Post on 03-Apr-2018
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THESPIRITUALMANVOLUME1
byWatchmanNee
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Explanatory Notes, and Preface 1, and Preface 2
ExplanatoryNotes
TheSpiritualManisatranslationoftheonlybookofanysubstantialsizewhichbrother
WatchmanNeehimselfeverwrote.Atthetimeofwritingithefeltthisworkmightbehislastcontributiontothechurch,althoughsincethenGodhasgraciouslyoverruled.Longafterthebook'sinitialpublicationinChineseourbrotheroncewasheardtoexpressthe
thoughtthatitshouldnotbereprintedbecause,itbeingsucha"perfect"treatmentofitssubject,hewasfearfullestthebookbecometoitsreadersmerelyamanualofprinciples
andnotaguidetoexperienceaswell.Butinviewoftheurgentneedamongthechildren
ofGodtodayforhelponspirituallifeandwarfare,andknowingourbrotherasonewhoisalwaysopentoGod'swayandmostdesiroustoserveHispeoplewithallthatGodhas
givenhim,weconcludethathewoulddoubtlesspermitittobecirculatedinEnglish.
Hencethistranslation.
Translationsused.TheRevisedStandardVersion(RSV)oftheBiblehasbeenusedthroughoutthetextunlessotherwiseindicated.Additionaltranslationswhereemployedaredenotedbythefollowingabbrevations:
AmplifiedAmplifiedOldTestament
ASVAmericanStandardVersion(1901)
AVAuthorizedVersion(KingJames)
DarbyJ.N.Darby,TheHolyScriptures.aNewTranslation
Young'sYoung'sLiteralTranslation
SoulicalandSoulish.Theadjectives"soulical"and"soulish"havebeenusedtoconvey
distinctlydifferentmeanings."Soulical"ashereinemployedpertainstothoseproper,appropriate,legitimate,ornaturalqualities,functions,orexpressionsofman'ssoul
whichtheCreatorintendedfromtheverybeginningforthesouluniquelytopossessand
manifest."Soulish"appearsinthesepagestodescribethatmanintotowhoissogovernedbythesoulicalpartofhisbeingthathiswholelifetakesonthecharacterand
expressionofthesoul.
Preface1ToTheLordWhomIserveIoffermyheartfeltthanks,forHehasgivenmetheprivilegeofwritingthisbook.Ihadalwayshopedanothermorecapablewouldundertakethis
work,yetitpleasestheLordtocallmetoit.IfthechoicewerelefttomeIshouldbethelastofalltowrite;forIhavetheleastdesiretodosuchabook.Myhesitationliesnotin
withdrawalfromdutybutratherintherealizationthatsuchabooktouchingontheway
ofspirituallifeandthestratagemofspiritualwarfareissurelybeyondthepossibilityofonewhoseexperienceoftheLordhasbeenlessthantenyearslong.TheBibledoes
permitabelievertorelatehisexperience;theHolySpiritevenleadsonetodoso;how
muchbetterthoughifsuchexperiencesas"caughtupintothethirdheaven"be
mentionedafter"fourteenyears."NowIdonothavea"thirdheaven"experience,neitherhaveIreceivedgreatrevelation,butIhavelearnedthroughHisgracetofollow
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theLordinthesmallthingsoftheday.Inthiswork,therefore,myattemptisbutto
imparttothechildrenofGodthatwhichIhavereceivedfromtheLordintheseyears.
ItwasaboutfouryearsagothatIfeltcalledtowritesuchabook.AtthattimeIwas
restingfromphysicalweaknessinasmallbutbytheriver,prayingandreadingthe
Word.IfelttheurgentneedforabookbasedontheWordandonexperiencewhichwouldgiveGod'schildrenaclearunderstandingofspirituallifeinorderthattheHoly
Spiritmightuseitinleadingthesaintsonwardandindeliveringthemfromgropingin
darkness.ItwasthenthatIknewIwascommissionedbytheLordtoundertakethistask.Ibegantocomposethechapterswhichdiscussthedifferentiationofspirit,souland
body,achapteronthebody,andalsothefirstpartofthechapterdealingwithsoul-life.ButIsoondiscontinuedwriting.Ihadmanyotherclaimsuponmytimebesidesthisone.
Thatwasnotthemaindeterrent,however,forIcouldstillfindopportunitytowrite.Ilay
downmypenchieflybecauseuptothattimemanytruthswereyettobewrittenwhichhadnotbeenfullyproveninmyexperience.ThislackIknewwouldlessenthevalueas
wellasthepowerofthebook.IwouldprefertolearnmorebeforetheLordandprove
Histruthsthroughexperience.WhatIwrotewouldthenbespiritualrealitiesinsteadofmerelyspiritualtheories.Thustheworkwassuspendedforthreeyears.
IcansaythatduringthesethreeyearsIhadthebookdailyinmyheart.Althoughsomemightconsiderthepublishingofthisworklongoverdue,Icouldclearlyseethehandof
theLord.Withinthesefewyearsthetruthscontainedinthisbook,especiallythosein
thelastvolume,haveliberatedmanyfromthepowerofdarkness,demonstratingthatwehadtouchedspiritualreality.BythespecialgraceoftheLordIwasenabledto
understandmoreofthepurposeofGod'sredemptionindividingthenewandtheoldcreations.IpraisetheLordforthat.TheLordalsogavemeopportunitiestomeetmany
ofhischoicestonesduringmyvarioustravels.Thisincreasedmyobservation,knowledgeandexperience.InmycontactswithpeopletheLordshowedmenotonlywhatisgenuinelylackingamongHischildrenbutwhatistherevealedremedyinHis
Wordaswell.Letmethereforetellmyreadersthatthisisamanualonspirituallife,
everypointofwhichcanbeexperimentallyproven.
Duetomyspecialexperienceinthephysicalbodyduringthesefewyears,ithasbeen
givenmetoknowmoreoftherealityofeternityand,likewise,thegreatdebtIowethechurchofGod.ThusIhopedIwouldbeabletofinishthisbookwithinashortperiod.
ThankstoGodtheFatherandtosomeofmyfriendsintheLord,Iwasprovidedwitha
quietplaceforrestingandwriting.WithinafewmonthsIhadfinishedPartsIthrough
IV.AlthoughIhavenotyetbeguntheotherparts,IamsureGodtheFatherwillsupplythenecessarygraceattheneededtime.
Nowthatthisvolumeisshortlytobepublishedandtheothervolumeswillsoonfollow,
letmespeakfrankly:learningthetruthsinthisbookwasnoteasy;writingthemdown
wasevenharder.ImaysaythatfortwomonthsIliveddailyinthejawsofSatan.Whatbattling!WhatwithstandinglAllmypowersofspirit,soulandbodyweresummonedto
contendwithhell.Suchbattlesarenowtemporarilysuspended,butmorepartsmustbe
written.YouwhoareMosesonthehill,pleasedonotforgetJoshuaintheplain.Iknowtheenemyhatesthisworkdeeply.Hewilltryeverymeanstopreventitfromreaching
people'shandsandtohinderthemfromreadingit.Oh,thatyouwouldnotallowthe
enemytosucceedhere.
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Thisbook,whichwillcontainthreevolumes,isnotwritteninsermonicorexpositive
form.Differencesoccurinthelengthoftreatmentofvarioussubjectsandthisthereadersshouldnotice.Althoughallvolumesdealwithspirituallifeandwarfare,some
sectionsmaylaymorestressonspirituallifewhileothersmaylaymoreonspiritual
warfare.Thebookasawholeispreparedtoserveasaguide;henceitsemphasisis
principallyamatterofhowtowalkinthiswayratherthanthatofpersuadingpeopleinitiallytotakethiswalk.Itiswrittennotsomuchtourgeindividualstoseekthe
spiritualwayastohelpthosewhoareseekingtoknowtheway.MayallwhoseheartsareouttotheLordfindhelpinitspages.
Iamdeeplyawarethatthespirituallifeofthereadersofthisbookmayvarygreatly.Ifyoushouldthereforecometosomepointsdifficulttounderstand,pleaseneitherreject
themnortrytofathomthemmentally.Suchtruthsshouldbereservedformorematured
life.Uponre-readingthatdifficultpartlater(sayaftertwoweeksorawholemonth),youmayperhapsgraspitbetter.Nevertheless,thisbookdealswhollywithspirituallifeasan
experience.Innootherwaycanitbeunderstood.Whatappearstobetastelessinthe
beginningmaycometobemostpreciouslater.Youwillunderstandwhenyoureachthatstage.Butisitnecessarytowaituntilreachingthatstagebeforeunderstanding?Ifsuch
werethecase,whatwillbetheuseofthisbook!Agreatmysterysurroundsthespiritualexperienceofabeliever.TheLordalwaysgivesaforetasteoftheoutlineofadeeperlife
beforeHeleadshimintothefullexperienceofit.Manybelieversmistaketheirforetaste
forthefullness,notrealizingthattheLordisjustbeginningtoleadthemin.Theteachinginthisbookwillmeettheneedofthosewhohavetastedbutnotyetfullydrunk.
Onethingwemustguardagainst:weshouldneverusetheknowledgeweacquirefromthisbookasanaidinanalyzingourselves.IfinGod'slightweseelight,weshallknow
ourselveswithoutlosingourfreedomintheLord.Butifalldaylongweanalyzeourselves,dissectingourthoughtsandfeelings,itwillhinderusfromlosingourselvesinChrist.UnlessabelieverisdeeplytaughtbytheLordhewillnotbeabletoknowhimself.
Introspectionandself-consciousnessareharmfultospirituallife.
ItwouldbewelltoreflectuponGod'sredemptivedesign.God'spurposeisthatthroughthenewlifegivenusatthetimeofregenerationHemightbeabletodeliverusfrom(1)
sin,(2)thenatural,and(3)thesupernatural,thatis,thesatanicforceofevilintheunseenrealm.Thesethreestepsofdeliverancearenecessary;nonecanbeomitted.Ifa
ChristianlimitsGod'sredemptiveworkbybeingcontentwithmerelyovercomingsin,he
fallsfarshortofthepurposeofGod.Thenaturallife(thegoodself)mustbeovercome,
andsotoomustthesupernaturalenemy.Itcertainlyiswelltoovercomesin,buttheworkisnotcompleteifthepettyselfandthesupernaturalevilareleftunconquered.Thecrosscanaffordussuchvictory.IhopethroughGod'sgraceIcanemphasizethesepoints
aswegoalong.
AsidefromthelastPartoftheconcludingvolumewhichwilldiscussthebody,thisbookmaybeconsideredBiblicalpsychology.WebaseeverythingontheBibleandproveallby
spiritualexperience.Theresultofourfindings,boththroughstudyingtheWordand
throughexperience,tellsusthatforeveryspiritualexperience(forexample,thenewbirth)thereisaspecialchangeinourinwardman.WeconcludethattheBibledivides
manintothreepartsspirit,soulandbody.Weshallseefurtherhowdifferentarethe
functionsandtherealmsofthesethreeparts,particularlythoseofspiritandsoul.Inthisconnection,afewwordsneedtobesaidconcerningPartOneofthisfirstvolume.The
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differentiationofspiritandsoulaswellasthedifferenceintheirfunctionsarenecessary
knowledgetothosewhoseektogrowinspirituallife.Onlyafterknowingwhatisthespiritandwhatisspiritualcanwewalkaccordingtothespirit.Becauseofthegreatlack
ofsuchteachings,Ihaveattemptedtoexplainindetail.Tobelieverswithsome
backgroundthisfirstPartwillnotpresentanydifficultytotheirunderstanding;but
thosewhoareunfamiliarwithsuchastudyneedonlyremembertheconclusionsandmaythenproceedtothesecondPart.PartOne,consequently,doesnotdealspecifically
withspirituallife;itmerelysuppliesuswithsomenecessaryknowledgebasictospirituallife.ThisPartmaybebetterunderstoodifitisrereadaftertheentirebookis
firstfinished.
Iamnotthefirsttoadvocatetheteachingofthedividingofspiritandsoul.Andrew
Murrayoncesaidthatwhatthechurchandindividualshavetodreadistheinordinate
activityofthesoulwithitspowerofmindandwill.F.B.Meyerdeclaredthathadhenotknownaboutthedividingofspirit,andsoul,hecouldnothaveimaginedwhathis
spirituallifewouldhavebeen.Manyothers,suchasOttoStockmayer,JessiePenn-Lewis,
EvanRoberts,MadameGuyon,havegiventhesametestimony.IhaveusedtheirwritingsfreelysinceweallhavereceivedthesamecommissionfromtheLord;thereforeIhave
decidedtoforegonotatingtheirmanyreferences.*
Thisbookiswrittennotonlyforthebelieversassuch,butalsotohelpthosewhoare
youngerintheLord'sservicethanI.Wewhoareresponsibleforthespirituallifeof
othersoughttoknowfromwhatandintowhatweleadthemfromwhencetowhere.Ifwehelppeople,negatively,nottosinand,positively,tobezealous;willthatbeallthe
Lordwantsustodo?Oristhereperhapssomethingdeeper?IpersonallyfeeltheBiblehasgivenamostdefinitejudgment.God'spurposeisthatHischildrenaretobe
deliveredwhollyfromtheoldcreationandaretoenterfullyintothenewcreation.Nomatterhowtheoldcreationmayappeartoman,itisutterlycondemnedbyGod.Ifweworkersknowwhatoughttobedestroyedandwhatoughttobebuilt,thenwearenot
theblindleadingtheblind.
NewbirthreceivingGod'sownlifeisthestartingpointofallspirituallife.Howuselessitisiftheendresultofallourexhortation,persuasion,argument,explanation
andstudyisbuttoinducesomeunderstandinginthemind,somedeterminationinthewill,somefeelingintheemotion.IthasnotassistedpeopletoreceiveGod'slifeinto
theirspirit.Butifwewhoareresponsibleforpreachingthegospeltrulyperceivethat
unlesspeoplereceiveGod'slifeintothedepthsoftheirbeingswehavenotdone
anythingprofitable,thenwhatadrasticreformationwilltherebeinourwork!Indeed,suchknowledgewillbringustotherealizationthatmanywhodoprofesstobelieveintheLordJesushaveneveractuallydoneso.Tears,penitence,reform,zealandlabor:
thesearenotthehallmarksofaChristian.Happyareweifweknowthatour
responsibilityistobringmantoreceiveGod'suncreatedlife.
AsIrecallhowtheenemyhastriedtobindermefromlearningthetruthswritteninthe
lastvolume,Icannotbutbeapprehensivethatsome,thoughpossessingthebook,willbe
hinderedbySatanfromreadingit;oriftheydoreadit,willbemadetosoonforgetit.Thereforeletmewarnmyreaders:youshouldaskGodtokeepSatanfrompreventing
yourreadingit.Prayasyouread;turnwhatyoureadintoprayer.PraythatGodwill
coveryouwiththehelmetofsalvationlestyouforgetwhatyoureadorsimplyfillyourmindwithinnumerabletheories.
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(*Citationswillbeaddedwherethedirectquotationscanbefound.Translator.)
Afewwordstothosewhoalreadypossessthetruthssetforthinthefollowingpages.IfGodhasgraciouslyliberatedyoufromthefleshandthepowerofdarkness,you,inturn,
oughttobringthesetruthstoothers.Soafteryouhavedigestedthebookthoroughly
andthetruthshavebecomeyourown,willyougatherafewsaintstogetherandteachthemthetruths.Ifitistoomuchtousetheentirebook,thenoneortwopartswouldbe
profitable.Thehopeisthatthetruthshereinwillnotbeleftunnoticed.Evenlendingthe
booktootherstoreadwouldbeaprofitablething.
NowthatthissmalltreatiseisintheLord'shand,ifHeispleasedwithit,mayHeblessit
towardspiritualgrowthandspiritualvictoryinmeaswellasinmanyofmybrothersandsisters.MaythewillofGodbedone.MayHisenemybedefeated.MayourLordJesus
soonreturntoreign.Amen.
ShanghaiWatchmanNeeJune4,1927
Preface2
MOSTHAPPYAMITODAYforIhavecompletedthelastPartofthebook.IrecallwhenI
wrotetheearlierprefaceIhadcompletedbutthefirstfourparts.Withtheselastsixnow
doneIfindIhavemuchyettosharewithmyreaders.Hencethissecondpreface.
ManymonthshavepassedsinceIcommencedwritingthisfinalportionofthebook.Ican
truthfullysaythatduringthesemonthstheburdenofthisworkhasbeenuponmedaily.
ItisnaturalfortheenemytohatethespreadingofGod'struth.AsaconsequenceIhavebeenattackedandassaultedincessantly.ThanksbeuntoGod,Hisgracehashitherto
sustainedme.OftenIthoughtitwouldbeimpossibletocontinuewritingbecausethepressureuponmyspiritwastooheavyandthestaminaofmybodytooweak;yea,Ieven
despairedoflifeitself.AsoftenasIdespaired,however,justasoftenwasIstrengthened
bytheGodwhomIserve,accordingtoHispromiseandthroughtheprayersofmany.Todaythetaskisfinishedandtheburdenisdischarged.WhatcomfortInowexperience!
TodayIreverentlyofferthisbooktoourGod.SinceHehasperformedthatwhichHebegan,myprayerbeforeHimisthatHemayblessthesepagestofulfillitsGod-given
missioninHischurch.IamaskingGodtoblesseveryreaderthathemayfindthe
straightpathandlearntofollowtheLordperfectly.Myspirittogetherwithmyprayerhenceforthfollowstheoutgoingofthiswork.MayGoduseitaccordingtoHismost
excellentwill.
Brethren,itisconsideredpoliticforawriternottoshowtoomuchenthusiasmforhisownwork,butIshallnowproceedtodisregardthishumanconvention.Idothisnot
becauseIwrotethebookbutbecauseofthedepositoftruthinthebook.HaditbeenwrittenbyanotherIthinkIwouldbefreertodrawpeople'sattentiontoit.Imust
thereforebegyourpardonforbeingbesidemyself.Iknowtheimportanceofthetruths
hereincontainedand,accordingtothebestofmyknowledgeofGod'swill,Ifeeltheywillmeettheurgentneedofthisage.NomatterhowmistakenImaybe,ofonethingI
amcertain:Ididnothavetheslightestintentionofundertakingthistask:Iwroteonly
becauseIwascommissionedbytheLordsotodo.Thetruthsinthesepagesarenot
mine;theyweregivenmebyGod.EvenwhenIwaswritingHeblessedmewithmanynewblessings.
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Idesiremyreaderstounderstandthoroughlythatthisworkisinnowaytobe
consideredatreatiseonthetheoryofspirituallifeandwarfare.ImyselfcantestifythatIhavelearnedthesetruthsthroughmuchsuffering,trialandfailure.Itcanalmostbesaid
thateveryoneoftheseteachingshasbeenbrandedwithfire.Andthesewordsarenot
usedlightly;theycomefromthedepthoftheheart.Godknowsfromwhencethese
truthsdocome.
WhencomposingthevolumesIdidnotattempttogroupsimilarandrelatedprinciples
together.Ihavesimplymentionedthemastheneedarose.Outofconsiderationfortheirextremeimportance,Imayhavetouchedupononetruthoranothermanytimes,hoping
thechildrenofGodwouldtherebybetterremember.Onlythroughrepetitionwillthetruthberetainedandonlybyreviewingwillitbelearned."Thereforethewordofthe
Lordwillbetothempreceptuponprecept,preceptuponprecept,lineuponline,line
uponline,herealittle,therealittle"(Is.28.13).
Irealizetherearemanyapparentinconsistenciesinthework,butthereadershould
rememberthattheyareindeedapparent,notactual.Becausethisbooktreatsofmattersinthespiritualrealm,thereareboundtobemanyapparenttheoreticalcontradictions.
Spiritualthingsdooftenseemtobecontradictory(2Cor.4.8,9).However,theseallfind
theirperfectharmonyinexperience.Hence,thoughthereareplaceswhichseemtodefyunderstanding,myrequestisthatyoutryyourbesttounderstand.Ifanyonedesiresto
misunderstand,hecansurelyreadintothesepagesthatwhichIhavenotintended.
Ideeplysensethatonlyoneclassofpeoplewillactuallyunderstandthisbook.Myoriginalpurposewastosupplytheneedofmanybelievers:obviouslyonlythosewho
haveneedwillbeabletoappreciatethebook.Suchoneswillfindhereaguidebook.Otherswilleitherlookuponthesetruthsasidealsorcriticizethemasinappropriate.
Accordingtothemeasureofhisneedshallbethebeliever'sunderstandingofwhatis
writtenhere.Unlessthereaderhaspersonalneedhewillnotfindanyproblemsolvedthroughthereadingofthesepages.Thisiswhatthereadermustguardagainst.
Thedeeperthetruththeeasierisittobecometheoretical.Apartfromtheworkingofthe
HolySpirit,nonecanarriveatdeepertruth.Thussomewilltreattheseprinciplesasasortofideal.Letusthereforebecarefullestweaccepttheteachingsinthebookwithour
mindanddeceiveourselvesintothinkingwehavepossessedthemalready.Thisismostdangerous,fordeceptionwhichcomesfromthefleshandtheevilspiritshallincrease
daybyday.
Thereaderalsoshouldbewatchfullesthemisusetheknowledgeheobtainsfromthesepagestocriticizeothers.Itisveryeasyforustosaythisisofthespiritandthatisofthe
flesh;butdowenotknowweourselvesarenoexception?Truthisgiventosetpeoplefree,nottofindfault.Incriticizingweproveourselvestobenotonebitlesssoulishor
carnalthanthecriticized.Thedangerismostserious;consequentlyweneedtoexercise
greatcaution.
InmyfirstprefaceImentionedonematterwhichdeservestoberepeatedand
elaborateduponhere.Itisoftheutmostimportancethatwenevertrytoanalyze
ourselves.Uponreadingsuchatreatiseasthis,wemayquiteunconsciouslybecome
over-activeinself-analysis.Inobservingtheconditionofourinwardlifewetendtoover-analyzeourthoughtsandfeelingsandthemovementsoftheinnerman.Thismay
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resultinmuchapparentprogress,yetactuallyitrenderstreatmentoftheself-lifethat
muchmoredifficult.Ifwepersistentlyturnwithinourselvesweshallloseourpeacecompletely,forweshallsoondiscoverthediscrepancywhichexistsbetweenour
expectationandouractualcondition.Weexpecttobefilledwithholinessbutweare
foundwantinginholiness.Thismakesusuncomfortable.Godneverasksustobeso
introspective.Todosoconstitutesoneofthemainreasonsforspiritualstagnation.OurrestliesinlookingtotheLord,nottoourselves.InthedegreethatwelookoffuntoHim
tothatdegreearewedeliveredfromself.WerestonthefinishedworkoftheLordJesusChrist,notonourownshiftingexperience.Truespirituallifedependsnotonprobing
ourfeelingsandthoughtsfromdawntoduskbuton"lookingoff"totheSavior!
Letnotanyreaderbemisledintothinkinghemustresistallsupernaturaloccurrences.
Myaimissimplytoimpressuponyouthenecessity.oftestingwhetherornotsomething
isofGod.ImostsincerelybelievemanysupernaturalexperiencescomefromGod;Ihavewitnessedagreatnumberofthem.However,Imustacknowledgethattodaymany
supernaturalphenomenaarefalseanddeceptive.Idonothavetheslightestintentionof
persuadinganytorefuseeverythingsupernatural.Imerelypointoutinthisbookthebasicdifferencesinprinciplebetweenthesetwotypesofmanifestation.Whenabeliever
isfacedwithanysupernaturalphenomenon,heoughttoexamineitcarefullyaccordingtotheprinciplesrevealedintheBiblebeforehedecidestoacceptortorejectit.
Astothematterofsoul,IhonestlyfeelmostChristiansswingfromoneextremetothe
other.Weontheonehandusuallyconsideremotionassoulish;consequentlythosewhoareeasilymovedorexcitedwenormallycategorizeassoulish.Ontheotherhandwe
forgetthatbeingrationaldoesnotatallconstituteoneasbeingspiritual.Thismisjudgmentofspiritualizingarationallifemustbeguardedagainstequallyasmuchas
againstthatofmistakingapredominantlyemotionallifeforspirituality.Proceedingonestepfurther,weshouldneverreducethefunctionofoursoultodeadlyinactivity.Formerlywemayneverhaveviewedoursoulishfeelingandexcitementwithanydegree
ofconcernandthuswewalkedaccordingly.Later,however,andrecognizingourformer
error,wenowsuppresstheseemotionsaltogether.Suchanattitudetousmayappeartobequitegood,butitwillnotmakeusawhitmorespiritual.Ifmyreadershould
misunderstandonthispoint,andnomatterhowminormaybethismisunderstanding,thenIknowhislifeisgoingtobecomevery"dead."Why?Becausehisspirit,withoutany
opportunitytoexpressitself,willbeimprisonedbyadeadenedemotion.Andbeyond
thisliesafurtherdanger;namely,thatinoverlysuppressinghisemotion,thebelieverwilldevelopeventuallyintoarational,notaspiritual,man;andthus,thoughinanother
form,hestillremainssoulish.Yettheexcitementofthesoul,ifitexpressesthespirit'sfeeling,isextremelyvaluable;andthethoughtofthesoul,ifitrevealsthespirit'smind,
canbemostinstructive.
IwouldliketosaysomethingabouttheconcludingPartofthebook.Consideringthefrailtyofmybody,Iwouldseemtobetheleastqualifiedtowriteonsuchamatter;
perhaps,though,thisveryfrailtyaffordsmeadeeperinsightsinceIsuffermore
weakness,sicknessandpainthanmostpeople.Countlesstimesmycouragehasseemedtofailbut,thankGod,Ihavebeenabletofinishwritingthisportion.Ihopethosewho
havehadsimilarexperiencesintheirearthlytentswillacceptwhatIhavewrittenasofferingsomelightoutofthedarknessthroughwhichIhavegone.Naturally
innumerablearethecontroversieswhichhaverevolvedarounddivinehealing.Since
thisisabookwhichdealsprimarilywithprinciples,Irefrainfromenteringinto
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argumentwithotherbelieversondetails.IhavesaidinthebookwhatIfeelledtosay.
WhatInowrequestofmyreaderisthatinthephenomenaofsicknesseshediscernanddistinguishastowhichcomefromGodandwhichfromself.
Iconfessthereismuchwhichisincompleteinthiswork;nevertheless,havingdonemy
best,Iofferthatbesttoyou.Knowingtheseriousnessofthemessageherein,IaskedGodwithfearandtremblingtoleadmethroughitall.WhatIhavesetdownIpresenttothe
conscienceofGod'schildrenforthemtoweighwhatissaid.
Irecognizethataworkwhichseekstouncoverthewilesoftheenemyshallcertainlyincurthehostilityofthepowerofdarknessandtheoppositionofmany.Ihavenot
writtenwiththethoughtofcourtingtheapprovalofmen.ThisoppositionIconsiderthereforeasofnoaccount.IalsorealizethatifGod'schildrenderivehelpfromreading
thisbooktheymaythinkmoreofmethanisproper.LetmespeakhonestlythatIambut
aman,theweakestofallmen.Theteachingsofthesepagesrevealtheexperiencesofmyweaknesses.
Thebookistodayinthereaders'hands.ThisiswhollyGod'sgrace.ShouldyouhavethecourageandperserverancetoreadthroughthefirstPartandcontinueonwiththe
others,perhapsGodwillblessyouwithHistruth.Ifyoualreadyhavefinishedreading
thewholework,mayIentreatyoutorereaditaftersometimehaselapsed.Beloved,letusturnourheartsonceagaintoourFather,castourselvesuponHisbosombyfaithand
drawfromHimHislife.LetusconfessanewthatwearepoorbutHeisrich,thatwehave
nothingbutHehaseverything.Exceptwearegivengracewearebutdefenselesssinners.MaywethankHimwithgratitudeinourhearts,fortheLordJesushasgivenus
grace.
HolyFather,whatYouhaveentrustedtomeisnowhereinthisbook.IfitseemsgoodtoYou,mayYoublessit.MayYouintheselastdayskeepYourchildrenfromcorrupted
fleshandwickedspirits!Father,mayYoubuildYourSon'sBody,destroyYourSon'senemy,andhastenthecomingofYourSon'sKingdom!FatherGod,IlooktoYou,Icast
myselfuponYou,andIdesireafterYou!
Shanghai,June25,1928WatchmanNee
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Volume 1: Chapter 1 - SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY
Theordinaryconceptoftheconstitutionofhumanbeingsisdualisticsoulandbody.
Accordingtothisconceptsoulistheinvisibleinnerspiritualpart,whilebodyisthe
visibleoutercorporalpart.Thoughthereissometruthtothis,itisneverthelessinaccurate.Suchanopinioncomesfromfallenman,notfromGod;apartfromGod's
revelation,noconceptisdependable.Thatthebodyisman'soutwardsheathisundoubtedlycorrect,buttheBibleneverconfusesspiritandsoulasthoughtheyarethe
same.Notonlyaretheydifferentinterms;theirverynaturesdifferfromeachother.TheWordofGoddoesnotdividemanintothetwopartsofsoulandbody.Ittreatsman,
rather,astripartitespirit,soulandbody.IThessalonians5.23reads:"MaytheGodof
peacehimselfsanctifyyouwholly;andmayyourspiritandsoulandbodybekeptsoundandblamelessatthecomingofourLordJesusChrist."Thisversepreciselyshowsthat
thewholemanisdividedintothreeparts.TheApostlePaulrefersheretothecomplete
sanctificationofbelievers,"sanctifyyouwholly."AccordingtotheApostle,howisa
personwhollysanctified?Byhisspiritandsoulandbodybeingkept.Fromthiswecaneasilyunderstandthatthewholepersoncomprisesthesethreeparts.Thisversealsomakesadistinctionbetweenspiritandsoul;otherwise,Paulwouldhavesaidsimply
"yoursoul."SinceGodhasdistinguishedthehumanspiritfromthehumansoul,we
concludethatmaniscomposedofnottwo,butthree,parts;spirit,soulandbody.
Isitamatterofanyconsequencetodividespiritandsoul?Itisanissueofsupreme
importanceforitaffectstremendouslythespirituallifeofabeliever.Howcanabelieverunderstandspirituallifeifhedoesnotknowwhatistheextentoftherealmofthespirit?
Withoutsuchunderstandinghowcanhegrowspiritually?Tofailtodistinguishbetween
spiritandsoulisfataltospiritualmaturity.Christiansoftenaccountwhatissoulical.asspiritual,andthustheyremaininasoulishstateandseeknotwhatisreallyspiritual.
HowcanweescapelossifweconfusewhatGodhasdivided?
Spiritualknowledgeisveryimportanttospirituallife.Letusadd,however,thatitisequallyas,ifnotmore,importantforabelievertobehumbleandwillingtoacceptthe
teachingoftheHolySpirit.Ifso,theHolySpiritwillgranthimtheexperienceofthedividingofspiritandsoul,althoughhemaynothavetoomuchknowledgeconcerning
thistruth.Ontheonehand,themostignorantbeliever,withouttheslightestideaofthe
divisionofspiritandsoul,mayyetexperiencesuchadividinginreallife.Ontheotherhand,themostinformedbeliever,completelyconversantwiththetruthconcerning
spiritandsoul,maynonethelesshavenoexperienceofit.Farbetteristhatpersonwhomayhaveboththeknowledgeandtheexperience.Themajority,however,lacksuchexperience.Consequently,itiswellinitiallytoleadthesetoknowthedifferentfunctions
ofspiritandsoulandthentoencouragethemtoseekwhatisspiritual.
OtherportionsoftheScripturesmakethissamedifferentiationbetweenspiritandsoul.
ForthewordofGodislivingandactive,sharperthananytwo-edgedsword,piercingto
thedivisionofsoulandspiritofjointsandmarrow,anddiscerningthethoughtsandintentionsoftheheart(Heb.4.12).Thewriterinthisversedividesman'snon-corporal
elementsintotwoparts,soulandspirit.Thecorporalpartismentionedhereasincludingthejointsandmarroworgansofmotionandsensation.Whenthepriestuses
theswordtocutandcompletelydissectthesacrifice,nothinginsidecanbehidden.Evenjointandmarrowareseparated.InlikemannertheLordJesususestheWordofGodon
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Hispeopletoseparatethoroughly,topierceeventothedivisionofthespiritual,the
soulical,andthephysical.Andfromthisitfollowsthatsincesoulandspiritcanbedivided,theymustbedifferentinnature.Itisthusevidentherethatmanisacomposite
ofthreeparts.
TheCreationOfManAndJehovahGodformedmanofdustfromtheground,andbreathedintohisnostrilsthe
breathoflife;andmanbecamealivingsoul(Gen.2.7ASV).WhenGodfirstcreatedmanHeformedhimofdustfromtheground,andthenbreathedthebreathoflifeintohis
nostrils.Assoonasthebreathoflife,whichbecameman'sspirit,cameintocontactwithman'sbody,thesoulwasproduced.Hencethesoulisthecombinationofman'sbodyand
spirit.TheScripturesthereforecallmanalivingsoul.Thebreathoflifebecameman's
spirit;thatis,theprincipleoflifewithinhim.TheLordJesustellsusitisthespiritthatgiveslife(John6.63).ThisbreathoflifecomesfromtheLordofCreation.However,we
mustnotconfuseman'sspiritwithGod'sHolySpirit.Thelatterdiffersfromourhumanspirit.Romans8.16demonstratestheirdifferencebydeclaringthatitistheSpirit
himselfbearingwitnesswithourspiritthatwearechildrenofGod.Theoriginalofthe
wordlifeinbreathoflifeischayandisintheplural.Thismayrefertothefactthatthein-breathingofGodproducedatwofoldlife,soulicalandspiritual.Whenthein-
breathingofGodenteredman'sbodyitbecamethespiritofman;butwhenthespirit
reactedwiththebodythesoulwasproduced.Thisexplainsthesourceofourspiritualandsoulicallives.Wemustrecognize,though,thatthisspiritisnotGod'sOwnlife,for
thebreathoftheAlmightygivesmelife(job33.4).ItisnottheentranceoftheuncreatedlifeofGodintoman,neitherisitthatlifeofGod,whichwereceiveatregeneration.What
wereceiveatnewbirthisGod'sOwnlifeastypifiedbythetreeoflife.Butourhuman
spirit,thoughpermanentlyexisting,isvoidofeternallife.
"Formedmanofdustfromtheground"referstoman'sbody;"breathedintohisnostrils
thebreathoflife"referstoman'sspiritasitcamefromGod;and"manbecamealivingsoul"referstoman'ssoulwhenthebodywasquickenedbythespiritandbroughtinto
beingalivingandself-consciousman.Acompletemanisatrinity,thecompositeof
spirit,soulandbody.AccordingtoGenesis2.7,manwasmadeupofonlytwoindependentelements,thecorporealandthespiritual;butwhenGodplacedthespirit
withinthecasingoftheearth,thesoulwasproduced.Thespiritofmantouchingthe
deadbodyproducedthesoul.Thebodyapartfromthespiritwasdead,butwiththespiritmanwasmadealive.Theorganthusanimatedwascalledthesoul.
Manbecamealivingsoulexpressesnotmerelythefactthatthecombinationofspiritandbodyproducedthesoul;italsosuggeststhatspiritandbodywerecompletely
mergedinthissoul.Inotherwords,soulandbodywerecombinedwiththespirit,and
spiritandbodyweremergedinthesoul.Adaminhisunfallenstateknewnothingoftheseceaselessstrivingsofspiritandfleshwhicharemattersofdailyexperiencetous.
Therewasaperfectblendingofhisthreenaturesintooneandthesoulastheuniting
mediumbecamethecauseofhisindividuality,ofhisexistenceasadistinctbeing.(Pember'sEarth'sEarliestAge)Manwasdesignatedalivingsoul,foritwastherethat
thespiritandbodymetandthroughwhichhisindividualitywasknown.Perhapswemayuseanimperfectillustration:dropsomedyeintoacupofwater.Thedyeandwater
willblendintoathirdsubstancecalledink.Inlikemannerthetwoindependentelementsofspiritandbodycombinetobecomelivingsoul.(Theanalogyfailsinthatthe
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soulproducedbythecombiningofspiritandbodybecomesanindependent,
indissolubleelementasmuchasthespiritandbody.)
Godtreatedman'ssoulassomethingunique.Astheangelswerecreatedasspirits,so
manwascreatedpredominantlyasalivingsoul.Mannotonlyhadabody,abodywith
thebreathoflife;hebecamealivingsoulaswell.ThuswefindlaterintheScripturesthatGodoftenreferredtomenassouls.Why?Becausewhatthemanisdependsonhow
hissoulis.Hissoulrepresentshimandexpresseshisindividuality.Itistheorganof
man'sfreewill,theorganinwhichspiritandbodyarecompletelymerged.Ifman'ssoulwillstoobeyGod,itwillallowthespirittoruleoverthemanasorderedbyGod.The
soul,ifitchooses,canalsosuppressthespiritandtakesomeotherdelightaslordoftheman.Thistrinityofspirit,soulandbodymaybepartiallyillustratedbyalightbulb.
Withinthebulb,whichcanrepresentthetotalman,thereareelectricity,lightandwire.
Thespiritisliketheelectricity,thesoulthelight,andbodythewire.Electricityisthecauseofthelightwhilelightistheeffectofelectricity.Wireisthematerialsubstancefor
carryingtheelectricityaswellasformanifestingthelight.Thecombinationofspiritand
bodyproducessoul,thatwhichisuniquetoman.Aselectricity,carriedbythewire,isexpressedinlight,sospiritactsuponthesoulandthesoul,inturn,expressesitself
throughthebody.
However,wemustrememberwellthatwhereasthesoulisthemeeting-pointofthe
elementsofourbeinginthispresentlife,thespiritwillbetherulingpowerinour
resurrectionstate.FortheBibletellsusthatitissownaphysicalbody,itisraisedaspiritualbody(1Cor.15.44).Yethereisavitalpoint:wewhohavebeenjoinedtothe
resurrectedLordcanevennowhaveourspiritruleoverthewholebeing.WearenotunitedtothefirstAdamwhowasmadealivingsoulbuttothelastAdamwhoisalife-
givingspirit(v.45).
RespectiveFunctionsOfSpirit,SoulAndBody
Itisthroughthecorporalbodythatmancomesintocontactwiththematerialworld.Hencewemaylabelthebodyasthatpartwhichgivesusworld-consciousness.Thesoul
comprisestheintellect,whichaidsusinthepresentstateofexistence,andtheemotions,
whichproceedfromthesenses.Sincethesoulbelongstoman'sownselfandrevealshispersonality,itistermedthepartofself-consciousness.Thespiritisthatpartbywhich
wecommunewithGodandbywhichaloneweareabletoapprehendandworshipHim.
BecauseittellsusofourrelationshipwithGod,thespiritiscalledtheelementofGod-consciousness.Goddwellsinthespirit,selfdwellsinthesoul,whilesensesdwellinthe
body.
Aswehavementionedalready,thesoulisthemeetingpointofspiritandbody,forthere
theyaremerged.Byhisspiritmanholdsintercoursewiththespiritualworldandwith
theSpiritofGod,bothreceivingandexpressingthepowerandlifeofthespiritualrealm.Throughhisbodymanisincontactwiththeoutsidesensuousworld,affectingitand
beingaffectedbyit.Thesoulstandsbetweenthesetwoworlds,yetbelongstoboth.Itis
linkedwiththespiritualworldthroughthespiritandwiththematerialworldthroughthebody.Italsopossessesthepoweroffreewill,henceisabletochoosefromamongits
environments.Thespiritcannotactdirectlyuponthebody.Itneedsamedium,andthatmediumisthesoulproducedbythetouchingofthespiritwiththebody.Thesoul
thereforestandsbetweenthespiritandthebody,bindingthesetwotogether.Thespirit
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cansubduethebodythroughthemediumofthesoul,sothatitwillobeyGod;likewise
thebodythroughthesoulcandrawthespiritintolovingtheworld.
OfthesethreeelementsthespiritisthenoblestforitjoinswithGod.
Thebodyisthelowestforitcontactswithmatter.Thesoullyingbetweenthemjoinsthetwotogetherandalsotakestheircharactertobeitsown.
Thesoulmakesitpossibleforthespiritandthebodytocommunicateandtocooperate.
Theworkofthesoulistokeepthesetwointheirproperordersothattheymaynotlose
theirrightrelationshipnamely,thatthelowest,thebody,maybesubjectedtothespirit,andthatthehighest,thespirit,maygovernthebodythroughthesoul.Man's
primefactorisdefinitelythesoul.ItlookstothespirittogivewhatthelatterhasreceivedfromtheHolySpiritinorderthatthesoul,afterithasbeenperfected,may
transmitwhatithasobtainedtothebody;thenthebodytoomayshareintheperfection
oftheHolySpiritandsobecomeaspiritualbody.
Thespiritisthenoblestpartofmanandoccupiestheinnermostareaofhisbeing.The
bodyisthelowestandtakestheoutermostplace.Betweenthesetwodwellsthesoul,servingastheirmedium.Thebodyistheoutershelterofthesoul,whilethesoulisthe
outersheathofthespirit.Thespirittransmitsitsthoughttothesoulandthesoul
exercisesthebodytoobeythespirit'sorder.Thisisthemeaningofthesoulasthemedium.Beforethefallofmanthespiritcontrolledthewholebeingthroughthesoul.
Thepowerofthesoulismostsubstantial,sincethespiritandthebodyaremergedthere
andmakeitthesiteofman'spersonalityandinfluence.Beforemancommittedsinthepowerofthesoulwascompletelyunderthedominionofthespirit.Itsstrengthwas
thereforethespirit'sstrength.Thespiritcannotitselfactuponthebody;itcanonlydosothroughthemediumofthesoul.ThiswecanseeinLuke1.46-47:"Mysoulmagnifies
theLord,andmyspirithasrejoicedinGodmySavior"(Darby).Herethechangeintense
showsthatthespiritfirstconceivedjoyinGod,andthen,communicatingwiththesoul,causedittogiveexpressiontothefeelingbymeansofthebodilyorgan.(Pember's
Earth'sEarliestAge)
Torepeat,thesoulisthesiteofpersonality.Thewill,intellectandemotionsofmanarethere.Asthespiritisusedtocommunicatewiththespiritualworldandthebodywith
thenaturalworld,sothesoulstandsbetweenandexercisesitspowertodiscernanddecidewhetherthespiritualorthenaturalworldshouldreign.Sometimestoothesoul
itselftakescontrolovermanthroughitsintellect,thuscreatinganideationalworld
whichreigns.Inorderforthespirittogovern,thesoulmustgiveitsconsent;otherwisethespiritishelplesstoregulatethesoulandthebody.Butthisdecisionisuptothesoul,
forthereinresidesthepersonalityoftheman.
Actuallythesoulisthepivotoftheentirebeing,becauseman'svolitionbelongstoit.Itis
onlywhenthesouliswillingtoassumeahumblepositionthatthespiritcanever
managethewholeman.Ifthesoulrebelsagainsttakingsuchapositionthespiritwillbepowerlesstorule.Thisexplainsthemeaningofthefreewillofman.Manisnotan
automatonthatturnsaccordingtoGod'swill.Rather,manhasfullsovereignpowerto
decideforhimself.HepossessestheorganofhisownvolitionandcanchooseeithertofollowGod'swillortoresistHimandfollowSatan'swillinstead.Goddesiresthatthe
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spirit,beingthenoblestpartofman,shouldcontrolthewholebeing.Yet,thewillthe
crucialpartofindividualitybelongstothesoul.Itisthewill,whichdetermineswhetherthespirit,thebody,orevenitselfistorule.Inviewofthefactthatthesoul
possessessuchpowerandistheorganofman'sindividuality,theBiblecallsmanaliving
soul.
TheHolyTempleAndMan
Doyounotknow,writestheApostlePaul,thatyouareGod'stempleandthatGod'sSpiritdwellsinyou?(1Cor.3.16)Hehasreceivedrevelationinlikeningmantothe
temple.AsGodformerlydweltinthetemple,sotheHolySpiritindwellsmantoday.Bycomparinghimtothetemplewecanseehowthetripartiteelementsofmanare
distinctlymanifested.
Weknowthetempleisdividedintothreeparts.Thefirstistheoutercourt,whichisseenbyallandvisitedbyall.Allexternalworshipisofferedhere.Goingfurtherinisthe
HolyPlace,intowhichonlythepriestscanenterandwheretheypresentoil,incenseandbreadtoGod.TheyarequiteneartoGodyetnotthenearest,fortheyarestilloutside
theveilandthereforeunabletostandbeforeHisverypresence.Goddwellsdeepest
within,intheHolyofHolies,wheredarknessisovershadowedbybrilliantlightandintowhichnomancanenter.Thoughthehighpriestdoesenterinonceannually,it
nonethelessindicatesthatbeforetheveilisrenttherecanbenomanintheHolyof
Holies.
ManisGod'stemplealso,andhetoohasthreeparts.Thebodyisliketheoutercourt,
occupyinganexternalpositionwithitslifevisibletoall.HeremanoughttoobeyeverycommandmentofGod.HereGod'sSonservesasasubstituteanddiesformankind.
Insideisman'ssoulwhichconstitutestheinnerlifeofmanandwhichembracesman'semotion,volitionandmind.SuchistheHolyPlaceofaregeneratedperson,forhislove,willandthoughtarefullyenlightenedthathemayserveGodevenasthepriestofold
did.Innermost,behindtheveil,liestheHolyofHoliesintowhichnohumanlighthaseverpenetratedandnonakedeyehaseverpierced.ItisthesecretplaceoftheMost
High,thedwellingplaceofGod.ItcannotbereachedbymanunlessGodiswillingto
rendtheveil.Itisman'sspirit.Thisspiritliesbeyondman'sself-consciousnessandabovehissensibility.HeremanunitesandcommuneswithGod.
NolightisprovidedfortheHolyofHoliesbecauseGoddwellsthere.Thereislightinthe
HolyPlacesuppliedbythelampstandofsevenbranches.Theoutercourtstandsunder
thebroaddaylight.Alltheseserveasimagesandshadowstoaregeneratedperson.HisspiritisliketheHolyofHoliesindweltbyGod,whereeverythingiscarriedonbyfaith,beyondthesight,senseorunderstandingofthebelievingone.Thesoulresemblesthe
HolyPlaceforitisamplyenlightenedwithmanyrationalthoughtsandprecepts,much
knowledgeandunderstandingconcerningthethingsintheideationalandmaterialworld.Thebodyiscomparabletotheoutercourt,clearlyvisibletoall.Thebody's
actionsmaybeseenbyeveryone.
Theorder,whichGodpresentstous,isunmistakable:yourspiritandsoulandbody(IThess.5.23).Itisnotsoulandspiritandbody,norisitbodyandsoulandspirit.The
spiritisthepre-eminentpart,henceitismentionedfirst;thebodyisthelowestand
thereforeislastmentioned;thesoulstandsbetween,soismentionedbetween.HavingnowseenGod'sorder,wecanappreciatethewisdomoftheBibleinlikeningmantoa
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temple.Wecanrecognizetheperfectharmony,whichexistsbetweenthetempleand
maninrespecttobothorderandvalue.
TempleservicemovesaccordingtotherevelationintheHolyofHolies.Allactivitiesin
theHolyPlaceandintheoutercourtareregulatedbythepresenceofGodintheHoliest
Place.Thisisthemostsacredspot,theplaceuponwhichthefourcornersofthetempleconvergeandrest.ItmayseemtousthatnothingisdoneintheHoliestbecauseitis
pitchdark.AllactivitiesareintheHolyPlace;eventhoseactivitiesoftheoutercourtare
controlledbythepriestsoftheHolyPlace.YetalltheactivitiesoftheHolyPlaceactuallyaredirectedbytherevelationintheutterquietnessandpeaceoftheHolyofHolies.
Itisnotdifficulttoperceivethespiritualapplication.Thesoul,theorganofourpersonality,iscomposedofmind,volitionandemotion.Itappearsasthoughthesoulis
masterofallactions,forthebodyfollowsitsdirection.Beforethefallofman,however,
thesoul,inspiteofitsmanyactivities,wasgovernedbythespirit.AndthisistheorderGodstillwants:firstthespirit,thenthesoul,andlastlythebody.
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Volume 1: Chapter 2 - Spirit And Soul
Itisimperativethatabelieverknowshehasaspirit,since,asweshallsoonlearn,every
communicationofGodwithmanoccursthere.Ifthebelieverdoesnotdiscernhisown
spiritheinvariablyisignorantofhowtocommunewithGodinthespirit.Heeasilysubstitutesthethoughtsoremotionsofthesoulfortheworksofthespirit.Thushe
confineshimselftotheouterrealm,unableevertoreachthespiritualrealm.
1Corinthians2.11speaksof"thespiritofthemanwhichisinhim."
1Corinthians5.4mentions"myspirit."Romans8.16says"ourspirit."
1Corinthians14.14uses"myspirit."
1Corinthians14.32tellsofthe"spiritsofprophets."
Proverbs25.28refersto"hisownspirit."Darby
Hebrews12.23records"thespiritsofjustmen."
Zechariah12.1statesthat"theLord...formedthespiritofmanwithinhim."
TheaboveScriptureversessufficientlyprovethatwehumanbeingsdopossessahumanspirit.ThisspiritisnotsynonymouswithoursoulnorisitthesameastheHolySpirit.
WeworshipGodinthisspirit.
AccordingtotheteachingoftheBibleandtheexperienceofbelievers,thehumanspirit
canbesaidtocomprisethreeparts;or,toputitanotherway,onecansayithasthreemainfunctions.Theseareconscience,intuitionandcommunion.
Theconscienceisthediscerningorgan,whichdistinguishesrightandwrong;not,
however,throughtheinfluenceofknowledgestoredinthemindbutratherbyaspontaneousdirectjudgment.Oftenreasoningwilljustifythings,whichourconscience
judges.Theworkoftheconscienceisindependentanddirect;itdoesnotbendtooutside
opinions.Ifmanshoulddowrongitwillraiseitsvoiceofaccusation.Intuitionisthesensingorganofthehumanspirit.Itissodiametricallydifferentfromphysicalsense
andsoulicalsensethatitiscalledintuition.Intuitioninvolvesadirectsensing
independentofanyoutsideinfluence.Thatknowledgewhichcomestouswithoutanyhelpfromthemind,emotionorvolitioncomesintuitively.Wereally"know"throughour
intuition;ourmindmerelyhelpsusto"Understand."TherevelationsofGodandallthemovementsoftheHolySpiritareknowntothebelieverthroughhisintuition.Abeliever
mustthereforeheedthesetwoelements:thevoiceofconscienceandtheteachingof
intuition.CommunionisworshipingGod.TheorgansofthesoulareincompetenttoworshipGod.Godisnotapprehendedbyourthoughts,feelingsorintentions,forHecan
onlybeknowndirectlyinourspirits.OurworshipofGodandGod'scommunications
withusaredirectlyinthespirit.Theytakeplacein"theinnerman,"notinthesouloroutwardman.
Wecanconcludethenthatthesethreeelementsofconscience,intuitionandcommunionaredeeplyinterrelatedandfunctioncoordinately.Therelationshipbetweenconscience
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andintuitionisthatconsciencejudgesaccordingtointuition;itcondemnsallconduct
whichdoesnotfollowthedirectionsgivenbyintuition.IntuitionisrelatedtocommunionorworshipinthatGodisknownbymanintuitivelyandrevealsHiswillto
manintheintuition.Nomeasureofexpectationordeductiongivesustheknowledgeof
God.
FromthefollowingthreegroupsofScriptureversesitcanreadilybeobservedthatour
spiritspossessthefunctionofconscience(wedonotsaythatthespiritisconscience),
thefunctionofintuition(orspiritualsense),andthefunctionof,communion(orworship).
A)TheFunctionofConscienceinMan'sSpirit
"TheLordyourGodhardenedhisspirit"Deut.2.30
"Savesthecrushedinspirit"Ps.34.18
"Putanewandrightspiritwithinme"Ps.51.10
"WhenJesushadthusspoken,hewastroubledinspirit"John13.21
"Hisspiritwasprovokedwithinhimashesawthatthecitywasfullof
idols"Acts17.16
"ItistheSpirithimselfbearingwitnesswithourspiritthatwearechildrenofGod"
Rom.8.16
"Iampresentinspirit,andasifpresent,Ihavealreadypronouncedjudgment"1Cor.5.3
"Ihadnorestinmyspirit"2Cor.2.13AV
"ForGoddidnotgiveusthespiritoftimidity"2Tim.1.7
B)TheFunctionofIntuitioninMan'sSpirit
"Thespiritindeediswilling"Matt.26.41
"Jesusperceivinginhisspirit"Mark2.8
"Hesigheddeeplyinhisspirit"Mark8.12
"Hewasdeeplymovedinspirit"John11.33
"Paulwaspressedinthespirit"Acts18.5AV
"Beingferventinspirit"Acts18.25
"IamgoingtoJerusalem,boundinthespirit"Acts20.22
"Whatpersonknowsaman'sthoughtsexceptthespiritofthemanwhichisinhim"1
Cor.2.11
"Theyrefreshedmyspiritaswellasyours"1Cor.16.18
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"Hisspiritwasrefreshedbyyouall"2Cor.7.13AV
C)TheFunctionofCommunioninMan'sSpirit
"MyspiritrejoicesinGodmySavior"Luke1.47
"ThetrueworshiperswillworshiptheFatherinspiritandtruth"John4.23
WhomIservewithmyspirit"Rom.1.9
"Weserve...inthenewlifeofthespirit"Rom.7.6
"YouhavereceivedthespiritofsonshipwhenwecryAbbaFather"Rom.8.15
"TheSpirithimselfbearingwitnesswithourspirit"Rom.8.16
"HewhoisunitedtotheLordbecomesonespiritwithhim"1Cor.6.17
"Iwillsingwiththespirit"1Cor.14.15
"Ifyoublesswiththespirit"1Cor.14.16
"Inthespirithecarriedmeaway"Rev.21.10
WecanknowbytheseScripturesthatourspiritpossessesatleastthesethreefunctions.Althoughunregeneratemendonotyethavelife,theyneverthelesspossessthese
functions(buttheirworshipisofevilspirits).Somepeoplemanifestmoreofthesefunctionswhileothersless.Thisdoesnothoweverimplythattheyarenotdeadinsins
andtransgressions.TheNewTestamentdoesnotconsiderthosewithasensitiveconscience,keenintuitionoraspiritualtendencyandinteresttobesavedindividuals.Suchpeopleonlyprovetousthatasidefromthemind,emotionandwillofoursoul,we
alsohaveaspirit.PriortoregenerationthespiritisseparatedfromGod'slife;only
afterwardsdoesthelifeofGodandoftheHolySpiritdwellinourspirits.TheythenhavebeenquickenedtobeinstrumentsoftheHolySpirit.
Ouraiminstudyingthesignificanceofthespiritistoenableustorealizethatweashumanbeingspossessanindependentspirit.Thisspiritisnotman'smind,hiswillorhis
emotion;onthecontrary,itincludesthefunctionsofconscience,intuitionand
communion.ItishereinthespiritthatGodregeneratesus,teachesus,andleadsusinto
Hisrest.Butsadtosay,duetolongyearsofbondagetothesoulmanyChristiansknowverylittleoftheirspirit.WeoughttotremblebeforeGod,askingHimtoteachusthrough
experiencewhatisspiritualandwhatissoulish.
Beforethebelieverisbornagainhisspiritbecomessosunkenandsurroundedbyhis
soulthatitisimpossibleforhimtodistinguishwhethersomethingisemanatingfromthesoulorfromthespirit.Thefunctionsofthelatterhavebecomemixedupwiththose
oftheformer.Furthermore,thespirithaslostitsprimaryfunctiontowardsGod;forit
isdeadtoGod.Itthuswouldappearthatithasbecomeanaccessorytothesoul.Andasthemind,emotionandvolitiongrowstronger,thefunctionsofthespiritbecomeso
eclipsedastorenderthemalmostunknown.Thatiswhytheremustbetheworkof
dividingbetweensoulandspiritafterabelieverisregenerated.
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InsearchingtheScripturesitdoesseemthatanunregeneratedspiritfunctionsno
differentlyfromthewaythesouldoes.Thefollowingversesillustratethis.
"Hisspiritwastroubled"Gen.41.8
"Thentheirspiritwasappeasedtowardhim"Judges8.3(Darby)
"Hethatishastyofspiritexaltethfolly"Prov.14.29(Darby)
"Adowncastspiritdriesupthebones"Prov.17.22
"Thosewhoerrinspirit"Is.29.24
"Andshallwailforanguishofspirit"Is.65.14
"Hisspiritwashardened"Dan.5.20
Theseshowustheworksoftheunregeneratedspiritandindicatehowsimilarareitsworkstothoseofthesoul.Thereasonfornotmentioningsoulbutspiritistoreveal
whathasoccurredintheverydepthofman.Itdiscloseshowman'sspirithasbecome
controlledandinfluencedcompletelybyhissoulwiththeresultthatitmanifeststheworksofthesoul.Thespiritnonethelessstillexistsbecausetheseworkscomefromthe
spirit.Thoughruledbythesoulthespiritdoesnotceasetobeanorgan.
Soul
Asidefromhavingaspirit,whichenableshimtocommunewithGod,manalsopossessesasoul,hisself-consciousness.Heismadeconsciousofhisexistencebytheworkofhis
soul.Itistheseatofourpersonality.Theelements,whichmakeushuman,belongtothesoul.Intellect,thought,ideals,love,emotion,discernment,choice,decision,etc.arebutvariousexperiencesofthesoul.
Ithasbeenexplainedalreadythatthespiritandthebodyareemergedinthesoul,which,inturn,formstheorganofourpersonality.ThatiswhytheBiblesometimescallsman
"souls,"asthoughmanhasonlythiselement.Forexample,Genesis12.5referstopeople
as"souls"(ASV).Again,whenJacobbroughthisentirefamilydowntoEgypt,itisrecorded,that"allthesoulsofthehouseofJacob,thatcameintoEgypt,werethreescore
andten"(Gen.46.27ASV).NumerousinstancesoccurintheoriginallanguageoftheBiblewhere"soul"isusedinsteadof"Man."Fortheseatandessenceofthepersonality
isthesoul.Tocomprehendaman'spersonalityistocomprehendhisperson.Man'sexistence,characteristicsandlifeareallinthesoul.TheBibleconsequentlycallsman"asoul."
Thatwhichconstitutesman'spersonalityarethethreemainfacultiesofvolition,mind
andemotion.Volitionistheinstrumentforourdecisions,revealingourpowertochoose.Itexpressesourwillingnessorunwillingness:"wewill"or"wewon't."Withoutit,manis
reducedtoanautomaton.Mind,theinstrumentforourthoughts,manifestsourintellectualpower.Outofthisarisewisdom,knowledgeandreasoning.Lackofitmakes
amanfoolishanddull.Theinstrumentforourlikesanddislikesisthefacultyof
emotion.Throughitweareabletoexpressloveorhateandtofeeljoyful,angry,sadorhappy.Anyshortageofitwillrendermanasinsensitiveaswoodorstone.
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AcarefulstudyoftheBiblewillyieldtheconclusionthatthesethreeprimaryfacultiesof
personalitybelongtothesoul.ToomanyScripturepassagesexisttoquotethemall.Henceonlyafewselectionscanbeenumeratedhere.
A)TheSoulsFacultyofVolition
"Givemenotuptothewill(original,"soul")ofmyadversaries"Ps.27.12
"Thoudostnotgivehimuptothewill(original,soul)ofhisenemies"Ps.41.2
"Deliveredyoutothegreed(original,"soul")ofyourenemies"Ezek.16.27
"Youshalllethergowhereshewill(original,"soul)"Deut.21.14
"Aha,wehaveourheart'sdesire(original,"soul")"Ps.35.25
"Orswearanoathtobindhimself(original,"soul")byapledge"Num.30.2
"Nowsetyourmindandheart(original,"soul")toseektheLordyourGod"1Chron.
22.19
"Theydesireandliftuptheirsoultoreturntodwellthere"Jer.44.14Amplified
"Theseafflictionsmysoulrefusestotouch"Job6.7Amplified
"Mysoulchoosethstrangling,death,ratherthanmybones"Job7.15Darby
The"willor"heart"herepointstothehumanwill."Settheheart,""liftuptheirsoul,"
"refuse"and"choose"areallexercisesofthewill,havingtheirspringsinthesoul.
B)TheSoulsFacultyofIntellectorMind
"Whereuntotheyliftuptheirsoul,theirsonsandtheirdaughters"Ezek.24.25Darby
"Thatasoulbewithoutknowledgeisnotgood'Prove19.2Darby
"HowlongmustIbearpain(Syriac:Hebrew:holdcounsels)inmysoul?"Ps.13.2
"Marvelousarethyworks,andthatmysoulknowethrightwell'Ps.139.14Darby
"Mysoulcontinuallythinksofit"Lam.3.20
"KnowledgewillbepleasanttoyoursoulProv.2.10
"Keepsoundwisdomanddiscretionandtheywillbelifeforyoursoul"Prov.3.21,22
"KnowthatwisdomissuchtoyoursoulProv.24.14
Here"knowledge,""counsel,""liftup,""think,"etc.,existastheactivitiesofman's
intellectormind,whichtheBibleindicatesasemanatingfromthesoul.
C)TheSoulsFacultyofEmotion
1)EMOTIONSOFAFFECTION
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"ThesoulofJonathanwasknittothesoulofDavid,andJonathanlovedhimashisown
soul1Sam.18.1
"Youwhommysoulloves"Song1.7
"MysoulmagnifiestheLord"Luke1.46
"Hislifeabhorrethbread,andhissouldaintyfood"Job33.20Darby
"WhoarehatedbyDavid'ssoul2Sam.5.8
"Mysoulwasvexedwiththem"Zech.11.8Darby
"YoushalllovetheLordyourGodwithallyoursoulDeut.6.5
"Mysouliswearyofmylife"Job10:1Darby
"Theirsoulabhorrethallmanneroffood"Ps.107:18Darby
2)EMOTIONSOFDESIRE
"Forwhateverthysouldesireth...orforwhateverthysoulaskethofthee"Deut.14.26
Darby
"Whatthysoulmaysay"1Sam.20.4Darby
"Mysoullongs,yea,faintsforthecourtsoftheLord"Ps.84.2
"Yoursoul'slonging"Ezek.24-21Darby
"Solongsmysoulforthee,OGod"Ps.42.1
"Mysoulyearnsfortheeinthenight"Is.26.9
"Mysouliswellpleased"Matt.12.IS
3)EMOTIONSOFFEELINGANDSENSING
"Aswordwillpiercethroughyourownsoulalso"Luke2.35
"Allthepeoplewerebitterinsoul'ISam.30.6
"Hersoulisbitterandvexedwithinher"2Kings4.27Amplified
"HissoulwasgrievedforthemiseryofIsrael"Judges10.16Darby
"Howlongwillyevexmysoul"Job19.2Darby
"MysoulshallexultinmyGod"Is.61.10
"Gladdenthesoulofthyservant"Ps.86.4
"Theirsoulfaintedwithinthem"Ps.107.5
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"Whyareyoucastdown,Omysoul.42.5
"Return,Omysoul,toyourrest"Ps.116.7
"Mysoulisconsumedwithlonging"Ps.119.20
"Sweetnesstothesoul'Prov.16.24
"Letyoursouldelightitselfinfatness"Is.55.2Amplified
"Mysoulfaintedwithinme"Jonah2.7
"Mysoulisverysorrowful"Matt,26.38
"Nowismysoultroubled"John12.27
"Hewasvexedinhisrighteoussouldayafterday"2Peter2.8
Wecandiscoverintheaboveobservationstouchinguponman'svariousemotionsthatoursouliscapableoflovingandhating,desiringandaspiring,feelingandsensing.
FromthisbriefBiblicalstudyitbecomesquiteobviousthatthesoulofmancontainsinit
thatpartknownaswill,thatpartknownasmindorintellect,andthatpartknownasemotion.
TheSoul-life
SomeBiblescholarspointouttousthatthreedifferentwordsareemployedintheGreek
todesignate"life":(1)bios(2)psuche(3)zoe.Theyalldescribelifebutconveyverydifferentmeanings.Bioshasreferencetothemeansoflifeorliving.OurLordJesusused
thiswordwhenHecommendedthewomanwhocastintothetempletreasuryherwhole
living.Zoeisthehighestlife,thelifeofthespirit.WhenevertheBiblespeaksofeternallifeitusesthisword.Psuchereferstotheanimatedlifeofman,hisnaturallifeorthelife
ofthesoul.TheBibleemploysthistermwhenitdescribesthehumanlife.
Letusnoteherethatthewords"soul'and"soul-life"intheBibleareoneandthesamein
theoriginal.IntheOldTestamenttheHebrewwordfor"soul"nepheshisused
equallyfor"soul-life."TheNewTestamentconsequentlyemploystheGreekwordpsucheforboth"soul"and"soul-life."Henceweknow"soul"notonlyisoneofthethree
elementsofmanbutalsoisman'slife,hisnaturallife.InmanyplacesintheBible,"soul"istranslatedas"life."
"Onlyyoushallnoteatfleshwithitslife,thatis,itsblood"Gen.9.4,5
"Thelifeofthefleshisintheblood"Lev.17.11
"Thosewhosoughtthechild'slifearedead"Matt.2.20
"Isitlawfulonthesabbathtosavelifeortodestroyit?"Luke6.9
"WhohaveriskedtheirlivesforthesakeofourLordJesusChrist"Acts15.26
"Idonotaccountmylifeofanyvalue"Acts20.24
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"Togivehislifeasaransomformany"Matt.20.28
"Thegoodshepherdlaysdownhislifeforthesheep"John10.11,15,17
Theword"life"intheseversesis"soul"intheoriginal.Itissotranslatedbecauseit
wouldbedifficulttounderstandotherwise.Thesoulactuallyistheverylifeofman.
Aswehavementioned,"soul"isoneofthethreeelementsofman."Soul-life"isman'snaturallife,thatwhichmakeshimexistandanimateshim.Itisthelifewherebyman
todaylives;itisthepowerwherebymanbecomeswhatheis.SincetheBibleapplies
nepheshandpsuchebothtosoulandtoman'slife,itisevidenttousthatthesetwo,thoughdistinguishable,arenotseparable.Theyaredistinguishableinasmuchasin
certainplacespsuche(forexample)mustbetranslatedeitheras"souloras"life."Thetranslationscannotbeinterchanged.Forinstance,"soul"and"life"inLuke12.19-23and
Mark3.4areactuallythesamewordintheoriginal,yettotranslatethemwiththesame
wordinEnglishwouldbemeaningless.Theyareinseparable,however,becausethese
twoarecompletelyunitedinman.Amanwithoutasouldoesnotlive.TheBiblenevertellsusthatanaturalmanpossessesalifeotherthanthesoul.Thelifeofmanisbutthesoulpermeatingthebody.Asthesoulisjoinedtothebodyitbecomesthelifeofman.
Lifeisthephenomenonofthesoul.TheBibleconsidersman'spresentbodya"soulical
body"(1Cor.15.44original),forthelifeofourpresentbodyisthatofthesoul.Man'slifeisthereforesimplyanexpressionofthecompositeofhismental,emotionaland
volitionalenergies."Personality"inthenaturalrealmembracesthesedifferentpartsof
thesoulbutonlythatmuchsoul-lifeisman'snaturallife.
Thatthesoulisman'slifeisamostimportantfacttorecognizeforitbearsgreatlyupon
thekindofChristianwebecome,whetherspiritualorsoulish.Thisweshallexplain
furtheron.
SoulAndMan'sSelf
Inasmuchaswehaveseenhowsoulisthesiteofourpersonality,theorganofvolition
andthenaturallife,wecaneasilyconcludethatthissoulisalsothe"realI"Imyself.Ourselfisthesoul.ThistoocanbedemonstratedbytheBible.InNumbers30,the
phrase"bindhimself"occurstentimes.Intheoriginalitis"bindhissoul."Fromthiswe
areledtounderstandthatthesoulisourownself.InmanyotherpassagesoftheBiblewefindtheword"soul"istranslatedas"self."Forinstance:
"Youshallnotdefileyourselveswiththem"Lev.11.43
"Youshallnotdefileyourselves"Lev.11.44
"Forthemselvesandfortheirdescendants"Esther9.31
"Youwhotearyourselfinyouranger"Job18.4
"Hejustifiedhimself"Job32.2
"ButthemselvesgointocaptivityIs.46.2
"Whateveryone(original,"everysoul")musteat,thatonlymaybepreparedbyyou"Ex.12.16
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"Whokillsanyperson(original,"killanysoul")withoutintent"Num.35.11,15
"Letme(original,"letmysoul)diethedeathoftherighteous"Num.23.10
"Whenanyone(original,"anysoul)bringsacerealoffering"Lev.2.1
"Ihavequietedmyself"Ps.131.2AV
"Thinknotthatintheking'spalaceyou(original,"soul)willescape"Esther4.13
"TheLordGodhasswornbyhimself(original,"swornbyhissoul')"Amos6.8
TheseScripturesfromtheOldTestamentinformusinvariouswayshowthesoulis
man'sownself.
TheNewTestamentconveysthesameimpression."Souls"istheoriginalrenderingfor
"eightpersons"in1Peter3.20andfor"twohundredandseventy-sixpersons"inActs27.37.ThephraseinRomans2.9translatedtodayas"everyhumanbeingwhodoesevil"
isgivenintheoriginalas"everysoulofmanthatworksevil."Hence,towarnthesoulof
amanwhoworksevilistowarntheevilman.InJames5.20,savingasoulisconsideredtobesavingasinner.AndLuke12.19treatstherichfool'sspeakingwordsofcomfortto
hissoulasspeakingtohimself.ItisthereforeclearthattheBibleasawholeviewsman'ssoulorsoul-lifeasthemanhimself.Aconfirmationofthiscanbefoundinthewordsof
ourLordJesus,givenintwodifferentGospels.Matthew16.26reads"Forwhatwillit
profitaman,ifhegainsthewholeworldandforfeitshislife(psuche)?Orwhatshallamangiveinreturnforhislife(psuche)?"WhereasLuke9.25rendersit:"Forwhatdoesit
profitamanifhegainsthewholeworldandlosesorforfeitshimself(eautov)?"Both
Gospelwritersrecordthesamething;yetoneuses"life"(or"soul")whiletheotheruses"himself."ThissignifiesthattheHolySpiritisusingMatthewtoexplainthemeaningof
"himself"inLukeandLukethemeaningof"life"inMatthew.Man'ssoulorlifeisthemanhimself,andviceversa.
Suchastudyenablesustoconcludethat,tobeaman,wemustsharewhatisincludedin
man'ssoul.Everynaturalmanpossessesthiselementandwhateveritincludes,forthesoulisthecommonlifesharedbyallnaturalmen.Beforeregeneration,whateveris
includedinlifebeitself,life,strength,power,choice,thought,opinion,love,feeling
pertainstothesoul.Inotherwords,soul-lifeisthelifeamaninheritsatbirth.Allthatthislifepossessesandallthatitmaybecomeareintherealmofthesoul.Ifwedistinctly
recognizewhatissoulicalitwillthenbeeasierforuslaterontorecognizewhatisspiritual.Itwillbepossibletodividethespiritualfromthesoulish.
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Volume 1: Chapter 3 - The Fall Of Man
ThemanGodfashionedwasnotablydifferentfromallothercreatedbeings.Man
possessedaspiritsimilartothatoftheangelsandatthesametimehadasoul
resemblingthatoftheloweranimals.WhenGodcreatedmanHegavehimaperfectfreedom.Hedidnotmakemananautomaton,controlledautomaticallybyHiswill.This
isevidentinGenesis2atthetimeGodinstructedtheoriginalmanwhatfruithecouldeatandwhatnot.ThemanGodcreatedwasnotamachinerunbyGod;insteadhehad
perfectfreedomofchoice.IfhechosetoobeyGod,hecould;ifhedecidedtorebelagainstGod,hecoulddothattoo.Manhadinhispossessionasovereigntybywhichhe
couldexercisehisvolitioninchoosingtoobeyortodisobey.Thisisamostimportant
point,forwemustrealizethatinourspirituallifeGodneverdeprivesusofourfreedom.Unlessweactivelycooperate,Godwillnotundertakeanythingforus.NeitherGodnor
thedevilcandoanyworkwithoutfirstobtainingourconsent,forman'swillisfree.
Man'sspiritwasoriginallythehighestpartofhisentirebeingtowhichsoulandbodyweretobesubject.Undernormalconditionsthespiritislikeamistress,thesoullikea
steward,andthebodylikeaservant.Themistresscommitsmatterstothestewardwhointurncommandstheservanttocarrythemout.Themistressgivesordersprivatelyto
thesteward;thestewardinturntransmitsthemopenlytotheservant.Thesteward
appearstobethelordofall,butinactualitythelordoverallisthemistress.Unfortunatelymanhasfallen;hehasbeendefeatedandhassinned;consequently,the
properorderofspirit,soulandbodyhasbeenconfused.
Godbestoweduponmanasovereignpowerandaccordednumerousgiftstoahuman
soul.Thoughtandwillorintellectandintentionareamongtheprominentportions.The
originalpurposeofGodisthatthehumansoulshouldreceiveandassimilatethetruthandsubstanceofGod'sspirituallife.Hegavegiftstomeninorderthatmanmighttake
God'sknowledgeandwillashisown.Ifman'sspiritandsoulwouldmaintaintheir
createdperfection,healthinessandliveliness,hisbodywouldthenbeabletocontinueforeverwithoutchange.Ifhewouldexercisehiswillbytakingandeatingthefruitoflife,
God'sOwnlifeundoubtedlywouldenterhisspirit,permeatehissoul,transformhisentireinnerman,andtranslatehisbodyintoincorruptibility.Hethenwouldliterallybe
inpossessionof"eternallife."Inthateventhissoulicallifewouldbefilledcompletely
withspirituallife,andhiswholebeingwouldbetransformedintothatwhichisspiritual.Conversely,iftheorderofspiritandsoulwouldbereversed,thenmanwouldplunge
intodarknessandthehumanbodycouldnotlastlongbutwouldsoonbecorrupted.
Weknowhowman'ssoulchosethetreeoftheknowledgeofgoodandevilratherthanthetreeoflife.YetisitnotclearthatGod'swillforAdamwastoeatthefruitofthetree
oflife?BecausebeforeHeforbadeAdamtoeatthefruitofthetreeofgoodandevilandwarnedhimthatinthedayheateheshoulddie(Gen.2.17),Hefirstcommandedmanto
eatfreelyofeverytreeofthegardenandpurposelymentionedthetreeoflifeinthe
midstofthegarden.Whocansaythatthisisnotso?
"Thefruitoftheknowledgeofgoodandevil"upliftsthehumansoulandsuppressesthe
spirit.Goddoesnotforbidmantoeatofthisfruitmerelytotestman.Heforbidsit
becauseHeknowsthatbyeatingthisfruitman'ssoul-lifewillbesostimulatedthathisspiritlifewillbestifled.ThismeansmanwilllosethetrueknowledgeofGodandthusbe
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deadtoHim.God'sforbiddanceshowsGod'slove.Theknowledgeofgoodandevilinthis
worldisitselfevil.Suchknowledgespringsfromtheintellectofman'ssoul.Itpuffsupthesoul-lifeandconsequentlydeflatesthespiritlifetothepointoflosinganyknowledge
ofGod,tothepointofbecomingasmuchasdead.
AgreatnumberofGod'sservantsviewthistreeoflifeasGodofferinglifetotheworldinHisSontheLordJesus.Thisiseternallife,God'snature,Hisuncreatedlife.Hence,we
haveheretwotreesonegerminatesspirituallifewhiletheotherdevelopssoulishlife.
Maninhisoriginalstateisneithersinfulnorholyandrighteous.Hestandsbetweenthetwo.EitherhecanacceptGod'slife,thusbecomingaspiritualmanandapartakerof
divinenature;orhecaninflatehiscreatedlifeintobecomingsoulish,consequentlyinflictingdeathonhisspirit.Godimpartedaperfectbalancetothethreepartsofman.
Wheneveronepartisoverdevelopedtheothersareafflicted.
Ourspiritualwalkwillbegreatlyhelpedifweunderstandtheoriginofsoulanditslifeprinciple.OurspiritcomesdirectlyfromGodforitisGod-given(Num.16.22).Oursoulis
notsodirectlyderived;itwasproducedafterthespiritenteredthebody.Itisthereforecharacteristicallyrelatedtothecreatedbeing.Itisthecreatedlife,thenaturallife.The
soul'susefulnessisindeedextensiveifitmaintainsitsproperplaceasasteward,
permittingthespirittobemistress.MancanthenreceiveGod'slifeandberelatedtoGodinlife.If,however,thissoulicalrealmbecomesinflatedthespiritisaccordingly
suppressed.Allman'sdoingswillbeconfinedtothenaturalrealmofthecreatedunable
tobeunitedtoGod'ssupernaturalanduncreatedlife.Theoriginalmansuccumbedtodeathinthatheateofthefruitoftheknowledgeofgoodandevil,therebyabnormally
developinghissoulicallife.
SatantemptedEvewithaquestion.Heknewhisquerywouldarousethewoman's
thought.Ifshewerecompletelyunderthespirit'scontrolshewouldrejectsuch
questioning.
Bytryingtoanswersheexercisedhermindindisobediencetothespirit.Doubtless
Satan'squestionwasfulloferrors,forhisprimemotivewasmerelytoinciteEve's
mentalexertion.HewouldhaveexpectedEvetocorrecthim,butalas,EvedaredtochangeGod'sWordinherconversationwithSatan.Theenemyaccordinglywas
emboldenedtotempthertoeatbysuggestingtoherthat,ineating,hereyeswouldbeopenedandshewouldbelikeGodknowinggoodandevil."Sowhenthewomansaw
thatthetreewasgoodforfood,andthatitwasadelighttotheeyes,andthatthetree
wastobedesiredtomakeonewise,shetookofitsfruitandate"(Gen.3.6).ThatwashowEveviewedthematter.Satanprovokedhersoulicalthoughtfirstandthenadvanced
toseizeherwill.Theresult:shefellintosin.
Satanalwaysusesphysicalneedasthefirsttargetforattack.Hesimplymentioned
eatingfruittoEve,anentirelyphysicalmatter.Nextheproceededtoenticehersoul,
intimatingthatbyindulging,hereyeswouldbeopenedtoknowgoodandevil.Althoughsuchsearchingforknowledgewasperfectlylegitimate,theconsequencenonethelessled
herspiritintoopenrebellionagainstGodbecauseshemisconstruedGod'sforbiddance
asarisingfromanevilintention.Satan'stemptationreachesinitiallytothebody,thentothesoulandlastlytothespirit.
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AfterbeingtemptedEvegaveherverdict.Tobeginwiththetreewasgoodforfood."
Thisisthe"lustoftheflesh."Eve'sfleshwasthefirsttobestirredup.Second,"itwasadelighttotheeyes."Thisis"thelustoftheeyes."Boththebodyandhersoulwerenow
enticed.Third,"thetreewastobedesiredtomakeonewise."Thisis"theprideoflife."
Suchdesirerevealedthewaveringofheremotionandwill.Hersoulwasnowagitated
beyondcontrol.Itnolongerstoodbyasaspectatorbuthadbeengoadedintodesiringthefruit.Howdangerousamasterhumanemotionis!
WhyshouldEvedesirethefruit?Itwasnotmerelythelustofthefleshandthelustoftheeyes,butalsocuriosity'surgeforwisdom.Inthepursuitofwisdomandknowledge,even
ofso-called"spiritualknowledge,"activitiesofthesouloftencanbedetected.Whenonetriestoincreasehisknowledgebydoingmentalgymnasticsoverbookswithoutwaiting
uponGodandlookingtotheguidanceoftheHolySpirit,hissoulisplainlyinfullswing.
Thiswilldepletehisspirituallife.Becausethefallofmanwasoccasionedbyseekingknowledge,Godusesthefoolishnessofthecrossto"destroythewisdomofthewise."
Intellectwasthechiefcauseofthefall;hence,inordertobesavedonemustbelievein
thefollyoftheWordofthecrossratherthandependuponhisintellect.Thetreeofknowledgecausesmantofall,soGodemploysthetreeoffolly(1Peter2.24)tosave
souls."Ifanyoneamongyouthinksthatheiswiseinthisage,lethimbecomeafoolthathemaybecomewise.ForthewisdomofthisworldisfollywithGod"(1Cor.3.18-20;
alsosee1.18-25).
Havingcarefullyreviewedtheaccountofthefallofman,weareabletoseethatinrebellingagainstGod,AdamandEvedevelopedtheirsoulstotheextentofdisplacing
theirspiritsandplungingthemselvesintodarkness.Theprominentpartsofthesoulareman'smind,willandemotion.Willistheorganofdecision,thereforethemasterofthe
man.Mindistheorganofthought,whileemotionisthatofaffection.TheApostlePaultellsus"Adamwasnotdeceived,"indicatingthatAdam'smindwasnotmuddledonthatfatalday.Theonewhowasfeeble-mindedwasEve:"thewomanwasdeceivedand
becameatransgressor"(1Tim.2.14).AccordingtotherecordofGenesisitiswritten
that"thewomansaid,'TheserpentbeguiledmeandIate'"(Gen.3.13);butthat"themansaid,'Thewomangave(notbeguiled)mefruitofthetreeandIate"'(Gen.3.12).
Adamobviouslywasnotdeceived;hismindwasclearandheknewthefruitwasfromtheforbiddentree.Heatebecauseofhisaffectionforthewoman.Adamunderstoodthat
whattheserpentsaidwasnothingmorethantheenemy'sdeception.Fromthewordsof
theApostleweareledtoseethatAdamsinneddeliberately.HelovedEvemorethanhimself.Hemadeherhisidol,andforhersakehewaswillingtorebelagainstthe
commandmentofhisCreator.Howpitifulthathismindwasoverruledbyhisemotion:hisreasoningovercomebyhisaffection.Whyisitthatmen"didnotbelievethetruth?"
Becausethey"hadpleasureinunrighteousness"(2Thess.2.12).Itisnotthatthetruthis
unreasonablebutthatitisnotloved.HencewhenonetrulyturnstotheLordhe"believeswithhisheart(notmind)andsoisjustified"(Rom.10.10).
SatanmovedAdamtosinbyseizingthelatter'swillthroughhisemotion,whilehe
temptedEvetosinbygraspingherwillthroughthechannelofadarkenedmind.Whenman'swillandmindandemotionwerepoisonedbytheserpentandmanfollowedafter
SataninsteadofGod,hisspirit,whichwascapableofcommuningwithGod,sufferedafatalblow.HerewecanseethelawwhichgovernstheworkofSatan.Heusesthethings
oftheflesh(eatingfruit)toenticeman'ssoulintosin;assoonasthesoulsins,thespirit
descendsintoutterdarkness.Theorderofhisworkingisalwayssuch:fromtheoutside
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totheinside.Ifhedoesnotstartwiththebody,thenhebeginsbyworkingonthemind
ortheemotioninordertogettothewillofman.Themomentman'swillyieldstoSatanhepossessesman'swholebeingandputsthespirittodeath.ButnotsotheworkofGod;
Hisisalwaysfromtheinsidetotheoutside.Godbeginsworkinginman'sspiritand
continuesbyilluminatinghismind,stirringhisemotion,andcausinghimtoexercisehis
willoverhisbodyforcarryingintoexecutionthewillofGod.Allsatanicworksareperformedfromtheoutsideinward;alldivineworks,fromtheinsideoutward.Wemay
inthiswaydistinguishwhatcomesfromGodandwhatfromSatan.AllthisadditionallyteachesusthatonceSatanseizesman'swill,thenisheincontroloverthatman.
Weshouldcarefullynotethatthesouliswheremanexpresseshisfreewillandexertshisownmastery.TheBiblethereforeoftenrecordsthatitisthesoulwhichsins.For
example,Micah6.7says,"thesinofmysoul."Ezekiel18.4,20reads,"thesoulthatsins."
AndinthebooksofLeviticusandNumbersmentionfrequentlyismadethatthesoulsins.
Why?Becauseitisthesoulwhichchoosestosin.Ourdescriptionofsinis:"Thewillacquiescesinthetemptation."Sinningisamatterofthesoulswill;atonement
accordinglymustbeforthesoul."Yegivetheheave-offeringofJehovahtomake
atonementforyoursouls"(Ex.30.15Darby)."Forthesoulofthefleshisintheblood;andIhavegivenittoyouuponthealtartomakeatonementforyoursouls,foritisthe
bloodthatmakethatonementforthesoul"(Lev.17.11Darby)."Tomakeatonementfor
oursoulsbeforeJehovah"(Num.31.50Darby).Sinceitisthesoulwhichsins,itfollowsthatthesoulneedstobeatoned.Anditcanonlybeatoned,moreover,byasoul:it
pleasedJehovahtobruisehim;hehathsubjectedhimtosuffering...thoushaltmakehissoulanofferingforsin...Heshallseeofthefruitofthetravailofhissoul,andshallbe
satisfied...hehathpouredouthissouluntodeath...andheborethesinofmany,andmadeintercessionforthetransgressors.(Is.53.10-12Darby)
InexaminingthenatureofAdam'ssinwediscoverthatasidefromrebellionthereisalso
acertainkindofindependence.Wemustnotlosesighthereoffreewill.Ontheone
hand,thetreeoflifeimpliesasenseofdependence.ManatthattimedidnotpossessGod'snature,buthadhepartakenofthefruitofthetreeoflifehecouldhavesecured
God'slife;mancouldhavereachedhissummitpossessingtheverylifeofGod.Thisisdependence.Ontheotherhand,thetreeoftheknowledgeofgoodandevilsuggests
independencebecausemanstrivedbytheexerciseofhiswillfortheknowledgenot
promised,forsomethingnotaccordedhimbyGod.Hisrebelliondeclaredhis
independence.ByrebellinghedidnotneedtodependuponGod.Furthermore,hisseekingtheknowledgeofgoodandevilalsoshowedhisindependence,forhewasnotsatisfiedwithwhatGodhadbestowedalready.Thedifferencebetweenthespiritualand
thesoulishiscrystalclear.ThespiritualdependsutterlyuponGod,fullysatisfiedwith
whatGodhasgiven;thesoulishsteersclearofGodandcovetswhatGodhasnotconferred,especially"knowledge."Independenceisaspecialmarkofthesoulish.That
thingnomatterhowgood,evenworshipingGodisunquestionablyofthesoulifit
doesnotrequirecompletetrustinGodandinsteadcallsforrelianceuponone'sownstrength.Thetreeoflifecannotgrowwithinustogetherwiththetreeofknowledge.
Rebellionandindependenceexplaineverysincommittedbybothsinnersandsaints.
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Spirit,SoulAndBodyAfterTheFall
Adamlivedbythebreathoflifebecomingspiritinhim.BythespirithesensedGod,
knewGod'svoice,andcommunedwithGod.HehadaverykeenawarenessofGod.But
afterhisfallhisspiritdied.
WhenGodspoketoAdamatthefirstHesaid,"inthedaythatyoueatofit(thefruitofthetreeofknowledgeofgoodandevil)youshalldie"(Gen.2.17).AdamandEve
neverthelesscontinuedonforhundredsofyearsaftereatingtheforbiddenfruit.ThisobviouslyindicatesthatthedeathGodforetoldwasnotphysical.Adam'sdeathbeganin
hisspirit.
Whatreallyisdeath?Accordingtoitsscientificdefinitiondeathis"thecessationof
communicationwithenvironment."Deathofthespiritisthecessationofits
communicationwithGod.Deathofthebodyisthecuttingoffofcommunicationbetweenspiritandbody.Sowhenwesaythespiritisdeaditdoesnotimplythereisnomore
spirit;wesimplymeanthespirithaslostitssensitivitytowardsGodandthusisdeadtoHim.Theexactsituationisthatthespiritisincapacitated,unabletocommunewithGod.
Toillustrate.Adumbpersonhasamouthandlungsbutsomethingiswrongwithhis
vocalcordsandheispowerlesstospeak.Sofarashumanlanguageisconcernedhismouthmaybeconsidereddead.SimilarlyAdam'sspiritdiedbecauseofhisdisobedience
toGod.Hestillhadhisspirit,yetitwasdeadtoGodforithadlostitsspiritualinstinct.It
isstillso;sinhasdestroyedthespirit'skeenintuitiveknowledgeofGodandrenderedmanspirituallydead.Hemaybereligious,moral,learned,capable,strongandwise,but
heisdeadtoGod.HemayeventalkaboutGod,reasonaboutGodandpreachGod,butheisstilldeadtoHim.ManisnotabletohearortosensethevoiceofGod'sSpirit.
ConsequentlyintheNewTestamentGodoftenreferstothosewhoarelivingintheflesh
asdead.
Thedeathwhichbeganinourforefather'sspiritgraduallyspreaduntilitreachedhis
body.Thoughhelivedonformanyyearsafterhisspiritwasdead,deathneverthelessworkedincessantlyinhimuntilhisspirit,soulandbodywerealldead.Hisbody,which
couldhavebeentransformedandglorified,wasinsteadreturnedtodust.Becausehis
inwardmanhadfallenintochaos,hisoutwardbodymustdieandbedestroyed.
HenceforthAdam'sspirit(aswellasthespiritofallhisdescendants)fellunderthe
oppressionofthesouluntilitgraduallymergedwiththesoulandthetwopartsbecame
closelyunited.ThewriterofHebrewsdeclaresin4.12thattheWordofGodshallpierce
anddividesoulandspirit.Thedividingisnecessarybecausespiritandsoulhavebecomeone.Whiletheyareintimatelyknittheyplungemanintoapsychicworld.Everythingisdoneaccordingtothedictatesofintellectorfeeling.Thespirithaslostitspowerand
sensation,asthoughdeadasleep.WhatinstinctithasinknowingandservingGodis
entirelyparalyzed.Itremainsinacomaasifnonexistent.ThisiswhatismeantinJude19by"natural,nothavingspirit"(literal).*Thiscertainlydoesnotmeanthehuman
spiritceasestoexist,forNumbers16.22distinctlystatesthatGodis"theGodofthe
spiritsofallflesh."Everyhumanbeingstillhasinhispossessionaspirit,althoughitisdarkenedbysinandimpotenttoholdcommunionwithGod.
HoweverdeadthisspiritmaybetowardsGod,itmayremainasactiveasthemindorthe
body.ItisaccounteddeadtoGodbutisstillveryactiveinotherrespects.Sometimesthespiritofafallenmancanevenbestrongerthanhissoulorbodyandgaindominionover
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thewholebeing.Suchpersonsare"spiritual"justasmostpeoplearelargelysoulicalor
physical,becausetheirspiritsaremuchbiggerthanthatofordinaryindividuals.Thesearethesorceressesandthewitches.Theyindeedmaintaincontactswiththespiritual
realm;butthesedosothroughtheevilspirit,notbytheHolySpirit.Thespiritofthe
fallenmanthusisalliedwithSatanandhisevilspirits.ItisdeadtoGodyetverymuch
alivetoSatanandfollowstheevilspiritwhichisnowatworkinhim.
Inyieldingtothedemandofitspassionsandluststhesoulhasbecomeaslavetothe
bodysothattheHolySpiritfindsituselesstostriveforGod'splaceinsuchaone.HencetheScripturedeclares,"MySpiritshallnotalwayspleadwithMan;forheindeedisflesh"
(Gen.6.3Darby).TheBiblereferstothefleshasthecompositeoftheunregeneratedsoulandthephysicallife,thoughmoreoftenthannotitpointstosinwhichisinthebody.
Oncemaniscompletelyunderthedominionofthefleshhehasnopossibilityof
liberatinghimself.Soulhasreplacedthespirit'sauthority.Everythingisdoneindependentlyandaccordingtothedictatesofhismind.Eveninreligiousmatters,inthe
hottestpursuitofGod,alliscarriedonbythestrengthandwillofman'ssoul,voidofthe
HolySpirit'srevelation.Thesoulisnotmerelyindependentofthespirit;itisadditionallyunderthebody'scontrol.Itisnowaskedtoobey,toexecuteandtofulfill
thelusts,passionsanddemandsofthebody.EverysonofAdamisthereforenotonlydeadinhisspiritbutheisalso"fromtheearth,amanofdust"(1Cor.15.47).Fallenmen
aregovernedcompletelybytheflesh,walkinginresponsetothedesiresoftheirsoulish
lifeandphysicalpassions.SuchonesareunabletocommunewithGod.Sometimestheydisplaytheirintellect,atothertimestheirpassion,butmoreoftenboththeirintellect
andpassion.Unimpeded,thefleshisinfirmcontroloverthetotalman.
ThisiswhatisunfoldedinJude18and19:"Mockers,walkingaftertheirownlustsof
ungodlinesses.Thesearetheywhosetthemselvesapart,naturalmen,nothavingspirit"(Darby).Beingsoulishisantagonistictobeingspiritual.Thespirit,thatnoblestpartofus,thepartwhichmaybeunitedtoGodandoughttoregulatethesoulandbody,isnow
underthedominionofthesoul,thatpartofuswhichisearthlyinbothitsmotiveand
aim.Thespirithasbeenstrippedofitsoriginalposition.Man'spresentconditionisabnormal.Whereforeheispicturedasnothavingspirit.Theresultofbeingsoulishis
thathebecomesamocker,pursuingungodlypassionsandcreatingdivisions.
1Corinthians2.14speaksofsuchunregeneratedpersonsinthisfashion:"Thenatural
(soulish)mandoesnotreceivethethingsofthespiritofGod,fortheyarefollytohim,
andheisnotabletounderstandthembecausetheyarespirituallydiscerned."Suchmen
asareunderthecontroloftheirsoulswiththeirspiritssuppressedareindirectcontrasttospiritualpeople.Theymaybeexceedinglyintelligent,abletopresentmasterfulideasortheories,yettheydonotconsenttothethingsoftheSpiritofGod.Theyareunfitto
receiverevelationfromtheHolySpirit.Suchrevelationisvastlydifferentfromhuman
ideas.Manmaythinkhumanintellectandreasoningarealmighty,thatthebrainisabletocomprehendalltruthsoftheworld;buttheverdictofGod'sWordis,vanityof
vanities."
Whilemanisinhissoulishstatehefrequentlysensestheinsecurityofthisageandsohetooseekstheeternallifeofthecomingage.Butevenifhedoes,heisstillpowerlessto
uncovertheWordoflifebyhismuchthinkingandtheorizing.Howuntrustworthyare
humanreasonings!Weoftenobservehowverycleverpersonsclashintheirdifferent
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opinions.Theorieseasilyleadmanintoerror.Theyarecastlesintheair,tumblinghim
intoeternaldarkness.
HowtrueitisthatwithouttheguidanceoftheHolySpiritintellectnotonlyis
undependablebutalsoextremelydangerous,becauseitoftenconfusestheissueofright
andwrong.Aslightcarelessnessmaycausenotmerelytemporarylossbuteveneverlastingharm.Thedarkenedmindofmanfrequentlyleadshimtoeternaldeath.If
onlyunregeneratedsoulscouldseethis,howgooditwouldbe!
Whilemanisfleshlyhemaybecontrolledbymorethanjustthesoul;hemaybeunderthedirectionofthebodyaswell;forsoulandbodyarecloselyentwined.Becausethe
bodyofsinisaboundingindesiresandpassions,manmaycommitthemosthideousofsins.Asthebodyisformedofthedust,soitsnaturaltendencyistowardstheearth.The
introductionoftheserpent'spoisonintoman'sbodyturnsallitslegitimatedesiresinto
lusts.HavingonceyieldedtothebodyindisobeyingGod,thesoulfindsitselfboundtoyieldeverytime.Thebasedesiresofthebodymaythereforeoftenbeexpressedthrough
thesoul.Thepowerofthebodybecomessooverwhelmingthatthesoulcannotbutbecometheobedientslave.
God'sthoughtisforthespirittohavethepre-eminence,rulingoursoul.Butonceman
turnsfleshlyhisspiritsinksintoservitudetothesoul.Furtherdegradationfollowswhenmanbecomes"bodily"(ofthebody),forthebasestbodyrisestobesovereign.Manhas
thendescendedfrom"spirit-control"to"soul-control,"andfrom"soul-control"to"body-
control."Deeperanddeeperhesinks.Howpitifulitmustbewhenthefleshgainsdominion.
Sinhasslainthespirit:spiritualdeathhencebecomestheportionofall,forallaredead
insinsandtrespasses.Sinhasrenderedthesoulindependent:thesoulishlifeisthereforebutaselfishandself-willedone.Sinhasfinallyempoweredthebody:sinful
natureaccordinglyreignsthroughthebody.
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Volume 1: Chapter 4 - Salvation
Calvary'sJudgment
Deathenteredtheworldthroughthefallofman.Referencehereistospiritualdeath
whichseparatesmanfromGod.Throughsinitcameinthebeginningandsohasitevercomesincethen.Deathalwayscomesthroughsin.NotewhatRomans5.12tellsusaboutthismatter.First,that"sincameintotheworldthroughoneman."Adamsinnedand
introducedsinintotheworld.Second,that"death(cameintotheworld)throughsin."Deathissin'sunchangingresult.Andlastly,thattherefore"deathspreadtoallmen
becauseallmensinned."Notmerelyhasdeath"spreadto"or"passedupon"(Darby)all
men,butliterally"toallmenthedeathdidpassthrough"(Young's).Deathhaspermeatedthespirit,soulandbodyofallmen;thereisnopartofahumanbeinginto
whichithasnotfounditsway.ItisthereforeimperativethatmanreceivesGod'slife.
Thewayofsalvationcannotbeinhumanreform,for"death"isirreparable.Sinmustbejudgedbeforetherecanberescueoutofdeath.Exactlythisiswhathasbeenprovidedby
thesalvationoftheLordJesus.
Themanwhosinsmustdie.ThisisannouncedintheBible.Neitheranimalnorangelcan
sufferthepenaltyofsininman'sstead.Itisman'striunenaturewhichsins,thereforeit
ismanwhomustdie.Onlyhumanitycanatoneforhumanitybut,becausesinisinhishumanity,man'sowndeathcannotatoneforhissin.TheLordJesuscameandtook
humannatureuponhimselfinorderthatHemightbejudgedinsteadofhumanity.Untaintedbysin,Hisholyhumannaturecouldthereforethroughdeathatoneforsinful
humanity.Hediedasubstitute,sufferedallpenaltyofsin,andofferedhislifearansom
formany.Consequently,whoeverbelievesonHimshallbejudgednomore(John5.24).
WhentheWordbecamefleshHeincludedallfleshinHimself.Astheactionofoneman,
Adam,representstheactionofallmankind,sotheworkofoneman,Christ,represents
theworkofall.WemustseehowinclusiveChristisbeforewecanunderstandwhatredemptionis.Whyisitthatthesinofoneman,Adam,isjudgedtobethesinofallmen
bothpresentandpast?BecauseAdamishumanity'sheadfromwhomallothermenhavecomeintotheworld.Similarlytheobedienceofoneman,Christ,becomesthe
righteousnessofmany,bothofthepresentandthepast,inasmuchasChristconstitutes
theheadofanewmankindenteredintobyanewbirth.
OneincidentinHebrews7mayillustratethispoint.Toprovethatthepriesthoodof
MelchizedekisgreaterthanthepriesthoodofLevi,thewriterremindshisreadersthatAbrahamonceofferedatithetoMelchizedekandreceivedfromhimablessingandso
concludedthatAbraham'stitheofferingandblessingwereLevi's.How?Because"he
(Levi)wasstillintheloinsofhisancestor(Abraham)whenMelchizedekmethim"(v.10).WeknowthatAbrahambegotIsaac,IsaacJacob,andJacobLevi.Leviwas
Abraham'sgreatgrandson.WhenAbrahamofferedthetitheandreceivedablessing,
Leviwasnotyetborn,norevenwerehisfatherandgrandfather.YettheBibleconsidersAbraham'stitheandblessingasLevi's.InasmuchasAbrahamislesserthanMelchizedek,
LevitooisoflessaccountthanMelchizedek.ThisincidentcanhelpustounderstandwhyAdam'ssinisconstruedtobethesinofallmenandwhythejudgmentuponChrist
iscountedasjudgmentforall.ItissimplybecauseatthetimeAdamsinned,allmen
werepresentlyinhisloins.Likewise,whenChristwasjudged,allwhowillbe
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regeneratedwerepresentinChrist.Hisjudgmentishencetakenastheirjudgment,and
allwhohavebelievedinChristshallnolongerbejudged.
Sincehumanitymustbejudged,theSonofGodeventhemanJesusChristsufferedin
hisspirit,soulandbodyonthecrossforthesinsoftheworld.
Letusfirstconsiderhisphysicalsufferings.Mansinsthroughhisbodyandthereenjoysthetemporarypleasureofsin.Thebodymustaccordinglybetherecipientof
punishment.WhocanfathomthephysicalsufferingsoftheLordJesusonthecross?Are
notChrist'ssufferingsinthebodyclearlyforetoldinthemessianicwritings?"Theyhavepiercedmyhandsandfeet"(Ps.22.16).TheprophetZechariahcalledattentionto"him
whomtheyhavepierced"(12.10).Hishands,Hisfeet,Hisbrow,Hisside,Hisheartwereallpiercedbymen,piercedbysinfulhumanityandpiercedforsinfulhumanity.Many
wereHiswoundsandhighranHisfeverfor,withtheweightofHiswholebodyhanging
unsupportedonthecross,Hisbloodcouldnotcirculatefreely.Hewasextremelythirstyandthereforecriedout,"Mytonguecleavestomyjaws""formythirsttheygaveme
vinegartodrink"(Ps.22.15,69.21).Thehandsmustbenailed,fortheylovetosin.Themouthmustsuffer,foritlovestosin.Thefeetmustbepierced,fortheylovetosin.The
browmustbecrownedwithathornycrown,forittoolovestosin.Allthatthehuman
bodyneededtosufferwasexecuteduponHisbody.ThusHesufferedphysicallyeventodeath.ItwaswithinHispowertoescapethesesufferings,yetHewillinglyofferedHis
bodytoendureimmeasurabletrialsandpains,neverforamomentshrinkingbackuntil
Heknewthat"allwasnowfinished"(John19.28).OnlythendidHedismisshisspirit.
NotHisbodyonly,Hissoulaswell,suffered.Thesoulistheorganofself-consciousness.
Beforebeingcrucified,Christwasadministeredwinemingledwithmyrrhasasedativetoalleviatepain,butHerefuseditasHewasnotwillingtoloseHisconsciousness.
Humansoulshavefullyenjoyedthepleasureofsins;accordinglyinHissoulJesuswould
endurethepainofsins.HewouldratherdrinkthecupgivenHimbyGodthanthecupwhichnumbedconsciousness.
Howshamefulisthepunishmentofthecross!Itwasusedtoexecuterunawayslaves.A
slavehadneitherpropertynorrights.Hisbodybelongedtohismaster;hecouldthereforebepunishedwiththemostshamefulcross.TheLordJesustooktheplaceofa
slaveandwascrucified.IsaiahcalledHimtheservant";PaulsaidHetooktheformofasl