Living Without Sin
The Holy Spirit empowers us to keep from sin, huh?
Are you filled with the Spirit?
Yes, I am.
Does one who is filled with the Spirit sin?
No.
Do you sin?
Well, of course. Humans aren’t perfect.
So then, you don’t have the Spirit?
Yes, I Do.
. . . ‘see the problem?
Apparently, our being is triune (three in one). We are spirit, and soul, and body.
1Th 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your wholeG3648 spiritG4151 and soulG5590 and bodyG4983 be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Whole G3648 ὁλοìκληρος holoklēros hol-ok'-lay-ros From G3650 and G2819; complete in every part, that is, perfectly sound (in body): - entire, whole.
Spirit G4151 πνεῦμα pneuma pnyoo'-mah From G4154; a current of air, that is, breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively a spirit, that is, (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, daemon, or (divine) God, Christ’s spirit, the Holy spirit: - ghost, life, spirit (-ual, -ually), mind. Compare G5590.
Soul G5590 ψυχηì psuchē psoo-khay' From G5594; breath, that is, (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from G4151, which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from G2222, which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew [H5315], [H7307] and [H2416]: - heart (+ -ily), life, mind, soul, + us, + you.
Body G4983 σῶμα sōma so'-mah From G4982; the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively: - bodily, body, slave.
Look in 1Cor 2,3, and see if it can be said also, that the natural man is the body, the spiritual man is the spirit, and the carnal man is the soul. The spirit is in touch with God, and lives eternally. The body knows only pain and pleasure. The soul, being in the middle, is the psyche and center of thought, and deals with both the body and spirit.
1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1Co 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1Co 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
The soul is otherwise known as “You”.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh [the body--carnal man] lusteth against the Spirit [the spiritual man], and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye [the soul] cannot do the things that ye would.
When “You” are born again, are you born of the flesh, or of the spirit?
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
So, now it makes perfect sense:
Romans 8
8. So then they that are in the flesh(the natural man) cannot please God.
9. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit (the spiritual man), if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
I John 3
6. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not (The spiritual man sinneth not): whosoever sinneth (the flesh) hath not seen him, neither known him (the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God).7. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness (the spirit) is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8. He that committeth sin (the natural man) is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil (the Gospel).
9. Whosoever is born of God (the spiritual man) doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
Is this only reckless surmising? Have I come short of true spiritual doctrine? I am always open to thoughtful correction according to the Word of God.
Is it cohesive and sound? Give God the Glory, and rejoice in the truth. What’s the point in holding on to church doctrine that only ends with unanswered questions?
In the name of Yehoshua ha Mashiach, and in His love,
Wesley Speck
