In the last set of articles, we’ve put a spotlight on the believer, their identity, and sin. Today, I want us to continue along those lines by looking at sin and its effect on the soul.
Have you read Sin: A pattern to follow already? You should start there because it sheds light on some references within this article.
Let’s dive in.
Man as a tripartite being
As a human, you have a body, a soul, and a spirit. Apostle Paul, when praying for the Church in Thessalonica, writes:
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. I Thessalonians 5:23 NKJV
Let’s see what that actually looks like:
Apostle Paul in 1Cor.6 says that you and I as believers are joined to Lord and have one spirit. See I Corinthians 6:17 NKJV:
But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
The same Apostle in Romans 12:1-2 implores you and I to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to God and to renew our minds.
Romans 12:1 NKJV
[1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:2 NKJV
[2] And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Salvation’s effect on Man
A man who has believed the Gospel of Jesus now has the Spirit of God in him. As we saw earlier, you are joined to the Lord and now share one spirit.
Amazing, right?
Even though your Spirit is one with God, your soul (mind) needs to catch up with your Spirit. Your Spirit can be on a 10, and your soul is on 1; acting contradictory to the Spirit inside you.
That’s why, as a believer, you need to study the Bible. You’re teaching your soul the ways of God’s kingdom.
Consequently, your body is affected too because 1 Corinthians 6:19 says:
[19] Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
Verse 20 now says Glorify God in your body.
Why do some believers still struggle with sin?
Let’s explore 1 Peter 1:18 and its reference to traditions received from your fathers.
[18] knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers.
In writing to the Believers in Galatia, Asia, etc., Apostle Peter reminds them that their redemption from sin, aka aimless conduct received by tradition from their fathers, wasn’t by silver nor gold.
I find it interesting that Apostle Paul would consider some of the traditions passed on by some Fathers as needing redemption.
That’s why we consider sin as a pattern to follow because one person can start it and become an example for future generations to follow.
Also, traditions learnt in 10 years will not be automatically forgotten in 1 day. Consequently, you start to reconfigure your soul by the constant and consistent exposure to the word of God.
That’s why Romans 8:6 ERV says: If your thinking is controlled by your sinful self, there is spiritual death. But if your thinking is controlled by the Spirit, there is life and peace.
Your thinking or mind can only be controlled by the Spirit when you yield to God’s word.
For the believer still struggling with sin, these questions will help:
- Do you understand the Gospel of Christ?
- Have you let the word of God renew your mind?
- Are you still towing the lines of the aimless conduct received by tradition?
- Do you understand that it is God who keeps you from falling?
For the man who subjects his mind/soul continuously to God’s word, transformation and renewal of mind await him.
Thank you for reading – Funmi
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