The Spiritual Man Volume 1 Watchman Nee

7/28/2019 The Spiritual Man Volume 1 Watchman Nee

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THESPIRITUALMANVOLUME1

byWatchmanNee


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Explanatory Notes, and Preface 1, and Preface 2

ExplanatoryNotes

TheSpiritualManisatranslationoftheonlybookofanysubstantialsizewhichbrother

WatchmanNeehimselfeverwrote.Atthetimeofwritingithefeltthisworkmightbehislastcontributiontothechurch,althoughsincethenGodhasgraciouslyoverruled.Longafterthebook'sinitialpublicationinChineseourbrotheroncewasheardtoexpressthe

thoughtthatitshouldnotbereprintedbecause,itbeingsucha"perfect"treatmentofitssubject,hewasfearfullestthebookbecometoitsreadersmerelyamanualofprinciples

andnotaguidetoexperienceaswell.Butinviewoftheurgentneedamongthechildren

ofGodtodayforhelponspirituallifeandwarfare,andknowingourbrotherasonewhoisalwaysopentoGod'swayandmostdesiroustoserveHispeoplewithallthatGodhas

givenhim,weconcludethathewoulddoubtlesspermitittobecirculatedinEnglish.

Hencethistranslation.

Translationsused.TheRevisedStandardVersion(RSV)oftheBiblehasbeenusedthroughoutthetextunlessotherwiseindicated.Additionaltranslationswhereemployedaredenotedbythefollowingabbrevations:

AmplifiedAmplifiedOldTestament

ASVAmericanStandardVersion(1901)

AVAuthorizedVersion(KingJames)

DarbyJ.N.Darby,TheHolyScriptures.aNewTranslation

Young'sYoung'sLiteralTranslation

SoulicalandSoulish.Theadjectives"soulical"and"soulish"havebeenusedtoconvey

distinctlydifferentmeanings."Soulical"ashereinemployedpertainstothoseproper,appropriate,legitimate,ornaturalqualities,functions,orexpressionsofman'ssoul

whichtheCreatorintendedfromtheverybeginningforthesouluniquelytopossessand

manifest."Soulish"appearsinthesepagestodescribethatmanintotowhoissogovernedbythesoulicalpartofhisbeingthathiswholelifetakesonthecharacterand

expressionofthesoul.

Preface1ToTheLordWhomIserveIoffermyheartfeltthanks,forHehasgivenmetheprivilegeofwritingthisbook.Ihadalwayshopedanothermorecapablewouldundertakethis

work,yetitpleasestheLordtocallmetoit.IfthechoicewerelefttomeIshouldbethelastofalltowrite;forIhavetheleastdesiretodosuchabook.Myhesitationliesnotin

withdrawalfromdutybutratherintherealizationthatsuchabooktouchingontheway

ofspirituallifeandthestratagemofspiritualwarfareissurelybeyondthepossibilityofonewhoseexperienceoftheLordhasbeenlessthantenyearslong.TheBibledoes

permitabelievertorelatehisexperience;theHolySpiritevenleadsonetodoso;how

muchbetterthoughifsuchexperiencesas"caughtupintothethirdheaven"be

mentionedafter"fourteenyears."NowIdonothavea"thirdheaven"experience,neitherhaveIreceivedgreatrevelation,butIhavelearnedthroughHisgracetofollow


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theLordinthesmallthingsoftheday.Inthiswork,therefore,myattemptisbutto

imparttothechildrenofGodthatwhichIhavereceivedfromtheLordintheseyears.

ItwasaboutfouryearsagothatIfeltcalledtowritesuchabook.AtthattimeIwas

restingfromphysicalweaknessinasmallbutbytheriver,prayingandreadingthe

Word.IfelttheurgentneedforabookbasedontheWordandonexperiencewhichwouldgiveGod'schildrenaclearunderstandingofspirituallifeinorderthattheHoly

Spiritmightuseitinleadingthesaintsonwardandindeliveringthemfromgropingin

darkness.ItwasthenthatIknewIwascommissionedbytheLordtoundertakethistask.Ibegantocomposethechapterswhichdiscussthedifferentiationofspirit,souland

body,achapteronthebody,andalsothefirstpartofthechapterdealingwithsoul-life.ButIsoondiscontinuedwriting.Ihadmanyotherclaimsuponmytimebesidesthisone.

Thatwasnotthemaindeterrent,however,forIcouldstillfindopportunitytowrite.Ilay

downmypenchieflybecauseuptothattimemanytruthswereyettobewrittenwhichhadnotbeenfullyproveninmyexperience.ThislackIknewwouldlessenthevalueas

wellasthepowerofthebook.IwouldprefertolearnmorebeforetheLordandprove

Histruthsthroughexperience.WhatIwrotewouldthenbespiritualrealitiesinsteadofmerelyspiritualtheories.Thustheworkwassuspendedforthreeyears.

IcansaythatduringthesethreeyearsIhadthebookdailyinmyheart.Althoughsomemightconsiderthepublishingofthisworklongoverdue,Icouldclearlyseethehandof

theLord.Withinthesefewyearsthetruthscontainedinthisbook,especiallythosein

thelastvolume,haveliberatedmanyfromthepowerofdarkness,demonstratingthatwehadtouchedspiritualreality.BythespecialgraceoftheLordIwasenabledto

understandmoreofthepurposeofGod'sredemptionindividingthenewandtheoldcreations.IpraisetheLordforthat.TheLordalsogavemeopportunitiestomeetmany

ofhischoicestonesduringmyvarioustravels.Thisincreasedmyobservation,knowledgeandexperience.InmycontactswithpeopletheLordshowedmenotonlywhatisgenuinelylackingamongHischildrenbutwhatistherevealedremedyinHis

Wordaswell.Letmethereforetellmyreadersthatthisisamanualonspirituallife,

everypointofwhichcanbeexperimentallyproven.

Duetomyspecialexperienceinthephysicalbodyduringthesefewyears,ithasbeen

givenmetoknowmoreoftherealityofeternityand,likewise,thegreatdebtIowethechurchofGod.ThusIhopedIwouldbeabletofinishthisbookwithinashortperiod.

ThankstoGodtheFatherandtosomeofmyfriendsintheLord,Iwasprovidedwitha

quietplaceforrestingandwriting.WithinafewmonthsIhadfinishedPartsIthrough

IV.AlthoughIhavenotyetbeguntheotherparts,IamsureGodtheFatherwillsupplythenecessarygraceattheneededtime.

Nowthatthisvolumeisshortlytobepublishedandtheothervolumeswillsoonfollow,

letmespeakfrankly:learningthetruthsinthisbookwasnoteasy;writingthemdown

wasevenharder.ImaysaythatfortwomonthsIliveddailyinthejawsofSatan.Whatbattling!WhatwithstandinglAllmypowersofspirit,soulandbodyweresummonedto

contendwithhell.Suchbattlesarenowtemporarilysuspended,butmorepartsmustbe

written.YouwhoareMosesonthehill,pleasedonotforgetJoshuaintheplain.Iknowtheenemyhatesthisworkdeeply.Hewilltryeverymeanstopreventitfromreaching

people'shandsandtohinderthemfromreadingit.Oh,thatyouwouldnotallowthe

enemytosucceedhere.


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Thisbook,whichwillcontainthreevolumes,isnotwritteninsermonicorexpositive

form.Differencesoccurinthelengthoftreatmentofvarioussubjectsandthisthereadersshouldnotice.Althoughallvolumesdealwithspirituallifeandwarfare,some

sectionsmaylaymorestressonspirituallifewhileothersmaylaymoreonspiritual

warfare.Thebookasawholeispreparedtoserveasaguide;henceitsemphasisis

principallyamatterofhowtowalkinthiswayratherthanthatofpersuadingpeopleinitiallytotakethiswalk.Itiswrittennotsomuchtourgeindividualstoseekthe

spiritualwayastohelpthosewhoareseekingtoknowtheway.MayallwhoseheartsareouttotheLordfindhelpinitspages.

Iamdeeplyawarethatthespirituallifeofthereadersofthisbookmayvarygreatly.Ifyoushouldthereforecometosomepointsdifficulttounderstand,pleaseneitherreject

themnortrytofathomthemmentally.Suchtruthsshouldbereservedformorematured

life.Uponre-readingthatdifficultpartlater(sayaftertwoweeksorawholemonth),youmayperhapsgraspitbetter.Nevertheless,thisbookdealswhollywithspirituallifeasan

experience.Innootherwaycanitbeunderstood.Whatappearstobetastelessinthe

beginningmaycometobemostpreciouslater.Youwillunderstandwhenyoureachthatstage.Butisitnecessarytowaituntilreachingthatstagebeforeunderstanding?Ifsuch

werethecase,whatwillbetheuseofthisbook!Agreatmysterysurroundsthespiritualexperienceofabeliever.TheLordalwaysgivesaforetasteoftheoutlineofadeeperlife

beforeHeleadshimintothefullexperienceofit.Manybelieversmistaketheirforetaste

forthefullness,notrealizingthattheLordisjustbeginningtoleadthemin.Theteachinginthisbookwillmeettheneedofthosewhohavetastedbutnotyetfullydrunk.

Onethingwemustguardagainst:weshouldneverusetheknowledgeweacquirefromthisbookasanaidinanalyzingourselves.IfinGod'slightweseelight,weshallknow

ourselveswithoutlosingourfreedomintheLord.Butifalldaylongweanalyzeourselves,dissectingourthoughtsandfeelings,itwillhinderusfromlosingourselvesinChrist.UnlessabelieverisdeeplytaughtbytheLordhewillnotbeabletoknowhimself.

Introspectionandself-consciousnessareharmfultospirituallife.

ItwouldbewelltoreflectuponGod'sredemptivedesign.God'spurposeisthatthroughthenewlifegivenusatthetimeofregenerationHemightbeabletodeliverusfrom(1)

sin,(2)thenatural,and(3)thesupernatural,thatis,thesatanicforceofevilintheunseenrealm.Thesethreestepsofdeliverancearenecessary;nonecanbeomitted.Ifa

ChristianlimitsGod'sredemptiveworkbybeingcontentwithmerelyovercomingsin,he

fallsfarshortofthepurposeofGod.Thenaturallife(thegoodself)mustbeovercome,

andsotoomustthesupernaturalenemy.Itcertainlyiswelltoovercomesin,buttheworkisnotcompleteifthepettyselfandthesupernaturalevilareleftunconquered.Thecrosscanaffordussuchvictory.IhopethroughGod'sgraceIcanemphasizethesepoints

aswegoalong.

AsidefromthelastPartoftheconcludingvolumewhichwilldiscussthebody,thisbookmaybeconsideredBiblicalpsychology.WebaseeverythingontheBibleandproveallby

spiritualexperience.Theresultofourfindings,boththroughstudyingtheWordand

throughexperience,tellsusthatforeveryspiritualexperience(forexample,thenewbirth)thereisaspecialchangeinourinwardman.WeconcludethattheBibledivides

manintothreepartsspirit,soulandbody.Weshallseefurtherhowdifferentarethe

functionsandtherealmsofthesethreeparts,particularlythoseofspiritandsoul.Inthisconnection,afewwordsneedtobesaidconcerningPartOneofthisfirstvolume.The


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differentiationofspiritandsoulaswellasthedifferenceintheirfunctionsarenecessary

knowledgetothosewhoseektogrowinspirituallife.Onlyafterknowingwhatisthespiritandwhatisspiritualcanwewalkaccordingtothespirit.Becauseofthegreatlack

ofsuchteachings,Ihaveattemptedtoexplainindetail.Tobelieverswithsome

backgroundthisfirstPartwillnotpresentanydifficultytotheirunderstanding;but

thosewhoareunfamiliarwithsuchastudyneedonlyremembertheconclusionsandmaythenproceedtothesecondPart.PartOne,consequently,doesnotdealspecifically

withspirituallife;itmerelysuppliesuswithsomenecessaryknowledgebasictospirituallife.ThisPartmaybebetterunderstoodifitisrereadaftertheentirebookis

firstfinished.

Iamnotthefirsttoadvocatetheteachingofthedividingofspiritandsoul.Andrew

Murrayoncesaidthatwhatthechurchandindividualshavetodreadistheinordinate

activityofthesoulwithitspowerofmindandwill.F.B.Meyerdeclaredthathadhenotknownaboutthedividingofspirit,andsoul,hecouldnothaveimaginedwhathis

spirituallifewouldhavebeen.Manyothers,suchasOttoStockmayer,JessiePenn-Lewis,

EvanRoberts,MadameGuyon,havegiventhesametestimony.IhaveusedtheirwritingsfreelysinceweallhavereceivedthesamecommissionfromtheLord;thereforeIhave

decidedtoforegonotatingtheirmanyreferences.*

Thisbookiswrittennotonlyforthebelieversassuch,butalsotohelpthosewhoare

youngerintheLord'sservicethanI.Wewhoareresponsibleforthespirituallifeof

othersoughttoknowfromwhatandintowhatweleadthemfromwhencetowhere.Ifwehelppeople,negatively,nottosinand,positively,tobezealous;willthatbeallthe

Lordwantsustodo?Oristhereperhapssomethingdeeper?IpersonallyfeeltheBiblehasgivenamostdefinitejudgment.God'spurposeisthatHischildrenaretobe

deliveredwhollyfromtheoldcreationandaretoenterfullyintothenewcreation.Nomatterhowtheoldcreationmayappeartoman,itisutterlycondemnedbyGod.Ifweworkersknowwhatoughttobedestroyedandwhatoughttobebuilt,thenwearenot

theblindleadingtheblind.

NewbirthreceivingGod'sownlifeisthestartingpointofallspirituallife.Howuselessitisiftheendresultofallourexhortation,persuasion,argument,explanation

andstudyisbuttoinducesomeunderstandinginthemind,somedeterminationinthewill,somefeelingintheemotion.IthasnotassistedpeopletoreceiveGod'slifeinto

theirspirit.Butifwewhoareresponsibleforpreachingthegospeltrulyperceivethat

unlesspeoplereceiveGod'slifeintothedepthsoftheirbeingswehavenotdone

anythingprofitable,thenwhatadrasticreformationwilltherebeinourwork!Indeed,suchknowledgewillbringustotherealizationthatmanywhodoprofesstobelieveintheLordJesushaveneveractuallydoneso.Tears,penitence,reform,zealandlabor:

thesearenotthehallmarksofaChristian.Happyareweifweknowthatour

responsibilityistobringmantoreceiveGod'suncreatedlife.

AsIrecallhowtheenemyhastriedtobindermefromlearningthetruthswritteninthe

lastvolume,Icannotbutbeapprehensivethatsome,thoughpossessingthebook,willbe

hinderedbySatanfromreadingit;oriftheydoreadit,willbemadetosoonforgetit.Thereforeletmewarnmyreaders:youshouldaskGodtokeepSatanfrompreventing

yourreadingit.Prayasyouread;turnwhatyoureadintoprayer.PraythatGodwill

coveryouwiththehelmetofsalvationlestyouforgetwhatyoureadorsimplyfillyourmindwithinnumerabletheories.


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(*Citationswillbeaddedwherethedirectquotationscanbefound.Translator.)

Afewwordstothosewhoalreadypossessthetruthssetforthinthefollowingpages.IfGodhasgraciouslyliberatedyoufromthefleshandthepowerofdarkness,you,inturn,

oughttobringthesetruthstoothers.Soafteryouhavedigestedthebookthoroughly

andthetruthshavebecomeyourown,willyougatherafewsaintstogetherandteachthemthetruths.Ifitistoomuchtousetheentirebook,thenoneortwopartswouldbe

profitable.Thehopeisthatthetruthshereinwillnotbeleftunnoticed.Evenlendingthe

booktootherstoreadwouldbeaprofitablething.

NowthatthissmalltreatiseisintheLord'shand,ifHeispleasedwithit,mayHeblessit

towardspiritualgrowthandspiritualvictoryinmeaswellasinmanyofmybrothersandsisters.MaythewillofGodbedone.MayHisenemybedefeated.MayourLordJesus

soonreturntoreign.Amen.

ShanghaiWatchmanNeeJune4,1927

Preface2

MOSTHAPPYAMITODAYforIhavecompletedthelastPartofthebook.IrecallwhenI

wrotetheearlierprefaceIhadcompletedbutthefirstfourparts.Withtheselastsixnow

doneIfindIhavemuchyettosharewithmyreaders.Hencethissecondpreface.

ManymonthshavepassedsinceIcommencedwritingthisfinalportionofthebook.Ican

truthfullysaythatduringthesemonthstheburdenofthisworkhasbeenuponmedaily.

ItisnaturalfortheenemytohatethespreadingofGod'struth.AsaconsequenceIhavebeenattackedandassaultedincessantly.ThanksbeuntoGod,Hisgracehashitherto

sustainedme.OftenIthoughtitwouldbeimpossibletocontinuewritingbecausethepressureuponmyspiritwastooheavyandthestaminaofmybodytooweak;yea,Ieven

despairedoflifeitself.AsoftenasIdespaired,however,justasoftenwasIstrengthened

bytheGodwhomIserve,accordingtoHispromiseandthroughtheprayersofmany.Todaythetaskisfinishedandtheburdenisdischarged.WhatcomfortInowexperience!

TodayIreverentlyofferthisbooktoourGod.SinceHehasperformedthatwhichHebegan,myprayerbeforeHimisthatHemayblessthesepagestofulfillitsGod-given

missioninHischurch.IamaskingGodtoblesseveryreaderthathemayfindthe

straightpathandlearntofollowtheLordperfectly.Myspirittogetherwithmyprayerhenceforthfollowstheoutgoingofthiswork.MayGoduseitaccordingtoHismost

excellentwill.

Brethren,itisconsideredpoliticforawriternottoshowtoomuchenthusiasmforhisownwork,butIshallnowproceedtodisregardthishumanconvention.Idothisnot

becauseIwrotethebookbutbecauseofthedepositoftruthinthebook.HaditbeenwrittenbyanotherIthinkIwouldbefreertodrawpeople'sattentiontoit.Imust

thereforebegyourpardonforbeingbesidemyself.Iknowtheimportanceofthetruths

hereincontainedand,accordingtothebestofmyknowledgeofGod'swill,Ifeeltheywillmeettheurgentneedofthisage.NomatterhowmistakenImaybe,ofonethingI

amcertain:Ididnothavetheslightestintentionofundertakingthistask:Iwroteonly

becauseIwascommissionedbytheLordsotodo.Thetruthsinthesepagesarenot

mine;theyweregivenmebyGod.EvenwhenIwaswritingHeblessedmewithmanynewblessings.


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Idesiremyreaderstounderstandthoroughlythatthisworkisinnowaytobe

consideredatreatiseonthetheoryofspirituallifeandwarfare.ImyselfcantestifythatIhavelearnedthesetruthsthroughmuchsuffering,trialandfailure.Itcanalmostbesaid

thateveryoneoftheseteachingshasbeenbrandedwithfire.Andthesewordsarenot

usedlightly;theycomefromthedepthoftheheart.Godknowsfromwhencethese

truthsdocome.

WhencomposingthevolumesIdidnotattempttogroupsimilarandrelatedprinciples

together.Ihavesimplymentionedthemastheneedarose.Outofconsiderationfortheirextremeimportance,Imayhavetouchedupononetruthoranothermanytimes,hoping

thechildrenofGodwouldtherebybetterremember.Onlythroughrepetitionwillthetruthberetainedandonlybyreviewingwillitbelearned."Thereforethewordofthe

Lordwillbetothempreceptuponprecept,preceptuponprecept,lineuponline,line

uponline,herealittle,therealittle"(Is.28.13).

Irealizetherearemanyapparentinconsistenciesinthework,butthereadershould

rememberthattheyareindeedapparent,notactual.Becausethisbooktreatsofmattersinthespiritualrealm,thereareboundtobemanyapparenttheoreticalcontradictions.

Spiritualthingsdooftenseemtobecontradictory(2Cor.4.8,9).However,theseallfind

theirperfectharmonyinexperience.Hence,thoughthereareplaceswhichseemtodefyunderstanding,myrequestisthatyoutryyourbesttounderstand.Ifanyonedesiresto

misunderstand,hecansurelyreadintothesepagesthatwhichIhavenotintended.

Ideeplysensethatonlyoneclassofpeoplewillactuallyunderstandthisbook.Myoriginalpurposewastosupplytheneedofmanybelievers:obviouslyonlythosewho

haveneedwillbeabletoappreciatethebook.Suchoneswillfindhereaguidebook.Otherswilleitherlookuponthesetruthsasidealsorcriticizethemasinappropriate.

Accordingtothemeasureofhisneedshallbethebeliever'sunderstandingofwhatis

writtenhere.Unlessthereaderhaspersonalneedhewillnotfindanyproblemsolvedthroughthereadingofthesepages.Thisiswhatthereadermustguardagainst.

Thedeeperthetruththeeasierisittobecometheoretical.Apartfromtheworkingofthe

HolySpirit,nonecanarriveatdeepertruth.Thussomewilltreattheseprinciplesasasortofideal.Letusthereforebecarefullestweaccepttheteachingsinthebookwithour

mindanddeceiveourselvesintothinkingwehavepossessedthemalready.Thisismostdangerous,fordeceptionwhichcomesfromthefleshandtheevilspiritshallincrease

daybyday.

Thereaderalsoshouldbewatchfullesthemisusetheknowledgeheobtainsfromthesepagestocriticizeothers.Itisveryeasyforustosaythisisofthespiritandthatisofthe

flesh;butdowenotknowweourselvesarenoexception?Truthisgiventosetpeoplefree,nottofindfault.Incriticizingweproveourselvestobenotonebitlesssoulishor

carnalthanthecriticized.Thedangerismostserious;consequentlyweneedtoexercise

greatcaution.

InmyfirstprefaceImentionedonematterwhichdeservestoberepeatedand

elaborateduponhere.Itisoftheutmostimportancethatwenevertrytoanalyze

ourselves.Uponreadingsuchatreatiseasthis,wemayquiteunconsciouslybecome

over-activeinself-analysis.Inobservingtheconditionofourinwardlifewetendtoover-analyzeourthoughtsandfeelingsandthemovementsoftheinnerman.Thismay


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resultinmuchapparentprogress,yetactuallyitrenderstreatmentoftheself-lifethat

muchmoredifficult.Ifwepersistentlyturnwithinourselvesweshallloseourpeacecompletely,forweshallsoondiscoverthediscrepancywhichexistsbetweenour

expectationandouractualcondition.Weexpecttobefilledwithholinessbutweare

foundwantinginholiness.Thismakesusuncomfortable.Godneverasksustobeso

introspective.Todosoconstitutesoneofthemainreasonsforspiritualstagnation.OurrestliesinlookingtotheLord,nottoourselves.InthedegreethatwelookoffuntoHim

tothatdegreearewedeliveredfromself.WerestonthefinishedworkoftheLordJesusChrist,notonourownshiftingexperience.Truespirituallifedependsnotonprobing

ourfeelingsandthoughtsfromdawntoduskbuton"lookingoff"totheSavior!

Letnotanyreaderbemisledintothinkinghemustresistallsupernaturaloccurrences.

Myaimissimplytoimpressuponyouthenecessity.oftestingwhetherornotsomething

isofGod.ImostsincerelybelievemanysupernaturalexperiencescomefromGod;Ihavewitnessedagreatnumberofthem.However,Imustacknowledgethattodaymany

supernaturalphenomenaarefalseanddeceptive.Idonothavetheslightestintentionof

persuadinganytorefuseeverythingsupernatural.Imerelypointoutinthisbookthebasicdifferencesinprinciplebetweenthesetwotypesofmanifestation.Whenabeliever

isfacedwithanysupernaturalphenomenon,heoughttoexamineitcarefullyaccordingtotheprinciplesrevealedintheBiblebeforehedecidestoacceptortorejectit.

Astothematterofsoul,IhonestlyfeelmostChristiansswingfromoneextremetothe

other.Weontheonehandusuallyconsideremotionassoulish;consequentlythosewhoareeasilymovedorexcitedwenormallycategorizeassoulish.Ontheotherhandwe

forgetthatbeingrationaldoesnotatallconstituteoneasbeingspiritual.Thismisjudgmentofspiritualizingarationallifemustbeguardedagainstequallyasmuchas

againstthatofmistakingapredominantlyemotionallifeforspirituality.Proceedingonestepfurther,weshouldneverreducethefunctionofoursoultodeadlyinactivity.Formerlywemayneverhaveviewedoursoulishfeelingandexcitementwithanydegree

ofconcernandthuswewalkedaccordingly.Later,however,andrecognizingourformer

error,wenowsuppresstheseemotionsaltogether.Suchanattitudetousmayappeartobequitegood,butitwillnotmakeusawhitmorespiritual.Ifmyreadershould

misunderstandonthispoint,andnomatterhowminormaybethismisunderstanding,thenIknowhislifeisgoingtobecomevery"dead."Why?Becausehisspirit,withoutany

opportunitytoexpressitself,willbeimprisonedbyadeadenedemotion.Andbeyond

thisliesafurtherdanger;namely,thatinoverlysuppressinghisemotion,thebelieverwilldevelopeventuallyintoarational,notaspiritual,man;andthus,thoughinanother

form,hestillremainssoulish.Yettheexcitementofthesoul,ifitexpressesthespirit'sfeeling,isextremelyvaluable;andthethoughtofthesoul,ifitrevealsthespirit'smind,

canbemostinstructive.

IwouldliketosaysomethingabouttheconcludingPartofthebook.Consideringthefrailtyofmybody,Iwouldseemtobetheleastqualifiedtowriteonsuchamatter;

perhaps,though,thisveryfrailtyaffordsmeadeeperinsightsinceIsuffermore

weakness,sicknessandpainthanmostpeople.Countlesstimesmycouragehasseemedtofailbut,thankGod,Ihavebeenabletofinishwritingthisportion.Ihopethosewho

havehadsimilarexperiencesintheirearthlytentswillacceptwhatIhavewrittenasofferingsomelightoutofthedarknessthroughwhichIhavegone.Naturally

innumerablearethecontroversieswhichhaverevolvedarounddivinehealing.Since

thisisabookwhichdealsprimarilywithprinciples,Irefrainfromenteringinto


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argumentwithotherbelieversondetails.IhavesaidinthebookwhatIfeelledtosay.

WhatInowrequestofmyreaderisthatinthephenomenaofsicknesseshediscernanddistinguishastowhichcomefromGodandwhichfromself.

Iconfessthereismuchwhichisincompleteinthiswork;nevertheless,havingdonemy

best,Iofferthatbesttoyou.Knowingtheseriousnessofthemessageherein,IaskedGodwithfearandtremblingtoleadmethroughitall.WhatIhavesetdownIpresenttothe

conscienceofGod'schildrenforthemtoweighwhatissaid.

Irecognizethataworkwhichseekstouncoverthewilesoftheenemyshallcertainlyincurthehostilityofthepowerofdarknessandtheoppositionofmany.Ihavenot

writtenwiththethoughtofcourtingtheapprovalofmen.ThisoppositionIconsiderthereforeasofnoaccount.IalsorealizethatifGod'schildrenderivehelpfromreading

thisbooktheymaythinkmoreofmethanisproper.LetmespeakhonestlythatIambut

aman,theweakestofallmen.Theteachingsofthesepagesrevealtheexperiencesofmyweaknesses.

Thebookistodayinthereaders'hands.ThisiswhollyGod'sgrace.ShouldyouhavethecourageandperserverancetoreadthroughthefirstPartandcontinueonwiththe

others,perhapsGodwillblessyouwithHistruth.Ifyoualreadyhavefinishedreading

thewholework,mayIentreatyoutorereaditaftersometimehaselapsed.Beloved,letusturnourheartsonceagaintoourFather,castourselvesuponHisbosombyfaithand

drawfromHimHislife.LetusconfessanewthatwearepoorbutHeisrich,thatwehave

nothingbutHehaseverything.Exceptwearegivengracewearebutdefenselesssinners.MaywethankHimwithgratitudeinourhearts,fortheLordJesushasgivenus

grace.

HolyFather,whatYouhaveentrustedtomeisnowhereinthisbook.IfitseemsgoodtoYou,mayYoublessit.MayYouintheselastdayskeepYourchildrenfromcorrupted

fleshandwickedspirits!Father,mayYoubuildYourSon'sBody,destroyYourSon'senemy,andhastenthecomingofYourSon'sKingdom!FatherGod,IlooktoYou,Icast

myselfuponYou,andIdesireafterYou!

Shanghai,June25,1928WatchmanNee


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Volume 1: Chapter 1 - SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY

Theordinaryconceptoftheconstitutionofhumanbeingsisdualisticsoulandbody.

Accordingtothisconceptsoulistheinvisibleinnerspiritualpart,whilebodyisthe

visibleoutercorporalpart.Thoughthereissometruthtothis,itisneverthelessinaccurate.Suchanopinioncomesfromfallenman,notfromGod;apartfromGod's

revelation,noconceptisdependable.Thatthebodyisman'soutwardsheathisundoubtedlycorrect,buttheBibleneverconfusesspiritandsoulasthoughtheyarethe

same.Notonlyaretheydifferentinterms;theirverynaturesdifferfromeachother.TheWordofGoddoesnotdividemanintothetwopartsofsoulandbody.Ittreatsman,

rather,astripartitespirit,soulandbody.IThessalonians5.23reads:"MaytheGodof

peacehimselfsanctifyyouwholly;andmayyourspiritandsoulandbodybekeptsoundandblamelessatthecomingofourLordJesusChrist."Thisversepreciselyshowsthat

thewholemanisdividedintothreeparts.TheApostlePaulrefersheretothecomplete

sanctificationofbelievers,"sanctifyyouwholly."AccordingtotheApostle,howisa

personwhollysanctified?Byhisspiritandsoulandbodybeingkept.Fromthiswecaneasilyunderstandthatthewholepersoncomprisesthesethreeparts.Thisversealsomakesadistinctionbetweenspiritandsoul;otherwise,Paulwouldhavesaidsimply

"yoursoul."SinceGodhasdistinguishedthehumanspiritfromthehumansoul,we

concludethatmaniscomposedofnottwo,butthree,parts;spirit,soulandbody.

Isitamatterofanyconsequencetodividespiritandsoul?Itisanissueofsupreme

importanceforitaffectstremendouslythespirituallifeofabeliever.Howcanabelieverunderstandspirituallifeifhedoesnotknowwhatistheextentoftherealmofthespirit?

Withoutsuchunderstandinghowcanhegrowspiritually?Tofailtodistinguishbetween

spiritandsoulisfataltospiritualmaturity.Christiansoftenaccountwhatissoulical.asspiritual,andthustheyremaininasoulishstateandseeknotwhatisreallyspiritual.

HowcanweescapelossifweconfusewhatGodhasdivided?

Spiritualknowledgeisveryimportanttospirituallife.Letusadd,however,thatitisequallyas,ifnotmore,importantforabelievertobehumbleandwillingtoacceptthe

teachingoftheHolySpirit.Ifso,theHolySpiritwillgranthimtheexperienceofthedividingofspiritandsoul,althoughhemaynothavetoomuchknowledgeconcerning

thistruth.Ontheonehand,themostignorantbeliever,withouttheslightestideaofthe

divisionofspiritandsoul,mayyetexperiencesuchadividinginreallife.Ontheotherhand,themostinformedbeliever,completelyconversantwiththetruthconcerning

spiritandsoul,maynonethelesshavenoexperienceofit.Farbetteristhatpersonwhomayhaveboththeknowledgeandtheexperience.Themajority,however,lacksuchexperience.Consequently,itiswellinitiallytoleadthesetoknowthedifferentfunctions

ofspiritandsoulandthentoencouragethemtoseekwhatisspiritual.

OtherportionsoftheScripturesmakethissamedifferentiationbetweenspiritandsoul.

ForthewordofGodislivingandactive,sharperthananytwo-edgedsword,piercingto

thedivisionofsoulandspiritofjointsandmarrow,anddiscerningthethoughtsandintentionsoftheheart(Heb.4.12).Thewriterinthisversedividesman'snon-corporal

elementsintotwoparts,soulandspirit.Thecorporalpartismentionedhereasincludingthejointsandmarroworgansofmotionandsensation.Whenthepriestuses

theswordtocutandcompletelydissectthesacrifice,nothinginsidecanbehidden.Evenjointandmarrowareseparated.InlikemannertheLordJesususestheWordofGodon


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Hispeopletoseparatethoroughly,topierceeventothedivisionofthespiritual,the

soulical,andthephysical.Andfromthisitfollowsthatsincesoulandspiritcanbedivided,theymustbedifferentinnature.Itisthusevidentherethatmanisacomposite

ofthreeparts.

TheCreationOfManAndJehovahGodformedmanofdustfromtheground,andbreathedintohisnostrilsthe

breathoflife;andmanbecamealivingsoul(Gen.2.7ASV).WhenGodfirstcreatedmanHeformedhimofdustfromtheground,andthenbreathedthebreathoflifeintohis

nostrils.Assoonasthebreathoflife,whichbecameman'sspirit,cameintocontactwithman'sbody,thesoulwasproduced.Hencethesoulisthecombinationofman'sbodyand

spirit.TheScripturesthereforecallmanalivingsoul.Thebreathoflifebecameman's

spirit;thatis,theprincipleoflifewithinhim.TheLordJesustellsusitisthespiritthatgiveslife(John6.63).ThisbreathoflifecomesfromtheLordofCreation.However,we

mustnotconfuseman'sspiritwithGod'sHolySpirit.Thelatterdiffersfromourhumanspirit.Romans8.16demonstratestheirdifferencebydeclaringthatitistheSpirit

himselfbearingwitnesswithourspiritthatwearechildrenofGod.Theoriginalofthe

wordlifeinbreathoflifeischayandisintheplural.Thismayrefertothefactthatthein-breathingofGodproducedatwofoldlife,soulicalandspiritual.Whenthein-

breathingofGodenteredman'sbodyitbecamethespiritofman;butwhenthespirit

reactedwiththebodythesoulwasproduced.Thisexplainsthesourceofourspiritualandsoulicallives.Wemustrecognize,though,thatthisspiritisnotGod'sOwnlife,for

thebreathoftheAlmightygivesmelife(job33.4).ItisnottheentranceoftheuncreatedlifeofGodintoman,neitherisitthatlifeofGod,whichwereceiveatregeneration.What

wereceiveatnewbirthisGod'sOwnlifeastypifiedbythetreeoflife.Butourhuman

spirit,thoughpermanentlyexisting,isvoidofeternallife.

"Formedmanofdustfromtheground"referstoman'sbody;"breathedintohisnostrils

thebreathoflife"referstoman'sspiritasitcamefromGod;and"manbecamealivingsoul"referstoman'ssoulwhenthebodywasquickenedbythespiritandbroughtinto

beingalivingandself-consciousman.Acompletemanisatrinity,thecompositeof

spirit,soulandbody.AccordingtoGenesis2.7,manwasmadeupofonlytwoindependentelements,thecorporealandthespiritual;butwhenGodplacedthespirit

withinthecasingoftheearth,thesoulwasproduced.Thespiritofmantouchingthe

deadbodyproducedthesoul.Thebodyapartfromthespiritwasdead,butwiththespiritmanwasmadealive.Theorganthusanimatedwascalledthesoul.

Manbecamealivingsoulexpressesnotmerelythefactthatthecombinationofspiritandbodyproducedthesoul;italsosuggeststhatspiritandbodywerecompletely

mergedinthissoul.Inotherwords,soulandbodywerecombinedwiththespirit,and

spiritandbodyweremergedinthesoul.Adaminhisunfallenstateknewnothingoftheseceaselessstrivingsofspiritandfleshwhicharemattersofdailyexperiencetous.

Therewasaperfectblendingofhisthreenaturesintooneandthesoulastheuniting

mediumbecamethecauseofhisindividuality,ofhisexistenceasadistinctbeing.(Pember'sEarth'sEarliestAge)Manwasdesignatedalivingsoul,foritwastherethat

thespiritandbodymetandthroughwhichhisindividualitywasknown.Perhapswemayuseanimperfectillustration:dropsomedyeintoacupofwater.Thedyeandwater

willblendintoathirdsubstancecalledink.Inlikemannerthetwoindependentelementsofspiritandbodycombinetobecomelivingsoul.(Theanalogyfailsinthatthe


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soulproducedbythecombiningofspiritandbodybecomesanindependent,

indissolubleelementasmuchasthespiritandbody.)

Godtreatedman'ssoulassomethingunique.Astheangelswerecreatedasspirits,so

manwascreatedpredominantlyasalivingsoul.Mannotonlyhadabody,abodywith

thebreathoflife;hebecamealivingsoulaswell.ThuswefindlaterintheScripturesthatGodoftenreferredtomenassouls.Why?Becausewhatthemanisdependsonhow

hissoulis.Hissoulrepresentshimandexpresseshisindividuality.Itistheorganof

man'sfreewill,theorganinwhichspiritandbodyarecompletelymerged.Ifman'ssoulwillstoobeyGod,itwillallowthespirittoruleoverthemanasorderedbyGod.The

soul,ifitchooses,canalsosuppressthespiritandtakesomeotherdelightaslordoftheman.Thistrinityofspirit,soulandbodymaybepartiallyillustratedbyalightbulb.

Withinthebulb,whichcanrepresentthetotalman,thereareelectricity,lightandwire.

Thespiritisliketheelectricity,thesoulthelight,andbodythewire.Electricityisthecauseofthelightwhilelightistheeffectofelectricity.Wireisthematerialsubstancefor

carryingtheelectricityaswellasformanifestingthelight.Thecombinationofspiritand

bodyproducessoul,thatwhichisuniquetoman.Aselectricity,carriedbythewire,isexpressedinlight,sospiritactsuponthesoulandthesoul,inturn,expressesitself

throughthebody.

However,wemustrememberwellthatwhereasthesoulisthemeeting-pointofthe

elementsofourbeinginthispresentlife,thespiritwillbetherulingpowerinour

resurrectionstate.FortheBibletellsusthatitissownaphysicalbody,itisraisedaspiritualbody(1Cor.15.44).Yethereisavitalpoint:wewhohavebeenjoinedtothe

resurrectedLordcanevennowhaveourspiritruleoverthewholebeing.WearenotunitedtothefirstAdamwhowasmadealivingsoulbuttothelastAdamwhoisalife-

givingspirit(v.45).

RespectiveFunctionsOfSpirit,SoulAndBody

Itisthroughthecorporalbodythatmancomesintocontactwiththematerialworld.Hencewemaylabelthebodyasthatpartwhichgivesusworld-consciousness.Thesoul

comprisestheintellect,whichaidsusinthepresentstateofexistence,andtheemotions,

whichproceedfromthesenses.Sincethesoulbelongstoman'sownselfandrevealshispersonality,itistermedthepartofself-consciousness.Thespiritisthatpartbywhich

wecommunewithGodandbywhichaloneweareabletoapprehendandworshipHim.

BecauseittellsusofourrelationshipwithGod,thespiritiscalledtheelementofGod-consciousness.Goddwellsinthespirit,selfdwellsinthesoul,whilesensesdwellinthe

body.

Aswehavementionedalready,thesoulisthemeetingpointofspiritandbody,forthere

theyaremerged.Byhisspiritmanholdsintercoursewiththespiritualworldandwith

theSpiritofGod,bothreceivingandexpressingthepowerandlifeofthespiritualrealm.Throughhisbodymanisincontactwiththeoutsidesensuousworld,affectingitand

beingaffectedbyit.Thesoulstandsbetweenthesetwoworlds,yetbelongstoboth.Itis

linkedwiththespiritualworldthroughthespiritandwiththematerialworldthroughthebody.Italsopossessesthepoweroffreewill,henceisabletochoosefromamongits

environments.Thespiritcannotactdirectlyuponthebody.Itneedsamedium,andthatmediumisthesoulproducedbythetouchingofthespiritwiththebody.Thesoul

thereforestandsbetweenthespiritandthebody,bindingthesetwotogether.Thespirit


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cansubduethebodythroughthemediumofthesoul,sothatitwillobeyGod;likewise

thebodythroughthesoulcandrawthespiritintolovingtheworld.

OfthesethreeelementsthespiritisthenoblestforitjoinswithGod.

Thebodyisthelowestforitcontactswithmatter.Thesoullyingbetweenthemjoinsthetwotogetherandalsotakestheircharactertobeitsown.

Thesoulmakesitpossibleforthespiritandthebodytocommunicateandtocooperate.

Theworkofthesoulistokeepthesetwointheirproperordersothattheymaynotlose

theirrightrelationshipnamely,thatthelowest,thebody,maybesubjectedtothespirit,andthatthehighest,thespirit,maygovernthebodythroughthesoul.Man's

primefactorisdefinitelythesoul.ItlookstothespirittogivewhatthelatterhasreceivedfromtheHolySpiritinorderthatthesoul,afterithasbeenperfected,may

transmitwhatithasobtainedtothebody;thenthebodytoomayshareintheperfection

oftheHolySpiritandsobecomeaspiritualbody.

Thespiritisthenoblestpartofmanandoccupiestheinnermostareaofhisbeing.The

bodyisthelowestandtakestheoutermostplace.Betweenthesetwodwellsthesoul,servingastheirmedium.Thebodyistheoutershelterofthesoul,whilethesoulisthe

outersheathofthespirit.Thespirittransmitsitsthoughttothesoulandthesoul

exercisesthebodytoobeythespirit'sorder.Thisisthemeaningofthesoulasthemedium.Beforethefallofmanthespiritcontrolledthewholebeingthroughthesoul.

Thepowerofthesoulismostsubstantial,sincethespiritandthebodyaremergedthere

andmakeitthesiteofman'spersonalityandinfluence.Beforemancommittedsinthepowerofthesoulwascompletelyunderthedominionofthespirit.Itsstrengthwas

thereforethespirit'sstrength.Thespiritcannotitselfactuponthebody;itcanonlydosothroughthemediumofthesoul.ThiswecanseeinLuke1.46-47:"Mysoulmagnifies

theLord,andmyspirithasrejoicedinGodmySavior"(Darby).Herethechangeintense

showsthatthespiritfirstconceivedjoyinGod,andthen,communicatingwiththesoul,causedittogiveexpressiontothefeelingbymeansofthebodilyorgan.(Pember's

Earth'sEarliestAge)

Torepeat,thesoulisthesiteofpersonality.Thewill,intellectandemotionsofmanarethere.Asthespiritisusedtocommunicatewiththespiritualworldandthebodywith

thenaturalworld,sothesoulstandsbetweenandexercisesitspowertodiscernanddecidewhetherthespiritualorthenaturalworldshouldreign.Sometimestoothesoul

itselftakescontrolovermanthroughitsintellect,thuscreatinganideationalworld

whichreigns.Inorderforthespirittogovern,thesoulmustgiveitsconsent;otherwisethespiritishelplesstoregulatethesoulandthebody.Butthisdecisionisuptothesoul,

forthereinresidesthepersonalityoftheman.

Actuallythesoulisthepivotoftheentirebeing,becauseman'svolitionbelongstoit.Itis

onlywhenthesouliswillingtoassumeahumblepositionthatthespiritcanever

managethewholeman.Ifthesoulrebelsagainsttakingsuchapositionthespiritwillbepowerlesstorule.Thisexplainsthemeaningofthefreewillofman.Manisnotan

automatonthatturnsaccordingtoGod'swill.Rather,manhasfullsovereignpowerto

decideforhimself.HepossessestheorganofhisownvolitionandcanchooseeithertofollowGod'swillortoresistHimandfollowSatan'swillinstead.Goddesiresthatthe


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spirit,beingthenoblestpartofman,shouldcontrolthewholebeing.Yet,thewillthe

crucialpartofindividualitybelongstothesoul.Itisthewill,whichdetermineswhetherthespirit,thebody,orevenitselfistorule.Inviewofthefactthatthesoul

possessessuchpowerandistheorganofman'sindividuality,theBiblecallsmanaliving

soul.

TheHolyTempleAndMan

Doyounotknow,writestheApostlePaul,thatyouareGod'stempleandthatGod'sSpiritdwellsinyou?(1Cor.3.16)Hehasreceivedrevelationinlikeningmantothe

temple.AsGodformerlydweltinthetemple,sotheHolySpiritindwellsmantoday.Bycomparinghimtothetemplewecanseehowthetripartiteelementsofmanare

distinctlymanifested.

Weknowthetempleisdividedintothreeparts.Thefirstistheoutercourt,whichisseenbyallandvisitedbyall.Allexternalworshipisofferedhere.Goingfurtherinisthe

HolyPlace,intowhichonlythepriestscanenterandwheretheypresentoil,incenseandbreadtoGod.TheyarequiteneartoGodyetnotthenearest,fortheyarestilloutside

theveilandthereforeunabletostandbeforeHisverypresence.Goddwellsdeepest

within,intheHolyofHolies,wheredarknessisovershadowedbybrilliantlightandintowhichnomancanenter.Thoughthehighpriestdoesenterinonceannually,it

nonethelessindicatesthatbeforetheveilisrenttherecanbenomanintheHolyof

Holies.

ManisGod'stemplealso,andhetoohasthreeparts.Thebodyisliketheoutercourt,

occupyinganexternalpositionwithitslifevisibletoall.HeremanoughttoobeyeverycommandmentofGod.HereGod'sSonservesasasubstituteanddiesformankind.

Insideisman'ssoulwhichconstitutestheinnerlifeofmanandwhichembracesman'semotion,volitionandmind.SuchistheHolyPlaceofaregeneratedperson,forhislove,willandthoughtarefullyenlightenedthathemayserveGodevenasthepriestofold

did.Innermost,behindtheveil,liestheHolyofHoliesintowhichnohumanlighthaseverpenetratedandnonakedeyehaseverpierced.ItisthesecretplaceoftheMost

High,thedwellingplaceofGod.ItcannotbereachedbymanunlessGodiswillingto

rendtheveil.Itisman'sspirit.Thisspiritliesbeyondman'sself-consciousnessandabovehissensibility.HeremanunitesandcommuneswithGod.

NolightisprovidedfortheHolyofHoliesbecauseGoddwellsthere.Thereislightinthe

HolyPlacesuppliedbythelampstandofsevenbranches.Theoutercourtstandsunder

thebroaddaylight.Alltheseserveasimagesandshadowstoaregeneratedperson.HisspiritisliketheHolyofHoliesindweltbyGod,whereeverythingiscarriedonbyfaith,beyondthesight,senseorunderstandingofthebelievingone.Thesoulresemblesthe

HolyPlaceforitisamplyenlightenedwithmanyrationalthoughtsandprecepts,much

knowledgeandunderstandingconcerningthethingsintheideationalandmaterialworld.Thebodyiscomparabletotheoutercourt,clearlyvisibletoall.Thebody's

actionsmaybeseenbyeveryone.

Theorder,whichGodpresentstous,isunmistakable:yourspiritandsoulandbody(IThess.5.23).Itisnotsoulandspiritandbody,norisitbodyandsoulandspirit.The

spiritisthepre-eminentpart,henceitismentionedfirst;thebodyisthelowestand

thereforeislastmentioned;thesoulstandsbetween,soismentionedbetween.HavingnowseenGod'sorder,wecanappreciatethewisdomoftheBibleinlikeningmantoa


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temple.Wecanrecognizetheperfectharmony,whichexistsbetweenthetempleand

maninrespecttobothorderandvalue.

TempleservicemovesaccordingtotherevelationintheHolyofHolies.Allactivitiesin

theHolyPlaceandintheoutercourtareregulatedbythepresenceofGodintheHoliest

Place.Thisisthemostsacredspot,theplaceuponwhichthefourcornersofthetempleconvergeandrest.ItmayseemtousthatnothingisdoneintheHoliestbecauseitis

pitchdark.AllactivitiesareintheHolyPlace;eventhoseactivitiesoftheoutercourtare

controlledbythepriestsoftheHolyPlace.YetalltheactivitiesoftheHolyPlaceactuallyaredirectedbytherevelationintheutterquietnessandpeaceoftheHolyofHolies.

Itisnotdifficulttoperceivethespiritualapplication.Thesoul,theorganofourpersonality,iscomposedofmind,volitionandemotion.Itappearsasthoughthesoulis

masterofallactions,forthebodyfollowsitsdirection.Beforethefallofman,however,

thesoul,inspiteofitsmanyactivities,wasgovernedbythespirit.AndthisistheorderGodstillwants:firstthespirit,thenthesoul,andlastlythebody.


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Volume 1: Chapter 2 - Spirit And Soul

Itisimperativethatabelieverknowshehasaspirit,since,asweshallsoonlearn,every

communicationofGodwithmanoccursthere.Ifthebelieverdoesnotdiscernhisown

spiritheinvariablyisignorantofhowtocommunewithGodinthespirit.Heeasilysubstitutesthethoughtsoremotionsofthesoulfortheworksofthespirit.Thushe

confineshimselftotheouterrealm,unableevertoreachthespiritualrealm.

1Corinthians2.11speaksof"thespiritofthemanwhichisinhim."

1Corinthians5.4mentions"myspirit."Romans8.16says"ourspirit."

1Corinthians14.14uses"myspirit."

1Corinthians14.32tellsofthe"spiritsofprophets."

Proverbs25.28refersto"hisownspirit."Darby

Hebrews12.23records"thespiritsofjustmen."

Zechariah12.1statesthat"theLord...formedthespiritofmanwithinhim."

TheaboveScriptureversessufficientlyprovethatwehumanbeingsdopossessahumanspirit.ThisspiritisnotsynonymouswithoursoulnorisitthesameastheHolySpirit.

WeworshipGodinthisspirit.

AccordingtotheteachingoftheBibleandtheexperienceofbelievers,thehumanspirit

canbesaidtocomprisethreeparts;or,toputitanotherway,onecansayithasthreemainfunctions.Theseareconscience,intuitionandcommunion.

Theconscienceisthediscerningorgan,whichdistinguishesrightandwrong;not,

however,throughtheinfluenceofknowledgestoredinthemindbutratherbyaspontaneousdirectjudgment.Oftenreasoningwilljustifythings,whichourconscience

judges.Theworkoftheconscienceisindependentanddirect;itdoesnotbendtooutside

opinions.Ifmanshoulddowrongitwillraiseitsvoiceofaccusation.Intuitionisthesensingorganofthehumanspirit.Itissodiametricallydifferentfromphysicalsense

andsoulicalsensethatitiscalledintuition.Intuitioninvolvesadirectsensing

independentofanyoutsideinfluence.Thatknowledgewhichcomestouswithoutanyhelpfromthemind,emotionorvolitioncomesintuitively.Wereally"know"throughour

intuition;ourmindmerelyhelpsusto"Understand."TherevelationsofGodandallthemovementsoftheHolySpiritareknowntothebelieverthroughhisintuition.Abeliever

mustthereforeheedthesetwoelements:thevoiceofconscienceandtheteachingof

intuition.CommunionisworshipingGod.TheorgansofthesoulareincompetenttoworshipGod.Godisnotapprehendedbyourthoughts,feelingsorintentions,forHecan

onlybeknowndirectlyinourspirits.OurworshipofGodandGod'scommunications

withusaredirectlyinthespirit.Theytakeplacein"theinnerman,"notinthesouloroutwardman.

Wecanconcludethenthatthesethreeelementsofconscience,intuitionandcommunionaredeeplyinterrelatedandfunctioncoordinately.Therelationshipbetweenconscience


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andintuitionisthatconsciencejudgesaccordingtointuition;itcondemnsallconduct

whichdoesnotfollowthedirectionsgivenbyintuition.IntuitionisrelatedtocommunionorworshipinthatGodisknownbymanintuitivelyandrevealsHiswillto

manintheintuition.Nomeasureofexpectationordeductiongivesustheknowledgeof

God.

FromthefollowingthreegroupsofScriptureversesitcanreadilybeobservedthatour

spiritspossessthefunctionofconscience(wedonotsaythatthespiritisconscience),

thefunctionofintuition(orspiritualsense),andthefunctionof,communion(orworship).

A)TheFunctionofConscienceinMan'sSpirit

"TheLordyourGodhardenedhisspirit"Deut.2.30

"Savesthecrushedinspirit"Ps.34.18

"Putanewandrightspiritwithinme"Ps.51.10

"WhenJesushadthusspoken,hewastroubledinspirit"John13.21

"Hisspiritwasprovokedwithinhimashesawthatthecitywasfullof

idols"Acts17.16

"ItistheSpirithimselfbearingwitnesswithourspiritthatwearechildrenofGod"

Rom.8.16

"Iampresentinspirit,andasifpresent,Ihavealreadypronouncedjudgment"1Cor.5.3

"Ihadnorestinmyspirit"2Cor.2.13AV

"ForGoddidnotgiveusthespiritoftimidity"2Tim.1.7

B)TheFunctionofIntuitioninMan'sSpirit

"Thespiritindeediswilling"Matt.26.41

"Jesusperceivinginhisspirit"Mark2.8

"Hesigheddeeplyinhisspirit"Mark8.12

"Hewasdeeplymovedinspirit"John11.33

"Paulwaspressedinthespirit"Acts18.5AV

"Beingferventinspirit"Acts18.25

"IamgoingtoJerusalem,boundinthespirit"Acts20.22

"Whatpersonknowsaman'sthoughtsexceptthespiritofthemanwhichisinhim"1

Cor.2.11

"Theyrefreshedmyspiritaswellasyours"1Cor.16.18


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"Hisspiritwasrefreshedbyyouall"2Cor.7.13AV

C)TheFunctionofCommunioninMan'sSpirit

"MyspiritrejoicesinGodmySavior"Luke1.47

"ThetrueworshiperswillworshiptheFatherinspiritandtruth"John4.23

WhomIservewithmyspirit"Rom.1.9

"Weserve...inthenewlifeofthespirit"Rom.7.6

"YouhavereceivedthespiritofsonshipwhenwecryAbbaFather"Rom.8.15

"TheSpirithimselfbearingwitnesswithourspirit"Rom.8.16

"HewhoisunitedtotheLordbecomesonespiritwithhim"1Cor.6.17

"Iwillsingwiththespirit"1Cor.14.15

"Ifyoublesswiththespirit"1Cor.14.16

"Inthespirithecarriedmeaway"Rev.21.10

WecanknowbytheseScripturesthatourspiritpossessesatleastthesethreefunctions.Althoughunregeneratemendonotyethavelife,theyneverthelesspossessthese

functions(buttheirworshipisofevilspirits).Somepeoplemanifestmoreofthesefunctionswhileothersless.Thisdoesnothoweverimplythattheyarenotdeadinsins

andtransgressions.TheNewTestamentdoesnotconsiderthosewithasensitiveconscience,keenintuitionoraspiritualtendencyandinteresttobesavedindividuals.Suchpeopleonlyprovetousthatasidefromthemind,emotionandwillofoursoul,we

alsohaveaspirit.PriortoregenerationthespiritisseparatedfromGod'slife;only

afterwardsdoesthelifeofGodandoftheHolySpiritdwellinourspirits.TheythenhavebeenquickenedtobeinstrumentsoftheHolySpirit.

Ouraiminstudyingthesignificanceofthespiritistoenableustorealizethatweashumanbeingspossessanindependentspirit.Thisspiritisnotman'smind,hiswillorhis

emotion;onthecontrary,itincludesthefunctionsofconscience,intuitionand

communion.ItishereinthespiritthatGodregeneratesus,teachesus,andleadsusinto

Hisrest.Butsadtosay,duetolongyearsofbondagetothesoulmanyChristiansknowverylittleoftheirspirit.WeoughttotremblebeforeGod,askingHimtoteachusthrough

experiencewhatisspiritualandwhatissoulish.

Beforethebelieverisbornagainhisspiritbecomessosunkenandsurroundedbyhis

soulthatitisimpossibleforhimtodistinguishwhethersomethingisemanatingfromthesoulorfromthespirit.Thefunctionsofthelatterhavebecomemixedupwiththose

oftheformer.Furthermore,thespirithaslostitsprimaryfunctiontowardsGod;forit

isdeadtoGod.Itthuswouldappearthatithasbecomeanaccessorytothesoul.Andasthemind,emotionandvolitiongrowstronger,thefunctionsofthespiritbecomeso

eclipsedastorenderthemalmostunknown.Thatiswhytheremustbetheworkof

dividingbetweensoulandspiritafterabelieverisregenerated.


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InsearchingtheScripturesitdoesseemthatanunregeneratedspiritfunctionsno

differentlyfromthewaythesouldoes.Thefollowingversesillustratethis.

"Hisspiritwastroubled"Gen.41.8

"Thentheirspiritwasappeasedtowardhim"Judges8.3(Darby)

"Hethatishastyofspiritexaltethfolly"Prov.14.29(Darby)

"Adowncastspiritdriesupthebones"Prov.17.22

"Thosewhoerrinspirit"Is.29.24

"Andshallwailforanguishofspirit"Is.65.14

"Hisspiritwashardened"Dan.5.20

Theseshowustheworksoftheunregeneratedspiritandindicatehowsimilarareitsworkstothoseofthesoul.Thereasonfornotmentioningsoulbutspiritistoreveal

whathasoccurredintheverydepthofman.Itdiscloseshowman'sspirithasbecome

controlledandinfluencedcompletelybyhissoulwiththeresultthatitmanifeststheworksofthesoul.Thespiritnonethelessstillexistsbecausetheseworkscomefromthe

spirit.Thoughruledbythesoulthespiritdoesnotceasetobeanorgan.

Soul

Asidefromhavingaspirit,whichenableshimtocommunewithGod,manalsopossessesasoul,hisself-consciousness.Heismadeconsciousofhisexistencebytheworkofhis

soul.Itistheseatofourpersonality.Theelements,whichmakeushuman,belongtothesoul.Intellect,thought,ideals,love,emotion,discernment,choice,decision,etc.arebutvariousexperiencesofthesoul.

Ithasbeenexplainedalreadythatthespiritandthebodyareemergedinthesoul,which,inturn,formstheorganofourpersonality.ThatiswhytheBiblesometimescallsman

"souls,"asthoughmanhasonlythiselement.Forexample,Genesis12.5referstopeople

as"souls"(ASV).Again,whenJacobbroughthisentirefamilydowntoEgypt,itisrecorded,that"allthesoulsofthehouseofJacob,thatcameintoEgypt,werethreescore

andten"(Gen.46.27ASV).NumerousinstancesoccurintheoriginallanguageoftheBiblewhere"soul"isusedinsteadof"Man."Fortheseatandessenceofthepersonality

isthesoul.Tocomprehendaman'spersonalityistocomprehendhisperson.Man'sexistence,characteristicsandlifeareallinthesoul.TheBibleconsequentlycallsman"asoul."

Thatwhichconstitutesman'spersonalityarethethreemainfacultiesofvolition,mind

andemotion.Volitionistheinstrumentforourdecisions,revealingourpowertochoose.Itexpressesourwillingnessorunwillingness:"wewill"or"wewon't."Withoutit,manis

reducedtoanautomaton.Mind,theinstrumentforourthoughts,manifestsourintellectualpower.Outofthisarisewisdom,knowledgeandreasoning.Lackofitmakes

amanfoolishanddull.Theinstrumentforourlikesanddislikesisthefacultyof

emotion.Throughitweareabletoexpressloveorhateandtofeeljoyful,angry,sadorhappy.Anyshortageofitwillrendermanasinsensitiveaswoodorstone.


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AcarefulstudyoftheBiblewillyieldtheconclusionthatthesethreeprimaryfacultiesof

personalitybelongtothesoul.ToomanyScripturepassagesexisttoquotethemall.Henceonlyafewselectionscanbeenumeratedhere.

A)TheSoulsFacultyofVolition

"Givemenotuptothewill(original,"soul")ofmyadversaries"Ps.27.12

"Thoudostnotgivehimuptothewill(original,soul)ofhisenemies"Ps.41.2

"Deliveredyoutothegreed(original,"soul")ofyourenemies"Ezek.16.27

"Youshalllethergowhereshewill(original,"soul)"Deut.21.14

"Aha,wehaveourheart'sdesire(original,"soul")"Ps.35.25

"Orswearanoathtobindhimself(original,"soul")byapledge"Num.30.2

"Nowsetyourmindandheart(original,"soul")toseektheLordyourGod"1Chron.

22.19

"Theydesireandliftuptheirsoultoreturntodwellthere"Jer.44.14Amplified

"Theseafflictionsmysoulrefusestotouch"Job6.7Amplified

"Mysoulchoosethstrangling,death,ratherthanmybones"Job7.15Darby

The"willor"heart"herepointstothehumanwill."Settheheart,""liftuptheirsoul,"

"refuse"and"choose"areallexercisesofthewill,havingtheirspringsinthesoul.

B)TheSoulsFacultyofIntellectorMind

"Whereuntotheyliftuptheirsoul,theirsonsandtheirdaughters"Ezek.24.25Darby

"Thatasoulbewithoutknowledgeisnotgood'Prove19.2Darby

"HowlongmustIbearpain(Syriac:Hebrew:holdcounsels)inmysoul?"Ps.13.2

"Marvelousarethyworks,andthatmysoulknowethrightwell'Ps.139.14Darby

"Mysoulcontinuallythinksofit"Lam.3.20

"KnowledgewillbepleasanttoyoursoulProv.2.10

"Keepsoundwisdomanddiscretionandtheywillbelifeforyoursoul"Prov.3.21,22

"KnowthatwisdomissuchtoyoursoulProv.24.14

Here"knowledge,""counsel,""liftup,""think,"etc.,existastheactivitiesofman's

intellectormind,whichtheBibleindicatesasemanatingfromthesoul.

C)TheSoulsFacultyofEmotion

1)EMOTIONSOFAFFECTION


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"ThesoulofJonathanwasknittothesoulofDavid,andJonathanlovedhimashisown

soul1Sam.18.1

"Youwhommysoulloves"Song1.7

"MysoulmagnifiestheLord"Luke1.46

"Hislifeabhorrethbread,andhissouldaintyfood"Job33.20Darby

"WhoarehatedbyDavid'ssoul2Sam.5.8

"Mysoulwasvexedwiththem"Zech.11.8Darby

"YoushalllovetheLordyourGodwithallyoursoulDeut.6.5

"Mysouliswearyofmylife"Job10:1Darby

"Theirsoulabhorrethallmanneroffood"Ps.107:18Darby

2)EMOTIONSOFDESIRE

"Forwhateverthysouldesireth...orforwhateverthysoulaskethofthee"Deut.14.26

Darby

"Whatthysoulmaysay"1Sam.20.4Darby

"Mysoullongs,yea,faintsforthecourtsoftheLord"Ps.84.2

"Yoursoul'slonging"Ezek.24-21Darby

"Solongsmysoulforthee,OGod"Ps.42.1

"Mysoulyearnsfortheeinthenight"Is.26.9

"Mysouliswellpleased"Matt.12.IS

3)EMOTIONSOFFEELINGANDSENSING

"Aswordwillpiercethroughyourownsoulalso"Luke2.35

"Allthepeoplewerebitterinsoul'ISam.30.6

"Hersoulisbitterandvexedwithinher"2Kings4.27Amplified

"HissoulwasgrievedforthemiseryofIsrael"Judges10.16Darby

"Howlongwillyevexmysoul"Job19.2Darby

"MysoulshallexultinmyGod"Is.61.10

"Gladdenthesoulofthyservant"Ps.86.4

"Theirsoulfaintedwithinthem"Ps.107.5


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"Whyareyoucastdown,Omysoul.42.5

"Return,Omysoul,toyourrest"Ps.116.7

"Mysoulisconsumedwithlonging"Ps.119.20

"Sweetnesstothesoul'Prov.16.24

"Letyoursouldelightitselfinfatness"Is.55.2Amplified

"Mysoulfaintedwithinme"Jonah2.7

"Mysoulisverysorrowful"Matt,26.38

"Nowismysoultroubled"John12.27

"Hewasvexedinhisrighteoussouldayafterday"2Peter2.8

Wecandiscoverintheaboveobservationstouchinguponman'svariousemotionsthatoursouliscapableoflovingandhating,desiringandaspiring,feelingandsensing.

FromthisbriefBiblicalstudyitbecomesquiteobviousthatthesoulofmancontainsinit

thatpartknownaswill,thatpartknownasmindorintellect,andthatpartknownasemotion.

TheSoul-life

SomeBiblescholarspointouttousthatthreedifferentwordsareemployedintheGreek

todesignate"life":(1)bios(2)psuche(3)zoe.Theyalldescribelifebutconveyverydifferentmeanings.Bioshasreferencetothemeansoflifeorliving.OurLordJesusused

thiswordwhenHecommendedthewomanwhocastintothetempletreasuryherwhole

living.Zoeisthehighestlife,thelifeofthespirit.WhenevertheBiblespeaksofeternallifeitusesthisword.Psuchereferstotheanimatedlifeofman,hisnaturallifeorthelife

ofthesoul.TheBibleemploysthistermwhenitdescribesthehumanlife.

Letusnoteherethatthewords"soul'and"soul-life"intheBibleareoneandthesamein

theoriginal.IntheOldTestamenttheHebrewwordfor"soul"nepheshisused

equallyfor"soul-life."TheNewTestamentconsequentlyemploystheGreekwordpsucheforboth"soul"and"soul-life."Henceweknow"soul"notonlyisoneofthethree

elementsofmanbutalsoisman'slife,hisnaturallife.InmanyplacesintheBible,"soul"istranslatedas"life."

"Onlyyoushallnoteatfleshwithitslife,thatis,itsblood"Gen.9.4,5

"Thelifeofthefleshisintheblood"Lev.17.11

"Thosewhosoughtthechild'slifearedead"Matt.2.20

"Isitlawfulonthesabbathtosavelifeortodestroyit?"Luke6.9

"WhohaveriskedtheirlivesforthesakeofourLordJesusChrist"Acts15.26

"Idonotaccountmylifeofanyvalue"Acts20.24


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"Togivehislifeasaransomformany"Matt.20.28

"Thegoodshepherdlaysdownhislifeforthesheep"John10.11,15,17

Theword"life"intheseversesis"soul"intheoriginal.Itissotranslatedbecauseit

wouldbedifficulttounderstandotherwise.Thesoulactuallyistheverylifeofman.

Aswehavementioned,"soul"isoneofthethreeelementsofman."Soul-life"isman'snaturallife,thatwhichmakeshimexistandanimateshim.Itisthelifewherebyman

todaylives;itisthepowerwherebymanbecomeswhatheis.SincetheBibleapplies

nepheshandpsuchebothtosoulandtoman'slife,itisevidenttousthatthesetwo,thoughdistinguishable,arenotseparable.Theyaredistinguishableinasmuchasin

certainplacespsuche(forexample)mustbetranslatedeitheras"souloras"life."Thetranslationscannotbeinterchanged.Forinstance,"soul"and"life"inLuke12.19-23and

Mark3.4areactuallythesamewordintheoriginal,yettotranslatethemwiththesame

wordinEnglishwouldbemeaningless.Theyareinseparable,however,becausethese

twoarecompletelyunitedinman.Amanwithoutasouldoesnotlive.TheBiblenevertellsusthatanaturalmanpossessesalifeotherthanthesoul.Thelifeofmanisbutthesoulpermeatingthebody.Asthesoulisjoinedtothebodyitbecomesthelifeofman.

Lifeisthephenomenonofthesoul.TheBibleconsidersman'spresentbodya"soulical

body"(1Cor.15.44original),forthelifeofourpresentbodyisthatofthesoul.Man'slifeisthereforesimplyanexpressionofthecompositeofhismental,emotionaland

volitionalenergies."Personality"inthenaturalrealmembracesthesedifferentpartsof

thesoulbutonlythatmuchsoul-lifeisman'snaturallife.

Thatthesoulisman'slifeisamostimportantfacttorecognizeforitbearsgreatlyupon

thekindofChristianwebecome,whetherspiritualorsoulish.Thisweshallexplain

furtheron.

SoulAndMan'sSelf

Inasmuchaswehaveseenhowsoulisthesiteofourpersonality,theorganofvolition

andthenaturallife,wecaneasilyconcludethatthissoulisalsothe"realI"Imyself.Ourselfisthesoul.ThistoocanbedemonstratedbytheBible.InNumbers30,the

phrase"bindhimself"occurstentimes.Intheoriginalitis"bindhissoul."Fromthiswe

areledtounderstandthatthesoulisourownself.InmanyotherpassagesoftheBiblewefindtheword"soul"istranslatedas"self."Forinstance:

"Youshallnotdefileyourselveswiththem"Lev.11.43

"Youshallnotdefileyourselves"Lev.11.44

"Forthemselvesandfortheirdescendants"Esther9.31

"Youwhotearyourselfinyouranger"Job18.4

"Hejustifiedhimself"Job32.2

"ButthemselvesgointocaptivityIs.46.2

"Whateveryone(original,"everysoul")musteat,thatonlymaybepreparedbyyou"Ex.12.16


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"Whokillsanyperson(original,"killanysoul")withoutintent"Num.35.11,15

"Letme(original,"letmysoul)diethedeathoftherighteous"Num.23.10

"Whenanyone(original,"anysoul)bringsacerealoffering"Lev.2.1

"Ihavequietedmyself"Ps.131.2AV

"Thinknotthatintheking'spalaceyou(original,"soul)willescape"Esther4.13

"TheLordGodhasswornbyhimself(original,"swornbyhissoul')"Amos6.8

TheseScripturesfromtheOldTestamentinformusinvariouswayshowthesoulis

man'sownself.

TheNewTestamentconveysthesameimpression."Souls"istheoriginalrenderingfor

"eightpersons"in1Peter3.20andfor"twohundredandseventy-sixpersons"inActs27.37.ThephraseinRomans2.9translatedtodayas"everyhumanbeingwhodoesevil"

isgivenintheoriginalas"everysoulofmanthatworksevil."Hence,towarnthesoulof

amanwhoworksevilistowarntheevilman.InJames5.20,savingasoulisconsideredtobesavingasinner.AndLuke12.19treatstherichfool'sspeakingwordsofcomfortto

hissoulasspeakingtohimself.ItisthereforeclearthattheBibleasawholeviewsman'ssoulorsoul-lifeasthemanhimself.Aconfirmationofthiscanbefoundinthewordsof

ourLordJesus,givenintwodifferentGospels.Matthew16.26reads"Forwhatwillit

profitaman,ifhegainsthewholeworldandforfeitshislife(psuche)?Orwhatshallamangiveinreturnforhislife(psuche)?"WhereasLuke9.25rendersit:"Forwhatdoesit

profitamanifhegainsthewholeworldandlosesorforfeitshimself(eautov)?"Both

Gospelwritersrecordthesamething;yetoneuses"life"(or"soul")whiletheotheruses"himself."ThissignifiesthattheHolySpiritisusingMatthewtoexplainthemeaningof

"himself"inLukeandLukethemeaningof"life"inMatthew.Man'ssoulorlifeisthemanhimself,andviceversa.

Suchastudyenablesustoconcludethat,tobeaman,wemustsharewhatisincludedin

man'ssoul.Everynaturalmanpossessesthiselementandwhateveritincludes,forthesoulisthecommonlifesharedbyallnaturalmen.Beforeregeneration,whateveris

includedinlifebeitself,life,strength,power,choice,thought,opinion,love,feeling

pertainstothesoul.Inotherwords,soul-lifeisthelifeamaninheritsatbirth.Allthatthislifepossessesandallthatitmaybecomeareintherealmofthesoul.Ifwedistinctly

recognizewhatissoulicalitwillthenbeeasierforuslaterontorecognizewhatisspiritual.Itwillbepossibletodividethespiritualfromthesoulish.


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Volume 1: Chapter 3 - The Fall Of Man

ThemanGodfashionedwasnotablydifferentfromallothercreatedbeings.Man

possessedaspiritsimilartothatoftheangelsandatthesametimehadasoul

resemblingthatoftheloweranimals.WhenGodcreatedmanHegavehimaperfectfreedom.Hedidnotmakemananautomaton,controlledautomaticallybyHiswill.This

isevidentinGenesis2atthetimeGodinstructedtheoriginalmanwhatfruithecouldeatandwhatnot.ThemanGodcreatedwasnotamachinerunbyGod;insteadhehad

perfectfreedomofchoice.IfhechosetoobeyGod,hecould;ifhedecidedtorebelagainstGod,hecoulddothattoo.Manhadinhispossessionasovereigntybywhichhe

couldexercisehisvolitioninchoosingtoobeyortodisobey.Thisisamostimportant

point,forwemustrealizethatinourspirituallifeGodneverdeprivesusofourfreedom.Unlessweactivelycooperate,Godwillnotundertakeanythingforus.NeitherGodnor

thedevilcandoanyworkwithoutfirstobtainingourconsent,forman'swillisfree.

Man'sspiritwasoriginallythehighestpartofhisentirebeingtowhichsoulandbodyweretobesubject.Undernormalconditionsthespiritislikeamistress,thesoullikea

steward,andthebodylikeaservant.Themistresscommitsmatterstothestewardwhointurncommandstheservanttocarrythemout.Themistressgivesordersprivatelyto

thesteward;thestewardinturntransmitsthemopenlytotheservant.Thesteward

appearstobethelordofall,butinactualitythelordoverallisthemistress.Unfortunatelymanhasfallen;hehasbeendefeatedandhassinned;consequently,the

properorderofspirit,soulandbodyhasbeenconfused.

Godbestoweduponmanasovereignpowerandaccordednumerousgiftstoahuman

soul.Thoughtandwillorintellectandintentionareamongtheprominentportions.The

originalpurposeofGodisthatthehumansoulshouldreceiveandassimilatethetruthandsubstanceofGod'sspirituallife.Hegavegiftstomeninorderthatmanmighttake

God'sknowledgeandwillashisown.Ifman'sspiritandsoulwouldmaintaintheir

createdperfection,healthinessandliveliness,hisbodywouldthenbeabletocontinueforeverwithoutchange.Ifhewouldexercisehiswillbytakingandeatingthefruitoflife,

God'sOwnlifeundoubtedlywouldenterhisspirit,permeatehissoul,transformhisentireinnerman,andtranslatehisbodyintoincorruptibility.Hethenwouldliterallybe

inpossessionof"eternallife."Inthateventhissoulicallifewouldbefilledcompletely

withspirituallife,andhiswholebeingwouldbetransformedintothatwhichisspiritual.Conversely,iftheorderofspiritandsoulwouldbereversed,thenmanwouldplunge

intodarknessandthehumanbodycouldnotlastlongbutwouldsoonbecorrupted.

Weknowhowman'ssoulchosethetreeoftheknowledgeofgoodandevilratherthanthetreeoflife.YetisitnotclearthatGod'swillforAdamwastoeatthefruitofthetree

oflife?BecausebeforeHeforbadeAdamtoeatthefruitofthetreeofgoodandevilandwarnedhimthatinthedayheateheshoulddie(Gen.2.17),Hefirstcommandedmanto

eatfreelyofeverytreeofthegardenandpurposelymentionedthetreeoflifeinthe

midstofthegarden.Whocansaythatthisisnotso?

"Thefruitoftheknowledgeofgoodandevil"upliftsthehumansoulandsuppressesthe

spirit.Goddoesnotforbidmantoeatofthisfruitmerelytotestman.Heforbidsit

becauseHeknowsthatbyeatingthisfruitman'ssoul-lifewillbesostimulatedthathisspiritlifewillbestifled.ThismeansmanwilllosethetrueknowledgeofGodandthusbe


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deadtoHim.God'sforbiddanceshowsGod'slove.Theknowledgeofgoodandevilinthis

worldisitselfevil.Suchknowledgespringsfromtheintellectofman'ssoul.Itpuffsupthesoul-lifeandconsequentlydeflatesthespiritlifetothepointoflosinganyknowledge

ofGod,tothepointofbecomingasmuchasdead.

AgreatnumberofGod'sservantsviewthistreeoflifeasGodofferinglifetotheworldinHisSontheLordJesus.Thisiseternallife,God'snature,Hisuncreatedlife.Hence,we

haveheretwotreesonegerminatesspirituallifewhiletheotherdevelopssoulishlife.

Maninhisoriginalstateisneithersinfulnorholyandrighteous.Hestandsbetweenthetwo.EitherhecanacceptGod'slife,thusbecomingaspiritualmanandapartakerof

divinenature;orhecaninflatehiscreatedlifeintobecomingsoulish,consequentlyinflictingdeathonhisspirit.Godimpartedaperfectbalancetothethreepartsofman.

Wheneveronepartisoverdevelopedtheothersareafflicted.

Ourspiritualwalkwillbegreatlyhelpedifweunderstandtheoriginofsoulanditslifeprinciple.OurspiritcomesdirectlyfromGodforitisGod-given(Num.16.22).Oursoulis

notsodirectlyderived;itwasproducedafterthespiritenteredthebody.Itisthereforecharacteristicallyrelatedtothecreatedbeing.Itisthecreatedlife,thenaturallife.The

soul'susefulnessisindeedextensiveifitmaintainsitsproperplaceasasteward,

permittingthespirittobemistress.MancanthenreceiveGod'slifeandberelatedtoGodinlife.If,however,thissoulicalrealmbecomesinflatedthespiritisaccordingly

suppressed.Allman'sdoingswillbeconfinedtothenaturalrealmofthecreatedunable

tobeunitedtoGod'ssupernaturalanduncreatedlife.Theoriginalmansuccumbedtodeathinthatheateofthefruitoftheknowledgeofgoodandevil,therebyabnormally

developinghissoulicallife.

SatantemptedEvewithaquestion.Heknewhisquerywouldarousethewoman's

thought.Ifshewerecompletelyunderthespirit'scontrolshewouldrejectsuch

questioning.

Bytryingtoanswersheexercisedhermindindisobediencetothespirit.Doubtless

Satan'squestionwasfulloferrors,forhisprimemotivewasmerelytoinciteEve's

mentalexertion.HewouldhaveexpectedEvetocorrecthim,butalas,EvedaredtochangeGod'sWordinherconversationwithSatan.Theenemyaccordinglywas

emboldenedtotempthertoeatbysuggestingtoherthat,ineating,hereyeswouldbeopenedandshewouldbelikeGodknowinggoodandevil."Sowhenthewomansaw

thatthetreewasgoodforfood,andthatitwasadelighttotheeyes,andthatthetree

wastobedesiredtomakeonewise,shetookofitsfruitandate"(Gen.3.6).ThatwashowEveviewedthematter.Satanprovokedhersoulicalthoughtfirstandthenadvanced

toseizeherwill.Theresult:shefellintosin.

Satanalwaysusesphysicalneedasthefirsttargetforattack.Hesimplymentioned

eatingfruittoEve,anentirelyphysicalmatter.Nextheproceededtoenticehersoul,

intimatingthatbyindulging,hereyeswouldbeopenedtoknowgoodandevil.Althoughsuchsearchingforknowledgewasperfectlylegitimate,theconsequencenonethelessled

herspiritintoopenrebellionagainstGodbecauseshemisconstruedGod'sforbiddance

asarisingfromanevilintention.Satan'stemptationreachesinitiallytothebody,thentothesoulandlastlytothespirit.


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AfterbeingtemptedEvegaveherverdict.Tobeginwiththetreewasgoodforfood."

Thisisthe"lustoftheflesh."Eve'sfleshwasthefirsttobestirredup.Second,"itwasadelighttotheeyes."Thisis"thelustoftheeyes."Boththebodyandhersoulwerenow

enticed.Third,"thetreewastobedesiredtomakeonewise."Thisis"theprideoflife."

Suchdesirerevealedthewaveringofheremotionandwill.Hersoulwasnowagitated

beyondcontrol.Itnolongerstoodbyasaspectatorbuthadbeengoadedintodesiringthefruit.Howdangerousamasterhumanemotionis!

WhyshouldEvedesirethefruit?Itwasnotmerelythelustofthefleshandthelustoftheeyes,butalsocuriosity'surgeforwisdom.Inthepursuitofwisdomandknowledge,even

ofso-called"spiritualknowledge,"activitiesofthesouloftencanbedetected.Whenonetriestoincreasehisknowledgebydoingmentalgymnasticsoverbookswithoutwaiting

uponGodandlookingtotheguidanceoftheHolySpirit,hissoulisplainlyinfullswing.

Thiswilldepletehisspirituallife.Becausethefallofmanwasoccasionedbyseekingknowledge,Godusesthefoolishnessofthecrossto"destroythewisdomofthewise."

Intellectwasthechiefcauseofthefall;hence,inordertobesavedonemustbelievein

thefollyoftheWordofthecrossratherthandependuponhisintellect.Thetreeofknowledgecausesmantofall,soGodemploysthetreeoffolly(1Peter2.24)tosave

souls."Ifanyoneamongyouthinksthatheiswiseinthisage,lethimbecomeafoolthathemaybecomewise.ForthewisdomofthisworldisfollywithGod"(1Cor.3.18-20;

alsosee1.18-25).

Havingcarefullyreviewedtheaccountofthefallofman,weareabletoseethatinrebellingagainstGod,AdamandEvedevelopedtheirsoulstotheextentofdisplacing

theirspiritsandplungingthemselvesintodarkness.Theprominentpartsofthesoulareman'smind,willandemotion.Willistheorganofdecision,thereforethemasterofthe

man.Mindistheorganofthought,whileemotionisthatofaffection.TheApostlePaultellsus"Adamwasnotdeceived,"indicatingthatAdam'smindwasnotmuddledonthatfatalday.Theonewhowasfeeble-mindedwasEve:"thewomanwasdeceivedand

becameatransgressor"(1Tim.2.14).AccordingtotherecordofGenesisitiswritten

that"thewomansaid,'TheserpentbeguiledmeandIate'"(Gen.3.13);butthat"themansaid,'Thewomangave(notbeguiled)mefruitofthetreeandIate"'(Gen.3.12).

Adamobviouslywasnotdeceived;hismindwasclearandheknewthefruitwasfromtheforbiddentree.Heatebecauseofhisaffectionforthewoman.Adamunderstoodthat

whattheserpentsaidwasnothingmorethantheenemy'sdeception.Fromthewordsof

theApostleweareledtoseethatAdamsinneddeliberately.HelovedEvemorethanhimself.Hemadeherhisidol,andforhersakehewaswillingtorebelagainstthe

commandmentofhisCreator.Howpitifulthathismindwasoverruledbyhisemotion:hisreasoningovercomebyhisaffection.Whyisitthatmen"didnotbelievethetruth?"

Becausethey"hadpleasureinunrighteousness"(2Thess.2.12).Itisnotthatthetruthis

unreasonablebutthatitisnotloved.HencewhenonetrulyturnstotheLordhe"believeswithhisheart(notmind)andsoisjustified"(Rom.10.10).

SatanmovedAdamtosinbyseizingthelatter'swillthroughhisemotion,whilehe

temptedEvetosinbygraspingherwillthroughthechannelofadarkenedmind.Whenman'swillandmindandemotionwerepoisonedbytheserpentandmanfollowedafter

SataninsteadofGod,hisspirit,whichwascapableofcommuningwithGod,sufferedafatalblow.HerewecanseethelawwhichgovernstheworkofSatan.Heusesthethings

oftheflesh(eatingfruit)toenticeman'ssoulintosin;assoonasthesoulsins,thespirit

descendsintoutterdarkness.Theorderofhisworkingisalwayssuch:fromtheoutside


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totheinside.Ifhedoesnotstartwiththebody,thenhebeginsbyworkingonthemind

ortheemotioninordertogettothewillofman.Themomentman'swillyieldstoSatanhepossessesman'swholebeingandputsthespirittodeath.ButnotsotheworkofGod;

Hisisalwaysfromtheinsidetotheoutside.Godbeginsworkinginman'sspiritand

continuesbyilluminatinghismind,stirringhisemotion,andcausinghimtoexercisehis

willoverhisbodyforcarryingintoexecutionthewillofGod.Allsatanicworksareperformedfromtheoutsideinward;alldivineworks,fromtheinsideoutward.Wemay

inthiswaydistinguishwhatcomesfromGodandwhatfromSatan.AllthisadditionallyteachesusthatonceSatanseizesman'swill,thenisheincontroloverthatman.

Weshouldcarefullynotethatthesouliswheremanexpresseshisfreewillandexertshisownmastery.TheBiblethereforeoftenrecordsthatitisthesoulwhichsins.For

example,Micah6.7says,"thesinofmysoul."Ezekiel18.4,20reads,"thesoulthatsins."

AndinthebooksofLeviticusandNumbersmentionfrequentlyismadethatthesoulsins.

Why?Becauseitisthesoulwhichchoosestosin.Ourdescriptionofsinis:"Thewillacquiescesinthetemptation."Sinningisamatterofthesoulswill;atonement

accordinglymustbeforthesoul."Yegivetheheave-offeringofJehovahtomake

atonementforyoursouls"(Ex.30.15Darby)."Forthesoulofthefleshisintheblood;andIhavegivenittoyouuponthealtartomakeatonementforyoursouls,foritisthe

bloodthatmakethatonementforthesoul"(Lev.17.11Darby)."Tomakeatonementfor

oursoulsbeforeJehovah"(Num.31.50Darby).Sinceitisthesoulwhichsins,itfollowsthatthesoulneedstobeatoned.Anditcanonlybeatoned,moreover,byasoul:it

pleasedJehovahtobruisehim;hehathsubjectedhimtosuffering...thoushaltmakehissoulanofferingforsin...Heshallseeofthefruitofthetravailofhissoul,andshallbe

satisfied...hehathpouredouthissouluntodeath...andheborethesinofmany,andmadeintercessionforthetransgressors.(Is.53.10-12Darby)

InexaminingthenatureofAdam'ssinwediscoverthatasidefromrebellionthereisalso

acertainkindofindependence.Wemustnotlosesighthereoffreewill.Ontheone

hand,thetreeoflifeimpliesasenseofdependence.ManatthattimedidnotpossessGod'snature,buthadhepartakenofthefruitofthetreeoflifehecouldhavesecured

God'slife;mancouldhavereachedhissummitpossessingtheverylifeofGod.Thisisdependence.Ontheotherhand,thetreeoftheknowledgeofgoodandevilsuggests

independencebecausemanstrivedbytheexerciseofhiswillfortheknowledgenot

promised,forsomethingnotaccordedhimbyGod.Hisrebelliondeclaredhis

independence.ByrebellinghedidnotneedtodependuponGod.Furthermore,hisseekingtheknowledgeofgoodandevilalsoshowedhisindependence,forhewasnotsatisfiedwithwhatGodhadbestowedalready.Thedifferencebetweenthespiritualand

thesoulishiscrystalclear.ThespiritualdependsutterlyuponGod,fullysatisfiedwith

whatGodhasgiven;thesoulishsteersclearofGodandcovetswhatGodhasnotconferred,especially"knowledge."Independenceisaspecialmarkofthesoulish.That

thingnomatterhowgood,evenworshipingGodisunquestionablyofthesoulifit

doesnotrequirecompletetrustinGodandinsteadcallsforrelianceuponone'sownstrength.Thetreeoflifecannotgrowwithinustogetherwiththetreeofknowledge.

Rebellionandindependenceexplaineverysincommittedbybothsinnersandsaints.


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Spirit,SoulAndBodyAfterTheFall

Adamlivedbythebreathoflifebecomingspiritinhim.BythespirithesensedGod,

knewGod'svoice,andcommunedwithGod.HehadaverykeenawarenessofGod.But

afterhisfallhisspiritdied.

WhenGodspoketoAdamatthefirstHesaid,"inthedaythatyoueatofit(thefruitofthetreeofknowledgeofgoodandevil)youshalldie"(Gen.2.17).AdamandEve

neverthelesscontinuedonforhundredsofyearsaftereatingtheforbiddenfruit.ThisobviouslyindicatesthatthedeathGodforetoldwasnotphysical.Adam'sdeathbeganin

hisspirit.

Whatreallyisdeath?Accordingtoitsscientificdefinitiondeathis"thecessationof

communicationwithenvironment."Deathofthespiritisthecessationofits

communicationwithGod.Deathofthebodyisthecuttingoffofcommunicationbetweenspiritandbody.Sowhenwesaythespiritisdeaditdoesnotimplythereisnomore

spirit;wesimplymeanthespirithaslostitssensitivitytowardsGodandthusisdeadtoHim.Theexactsituationisthatthespiritisincapacitated,unabletocommunewithGod.

Toillustrate.Adumbpersonhasamouthandlungsbutsomethingiswrongwithhis

vocalcordsandheispowerlesstospeak.Sofarashumanlanguageisconcernedhismouthmaybeconsidereddead.SimilarlyAdam'sspiritdiedbecauseofhisdisobedience

toGod.Hestillhadhisspirit,yetitwasdeadtoGodforithadlostitsspiritualinstinct.It

isstillso;sinhasdestroyedthespirit'skeenintuitiveknowledgeofGodandrenderedmanspirituallydead.Hemaybereligious,moral,learned,capable,strongandwise,but

heisdeadtoGod.HemayeventalkaboutGod,reasonaboutGodandpreachGod,butheisstilldeadtoHim.ManisnotabletohearortosensethevoiceofGod'sSpirit.

ConsequentlyintheNewTestamentGodoftenreferstothosewhoarelivingintheflesh

asdead.

Thedeathwhichbeganinourforefather'sspiritgraduallyspreaduntilitreachedhis

body.Thoughhelivedonformanyyearsafterhisspiritwasdead,deathneverthelessworkedincessantlyinhimuntilhisspirit,soulandbodywerealldead.Hisbody,which

couldhavebeentransformedandglorified,wasinsteadreturnedtodust.Becausehis

inwardmanhadfallenintochaos,hisoutwardbodymustdieandbedestroyed.

HenceforthAdam'sspirit(aswellasthespiritofallhisdescendants)fellunderthe

oppressionofthesouluntilitgraduallymergedwiththesoulandthetwopartsbecame

closelyunited.ThewriterofHebrewsdeclaresin4.12thattheWordofGodshallpierce

anddividesoulandspirit.Thedividingisnecessarybecausespiritandsoulhavebecomeone.Whiletheyareintimatelyknittheyplungemanintoapsychicworld.Everythingisdoneaccordingtothedictatesofintellectorfeeling.Thespirithaslostitspowerand

sensation,asthoughdeadasleep.WhatinstinctithasinknowingandservingGodis

entirelyparalyzed.Itremainsinacomaasifnonexistent.ThisiswhatismeantinJude19by"natural,nothavingspirit"(literal).*Thiscertainlydoesnotmeanthehuman

spiritceasestoexist,forNumbers16.22distinctlystatesthatGodis"theGodofthe

spiritsofallflesh."Everyhumanbeingstillhasinhispossessionaspirit,althoughitisdarkenedbysinandimpotenttoholdcommunionwithGod.

HoweverdeadthisspiritmaybetowardsGod,itmayremainasactiveasthemindorthe

body.ItisaccounteddeadtoGodbutisstillveryactiveinotherrespects.Sometimesthespiritofafallenmancanevenbestrongerthanhissoulorbodyandgaindominionover


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thewholebeing.Suchpersonsare"spiritual"justasmostpeoplearelargelysoulicalor

physical,becausetheirspiritsaremuchbiggerthanthatofordinaryindividuals.Thesearethesorceressesandthewitches.Theyindeedmaintaincontactswiththespiritual

realm;butthesedosothroughtheevilspirit,notbytheHolySpirit.Thespiritofthe

fallenmanthusisalliedwithSatanandhisevilspirits.ItisdeadtoGodyetverymuch

alivetoSatanandfollowstheevilspiritwhichisnowatworkinhim.

Inyieldingtothedemandofitspassionsandluststhesoulhasbecomeaslavetothe

bodysothattheHolySpiritfindsituselesstostriveforGod'splaceinsuchaone.HencetheScripturedeclares,"MySpiritshallnotalwayspleadwithMan;forheindeedisflesh"

(Gen.6.3Darby).TheBiblereferstothefleshasthecompositeoftheunregeneratedsoulandthephysicallife,thoughmoreoftenthannotitpointstosinwhichisinthebody.

Oncemaniscompletelyunderthedominionofthefleshhehasnopossibilityof

liberatinghimself.Soulhasreplacedthespirit'sauthority.Everythingisdoneindependentlyandaccordingtothedictatesofhismind.Eveninreligiousmatters,inthe

hottestpursuitofGod,alliscarriedonbythestrengthandwillofman'ssoul,voidofthe

HolySpirit'srevelation.Thesoulisnotmerelyindependentofthespirit;itisadditionallyunderthebody'scontrol.Itisnowaskedtoobey,toexecuteandtofulfill

thelusts,passionsanddemandsofthebody.EverysonofAdamisthereforenotonlydeadinhisspiritbutheisalso"fromtheearth,amanofdust"(1Cor.15.47).Fallenmen

aregovernedcompletelybytheflesh,walkinginresponsetothedesiresoftheirsoulish

lifeandphysicalpassions.SuchonesareunabletocommunewithGod.Sometimestheydisplaytheirintellect,atothertimestheirpassion,butmoreoftenboththeirintellect

andpassion.Unimpeded,thefleshisinfirmcontroloverthetotalman.

ThisiswhatisunfoldedinJude18and19:"Mockers,walkingaftertheirownlustsof

ungodlinesses.Thesearetheywhosetthemselvesapart,naturalmen,nothavingspirit"(Darby).Beingsoulishisantagonistictobeingspiritual.Thespirit,thatnoblestpartofus,thepartwhichmaybeunitedtoGodandoughttoregulatethesoulandbody,isnow

underthedominionofthesoul,thatpartofuswhichisearthlyinbothitsmotiveand

aim.Thespirithasbeenstrippedofitsoriginalposition.Man'spresentconditionisabnormal.Whereforeheispicturedasnothavingspirit.Theresultofbeingsoulishis

thathebecomesamocker,pursuingungodlypassionsandcreatingdivisions.

1Corinthians2.14speaksofsuchunregeneratedpersonsinthisfashion:"Thenatural

(soulish)mandoesnotreceivethethingsofthespiritofGod,fortheyarefollytohim,

andheisnotabletounderstandthembecausetheyarespirituallydiscerned."Suchmen

asareunderthecontroloftheirsoulswiththeirspiritssuppressedareindirectcontrasttospiritualpeople.Theymaybeexceedinglyintelligent,abletopresentmasterfulideasortheories,yettheydonotconsenttothethingsoftheSpiritofGod.Theyareunfitto

receiverevelationfromtheHolySpirit.Suchrevelationisvastlydifferentfromhuman

ideas.Manmaythinkhumanintellectandreasoningarealmighty,thatthebrainisabletocomprehendalltruthsoftheworld;buttheverdictofGod'sWordis,vanityof

vanities."

Whilemanisinhissoulishstatehefrequentlysensestheinsecurityofthisageandsohetooseekstheeternallifeofthecomingage.Butevenifhedoes,heisstillpowerlessto

uncovertheWordoflifebyhismuchthinkingandtheorizing.Howuntrustworthyare

humanreasonings!Weoftenobservehowverycleverpersonsclashintheirdifferent


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opinions.Theorieseasilyleadmanintoerror.Theyarecastlesintheair,tumblinghim

intoeternaldarkness.

HowtrueitisthatwithouttheguidanceoftheHolySpiritintellectnotonlyis

undependablebutalsoextremelydangerous,becauseitoftenconfusestheissueofright

andwrong.Aslightcarelessnessmaycausenotmerelytemporarylossbuteveneverlastingharm.Thedarkenedmindofmanfrequentlyleadshimtoeternaldeath.If

onlyunregeneratedsoulscouldseethis,howgooditwouldbe!

Whilemanisfleshlyhemaybecontrolledbymorethanjustthesoul;hemaybeunderthedirectionofthebodyaswell;forsoulandbodyarecloselyentwined.Becausethe

bodyofsinisaboundingindesiresandpassions,manmaycommitthemosthideousofsins.Asthebodyisformedofthedust,soitsnaturaltendencyistowardstheearth.The

introductionoftheserpent'spoisonintoman'sbodyturnsallitslegitimatedesiresinto

lusts.HavingonceyieldedtothebodyindisobeyingGod,thesoulfindsitselfboundtoyieldeverytime.Thebasedesiresofthebodymaythereforeoftenbeexpressedthrough

thesoul.Thepowerofthebodybecomessooverwhelmingthatthesoulcannotbutbecometheobedientslave.

God'sthoughtisforthespirittohavethepre-eminence,rulingoursoul.Butonceman

turnsfleshlyhisspiritsinksintoservitudetothesoul.Furtherdegradationfollowswhenmanbecomes"bodily"(ofthebody),forthebasestbodyrisestobesovereign.Manhas

thendescendedfrom"spirit-control"to"soul-control,"andfrom"soul-control"to"body-

control."Deeperanddeeperhesinks.Howpitifulitmustbewhenthefleshgainsdominion.

Sinhasslainthespirit:spiritualdeathhencebecomestheportionofall,forallaredead

insinsandtrespasses.Sinhasrenderedthesoulindependent:thesoulishlifeisthereforebutaselfishandself-willedone.Sinhasfinallyempoweredthebody:sinful

natureaccordinglyreignsthroughthebody.


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Volume 1: Chapter 4 - Salvation

Calvary'sJudgment

Deathenteredtheworldthroughthefallofman.Referencehereistospiritualdeath

whichseparatesmanfromGod.Throughsinitcameinthebeginningandsohasitevercomesincethen.Deathalwayscomesthroughsin.NotewhatRomans5.12tellsusaboutthismatter.First,that"sincameintotheworldthroughoneman."Adamsinnedand

introducedsinintotheworld.Second,that"death(cameintotheworld)throughsin."Deathissin'sunchangingresult.Andlastly,thattherefore"deathspreadtoallmen

becauseallmensinned."Notmerelyhasdeath"spreadto"or"passedupon"(Darby)all

men,butliterally"toallmenthedeathdidpassthrough"(Young's).Deathhaspermeatedthespirit,soulandbodyofallmen;thereisnopartofahumanbeinginto

whichithasnotfounditsway.ItisthereforeimperativethatmanreceivesGod'slife.

Thewayofsalvationcannotbeinhumanreform,for"death"isirreparable.Sinmustbejudgedbeforetherecanberescueoutofdeath.Exactlythisiswhathasbeenprovidedby

thesalvationoftheLordJesus.

Themanwhosinsmustdie.ThisisannouncedintheBible.Neitheranimalnorangelcan

sufferthepenaltyofsininman'sstead.Itisman'striunenaturewhichsins,thereforeit

ismanwhomustdie.Onlyhumanitycanatoneforhumanitybut,becausesinisinhishumanity,man'sowndeathcannotatoneforhissin.TheLordJesuscameandtook

humannatureuponhimselfinorderthatHemightbejudgedinsteadofhumanity.Untaintedbysin,Hisholyhumannaturecouldthereforethroughdeathatoneforsinful

humanity.Hediedasubstitute,sufferedallpenaltyofsin,andofferedhislifearansom

formany.Consequently,whoeverbelievesonHimshallbejudgednomore(John5.24).

WhentheWordbecamefleshHeincludedallfleshinHimself.Astheactionofoneman,

Adam,representstheactionofallmankind,sotheworkofoneman,Christ,represents

theworkofall.WemustseehowinclusiveChristisbeforewecanunderstandwhatredemptionis.Whyisitthatthesinofoneman,Adam,isjudgedtobethesinofallmen

bothpresentandpast?BecauseAdamishumanity'sheadfromwhomallothermenhavecomeintotheworld.Similarlytheobedienceofoneman,Christ,becomesthe

righteousnessofmany,bothofthepresentandthepast,inasmuchasChristconstitutes

theheadofanewmankindenteredintobyanewbirth.

OneincidentinHebrews7mayillustratethispoint.Toprovethatthepriesthoodof

MelchizedekisgreaterthanthepriesthoodofLevi,thewriterremindshisreadersthatAbrahamonceofferedatithetoMelchizedekandreceivedfromhimablessingandso

concludedthatAbraham'stitheofferingandblessingwereLevi's.How?Because"he

(Levi)wasstillintheloinsofhisancestor(Abraham)whenMelchizedekmethim"(v.10).WeknowthatAbrahambegotIsaac,IsaacJacob,andJacobLevi.Leviwas

Abraham'sgreatgrandson.WhenAbrahamofferedthetitheandreceivedablessing,

Leviwasnotyetborn,norevenwerehisfatherandgrandfather.YettheBibleconsidersAbraham'stitheandblessingasLevi's.InasmuchasAbrahamislesserthanMelchizedek,

LevitooisoflessaccountthanMelchizedek.ThisincidentcanhelpustounderstandwhyAdam'ssinisconstruedtobethesinofallmenandwhythejudgmentuponChrist

iscountedasjudgmentforall.ItissimplybecauseatthetimeAdamsinned,allmen

werepresentlyinhisloins.Likewise,whenChristwasjudged,allwhowillbe


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regeneratedwerepresentinChrist.Hisjudgmentishencetakenastheirjudgment,and

allwhohavebelievedinChristshallnolongerbejudged.

Sincehumanitymustbejudged,theSonofGodeventhemanJesusChristsufferedin

hisspirit,soulandbodyonthecrossforthesinsoftheworld.

Letusfirstconsiderhisphysicalsufferings.Mansinsthroughhisbodyandthereenjoysthetemporarypleasureofsin.Thebodymustaccordinglybetherecipientof

punishment.WhocanfathomthephysicalsufferingsoftheLordJesusonthecross?Are

notChrist'ssufferingsinthebodyclearlyforetoldinthemessianicwritings?"Theyhavepiercedmyhandsandfeet"(Ps.22.16).TheprophetZechariahcalledattentionto"him

whomtheyhavepierced"(12.10).Hishands,Hisfeet,Hisbrow,Hisside,Hisheartwereallpiercedbymen,piercedbysinfulhumanityandpiercedforsinfulhumanity.Many

wereHiswoundsandhighranHisfeverfor,withtheweightofHiswholebodyhanging

unsupportedonthecross,Hisbloodcouldnotcirculatefreely.Hewasextremelythirstyandthereforecriedout,"Mytonguecleavestomyjaws""formythirsttheygaveme

vinegartodrink"(Ps.22.15,69.21).Thehandsmustbenailed,fortheylovetosin.Themouthmustsuffer,foritlovestosin.Thefeetmustbepierced,fortheylovetosin.The

browmustbecrownedwithathornycrown,forittoolovestosin.Allthatthehuman

bodyneededtosufferwasexecuteduponHisbody.ThusHesufferedphysicallyeventodeath.ItwaswithinHispowertoescapethesesufferings,yetHewillinglyofferedHis

bodytoendureimmeasurabletrialsandpains,neverforamomentshrinkingbackuntil

Heknewthat"allwasnowfinished"(John19.28).OnlythendidHedismisshisspirit.

NotHisbodyonly,Hissoulaswell,suffered.Thesoulistheorganofself-consciousness.

Beforebeingcrucified,Christwasadministeredwinemingledwithmyrrhasasedativetoalleviatepain,butHerefuseditasHewasnotwillingtoloseHisconsciousness.

Humansoulshavefullyenjoyedthepleasureofsins;accordinglyinHissoulJesuswould

endurethepainofsins.HewouldratherdrinkthecupgivenHimbyGodthanthecupwhichnumbedconsciousness.

Howshamefulisthepunishmentofthecross!Itwasusedtoexecuterunawayslaves.A

slavehadneitherpropertynorrights.Hisbodybelongedtohismaster;hecouldthereforebepunishedwiththemostshamefulcross.TheLordJesustooktheplaceofa

slaveandwascrucified.IsaiahcalledHimtheservant";PaulsaidHetooktheformofasl

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The Spiritual Man Volume 1 Watchman Nee