Oh.No. The subject was what works were necessary to be saved. Not sure why you broadened it to include more.
What works are necessary to be saved?
NONE.
We are saved by the grace of God,,,through faith.
Oh.No. The subject was what works were necessary to be saved. Not sure why you broadened it to include more.
Agree. The poster I was responding to seemed to believe there were. I was trying to get clarification.Oh.
What works are necessary to be saved?
NONE.
We are saved by the grace of God,,,through faith.
The problem with your post, and the reason for which I posted a "Disagree" icon is that you have conflated the spirit of man with the spirit of God. The illustration you provided doesn't even agree with your words.Not every man has a body, soul and spirit.
I'll give you the scripture,,,but sometimes to fully understand something the bible teaches, we DO need to
learn from those that study the bible. It DOES help us to understand better.
EVERY man has a body.
Every man has a soul.
Only saved persons have the spirit of God.
A body and soul = a person
A body, soul and spirit = a saved person
We all know what the body is.
The soul is: the mind, will and emotions of man
We all know what the spirit of God is.
Your verse:
1 Thessalonians 5:23
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I like this illustration:
![]()
i do NOT believe the spirit of God is the same as the spirit of man.The problem with your post, and the reason for which I posted a "Disagree" icon is that you have conflated the spirit of man with the spirit of God. The illustration you provided doesn't even agree with your words.
Paul said this: "May YOUR spirit, soul and body be kept blameless". He didn't say, "May your soul and body, along with God's spirit" be kept blameless...." That would be ridiculous!
Consider the following passages, that they indicate the spirit of man is distinct from the Spirit of God:
Hope you're on your keyboard because all the above is unnecessary.1 Chronicles 5:26, "So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria... who took the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile."
Whose spirit was stirred up? That of God, or that of Pul? Note the wording here is not "made alive" but simply "stirred up"; a temporary condition.
1 Corinthians 5:5 "hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord."
Is there any danger of the God's Spirit not being saved?
Consider also Paul's words regarding regeneration in Ephesians 2:1-5
Agreed.As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
In what way were we "dead" before being "made alive with Christ"? Physically? No; we were alive in mind and body. What part of us was made alive? Since we were already alive in mind and body, the only thing left is spirit.
Agreed.Our bodies and minds are made alive when God breathes life (physical) into us at conception. Our spirits are made alive when we accept salvation in Jesus Christ. We actually get a "double portion" because the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. The distinction between the two (ours and God's) is asserted, again by Paul:
Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
So, it is my view that Scripture teaches that humans are tripartite (spirit, soul and body), that the spirit of man is dead until made alive in Christ, and that the Holy Spirit resides in those made alive.
The nature of sin is spiritual, not natural. Lust in the heart is the spiritual seed of sin, not anything natural, whether dust, seed, flesh, blood, or bone. It's the spirit and soul that sins against God, and spiritually dies by sin.
When I've done word studies, in every case wkere sarx (flesh) or soma (body) appear, where the context specifies whether this is the physical body or something else, the physical body is meant.
2. Even as there are two different kinds of bodies revealed by Scripture, one natural and one spiritual, there is also two different kinds of flesh, one natural and one spiritual:When I've done word studies, in every case wkere sarx (flesh) or soma (body) appear, where the context specifies whether this is the physical body or something else, the physical body is meant.
I don't see a single instance in Scripture that tells us "the flesh" in which sin lives is anything other than the body itself.
I don't see a single instance in Scripture that tells us "the flesh" in which sin lives is anything other than the body itself.
My understanding is that the corruption of the flesh is just that, damage to the body, and in particular the brain.
When we are reborn, we begin the process of renewing the mind, which is to retrain our minds to follow the properties of our spirits,
If the word FLESH was used ONLY for the physical, some verses would make no sense...
here is one:
Romans 8:8
8Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
See? If flesh meant only the physical, Paul would be saying that no human that has a physical body could please God !
Great job ATG!2. Even as there are two different kinds of bodies revealed by Scripture, one natural and one spiritual, there is also two different kinds of flesh, one natural and one spiritual:
2Co 1:12
For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
Col 2:18
Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
1Pe 2:11
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
The fleshly wisdom, mind, and lusts are not the physical body, brain, and tissues. As with the spiritual body, not all things of the flesh in Scripture are the natural body. There is the spiritual man and body of fleshly lusts, and there is the outer man of natural flesh and blood.
It's the fleshly lusts of the heart that wars with the soul, and defiles the hidden man of the heart:
Mat 15:18
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
It's not the natural body eating natural things, that defiles the inner man. It's not the natural flesh that has sin in it's tissues, that lusts against the soul.
Rom 8:5
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
There is the spiritually minded inner man, and the fleshly minded. One has the mind of the Spirit, and the other's mind is on the flesh. One seeks the righteousness of God to please Him, and the other lusts for the flesh to please himself.
2Ti 3:2
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,…unthankful, unholy…lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
The natural flesh is no more responsible for the inner man's fleshly lusts, than the gun is for murdering a man.
I don't see a single instance in Scripture that tells us "the flesh" is that in which sin lives. Sin only lives in the fleshy minds of the sinful inner man.
"I don't see a single instance in Scripture that tells us "the flesh" is anything other than the body itself." Other than the many Scriptures speaking of a spiritual body of a man. And where the inner man of sin has a mind for flesh, not for Christ.
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?
Rom 8:5
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
The fleshly mind is the carnal mind of the sinful inner man, not the physical outward man. If having a natural body of flesh and blood is being carnal, then all men are carnal, including Jesus Christ come in the flesh.
But since being carnally minded is in opposition to spiritually minded, then the carnal or spiritual mind is of the spirit of a man, not of the physical body.
The corruption of the flesh is not sinful corruption, but only natural mortality of the flesh. Christ Himself makes naturally bodies for all creatures on earth. Natural flesh therefore is mortal but not sinful, since Christ does not make anything sinfully.
Jesus Christ does not make people with sin in our natural flesh, even as he does not make people to sin with our natural bodies.
And so now you fully argue as the natural man, where a man is only a body of natural flesh and blood, and the mind of a man is only the physical brain.
There is no spiritual man of the heart that is spiritually minded, but only the natural body, blood pump, and brain.
1Co 2:16
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
God does not have a natural brain, nor do His people have the brain of Jesus Christ.
The spiritual man has a spiritual body dwelling within the earthen vessel of the natural body. The spirit, heart, and mind of man created by God in His own image, is not the brain and blood pump of the natural flesh body.
The nature of sin is spiritual, not natural. Lust in the heart is the spiritual seed of sin, not anything natural, whether dust, seed, flesh, blood, or bone. It's the spirit and soul that sins against God, and spiritually dies by sin.
Ezek 18:4
Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
Only spiritual beings can sin against God, not the natural things of the earth.
Isa 14:12
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:
And so we see that all sin is spiritual in nature, having begun in heaven with the spirits of angels. And likewise, men and women on earth can also sin against God. Not because of natural flesh and blood, but only because of being created like the angels, with spiritual power to conceive our own lust against God:
Mat 15:18
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
Jas 1:14
Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
And so we see that the the nature of all sin is spiritual from the heart, not natural from the flesh.
And, While all angels and men are created with spiritual power to corrupt our own hearts with lust to sin, no angel nor man is created by God with the sin of lust:
Eze 28:15
Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee...Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness:
Jhn 1:2
The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made…That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
We are all first created by Christ with the pure heart of the Spirit, but with power to corrupt our heart to lust against the Spirit.
And, Though unlike the angels in heaven, men and women are created with the same natural bodies of all creatures created by God on earth:
Heb 1:7
And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
Psa 8:4
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Only the spiritual heart of angels and men have the power to lust and sin against God. The natural seed has no lust in it to sin. The natural tongue has no lust in it to sin. The third middle finger has no lust in it to sin.
Jas 4:5
Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
Only the spirit and soul of man is guilty of sinning with the natural body, not the body guilty of sinning against the soul.
“Well said. The carnally minded man is into the flesh, the same as the fornicator is into sex.”Well said. The carnally minded man is into the flesh, the same as the fornicator is into sex.
1Co 2:16
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
And if the mind of a man is only his brain, then we would have the brain of Jesus, rather than the mind of the Spirit.
Reducing man to the outer body, brain, and skin tissues is the natural man, who rejects the soul, spirit, and mind of the inner man created by God, that dwells in the outer body of dust.
Gen 2:5
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Romans 8:8
8Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
See? If flesh meant only the physical, Paul would be saying that no human that has a physical body could please God !
The problem is at the outset: Of course where ever flesh and body appear at one place in Scripture, it's only speaking of the natural body of flesh and blood. Therefore, that's meaningless to the Bible doctrine of bodies that are not natural, and of flesh that is not a natural body.
1. The inner man has a spiritual body, dwelling within the natural body.
1Co 15:44
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
2Co 4:16
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
2Co 4:7
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
The problem is at the outset: Of course where ever flesh and body appear at one place in Scripture, it's only speaking of the natural body of flesh and blood. Therefore, that's meaningless to the Bible doctrine of bodies that are not natural, and of flesh that is not a natural body.
Scripture says you are wrong.I don't see anyone being immune. As soon as children start to form thoughts and intents, they are sinful.
This is the evil judges of others thoughts on steroids.
Jas 2:4
Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
The only way for anyone to presume this, is if they remembered their own first thoughts, and they were evil. Or, they judge it as only natural being born sinful from the womb.
I'm still waiting on any such Faith Aloner judge to say, that they ever welcomed their newborn babe into the world, with "My own little child of hell! You evil little thing! I know your first little thought will be filthy!"
This is another pseudo-Christian lie, that Faith Aloners spew out in the name of Christ, for the world to have cause to despise and blaspheme His name.
Rom 2:24
For the name of God is blasphemed among the nations through you, as it is written.
Jesus Christ does not make little baby devils, whose only thoughts are evil from the womb. Even having to say this is a shame.
Before looking at your answer, I'd like to throw out a simple challenge:As I continue to consider this question, I think there is one passage that defines for us an answer:
The course of this world is the context. Which course is given by the devil. Which course is disobedience to God. It's the course given by the devil, that is now working in them disobeying God. That is not now working in them obeying God.Ephesians 2:2-3 KJV
2) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past
In the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind;
The Scripture speaks of people on earth that have sinned with corrupt hearts and evil imaginations. Not of babes created by Christ from the womb, that have done neither good nor evil:Scripture says you are wrong.
Genesis 6:5 The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
Romans 3:23 all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...
Now this is well said. Lust of the heart can addict the body.flesh ….v spirit
when you eat a forbidden food you conceive of it in your mind and heart first but then the action is done with the flesh . And so the flesh begins to lust after that thing which it tastes having no original lust the flesh developed a hunger for the carnal
think of like an addiction .
Exactly. The Spirit of the Lord strives with the hearts of men, not with their bodies.your right the seed is spiritual / emotional but the commission is fleshly and carnal . And so you end up seeing how the contention began early
“And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.”
Genesis 6:3 KJV
Since you don't show any other conclusion from Scriptures given, then it's just your unbelief in Scriptures given.Not a single one of these verses suggests that "'the inner man has a spiritual body, dwelling within the natural body". That is simply unbiblical hogwash.
Natural theology of the soul being the body, and not departing from the body at death, is false.The physical body dies. It doesn't "release" a spiritual body that was hidden within; it is changed.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.