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Who are We? 


“The Biblical Doctrine of the Nature of Humans”

Introduction

My everlasting journey to know God has intensified in the last couple of years, but I have also started a journey to know myself. I have indeed discovered more about myself in the last couple of years than I have done in the many years before that. 

As a Creation Therapy Counselor and Temperament Analyst, I have found amazing insight that has helped me personally, as a husband, and as a father. That journey continues today as I submit to you who we are as humans according to the main source… the Word of God. I Thessalonians 5:23 tells us, 

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (NIV)

The Bible tells us that we are spirit, soul, and body. Each of these components has specific characteristics. In this article, we will take a deeper look at each component.

The Characteristics of the Body (Flesh)

  1. The flesh is our faithful enemy from within:

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. Galatians 5:16-17 (ESV)

We are indeed our worst enemy. We must listen to what we tell ourselves and always argue against it. If what we hear comes from the flesh, it must be rejected immediately. To listen and obey the flesh will always lead to death. Romans 8:6 tells us,

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. (NIV)

2. The desires of the Flesh are contrary to God:

For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. Galatians 5:17 (NIV)

As you can see, the flesh and the Spirit of God have two different agendas. This verse ends by saying, “…to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” Your soul makes decisions; the flesh negatively affects your decision. However, First Peter 2:11 tells us,

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. (ESV)

The flesh comes against the Spirit of God in us, but also against our souls. Another important point to make here is that the world is not designed to please God; the world is designed to please the flesh:

For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 1 John 2:16 (NIV)

3. It is the flesh that makes the Law ineffective in redeeming us:

For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:3-8 (NIV)

Jesus died for us and became our sacrifice in the flesh because there was no other way for us to overcome the flesh. The flesh was, is, and will forever be powerless. Again, you can see how the flesh affects the soul differently; this time, it is not in our decision to abstain from its passions but in our mindset or the way we think. So, our minds are either set on the things of the world or on the things of God. If we walk in the flesh, we can’t please God because our lifestyle is one of pleasing the world. 

4. The flesh must be disciplined:

But I discipline my body and keep it under control,  lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. I Corinthians 9:27 (ESV)

Our contradictions and hypocrisy are found in the flesh.

The Characteristics of the Souls

  1. The soul is where our thoughts, emotions, and decision-making take place:

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. Genesis 2:7 (KJV)

Souls is the Hebrew word nep̱eš: meaning “The inner being with its thoughts and emotions.”[1] In the ABC of emotions[2], we see A: The Event and B: Our thoughts concerning the event. C: Our emotions are caused by our thoughts; ultimately, our decisions are based on those we accept. Our souls are central to the way we think, the way we feel, and the decisions we make every day. 

2. Our praise flows out of our souls:

Praise the Lord, my soul;
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Psalm 103:1 (NIV)

It is important to engage our minds and emotions when we praise God. As God’s people, we should be passionate about him. That passion flows from the soul. 

3. The soul is being restored by God:

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:3 (KJV)

The word Restoreth in the Hebrew word šûḇ: means “To turn, to return, to go back, to do again, to change, to withdraw, to bring back, to reestablish, to be returned, to bring back, to take, to restore, to recompense, to answer, to hinder. The verb is used over one thousand times and has various shades of meaning in its four stems. In the simple stem, it is used to describe divine and human reactions, attitudes, and feelings.”[3] If you are in God… you should be changing. The way you think must be changing. Your emotions must be changing, and your decision-making must be changing.

The Characteristics of the Spirit

  1. The spirit in us is what gives life to our bodies:

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. Genesis 2:7 (KJV)

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. Matthew 27:50 (NIV)

2. The spirit is the only part of us that is born again:

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. John 3:3-6

This is important to remember, especially when we screw up. Some try to walk around as if they are perfect; however, nobody is. We all struggle with the flesh, and we all struggle with the soul. As established before, the souls should be changing for the better, but the flesh will never change. 

3. A born-again spirit is willing to follow God:

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:40-41 (NIV)

4. Worship and Idolatry flows out of the spirit:

 Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem.22 You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. 23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:21-24 (NLT)

5. Humility and brokenness flow out of our spirit: 

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psalm 51:17

  • Boldness and passion flow out of our spirit:   

And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.

25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. Acts 18:24-25 (KJV)

6. True ministry flows out of the spirit.

    God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son… Romans 1:9 (NIV)

    7. Bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, and malice flow out of our spirit, and it grieves the Holy Spirit within us: 

    And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:30-32 (NIV)

    He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. Proverbs 16:32 (KJV)

    Conclusion

    We have established that humans are complex. There is nothing simple about us. We are spirit, soul, and body, and every part of us has distinct characteristics. To achieve wellness, we must be healthy in every part of our being. 

    [1] Warren Baker and Eugene E. Carpenter, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: Old Testament(Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2003), 746.

    [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AYAJcOcXFE

    [3] Warren Baker and Eugene E. Carpenter, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: Old Testament(Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2003), 1108.

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