THE SALVATION OF OUR SOUL

Spread the love

Gen. 2:7 “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

Understanding the soul is crucial if we want to understand humanity’s complete salvation. Throughout the Bible, the soul is presented as the heart of a human being where our physical and spiritual natures are being reflected. It is the soul that reflects both the nature of the flesh and the nature of the spirit. In short, the soul is psychology part of the person where his/her character and personality are being reflected. Among the three components of man, the soul is a neutral position—a battleground where the struggle between the flesh and the spirit takes place. It is within the soul that decisions are made, shaping both the personality and the character of a person.

Our soul stands as the neutral ground of our existence. It is not inherently good or evil. It only becomes good or evil depending on which one influences it. If it is our flesh that influences it, then it becomes an evil soul that turns towards sin and rebellion against God since flesh craves the things of the world. In contrast, if it is our spirit that influences our soul, it becomes a good soul since our spirit desires communion with God and the spiritual things. Our spirit pulls the soul toward righteousness and truth. Before a person is born-again, the flesh dominates the soul, leading the soul to reject God and prioritize selfish, worldly desires.

1. Before Born-again experience: The soul is predominantly controlled by the flesh, which seeks selfish desires and worldly pleasures because our spirit is dead. In this state, man cannot access any spiritual things from God, unless God will give it to him, his spiritual understanding is clouded, making it impossible to truly grasp the things of God.

2. After Born-again experience: Our spirit becomes alive, the soul becomes open to God’s will. The soul is now influence by the things of the Spirit, and the person begins to desire the things of God. He can now access the spiritual things and can now contact God.

Romans 8:8 makes this clear: “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Without the indwelling of the Spirit of God, even seemingly good deeds are not counted as righteousness in God’s eyes. This is why spiritual rebirth or born-again experience is essential. Through rebirth, although the flesh is still dominant, the spirit has now influence of the soul.

Mat. 7:21 “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

Matthew 7:21 highlights that not everyone who claims to follow Christ will enter the kingdom of heaven—only those who do the will of the Father. Those who do the will of the Father are those people indwelt by the Spirit of God. This indicates that genuine transformation of the soul through the indwelling in our spirit is necessary, not just outward religious practices.

The soul, according to the Bible, comprise three main components: the mind, the will and the emotions. Each of these plays a significant role in the process of spiritual transformation.

1. Mind – The mind is the seat of thoughts, reasoning, and understanding. It is where beliefs are formed and where truth is processed. Romans 12:2 emphasizes that transformation begins with the renewal of the mind: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” As the mind is renewed through the Word of God, old patterns of sinful thinking are replaced with divine truth. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that the Word of God has the power to penetrate and transform even the deepest thoughts and intentions of the heart.

2. Will – The will is the decision-making aspect of the soul. It is what drives a person to act based on their thoughts and desires. When a person aligns their will with God’s will, true spiritual growth occurs. Acts 11:23 refers to the “purpose of the heart,” indicating how crucial the will is in shaping our actions and choices. Faith becomes activated when the will chooses to respond to God’s revelations.

3. Emotions – Emotions are the feelings that arise from the soul. Joy, sorrow, love, and fear all originate here. While emotions are an important part of our relationship with God—John 16:22 says, “Your heart shall rejoice“—they must be grounded in truth. Emotions can often be misleading, and without the guidance of a renewed mind and spirit-led will, they may lead us away from God rather than toward Him.

Spiritual transformation, or the metamorphosis of the soul, begins with the quickening of the spirit. The Soul then is being transformed from one degree of glory to another, as described in 2 Corinthians 3:18: “We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” This ongoing transformation is like the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly—believers are continually being shaped into the image of Christ by the Holy Spirit.

Rom. 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Romans 12:2 calls for the renewing of the mind as the first step in this process. As God’s Word penetrates the soul, old thoughts and attitudes are renewed, leading to a transformation in the way we think, act, and feel. As the mind is transformed, the will becomes aligned with God’s purposes, and our emotions begin to reflect the joy and peace that come from living in the Spirit. We have already been quickened by our Lord in our spirit. We are in the transformation of the soul phase right now, were we die daily to our old mind, will and emotions. We are renewed everyday through the Spirit of the Lord.

This transformation of the soul is called “Sanctification.”

John 17:17 “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

To sanctify means to “set aside for a purpose.” If for example I have a pen, I can only sanctify that pen if will used it for its purpose – that is, for writing. Every time I use that pen to write, that’s also the time I sanctify that pen. The same with our soul. Every time our mind, will and emotions are used for its intended purpose, that is, use by God for its purpose, that is also the time that we are being sanctified. Every time we do the will of God, is the time we are sanctified.

Revelation is key to the transformation of the soul. Revelation is not merely the acquisition of knowledge or truth; it is becoming one with the truth that God places in the believer’s spirit. Every time you receive a revelation, is also the time that the Spirit of God becomes one with you through the truth that you received. It is God’s Spirit becoming part of your spirit. Revelation is the part of God that becomes you. Once revelation is received, it must be acted upon by our will for it to produce fruit. Thus, by this process, a revelation becomes Faith. Faith is living the revelation of God that was given to us. According to Hebrews 11:1, faith is the evidence of things not seen. In other words, faith is the process of making the spiritual things that are not seen, being seen in this physical world through us. Faith can only be a dead faith if we don’t work for it to be seen in the physical world as James 2:2 explains, underscoring the importance of applying and practicing the revelations we receive from God.

2 Cor. 10:4-5 “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 describes the need to take every thought captive and bring it into obedience to Christ. This means that our standard should be the Word of God (Christ). If we have any thoughts that is against the Word of God, we should hold them captive and obey the Word. As believers, we are called to reject these old thoughts and replace them with the truths revealed in God’s Word. The change in our minds is the start of the transformation of our soul. This is the most significant part of our soul’s transformation, as the mind, will, and emotions will begin to reflect the influence of the Spirit of God.

Gal. 5:16 “This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

One of the most common mistakes in our Christian walk is focusing too much on changing our behaviors through our own efforts rather than changing it through the Word that we receive. This action is wrestling in the flesh which we can never win because only the Spirit (Word) can defeat the flesh. Galatians 5:16 urges believers to “walk in the Spirit” rather than striving in the flesh. Trying to defeat sinful habits through human effort alone is fighting a losing battle, for the flesh cannot overcome itself. Victory over sin and the flesh can only be achieved by walking in the Spirit.

Churches that promote changing behavior through fleshly efforts can lead to legalism and harsh treatment of those who fall short. Disfellowshipping or ostracizing believers who sin ignore the heart of the gospel—righteousness comes from Christ alone, not through us. 1 Corinthians 1:30 reminds us that Jesus is our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Therefore, the focus should not be on what we can do about our behaviors but on allowing the Spirit to work in and through us.

The key to overcoming sin is not condemnation or harsh rebuke, but being a light that reflects the love and truth of Christ. Matthew 5:14-16 calls believers “the light of the world.” Darkness cannot be dispelled by focusing on it—it is driven only by the presence of light. When we always point out the wrongs of others, that is only focusing on darkness. Darkness cannot be defeated by pointing it out. We need to be a light. When we become examples to others living in the light of Christ, it has transformative power in their lives, showing others the way to freedom and grace.

1 John 3:20 “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.”

The human heart, or soul, is the battleground where the spirit and flesh wage war. Ezekiel 36:26 speaks of God giving believers a new heart—a heart that is soft, responsive, and inclined to follow Him. While Jeremiah 17:9 warns that the heart is deceitful above all things, 1 John 3:20 reassures us that God is greater than our hearts. He is able to transform even the hardest heart into a vessel that reflects His love and glory. So even if you think you have the hardest heart (soul) to be transformed, remember that God is greater than our heart.

In conclusion, the soul is the battlefield where the flesh and the spirit fight for control. As believers, we are called to walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh (Galatians 5:16). This transformation begins with the renewing of the mind, and it continues as we yield our will and emotions to the Spirit’s guidance.

Victory over the flesh is not achieved by human means, but by walking in the Spirit. As we grow in faith and understanding, our soul will increasingly reflect the image of Christ. Through this transformation, we will experience the fullness of life that God desires for us—a life that glorifies Him and draws others to His saving grace.