Spirit and Soul - Part 2

 

I.         The verses we looked at this morning, showed the word “spirit” to refer to various beings: God, angels, demons, spirits of prophets, the spirit of man.

            A.        However, the Bible does not always used the word “spirit” to refer to a being. It can also refer to what that spirit does.

            B.        Spirit can refer to an attitude, feeling or state of mind

                        1.         I Sam 16:14

                                    a.         God would not send an evil being, but He would give a troubled state of mind

                                    b.         Notice that it was not removed by the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit, but by the playing of music. - I Sam 16:23

                                    c.         Notice too that the opposite of an “evil spirit” was being “refreshed.”

                        2.         Judges 9:23

                                    a.         Not referring to a demon running between the two parties

                                    b.         Referring to an attitude of enmity, hatred, and distrust.

                        3.         Ps 34:18 - A contrite spirit. Notice that heart and spirit are used interchangeably

                        4.         Eccl. 7:8-9 - A proud spirit, patient spirit, angry spirit

                        5.         Rom 8:15

                                    a.         Bondage - an attitude that keeps a person in sin

                                    b.         Adaption - an attitude that accepts God - John 1:2

            C.        Spirit can refer to a pattern of thinking and living

                        1.         II Cor 2:12-18 - Walk in the same spirit

                        2.         II Kings 2:9-15 - Elisha inherited Elijah’s pattern of thoughts, actions, and abilities.

                                    a.         Similar to John - Luke 1:17

            D.        Spirit can refer to our breath, or our physical life - Eccl. 3:19,21

            E.        Spirit can refer to our health - I Sam 30:12, Judges 15:19

            F.        You must carefully consider the context before ascribing the meaning to the word “spirit”. Many false doctrines have been justified by ascribing the wrong meaning to passage.

II.        Soul in the Hebrew (nephesh) and the Greek (psuche) literally means a breathing creature, or in other words life.

            A.        It can refer to the natural life in the body

                        1.         Matt 2:20 - the word for soul is translated as life.

                        2.         Lev 17:11 - The same word is translated as both life and soul.

            B.        It can refer to any living, breathing creature

                        1.         Rev 16:3 - the death of men, fish, whales, etc.

                        2.         I Cor 15:45 - man became a living creature.

            C.        By extension, it can refer to a person

                        1.         We sometimes say, “There was not a soul at the meeting.”

                        2.         Acts 2:41 - 3,000 souls were added to the church

                        3.         Rom 2:9-10 - every soul is equated to every man

                        4.         Heb 10:38 - God refers to himself as “My soul”

                        5.         John 10:24 - “our souls” is translated as “us”

                        6.         [illustrate by having ellipse around soul overlap ellipse around body]

            D.        Because our life refers to us, it can be used to refer to our spirit living after death

                        1.         Ps. 16:10 - God will not leave His son’s soul in Hades

                        2.         Rev. 6:9-10 - the souls of martyred Christians under the altar

                        3.         [illustrate by having ellipse around soul overlap ellipse around spirit]

            E.        The soul, too, can refer to the emotional feelings, perceptions, and attitudes of man

                        1.         Matt 11:29 - rest for weary souls

                        2.         Matt 26:38 - Jesus’ soul was sorrowful

                        3.         Acts 14:2 - Souls were stirred up to an evil attitude

            F.        The soul, too, can refer to the seat of will, purpose, and decision making

                        1.         Matt 22:27 - Love God with all your soul

                        2.         Eph 6:6 - here soul is translated as heart

III.       As we mentioned earlier, it is difficult to distinguish between soul and spirit- Heb 4:12

            A.        While the Bible tells us they are two different things ( I Thess 5:23), yet in usage we often overlap the meanings.

            B.        Once again we offer the souls here the opportunity to decide whether to serve the Lord.

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See "Soul and Spirit" part one for first part of this lesson.