Lesson 3 – The Spirit
In the last lesson we saw that the human being has been provided with laws that assist in the governing of its operation. These laws have been misplaced for most of man’s history, but before we move on to that story, let’s look at how these laws are meant to affect the operation of the spirit.
The Bible often refers to doing things in the spirit, or following the spirit’s lead. We will first look at sensing and responding to emotions of the spirit. Below are some scripture verses as examples:
“But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “ (Mark 2:8)
“And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” (Luke 1:47)
“Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.” (Acts 17:16)
The above verses are referring to a spiritual reasoning, rejoicing and provoking. These are not senses generated by the functions of the soul, they are detected from his innermost being. This intuition that is sourced from the innermost part of man is radically different that those that come from the soul. How do we know how to discern the difference? In order to worship and fellowship with his creator, man must possess a nature similar to His:
“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)
“But as it is written:
‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ ” (1 Cor. 2:9)
“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. 2:11-12)
We see from the above verses that knowing our creator is through the spirit. Our awareness of what He has provided for us, what we know about His free gifts to us, and how we worship Him all happens in the spirit. This is our communion with Him.
“I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience,” (2 Tim. 1:3)
In the above statement, the apostle Paul is informing Timothy that what he is writing to him about, he is doing with a clear conscience. This is intended to give Timothy the confidence that Paul is in uninterrupted communion with God, and therefore he can be trusted in his views.
“Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, ‘Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.’ ” (Acts 23:1)
Once again, Paul is defining his position before God in his defense of charges brought against him. Paul says to the Sanhedrin that he has lived his life with a perfectly good conscience before God. Unlike the High Priest who ordered someone standing next to Paul to strike him on the mouth (verse 2), Paul stood confident in his defense. Bold in approaching God and perfect in his communion with Him, the Apostle’s conscience gives him no reproach.
“Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” (1 John 3:21-22)
Here lies the secret to Paul’s trust in his own conscience. That he is obedient and does things that are pleasing to God. Paul however is living as a regenerated person in the Grace of God. In the original divine order that we are considering here, the perfect union of man’s spirit and God would mean his conscience would always be free of guilt. Thus, man’s soul would be in subjection to his spirit’s lead, and his body would behave likewise.
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