Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
We are a three-part being, comprising of body, soul, and spirit. Our body doesn’t change after we have accepted Christ. The Bible tells us that it is the “spirit man” that is totally new. Therefore, what is left to be transformed is the soul. This Scripture tells us that the soul is a different entity from the spirit. The “spirit man” is a new creation—made alive and has communication with the Holy Spirit. However, the soul, or the work of the flesh, might be a hindrance in allowing the Spirit to reign in us because our will and volition is in the realm of the soul. Because God respects our decisions, even though the Holy Spirit will prompt us to do what is right, He will not impose us to do it. It is the soul that holds our decision making.
The soul is very self-centred. It is inclined to respond to all the senses that come from the body if we would allow it to. It is accustomed to doing and saying what we like without accountability or restraint. Because the lust of the world and the lust of the flesh used to govern our soul, our soul desires to have immediate gratification whether it is sex, money, or power. The lust for sex comes through what we read, watch, listen to, and through our thought life, whereas the lust for power and money will cause somebody to apply unethical and unscrupulous means to get it. We want all the pleasures of this life including material goods, wealth, or social status.
While the “spirit man” is born again and completely new, the soul must be retrained and renewed for it to come in line with the Word of God. The Word of God can help us to differentiate what is coming out of our “spirit man” and thoughts that are from the soul. If our mind is not renewed, our thought life which is subject to the world’s influence can be very carnal. Therefore, we need to subdue the work of the flesh and choose to walk in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:18 (NKJV) But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
We need to yield to the Holy Spirit to live victoriously over sin. Used to living in the realm of the soul, we need to train our soul so that it doesn’t hinder our Christian living. When the mind has been renewed and is informed that we are no longer a slave to the law of sin and death but are empowered by the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, more victories over the flesh will be seen daily.
Sermon Series: The Make-up of Man (Part 2)
我的魂，我的思想
希伯来书4:12 神的道是活泼的，是有功效的，比一切两刃的剑更快，甚至魂与灵，骨节与骨髓，都能刺入、剖开，连心中的思念和主意都能辨明。
人是由体、魂，灵三部分组成的。我们接受主耶稣基督以后，身体没有任何改变。但是圣经告诉我们这全新的部分是“人的灵”。那么剩下来需要被改变的就是魂。开篇的经文告诉我们：“魂”是不同于“灵”的实体。“灵人”是新的创造物—是活的并且与圣灵相通。然而，魂–或称血气的工作—可能阻碍我们，使我们不愿让圣灵掌管，因为我们的意志和自愿是属于魂的范畴。另一方面，上帝尊重我们的决定，即便圣灵会提醒我们去做对的事，但祂不会强迫我们去做。掌管我们作决定的是魂。
人的魂是很自我中心的。魂倾向于对来自身体的所有感知都作出回应—如果我们放任他的话。魂很习惯于或做或说我们喜欢的事且既不交账也不自我约束。这是因为世界的情欲和肉体的情欲习以为常地掌控着我们的魂，我们的魂渴望得到即刻的满足，无论是性爱、金钱、还是权力。性爱的情欲来自我们所阅读、观看、倾听，和思想的。而权力和金钱则让人们不择手段我们要拥有今生全部的享乐，包括物质物品、财富或社会地位。
当“灵人”重生以后，它是全新的。于是魂一定要被重新训练和更新，才能使之与上帝的话一致。上帝的话能帮助我们区别什么是从“灵人”来的，什么是魂的想法。如果我们的心意没有被更新，我们受到世俗的影响的思想就会非常属肉体。因此我们需要制服肉体的工作，并且选择行在圣灵里面。
加拉太书5：18：但你们若被圣灵引导，就不在律法以下。
我们需要顺服圣灵来克服罪性活出得胜的生命。习惯于活在魂的境界里的我们需要锻炼魂，这样魂才不会拦阻我们过基督徒的生活。当我们的想法被上帝的话语完全更新后，我们就不再做罪和死亡的奴隶，而是借着基督耶稣复活生命之灵的律，我们每天都会看到更多的得胜。
讲章系列：人的组成（第二部分）
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