God Needs All of You.

Last week's sermon discussed the three parts of a person: body, soul, and spirit. These parts are evident from the creation of man in Genesis 2:7. God formed Adam's physical body and breathed in a living spirit, forming the individual soul that He named Adam. Each part of the human person has a responsibility to God. Those who look to you as an example need to see you following the Lord with the whole of your being.

Body

Scriptures show that God reveres the human body. It has a sacred nature because it was created with divine hands and has been purchased with Jesus' blood. Christ washed the feet of His disciples, and they cared for His body after His death. Mosaic law shows that the human body has a sacred aspect. God Himself buried the body of Moses after his death. The Father gave the Son a resurrected body, in which He will return to rule the earth. If you are in Christ, your body belongs to God as a Temple of His Spirit.

Soul

The soul is created by the combination of the body and spirit. It is the nephesh in Hebrew or psuche in Greek (the same root as "psychology"). The soul is best described as a person's immaterial individuality. "Soul" is often used to represent the whole person. One author explained, "Because the soul can stand for the person and the spirit (which is the personality of a man), there arise what appear to be overlappings between the soul and the spirit in Scripture." But the Bible differentiates between the soul and the spirit.

Spirit

The spirit is where we find the image of God. It is the part of us that relates and communicates with God. This includes our rational ability, morality, spiritual aspect, intelligence, self-determination, and personality. It is our job to develop the spirit so our body and soul are governed well. The Bible teaches that the condition of the spirit affects the soul and the body. A spirit convicted of sin brings physical pain to the body (Psalm 32:3-4). When a child's spirit is broken, their bodies hurt as a result (Proverbs 17:22, 18:14, Colossians 3:21).

Responsibility

The whole of you is sacred to your Creator. In the same way, we should consider each other as sacred. One aspect is respecting others' bodies, as explained in 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8. We must not do anything to harm a fellow believer in body, soul, or spirit. Instead, we strive to build each other up in discipleship and help each other pursue the will of God. His will is for us to be sanctified wholly. Keep this focus in mind: Only eternal things matter!

Application Points

• In Christ, your body belongs to God. You don't have any rights; God determines how you are to use the body He created and redeemed. Reverence the fact that everywhere you go, God is present in everything you do.
• What are you doing to maintain your spirit? When you tend to your spirit, you will find the ability to care for your body and soul as well.
• We are responsible to respect each other in soul, spirit, and body. When you are tempted to use your physical body in a way that God forbids, remember the sacredness of the person. You are both Temples of the Holy Spirit if you are believers, called to be Light in a dark culture.
• Dads, do your children see you worshipping and following Christ with all that you are? Do you prioritize eternal things? Do they know who you are witnessing to or wanting to challenge spiritually?

Tools for Further Study

Cross References to Explore

• Psalm 73:1-28 – How to settle the whole of your being in God's presence.
• 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, Psalm 139:15-16 – The sacred nature of the human body.
• John 13:3-17, Luke 22:19, John 19:38-42 – Care for the body in the life of Christ.
• Proverbs 19:15, Ezekiel 18:20 – The soul stands for the whole person.
• Psalm 51:10, Proverbs 20:27, John 4:24, Romans 8:16, 12:2, 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 – New Testament teaching on the spirit.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – Sanctification includes the whole self.

A Hymn to Encourage: "I Am His, and He Is Mine"

Loved with everlasting love,
Led by grace that love to know;
Spirit, breathing from above,
Thou hast taught me it is so.
Oh, this full and perfect peace!
Oh, this transport all divine!
In a love which cannot cease,
I am His, and He is mine.

Heaven above is softer blue,
Earth around is sweeter green;
Something lives in every hue
Christless eyes have never seen:
Birds with gladder songs o’erflow,
Flow’rs with deeper beauties shine,
Since I know, as now I know,
I am His, and He is mine.

His forever, only His:
Who the Lord and me shall part?
Ah, with what a rest of bliss
Christ can fill the loving heart.
Heaven and earth may fade and flee,
Firstborn light in gloom decline;
But, while God and I shall be,
I am His, and He is mine.