top of page

We are spirits: the spirit is not the soul.

Updated: Feb 22


Mbalay reflection of GOD. Djarama Beloved. Excellent Year! Blossom and full development! Do not rush to make commitments. Take time with GOD before defining your objectives. May JESUS speak to you. May the LORD search your heart and show you what needs to be uprooted, corrected, healed, sown and watered. May He light your paths (Psalms 119:10) and sprinkle you with fresh oil (Psalms 92:10). Be that fertile ground, in which the seed of the word, watered by prayer and maintained by obedience, bears many fruits and bless multitudes.


It's good to explain why we say what we say. Dr Myles Munroe (1954-2014) said "Communication is the ability to ensure that people understand not only what you say but also what you mean. It is also the ability to listen to and understand others." If you didn't know why we say we are spirits, I pray this article will enlighten you.

  1. We are spirits: All created in the image and likeness of GOD

  2. The spirit is not the soul




" 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. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again."

(John 3:5-7, KJV)

" Now may the GOD of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit [Pneuma, Strong n° 4151, Greek], soul [Psuche, strong n°5590, Greek], and body [Soma, Strong n° 4983, Greek], be preserved blameless at the coming of our LORD JESUS CHRIST."

(1 Thessaloniciens 5:23, NKJV)

" Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness... So GOD created man in His own image; in the image of GOD He created [bara, Strong n°1254, Hebrew] him; male and female He created them."

(Genesis1:26, NKJV)





We are individual spirits, with a soul, resident in a body. In my opinion, if there are any verses that make this clear it is these four: Genesis 1:26, Genesis 2:7, John 3:6, and 1 Thessalonians 5:23. They are not the only ones, but for me, they are the most explicit.




1. We are spirits: All created in the image and likeness of GOD.


" Then GOD said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness..." (Genesis 1:26, NKJV)


GOD is spirit (John 4:24). This means that His substance (His foundation, His nature) is not material. He Himself says that He created us in His image and according to His likeness. We are all without exception, created in the image and likeness of GOD. Each of us, whatever our color, weight, height, or morphology, with or without a disability, is a reflection of GOD through our qualities (character), abilities (aptitudes, gifts, intelligence, talents, etc.), and the quality of our relationships with others. We all are trademarks of GOD, valued in the blood of JESUS. This does not mean that we perfectly reflect GOD, but that within each of us is a measure of the image and likeness of GOD. It is not surprising to see children physically resembling their parents or descendants, or inheriting their gifts and talents. And this is the case even for adopted children. I have cousins who were adopted and frankly, just as much as my cousins by bloodline, they manifest gifts and talents from their adoptive parents.


GOD never lies. He Himself says that He created us in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:26) and JESUS who is the Truth says "GOD is spirit" (John 4:24). So => We are spirits.


Since For GOD loves unconditionally and eternally (Jeremiah 31:3; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:8), we are all equal in dignity and rights. A Christian is no more loved by GOD than an unbeliever, pagan or backslider. It is very important to understand this. It is explicitly written, "For GOD so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son [for all], that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16).


I open parenthesis before continuing. The fairest of men is no more loved by GOD than the worst of them. However, GOD is not only Love, he is also Truth and Holiness. GOD is responsible, patient, not lax. GOD never lies. He will never lie for love. GOD is HOLY, so He will never commit a sin for love. Justice (Righteousness) and judgment are the foundation of His throne. I sometimes tell people, "Just because you reject GOD doesn't mean He ceases to exist. Just because you don't understand His Word, doesn't mean it's not true. Science is not opposed to GOD, nor to faith. It is Men (believers and unbelievers) who use it to justify their actions, opinions, words and cover their ignorance." If you are Cameroonian, it does not matter if people think you are Japanese. You are no less Cameroonian. You don't become Japanese when people think you are. Either you are or you are not. GOD will not cease to exist if I decide not to believe in him. He "is" GOD. I close the parenthesis.


2. The spirit is not the soul


" Now may the GOD of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit [Pneuma, Strong n°4151, Greek], soul [Psuche, Strong n° 5590, Greek], and body [Soma, Strong n° 4983, Greek], be preserved blameless at the coming of our LORD JESUS CHRIST." (1 Thessalonicians 5:23, NKJV)


" For the word [Logos, Strong n° 3056, Greek] of GOD is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul [Psuche, Strong n° 5590, Greek] and spirit [Pneuma, Strong n° 4151, Greek], and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, NKJV)


Some people say that the soul and the spirit are the same part of the human being. Several verses in the Bible refer to us as souls (Genesis 2:7, Psalm 62:2, Matthew 12:6, James 5:20, Psalm 42:12, Matthew 10:28, Ezekiel 18:4, etc.). The most commonly cited are Genesis 2:7, James 5:20, and Ezekiel 18:4. It is sometimes difficult to separate the soul and the spirit. I readily admit that. But we should not say what the Bible does not say. Would we say that two sisters are in reality only one person, on the pretext that we do not know how to differentiate them?



🙂 GOD (the FATHER) said "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit [Ruwach, Strong #7307, Hebrew] within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26, NKJV)


🙂 JESUS said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of GOD ". (John 3:3, LSG). If the spirit and the soul were the same part of the human being, JESUS would never have spoken of the new birth. He clarified two verses later: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of GOD. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:5-6, LSG). It is not the soul that is born again, but the spirit. (John 3:5-6, LSG


🙂 Inspired by the HOLY SPIRIT SAINT-ESPRIT apostle Paul said " Now may the GOD of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit [Pneuma, Strong #4151, Greek], soul [Psuche, Strong #5590, Greek], and body [Soma, Strong n° 4983, Greek], be preserved blameless at the coming of our LORD JESUS CHRIST."

GOD never lies, whether the FATHER, the SON, or the HOLY SPIRIT. JESUS is the Truth and the HOLY SPIRIT knows all things (John 14:26, 1 Corinthians 2:11, Romans 8:26-27). If they say the spirit is different from the soul, it means truly, the spirit is different from the soul.





** Mbalay/Angaya = Good morning in mafa/mofa/matakam (Cameroun/Nigeria)

** Djarama = Good morning in fulfudé/foulani (Cameroun, Nigéria)


To go further

- Who I am?, Derek Prince (1915-2003)

- TheSpiritual Man, Watchman Nee (1903 - 1972

- Spirit, Soul, Body, Andrew Wommack




0 comments

Comments


bottom of page