Spirit soul - what are the differences between the spirit and sould

Spirit soul – The purpose of this study is to emphasize the key aspects that make the soul different from the spirit, while recognizing that there are many similarities between the soul and the spirit. This distinction is extremely helpful in better understanding salvation, holiness, death, hell and the final judgment day. Blurring the distinction between the soul and spirit can lead to confusion and error in understanding these important truths of the Bible. The soul is that part of a person that provides a connection to the physical creation, while the spirit is that part that provides connection to God. Please consider the video below or continue the study below the video.

Both the Spirit and Soul Experience Emotions

Positive Emotions

Negative Emotions

The Soul’s Connection with the Flesh / Earth

Summary

The soul is closely connected to the body (flesh)

Connection between Soul (H5315) and Land (G776)

‘Soul’ refers to ‘Life’ on earth

A Living Soul – The connection between H2416 and H5315

The Soul is in the Blood

The Spirit’s Connection to God

The Christian’s Spirit is in Conflict with the Flesh

Until physical death, the fundamental differences between the soul and the spirit are these:

Unsaved (non-Christian) person:

Body is alive
Soul is alive (in control of body of flesh, earthly focused)
Spirit is dead (connection with God is lost, cannot spiritually discern)

Saved (genuine Christian) person:

Body is alive
Soul is alive (soul will be saved on Judgment Day but still earthly focused due to the fleshly desires, but can discern God and spiritual things due to the existence of a born-again spirit)
Spirit is alive (born again, saved, perfect, in a war with fleshly lusts, connected to God’s spiritual truth, led by the Holy Spirit, spiritual things in the Bible is the focus of the Christian)

Both the Spirit and Soul Experience Emotions

Although some have taught that the soul is the seat of emotions, a careful review of the Bible reveals that this is not true. Both the soul and the spirit experience emotions. It is important to note that the following references is not intended to be exhaustive, but is provided to simply show that both the spirit and the soul have emotions.

Positive Emotions

Spirit:

Love – Ro 15:20, Col 1:18, 2 Tim 1:7, Gal 5:22
Humility – Mat 5:3, Is 51:17, Is 57:15, Is 66:2, Ps 34:18, Pr 16:19, Pr 29:23, Num 14:24
Rejoice– Lk 10:21, Col 2:5
Indignation– John 11:33, 38, 2 Tim 1:7
Humility / contrition – Is 57:15, Ps 34:18,
Gentleness – 1 Cor 4:21, 1 Pet 3:4
Compelled – Acts 18:5, Acts 19:21, Acts 20:22
Fervent – Acts 18:25, Ro 12:11

Soul:

Love – Lk 10:27, Mk 12:30, Ps 42:1, Song 1:7
Magnify / praise – Lk 1:46-47
Humility – Ps 35:13, Lam 3:20
Pleasure – Heb 10:38-39
Rejoice – Is 61:10, Ps 86:4, Ps 35:9

Negative Emotions

Spirit:

Sigh / groan in the spirit – Mk 8:12, Ro 8:23 (see also Mk 7:34, 2 Cor 5:1-4)
Troubled / provoked / stirred – John 13:21, 2 Cor 2:13, Acts 17:16, Is 61:3
Vexed – Ecc 1:14, 17, 2:11, etc.
Haughtiness / pride – Pr 16:18, Pr 29:23
Jealousy – Num 5:14
Lust – Hos 4:12, 5:4
Stupor / spiritual sleep – Ro 11:8, Is 29:10
Fear – 2 Tim 1:7, Ro 8:15
Bitterness – Ez 3:14
Anguish – Job 7:11, Ex 6:9, Job 7:11

Soul:

Desire – Deut 14:26, Jer 22:27, Gen 34:8, Ps 63:1
Suspense (doubt), instability – John 10:24, 2 Pet 2:14
Vexation – 2 Pet 2:8, Job 19:2, Ps 6:3
Lust – Rev 18:14
Fear – Acts 2:43
Tribulation / anguish – Ro 2:9, 1 Sam 30:6, Jud 10:16, Job 30:25
Hate / disdain – 2 Sam 5:8, Ps 107:18, Ez 36:5
Bitterness – 1 Sam 1:10, Job 3:20, Job 7:11
Anguish – Gen 42:21, Ro 2:9
Weary – Jer 4:31

The Soul’s Connection with the Flesh / Earth

Summary

In the original creation, God breathed His spirit into Adam and he became a living soul (Gen 2:7). We saw a relationship between God’s breath and God’s spirit (e.g., Is 42:5, Job 34:14-15). But, it is important to note that by placing the spirit into Adam (flesh), he became a living soul. Therefore, we find that the soul is a product of joining a spirit and flesh.

There are differences between the spirit and soul in four key Bible passages: 1 Thess 5:23, Heb 4:12, 1 Cor 15:44-45 and Jude 19. In addition, Lk 23:43-46 and Psalm 31:5 terach that that Jesus’ Spirit went to be with the Father at his death, while His Soul suffered in Hades until His resurrection (Acts 2:25-32, Ps 16:10). The fact that Jesus’ spirit and soul went to different ‘places’ also indicate a difference between the Soul and Spirit of Jesus. On one hand we see that Jesus commended His spirit into the hands of the Father and He told the thief on the cross next to Him who was dying, that they would be together in Paradise that very day. On the other hand, we find in the Bible that when Jesus died, His soul went to be in hades (translated as hell or grave):

He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. (Act 2:31-32)

It is important to observe in the above verses that the soul of Jesus is closely identified with the flesh of Jesus in that they were both affected by the death of Jesus Christ (while the Spirit returned to the Father).

In Hebrews 4:12, we find God teaching us that the Word of God can divide asunder between the spirit and the soul. This would not be possible unless these were two different things.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Heb 4:12)

This is another important proof-text that the ‘soul’ and ‘spirit’ are different entities. Although closely connected, the spirit and soul are actually differing parts of a person. As we can see in the above passage in Hebrews 4:12 is that the spirit and soul can be separated. They can be divided asunder.

As we learned in Chapter 1, ‘thoughts’ (Greek: enthumesis) means to deliberate or be ‘in passion’. The word intents is the Greek word ennoia, which literal means ‘in the mind’. Therefore, once again, the parallel of thoughts (soul) and intents (spirit) can be seem as two closely related means for one to take action. The intents involves deliberate decision-making or passion which is related to emotion and the production of actions, while the spirit is related to the deeper inner thinking that is the basis for the actions. However, the soul is connected to passion and the spirit is connected to the mind. In other words, the soul would be more closely tied to the passions of the flesh, while the spirit in more closely connected with the functioning of the mind.

In 1 Corinthians 15:44-45, we find a difference between a soul-body and a spirit-body, which will be granted Christ’s elect in the Resurrection:

It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. (1Co 15:44-45)

…My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word. (Psa 119:25)

The first body, which is fleshly is that which is from Adam who was made of the earth (1 Cor 15:45-47). The resurrected body is spiritual, which is of the Lord Jesus from heaven (1 Cor 15:47-48). The first ‘soulish-body’ bore the image of Adam, but, the second body bears the image of the heavenly (1 Cor 15:49). Also, we find in Ps 119:25, that one’s soul cleaves closely to the dust of the earth. Therefore, the soul more closely reflects a relationship with the flesh, while the spirit more closely reflects a relationship with God.

These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. (Jud 1:19)

Jude 19 is another important Scripture that distinguishes between the soul and spirit. Jude 19, in context, is discussing false teachers in the church who are unsaved. They are described as ‘sensual’ (which is actually the Greek word psuchikos, which literally means ‘soulish’). Therefore, this verse could have been translated as describing the false teachers as ‘soulish’ not having the Spirit. In the context, the Spirit would refer to the Holy Spirit, but this verse highlights that one who does not have the Holy Spirit is spiritually dead and the soul is in control of the body. In Romans 8:14-16 teaches us that it is only those whose spirit is led by the Holy Spirit that re the sons of God. If the Holy Spirit is not indwelling a person, the person’s spirit cannot be led and they are effectively spiritually dead and need of a new birth of the spirit (John 3:3-5). To be born again (1 Pet 1:23, John 1:13, 3:3-7) means to be spiritually reborn.

The soul is closely connected to the body (flesh)

Our bodies are soul-bodies (1 Cor 15:44-45) and provides a connection to the physical creation (Ps 119:25)
The life (soul) is in the blood (Lev 17:10-16, John 6:53-54, Gen 9:4, etc.)
The natural (soulish) man receives not the things of the Spirit of God, since they are foolishness to him (1 Cor 2:14)
Soul and Flesh Thirst for God:
- …my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is (Psa 63:1)
- My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. (Psa 84:2)

Connection between Soul (H5315) and Land (G776)

And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. (Gen 1:20)
And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. (Gen 1:24)
And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. (Gen 1:30)
And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth. (Gen 9:10)
And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. (Gen 9:16)
And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. (Gen 12:5)
And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob. (Gen 36:6)
Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. (Exo 12:19)
Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. (Exo 23:9)
And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; (Lev 4:27)
For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (Lev 11:44)
This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: (Lev 11:46)
The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes. (Lev 26:43)
And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compas) the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. (Num 21:4)
And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee. (Jos 2:14)
And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing. (Jos 9:24)
And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof. (Jos 23:14)
And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? (1Sa 28:9)
For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him. (2Sa 14:14)
And so return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name: (1Ki 8:48)
If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name: (2Ch 6:38)
He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place? (Job 18:4)
Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah. (Psa 7:5)
All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. (Psa 22:29)
His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth. (Psa 25:13)
The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. (Psa 41:2)
my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill (Psa 42:6)
For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth. (Psa 44:25)
A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; (Psa 63:1)
But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. (Psa 63:9)
Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD. (Psa 104:35)
For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. (Psa 143:3)
I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah. (Psa 143:6)
As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. (Pro 25:25)
With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. (Isa 26:9)
But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over. (Isa 51:23)
Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited. (Jer 6:8)
And I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place; and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hands of them that seek their lives: and their carcases will I give to be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth. (Jer 19:7)
But to the land whereunto they desire to return, thither shall they not return. (Jer 22:27)
Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul. (Jer 32:41)
I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life: and their dead bodies shall be for meat unto the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth. (Jer 34:20)
So that none of the remnant of Judah, which are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall escape or remain, that they should return into the land of Judah, to the which they have a desire to return to dwell there: for none shall return but such as shall escape. (Jer 44:14)
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey. (Eze 36:5)

‘Soul’ refers to ‘Life’ on earth

It is important to see that often in the Bible, the original Greek and Hebrew words for soul are used in referring to one’s life on the earth. In these cases, the Greek word (G5590, psuche) and the Hebrew word (H5315, nephesh) is often translated into the English word ‘life’.

New Testament occurrences of ‘life’ (H5590, literally, soul):

Mat 2:20, Mat 6:25, Mat 10:39, Mat 16:25, Mat 20:28, Mar 3:4, Mar 8:35, Mar 10:45, Luk 6:9, Luk 9:24, Luk 12:22, Luk 12:23, Luk 14:26, Luk 17:33, Joh 10:11, Joh 10:15, Joh 10:17, Joh 12:25, Joh 13:37, Joh 13:38, Joh 15:13, Act 20:10, Act 20:24, Act 27:22, Rom 11:3, Rom 16:4, Php 2:30, 1Jn 3:16, Rev 8:9
- And the second angel poured out his vial on the sea. And it became like the blood of a dead one, and every living soul died in the sea. (Rev 16:3)
- The soul (blood) of Christ:
  - In whom we have redemption through his blood … (Col 1:14)
  - And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Heb 9:22)
  - Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when you shall make His soul an offering for sin … (Isa 53:10)
  - Because you will not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (Act 2:27)

Old Testament occurrences of ‘life’ (H5315, literally, soul):

Gen 1:20, Gen 1:30, Gen 2:7, Gen 9:4, Gen 9:5, Gen 19:17, Gen 19:19, Gen 32:30, Gen 44:30, Exo 4:19, Exo 21:23, Exo 21:30, Lev 17:11, Lev 17:14, Num 35:31, Deu 4:9, Deu 12:23, Deu 19:21, Deu 24:6, Jos 2:14, Jdg 9:17, Jdg 12:3, Jdg 16:30, Jdg 18:25, Rth 4:15, 1Sa 19:5, 1Sa 19:11, 1Sa 20:1, 1Sa 22:23, 1Sa 23:15, 1Sa 25:29, 1Sa 26:24, 1Sa 28:9, 1Sa 28:21, 2Sa 1:9, 2Sa 4:8, 2Sa 14:7, 2Sa 16:11, 2Sa 18:13, 2Sa 19:5, 1Ki 1:12, 1Ki 2:23, 1Ki 3:11, 1Ki 19:2, 1Ki 19:3, 1Ki 19:4, 1Ki 19:10, 1Ki 19:14, 1Ki 20:31, 1Ki 20:39, 1Ki 20:42, 2Ki 1:13, 2Ki 1:14, 2Ki 7:7, 2Ki 10:24, 2Ch 1:11, Est 7:3, Est 7:7, Est 8:11, Job 2:4, Job 2:6, Job 3:20, Job 6:11, Job 7:15, Job 9:21, Job 10:1, Job 13:14, Job 31:39, Job 33:18, Job 33:20, Job 33:22, Job 33:28, Job 36:14, Psa 7:5, Psa 26:9, Psa 31:13, Psa 38:12, Psa 66:9, Psa 78:50, Psa 88:3, Psa 143:3, Pro 1:19, Pro 3:22, Pro 6:26, Pro 7:23, Pro 11:30, Pro 12:10, Pro 13:3, Pro 13:8, Isa 15:4, Isa 43:4, Jer 4:30, Jer 11:21, Jer 21:7, Jer 21:9, Jer 22:25, Jer 34:20, Jer 34:21, Jer 38:2, Jer 38:16, Jer 39:18, Jer 44:30, Jer 45:5, Jer 49:37, Lam 2:19, Lam 3:58, Eze 32:10, Jon 1:14, Jon 4:3.

A Living Soul – The connection between H2416 and H5315

It is important to note the relationship between ‘life’ and ‘soul’. In fact, Gen 2:7 is a fundamental verse that teaches us that the soul (H5315) is a result of the breath of life being placed into a body which results in a living (H2416) soul (H5315):

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (H2416); and man became a living (H2416) soul (H5315). (Gen 2:7)

The following passages in the Old Testament also contain both the words life / living (H2416) and soul (H5315):

Gen 1:20, Gen 1:21, Gen 1:24, Gen 1:30, Gen 2:7, Gen 2:19, Gen 9:5, Gen 9:10, Gen 9:12, Gen 9:15, Gen 9:16, Lev 5:2, Lev 11:10, Lev 11:46, Deu 4:9, Deu 30:6, Jdg 16:30, 1Sa 1:26, 1Sa 17:55, 1Sa 20:3, 1Sa 25:26, 1Sa 25:29, 2Sa 4:9, 2Sa 11:11, 2Sa 14:19, 1Ki 1:29, 1Ki 20:32, 2Ki 2:2, 2Ki 2:4, 2Ki 2:6, 2Ki 4:30, Job 3:20, Job 9:21, Job 10:1, Job 12:10, Job 27:2, Job 33:18, Job 33:20, Job 33:22, Job 33:28, Job 33:30, Job 36:14, Psa 7:5, Psa 26:9, Psa 42:2, Psa 49:18, Psa 56:13, Psa 66:9, Psa 74:19, Psa 78:50, Psa 84:2, Psa 88:3, Psa 143:3, Pro 3:22, Pro 11:30, Jer 38:16, Lam 3:58, Eze 14:20, Eze 47:9, Jon 4:3, Jon 4:8.

And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. (Gen 1:20)
And God created ()great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was (Gen 1:21)
And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. (Gen 1:24)
And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given() every green herb for meat: and it was so. (Gen 1:30)
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. (Gen 2:7)
And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. (Gen 2:19)
And surely ()your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require () the life of man. (Gen 9:5)
And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth. (Gen 9:10)
And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: (Gen 9:12)
And I will remember ()my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. (Gen 9:15)
And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. (Gen 9:16)
Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty. (Lev 5:2)
And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you: (Lev 11:10)
This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: (Lev 11:46)
Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget ()the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons; (Deu 4:9)
And the LORD thy God will circumcise ()thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love () the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. (Deu 30:6)
And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life. (Jdg 16:30)
And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. (1Sa 1:26)
And when Saul saw ()David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell. (1Sa 17:55)
And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death. (1Sa 20:3)
Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal. (1Sa 25:26)
Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek ()thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling. (1Sa 25:29)
And David answered ()Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed () my soul out of all adversity, (2Sa 4:9)
And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do ()this thing. (2Sa 11:11)
And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from ought that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put () all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid: (2Sa 14:19)
And the king sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed ()my soul out of all distress, (1Ki 1:29)
So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Benhadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother. (1Ki 20:32)
And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel. (2Ki 2:2)
And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho. (2Ki 2:4)
And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on. (2Ki 2:6)
And the mother of the child said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed (2Ki 4:30)
Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul; (Job 3:20)
Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life. (Job 9:21)
My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. (Job 10:1)
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. (Job 12:10)
As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul; (Job 27:2)
He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. (Job 33:18)
So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat. (Job 33:20)
Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers. (Job 33:22)
He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. (Job 33:28)
To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living. (Job 33:30)
They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean. (Job 36:14)
Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah. (Psa 7:5)
Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: (Psa 26:9)
My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? (Psa 42:2)
Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself. (Psa 49:18)
For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living? (Psa 56:13)
Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved. (Psa 66:9)
deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever. (Psa 74:19)
He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence; (Psa 78:50)
My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. (Psa 84:2)
For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave. (Psa 88:3)
For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. (Psa 143:3)
So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. (Pro 3:22)
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is (Pro 11:30)
So Zedekiah the king sware secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, As the LORD liveth, ()that made us() this soul, I will not put thee to death, neither will I give thee into the hand of these men that seek () thy life. (Jer 38:16)
Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life. (Lam 3:58)
Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness. (Eze 14:20)
And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. (Eze 47:9)
Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, ()my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live. (Jon 4:3)
And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live. (Jon 4:8)

The Soul is in the Blood

The soul is in the blood
- But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. (Gen 9:4)
- And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. (Gen 9:5)
- Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off from his people. (Lev 7:27)
- And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people. (Lev 17:10)
- For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. (Lev 17:11)
- Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood. (Lev 17:12)
- For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off. (Lev 17:14)
- Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh. (Deu 12:23)
- Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past. (Deu 19:6)
- That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood. (Jos 20:3)
- These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation. (Jos 20:9)
- For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause? (1Sa 19:5)
- Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal. (1Sa 25:26)
- And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men. (2Sa 23:17)
- And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest. (1Ch 11:19)
- He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight. (Psa 72:14)
- They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood. (Psa 94:21)
- And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own (Pro 1:18)
- A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him. (Pro 28:17)
- He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. (Isa 66:3)
- Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these. (Jer 2:34)
- Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. (Eze 22:27)
- He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. (Eze 33:5)
- But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand. (Eze 33:6)
- Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee. (Jon 1:14)

The Spirit’s Connection to God

Worship:

God is spirit and they that worship Him, must worship Him is spirit and in truth – John 4:24

The Things of God are Foolishness to the Soul:

The Bible is spiritual truth
- Written by the Spirit of Christ – 1 Pet 1:11
- Jesus’ words are spirit and life – John 6:63
- The law of God is spiritual – Ro 7:14, Zech 7:12, Ro 8:2, Ro 8:4
…we have received the spirit of God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God – 1 Cor 2:12
The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God – Ro 8:16
Spirit is in direct conflict with the fleshly body – 1 Cor 3:1, Ro 8:6, Gal 5:17-25 (flesh lusts against the spirit, etc.)

The soul is created when God creates a spirit and places it into a body
- 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 (Gen 2:7, see also Job 33:4, Is 57:16, Gen 7:22, Ps 18:15, Is 42:5, Job 34:14, etc.)
The soul is closely connected to the body (flesh)
- Our bodies are soul-bodies (1 Cor 15:44-45) and provides a connection to the physical creation (Ps 119:25)
- The life (soul) is in the blood (Lev 17:10-16, John 6:53-54, Gen 9:4, etc.)
- The natural (soulish) man receives not the things of the Spirit of God, since they are foolishness to him (1 Cor 2:14)

A very important issue to understand is that it is only through our spirit that we can truly understand and know God. Prior to being saved, we are spiritually dead (Eph 2:1-10) and we are blind and deaf to the spiritual truth of God. We can intellectually know God, but we cannot really spiritually understand our relationship until we have been made spiritually alive at salvation (see Mat 13:10-17, 1 Cor 2:6-16). At this time, the Holy Spirit leads our spirit into spiritual truth.

However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, not of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Cor 2:6-8

In these verses we clearly see that the truth and wisdom of God is a mystery and is hidden. It has not been revealed to all men. If it had, then as verse 8 clearly tells us they would not have crucified the Lord Jesus Christ and therefore Jesus would not have had the victory over Satan. All men would know about God and superficially follow Him thereby thwarting the work of God. God has designed the present age that only through faith it is only possible to please Him (Heb 11:6). We find in Mat 13:10-16 that God has not revealed spiritual truth to all men, for then all men would follow in their own power. In Christendom today, we hear often the teaching that the Bible is a simple book that all men can understand. That simply is not true. The Bible is a spiritual book with spiritual truth that cannot be understood outside of the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit that is provided through our spirit. At God’s will, He will open the pages of the Bible to our spiritual understanding so that we may be saved and grow in sanctification (see Phil 2:13, 1 Thess 2:13). This is not to say that the natural man cannot understand the historical truths of the Bible or understand basic truths of God. But, it takes the Holy Spirit to open the understanding of the Bible that will result in true salvation and will be effective in our Christian walk.

But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, not heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 1 Cor 2:9-12

In this Scripture we are told how God has revealed to us spiritual truth. The Holy Spirit is the agent by whom we are able to understand spiritual truth. Because we are indwelt by the Spirit of God (Ro 8:9, 2 Tim 1:14), we have the Holy Spirit bearing witness with our spirit and leading us into all truth (Rom 8:14-16, John 16:12-13, John 14:24-26). He is our Helper who will teach us all things and bring to our remembrance the words of God (John 14:24-26). It is for this reason that very intelligent people cannot truly understand the Bible.

One who is saved, although untrained in learning can more understand the things of God than those who are wise and have all learning yet unsaved. And so, the words of 1 Cor 1:26-31 are fulfilled in that the foolish things of the world shame the wise and the weak things will shame the mighty so that no flesh will glory in God’s sight.

These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 1 Cor 2:13

Instead of needing man’s wisdom in interpreting the Scripture, true Christians can understand spiritual truths by the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. The Bible is a spiritual book with spiritual truth that must be interpreted with itself. In other words, since the whole Bible is inspired by God (2 Tim 3:16), the true Christian will be able to use the Bible including all its words to interpret itself. The Christian does not need shelves of commentaries and other analyses by men to help him understand.

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things yet he himself is rightly judged by no one…For ‘who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Cor 2:14-16

The natural man is a person who is soulish. The word translated as ‘natural’ is actually the word for ‘soulish’ (similar to Jude 19 discussed previously). The natural man (i.e., the unsaved soulish man) cannot receive spiritual truth because it is foolishness to him (see also 1 Cor 1:18). The spiritual man (i.e., the saved) judges all things. God in His sovereign grace has chosen to reveal spiritual truth to His elect and has allowed those who are not elect to be blinded. He then who is spiritual will judge all things. In other words, he has the discernment of the Holy Spirit within himself in order to perceive those things that are right and wrong. The true Christian’s and other’s sin will grieve the spiritual person since he judges all things. By judging ourselves and our sin (1 Cor 11:31), we will grow in sanctification by the Holy Spirit. The word of God will effectively work in us (1 Thess 2:13) through the illumination of the Holy Spirit so that we may be able to grow on the pure milk of the word of God (1 Pet 2:2). Additionally, those who are spiritual will follow the truth:

We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 1 John 4:6

Those who truly know God and are saved will hear what the Bible teaches. Because they understand the Bible, they will tend to follow those who preach the truth of the Bible. This was stated by the apostle Paul to the Corinthians as well. In 2 Cor 13:6, he trusted that the Corinthians would know that he was not disqualified. In other words, he trusted that the Corinthians would truly recognize the word of God and not be in rebellion to the word thereby proving that they were not truly saved. This encouragement was just after he warned them to examine them selves to see whether they were in the faith (2 Cor 13:5).

The following Scriptures testify to the fact that our communion (relationship) to God is by our saved spirit (as illuminated by the Holy Spirit t our spirit):

But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. (Job 32:8)

He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. (Pro 17:27)

And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God. (Psa 78:8)

There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin. He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk ac cording to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1-4

The Christian’s Spirit is in Conflict with the Flesh

All people who are unsaved are spiritually dead:

The Spiritual Death of Humankind
- Forbidden fruit
  - Eyes opened, be as gods, knowing good and evil – Gen 3:5
  - In the day you eat of it, you shall die – Gen 2:17
- Humankind spiritually died that day
- Humankind to return to dust (body) – Gen 3:19
- The soul that sins shall die – Eze 18:4 (Judgment Day)
- Death passed onto all people since all have sinned – Ro 5:12

Many Scriptures Discuss Humankind is Spiritually Dead
- Dead in trespasses and sins – Eph 2:1-5, Col 2:13
- Arise from the dead and Christ shall give you light – Eph 5:14
- Follow me and let the dead bury their dead – Mat 8:22
- We know we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren – 1 John 3:14

Christians are made Spiritually Alive (Born Again / Risen)
- Made alive with Christ (by grace ye are saved) – Eph 2:5
- Risen with Christ – Col 3:1
- Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…that which is born of the Spirit is spirit – John 3:3-8
- Being born again…of incorruptible seed, by the Word of God – 1 Pet 1:21-23

We find that a person who is saved is made spiritually alive. This results in a conflict between the flesh and the spirit:

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Gal 5:16-23)

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. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (Rom 8:5-7)

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (Rom 8:13)

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (Joh 3:6)

Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

(Gal 3:3)

But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. (Gal 4:29)

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Gal 6:8)

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. (Php 3:3)

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. (1Co 3:1)

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) (2Co 10:3-4)

For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. (Rom 7:14)

The Spirit vs. the Flesh in Romans 8:1-13:

“There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin. He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk ac cording to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:1-4

Romans Chapter 8 begins by an assurance that those who are in Christ Jesus, i.e., the saved have no condemnation. The Mosaic Law brought in condemnation and consigned all under sin since when the law came in, sin abounded all the more (Ro 5:20, 7:713). However, those who have been saved are no longer under this condemnation. Verse 1 reveals a characteristic of the saved which forms a central teaching in the early part of this chapter. The characteristic of true Christians is that they do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. In this phrase, Romans 7:14-25 is linked with the thought of chapter 8. While Paul recognized his sin in the flesh in 7:14-25, in chapter 8 he begins by developing the theme that true Christians will walk according to the Spirit. By so doing they will be more sensitive to their sin and they will grow from glory to glory (2 Cor 3:18). The law of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the true believer has set the believer’s mind free from the carnal earthly law of sin and in its end, death. The thought of freedom accords with the words of Christ in John 8:30-32 where He said that His true disciples will know the truth and the truth will set us free. We know the truth because he has sent the Holy Spirit into our hearts (John 14:23-24, John 16:12-13) so that we will be enlightened and led by the Spirit (Gal 5:18). And God sent His Son to die to fulfill the righteous requirement of the law. The Holy Spirit has been sent so that the righteous requirement of the law (verse 4) may be fulfilled in us. In other words, we as Christians will be enabled to grow into doing what is right.

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” Romans 8:5

Verse 5 is an important clarification of exactly what is meant by those who walk according to the flesh and those who walk ac cording to the Spirit. Verse 5 teaches us that the battle is in our minds. If we are walking according to the flesh, our minds will be preoccupied with the things of the flesh. However, if we are walking in the Spirit, our minds are preoccupied with Spiritual things. It must be emphasized that those who set their minds on the flesh are not saved and those who set their minds on the Spirit are saved (see verse 1). This important fact is expounded by Paul in verses 6-9.

“For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” Romans 8:6-9

Verse 6 clearly states that those who are carnally (i.e., fleshly) minded are abiding in death. Death here must clearly be understood as the eternal state of the individual who is not saved. This state is eternal separation from God. However, the individual who is saved (and therefore has his mind on the Spirit) is assured the fruits of his salvation, life and peace. By life, it is understood eternal life. The carnal mind is enmity against God. Man is in sin due to the fall of Adam (Ro 5:12-21) and no one does good (Ro 3:9-23). Therefore, the one who is not saved and is controlled by the flesh is against God. They are not fulfilling the righteous requirement of the law (verse 4) and they cannot please God (verse 8). Verse 9 is very explicit. Only those who are truly saved have the Holy Spirit indwelling them. If they do, then their minds will be on the things of the Spirit.