“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in His ownimage; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:26-27
Yesterday, I wrote that we are triune beings and we are. But, due to an omission, I did not correctly define our triune nature. I said we are soul, mind and body and that is true, but that is not the exact picture of our nature. First and foremost, in the image and likeness of God, we are spirit beings. We live in a body, which is now temporary, and we have a soul which encompasses our mind and our emotions, and feelings.
This is why when we are born again we become new spirit beings. Our minds which remain the same must be renewed to conform to our new spirit. And we have the same body which we also must trained to conform to the new nature of our spirit.
Our spirit is eternal and as spirit being we will live on after the body perishes. We will have a new body when Jesus returns and we will have a completely transformed soul (mind) by the power of the Holy Spirit working in us. And our ultimate transformation will take place instantaneously.
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-57
The more we are lead by our new spirit the less we will be driven by the old nature that is in our minds and imprinted in our flesh. Our spirits and our flesh meet at the juncture of our minds and that is where one competes for mastery over the other. As beings fallen from the grace of God that was our life in Adam, we are unlike God in our triune nature in two important factors.
The Trinity of God perfectly agrees with one another. But, our reborn Spirit is in conflict with our old flesh, and our flesh and mind are the product of sin. We (as spirit) are in conflict with our bodies (flesh) and our un-renewed minds until our reborn spirit rules over our flesh and our minds.
As we begin this New Year we have a clean slate before us. What will be written on that slate will be determined by which person of our trinity takes control, The Spirit, the Soul or the Body.
We are told in Philippians 2:5 to let the same mind be in us that was in Christ Jesus, because we have the mind of Christ, according to 1 Corinthians 2:16.
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.” Philippians 2:5-7
“For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:16
And then there is the admonition to renew our minds.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2
And finally the body, making it ready for the race that is set before us must be retrained.
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. Hebrews 12:1-3
The work of the Holy Spirit is to lead us into all truth, to intercede for us with groanings that cannot be understood, to reveal to us the Word of God, to convince and convict us of sin and righteousness, and to comfort and encourage us along the way. The work of our reborn spirit is to prompt in us the will of God and to speak to our bodies and our minds the truth of God’s Word as the Holy Spirit has revealed it in our hearts.
“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:16-18
So our bodies and our minds must be under submission to our sprit as our spirit must be under submission to the Holy Spirit, Who is one in agreement with God our Father and our Savior Jesus Christ, the Son.
In this way we become one with the Father and the Son by the agency of the Holy Spirit.
And the key to all of this is giving diligent attention to the Word of God, to read it, to hear it, to believe it, act on it and to be obedient to Jesus Christ our Lord.
Consider these things and let us make them a focus of our daily prayers and actions throughout the year.
Let the Word of God dwell I you richly… Colossians 3:16
I Will bless the Lord at all times His praise shall continually be in my mouth… Psalm 34:1
Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against Thee… Psalm 119:11
The Word if neigh thee, even in your heart and in your mouth… Romans 10:8
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks… Luke 6:45
Attend to my words, incline thine ear unto my sayings, let them not depart from thy mouth, keep them in the midst of thine heart for they are life to those who find them and health to all their flesh… Proverbs 4;20-22
Death and life are in the power of the tongue… Proverbs 18:21
Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path… Psalm 119:105
When the Spirit of the Lord is in control then we are truly free. [2 Corinthians 3:17]