁸ But we (in soul self) all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed (metamorphoo) into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

1.     He turns us to Himself by C&S & our failure (“no way out” Reduces Us to Him)

2.     In His presence He  …demonstrates His Unconditional Love

3.   …opening our heart, He then …Touches our Conscience

… showing us “OUR Self-for Self doing” Vs. HIS self-less love

Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

3.     “He shines into our heart … changing us into His Image”

2 Cor. 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Now Cleansed - His love now can flow Out of Our Pure Heart & Conscience

5Now the end of the commandment is charity (love) out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned (without pretending): 1 Tim. 1:5

 

               Paul’s Way:

16And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. Acts 24:16

With Conscience Cleansed, we have Fellowship … ReEstablished

1 John 1:3-7 3That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

 

So We Walk in the Light (keep conscience clear) - To Maintain Fellowship

5This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:1-7

 

If we’ve sinned  - We’ve (in soul) departed from Fellowship of His Light & Life wit in us.

He never leaves us since He is in us as us. In fact we remain cleansed in His sight since He died once for all, but for our conscience sake only, we can and should Maintain a Clean Conscience.

9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from

all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

 

A) The “Christ Me” Cannot ever sin !

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 1 John 3:9

 

B) The “Independent Me” (unrenewed soul) Does always Sin

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8

 

By Fellowship Established … we have … our Intuition Enlivened by the indwelling Christ.

He Abides in You … Just Abide in Him that is Truth (1 John 2:25-29)

25And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even (His) eternal life. 26These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 27But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth (dwells) 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. 28And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 29If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. 1 John 2:25-29

 

By rebirth you Already Have the Inner Knowledge (in spirit) called Intuition of your spirit

·        It’s a sixth sense as an inner sense

·        It is true and no lie but needs a pure heart through which it may flow into your consciousness.

 

Inner Sense Knowledge (“eido” in spirit) we already have intuitively by the Spirit,

It Precedes the Mental Understanding (“ginosko” in mind) that we grow to or come to.

·        Revelation is needed to truly understand in the mind

·        This Begins when He uses whatever is needed “to turn us, our heart”, to Him.

 

It’s The Lord’s Work to Convict us in Heart (Usually by C&S) to Turn us

·        His light exposes our neediness, then we see our impure heart

·        Touches our heart with His love, by revealing His Son in us

·        His light Purifies our heart of other ambitions,

·        & Cleanses our conscience,

·        So Fellowship of Life may be established & maintained

·        that we may live by His Intuitive, spontaneous leading.

Four Circles May Be Used To Explain Our Anatomical Makeup

and Relationship With God, In Christ

By: Arthur J Licursi

 

In my teaching I often use four (4) concentric circles to describe the parts of our being, and our relationship with God.

 

1.     The Outermost circle represents Christ.

a.     This circle represents Christ as we relate to Him objectively – being “in Christ,” as our righteous covering (1Cor 1:30), available to as many as receive Him (John 1:12), as their substitutionary sin bearing substitutionary sacrifice, as our savior from perdition. This is for establishing our “positional” status, standing sinless in Christ, before the Father. This is our grace standing, which is not of our doing, but comes to be ours simply by our believing and receiving the good news of Christ’s work for us.

b.    In this postion we ae guiltless, without blame, as we stand in His love. Ephes. 1:3-5 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love

2.     The next circle inward is represents our “body” that Paul calls out “outward” man. It includes our entire being (body, soul and spirit) hid “in Christ.”

2 Cor. 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

a.     This is our entire being, in totality, hid “in Christ” in God (Col 3:3-4).

b.    This means we are entirely secure in our standing in Christ.

3.     Next circle inward represents our “soul” hidden within our body as the bone is within the body. This is that which Paul calls our “inward” man in 2Cor 4:16.

a.     This is our soul/self, our ego, and our individual eternal creation. The soul consists of mind, emotion, and will – that which makes us uniquely who we are as oppose to anybody else. This is our subjective being. After regeneration our soul needs renewal to a new mindset (Phili 2:5, Rom 12:2), needing to abide subjectively in Christ, in our spirit.

4.     Next circle inward or the “innermost” circle is the our core of our being, our “human spirit,” which is the innermost part, out of which flow rivers of living water. Christ’s very life as our life (Gal 2:20, Col 3:4). This is as the marrow within the bone as the source of the blood’s life.

Daniel 7:15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body…

John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly (“innermost being,” Amplified) shall flow rivers of living water.

a.     This is the person of Christ, as the Spirit in our human spirit, we being now “one spirit” (1Cor 6:17, Rom 8:8-10).

 

From this we see that it is needful for us to be “in Christ” in two ways that we might enjoy His full provision both objectively and subjectively.

1)     We must be hid in objectively Him for our salvation (Eph 2:8-9), along with all who receive His salvation from judgment.

We need also to abide (stay) in Him subjectively for our practical salvation (Rom 5:10, Greek, sozo, completion) from our independent, self-reliant self, individually.  END