The Anatomy of a Believer / July 2005

In the late 1400's, a man named Leonardo Da Vinci sketched out the symmetrical dimensions of a man. It is now a famous diagram that represents the early scientific efforts of trying to understand mankind and the world we live in. To this day, we are still trying to understand humanity. In particular, we are still trying to understand what makes a person a person and what makes a living soul? The question is not purely scientific. By the very use of the expression a “living soul,” the question branches into religious thoughts and considerations. For example, what is the soul and what is the spirit of a person? Da Vinci’s drawing only addressed the body. Is a person a body, soul, and spirit as the Apostle Paul said, or is the description a version of Greek philosophy, having as much truth as mythology? Let’s delve into this subject because the understanding is essential to our keeping the greatest commandment from God.

The Bible weighs in on this discussion and addresses all of this in a matter-of-fact style. Just as the Bible assumes God exists, it also goes on to describe the first man, Adam, as a living soul. It also goes further and commands us to love God with all our inward parts and others as ourselves.

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Deuteronomy 6:5

But you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.

Leviticus 19:18b

We have heard those commandments many times before. We have come to the conclusion as to why they are the greatest commandments, but do we really understand the depth they are to be kept? What is the heart, the soul, and the might of a person? If you are to love your neighbor as yourself, then what is the “you” that is defined as yourself?

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul has spoken to this point directly.

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.

I Thessalonians 5:23

Moses said that you have three internal parts: heart, soul, and might. Moses is exhorting us to bring our inwards parts into unity with the love of God. Paul said that there are three parts in every believer: spirit, soul, and body. He exhorted us to unify those parts. If you compare the two descriptions, only one part agrees with the two descriptions – the soul. Moses and Paul are not in disagreement with each other. They are describing a person from differing perspectives.

Consider the description of something easier. Try to describe a house. Make sure that your description includes the building material, the floor plan, and the decor which are all significant facts in describing the house. Can you properly describe the house only from the outside view? The same can be said about a living person. A simple one sentence definition will not suffice. The living soul has just as much building material, floor plan, and decor inside as any house.

The definition of a soul is essential to understanding the Biblical instruction. Basic insight comes from the ability to see inside yourself. If you can not understand what is inside of you, how can you see with insight into others? Let us learn to see in ourselves and to understand what we are seeing. Then, we will be adept at relating to God and our neighbor. To accomplish that, we must assume that the Bible is true and correct. Let’s take the Bible at face value when it describes the inside of the house and see if it makes sense to us. To assist this process, I have included simple illustration that you should reference as we lay out the Bible’s definition. In keeping with the style Da Vinci’s illustration, I call the diagram the Anatomy of a Believer.

The Soul

The soul was mentioned in both lists by Moses and Paul, so let’s begin there. The soul is where your intellect, your identity, and your personality reside. Deep within the soul are two additional elements: your heart and your might (strength). This is the seat of a person’s feelings and will.

A person’s intelligence and personality are the most visible elements of the soul. This is how we define the outer person to one another. The heart and will of the soul can also be seen, but they are revealed primarily through our emotions.

The diamond shape in the illustration depicts the soul but we will address the reason for that last. First, Let’s understand the Biblical definition of the soul and what it means when we are called “living souls.”

So also it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living soul."

I Corinthians 15:45

This is the Biblical definition of being alive or dead. If you lose your soul, you are dead. Saving souls means that you save people’s lives. We don’t know exactly how the soul joins the body, but a new soul enters this world at or very near conception.

For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb.

Psalms 139:13

The body does not form, nor continue, without the inward parts of the “living soul.” How we define a living soul is crucial in deciding the value of life, what morality is, right and wrong, and how we think we should behave. Do we determine this individually or collectively? Or, has God, the Creator of us all, defined these things? A secular person is always looking for the answers; a spiritual person has found them in the Word of God.

Just as a side note: This is the core part of the struggle concerning the subject of abortion. Those in favor of abortion don’t consider the fetus to be a “living soul.” They believe that the “living soul” is a religious or philosophical matter after physical birth. Many spiritual people see the soul joining the body at conception, at the beginning of life. Therefore, aborting a fetus (a baby) is destroying a defenseless soul. This is but one example of why this subject is of importance to us as believers. It is a matter of life and death in our world.

The Heart

One of the most common geometric shapes in this world is the heart. It is one of the first things children learn how to draw. The heart is closely associated with the soul, almost inseparable. However, the Bible makes a clear distinction between the heart and soul.

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two–edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

The heart has the desire and intention of a matter, the soul (mind) actually carries out the thought and decision. Sometimes, the heart desires one thing, but you decide to do something else with your soul. This can happen in the same person. We don’t always do what our heart wants. Even more so, you can divide up your heart. You can also do something with half of your heart or with all of your heart. The Bible refers to being wholehearted when you love God. Half-hearted people usually produce disappointing results.

Emotions are the visible indicator of a person’s heart. A happy or sad person directly reflects the heart within them. Sometimes, people wear their hearts on their sleeves and get hurt. Sometimes, people hide their hearts as a defense. It takes wisdom and understanding to really know the heart of another. An example of this wisdom is in the words, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” A wise person will listen to the intention (the heart) behind the words. The eyes as part of the facial expression can also be an indicator of the person’s heart (intention). You may have heard the expression, “The eyes are the windows to the soul.” Making eye contact while interacting with another person is essential to successful communication. This is why we want to speak “face to face” sometimes. Emotions generally reflect which way the inner person is leaning – to the body (flesh) side or to the spirit (spiritual) side. Emotions such as joy, peace, gladness, compassion, or delight reflect the spiritual side. But others, such as greed, anger, or stubbornness reflect the body (flesh) side.

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Pharaoh's heart is stubborn; he refuses to let the people go.

Exodus 7:14

The Bible tells a great story about one man’s stubborn heart – Pharaoh. Pharaoh’s soul (his intellect) and his advisors told him to release God’s people. It was in Pharaoh’s best interest to just let the people go, but his heart would not let follow the logic. As a result, Egypt was systematically destroyed by the judgments of God. Finally, Pharaoh let the people go only to send his chariots after them. In the end, he also lost his choice chariots. The stubbornness of Pharaoh’s heart challenged God Himself and he lost.

The Bible also honors King David as the man who sought the very heart of God. The New Covenant has the commandments of God written upon the tablets of the heart within every believer.

Probably the greatest lesson from the Bible, about obeying God, is to first obey with the heart. The heart that no longer follows the ways of the flesh is referred to as “circumcised.”

The Might

The might of a person is sometimes referred to as their strength of will or courage. This is illustrated by the geometric shape of a shield. The more common expression of this strength or will is the “guts” of the person. We say that a person does or does not have the “guts” to do something. What we are referring to is the person’s might or strength. Have you ever heard of a strong-willed person? Sometimes a person has no might within them. They are cowards. He may have the heart and desire, but he simply won’t take the necessary steps to do it. People with a small might or will are people we attempt to encourage. We try to give a boost to their heart and soul and putting courage in them.

Have you ever seen this example? Someone puts on their swimming suit and has the heart to go swimming with others but hesitates and balks at jumping in the water. This person has the soul and heart, but lacks enough will to actually do it.

In extreme cases, courage (will) can be much greater than the intellect and heart. Such is the case of soldiers at war. A hero will accomplish great feats to save others, even though his soul says there is danger and knows not to go there. Maybe his heart desires to save his buddies, but it is his might that takes charge of the moment and accomplishes the feat. We call this person a hero. His courage was greater than the danger.

King David is known for his feats of courage in time of battle. The story of David and Goliath is a study in courage as compared to physical strength. He used all of his heart, soul, and might to defeat Goliath. However, it was his might (will and courage) that faced Goliath and carried the day. David was able to put courage into his fellow Israelites to defeat the enemy in battle.

Say to those with anxious heart, “Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; the recompense of God will come, but He will save you.”

Isaiah 35:4

There is also the opposite behavior of discouraging someone. This is the effort to reduce the might (will) of a person. Fear and embarrassment are powerful elements that discourage a person’s might. When there is no might or strength within the person, they become cowards. Cowardice is a quality enjoined by no one.

The soul of a person is measured by their personality and intellect, how big their heart is, or by their courage. When a person brings all their intellect, all their heart, and all of their will to focus on something, they emerge in greatness over the task. We call these people heros and champions. When a person is in disunity, their heart does not agree with their soul or their might (will), they have trouble in life.

The Body

This is the visible part of the human and it houses the inner person. Have you ever heard a person talk about their body and how they want to “get into shape?” The shape of a circle is used in our diagram to symbolize the body. The predominate shape of the body is curves, not straight lines. A round circle is a perfect shape for curves. Anatomy is the study of the organs and parts of the body. The body is also referred to as the flesh, and this is the primary interface with the rest of the world where mortals live. Physical strength is evident in the body.

The body is the seat of our appetites (desires) for ego (status), food, and sex. We need these appetites to live, seek nourishment and to procreate. When these appetites are under control, the life of the person is healthy and happy. But, when these appetites are out of control, adverse things are the result. The Bible spends an extensive amount of instruction trying to help us to understand the consequences of our appetites when they are out of control.

Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.

I Peter 2:11

The Bible has much to say about the flesh and its temporal nature lusts, which are never satisfied. The flesh competes for the attention of the soul with the spirit. If the soul (the intellect and decision making) follow the leading of the flesh, then the spiritual side is suppressed. Life for that soul becomes the pride of life, the lust of eyes, and sensual lust. Webster’s dictionary defines this as hedonism, the pursuit of comforts and pleasures.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

I John 2:16

And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10:28

The Bible also addresses the fact that our corruptible body gives way to age and disease resulting in the loss of function and use. One of the greatest hopes for our future is the resurrection. On that day, the soul and spirit will be joined again in a new incorruptible body, which is able to enjoy eternal life.

The Spirit

Each person has a spirit within them. The shape of a house is used in the illustration to symbolize the spirit in a person. Every person builds and lives in a house. It is the nature of that house that determines the life of the person. Yeshua told a parable of man building house. He described those who followed Him as the man who built his house on a rock; whereas, others build there houses on sand. He said that the houses built on sand would suffer a great loss. The spirit of every person builds a house, some to success and some to eventual destruction.

Distinguishing between the spirit and soul of a person is considerably more difficult. In fact, some argue that there is no difference (spirit is the heart and might of a person). However, the Bible defines the difference.

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two–edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

Knowing and understanding the spirit of a person is actually the better indicator of knowing a person. Knowing a person definitely involves their soul and heart, but knowing the spirit of the person is to know the deepest parts of their soul. Paul said it this way.

For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.

I Corinthians 2:11

Have you ever had a relationship with a person where you could anticipate their thinking, and you found yourself thinking the same thoughts before they were expressed? This is knowing the spirit of the person, which is even deeper than the soul. Married couples develop this ability. Close friends can share this as well. This is evidence of knowing the spirit of the person, which leads to knowing of their thoughts. This is the same evidence used in knowing, having a deep relationship with God. Consider what else Paul said.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct Him? But we have the mind of Messiah.

I Corinthians 2:12-16

Paul says it very clearly, a natural man (who has not been reborn) can not know this level of relationship with God. An example of a person in deep soul relationship with God was expressed in the life of Mary, the mother of Yeshua.

and a sword will pierce even your own soul— to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.

Luke 2:35

The soul of a person will either be influenced by the body (flesh) side or by the spirit (spiritual) side. In fact, the soul can not follow both at the same time, it must follow one over the other. If a person is following the spiritual influence, he is said to be inspired. This is the predominant lesson in the Bible, to follow the Spirit of God. Will we follow after our own lusts and be led by the worldly influences or will we follow after the spirit side and be influenced by the Spirit of God and His Word? If we follow after the world, we choose the path of wickedness, deceit, haughtiness, stubborness, foolishness, and unbelief (non spiritual). If we follow after the spirit, we choose of the path of fruitfulness, uprightness, humility, truthfulness, obedience, sincerity, integrity, faithfulness, thankfulness, purity, etc.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23

According to the Messiah, a man can not make the transition to following the Spirit of God unless he is born again. Many people hear this concept and simply mark it up to religious rhetoric, and they dismiss the facts of the spirit of man. This was part of the discussion between Yeshua and a man named Nicodemus, a religious ruler of His day. You may have heard it before, but consider it this time with our definition of a “living soul.”

Yeshua answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?” Yeshua answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’”

John 3:3-7

Most people hear what Yeshua said without understanding the conflict in the soul. The soul is being pursued by the flesh on one side and by the spirit on the other. The world and the enemy of our souls is on the flesh side. God is on the spirit side and trying to reach us with the Word of God and the Spirit of God. To win this battle, the spirit within the man but be born again of the Spirit of God.

Why is that? Aren’t we all made in the image of God to begin with? Doesn’t our own U.S. Constitution say we are created in the image of God? Why do we need to be born again?

Here is a shocking bit of Biblical News: it isn’t true! It is true that Adam was made in the image of God. But, Adam sinned and brought sin and death into our world. We are all now made in the image of Adam. This is what the Bible actually says.

This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day when God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female, and He blessed them and named them Man in the day when they were created. When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth.

Genesis 5:1-3

And to Seth, to him also a son was born; and he called his name Enosh. Then men began to call upon the name of the Lord.

Genesis 4:26

All mortals today are like Seth and we are born in the image of Adam. With Adam comes sin and death. Therefore, we need to be born in the image of God to have forgiveness and eternal life. To accomplish that, Yeshua said we had to believe in the promise of God (faith), specifically the promise of God’s Son.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:16

It is not that difficult for a believer to understand. However, it is very difficult to understand if you are not a spiritually minded person. To be a believer, you must sense and work with the Spirit within that cannot be seen with natural eyes.

When a person is born again of the Spirit of God, he is made in the image of God. The Spirit of God dwells within the person. The bond between the Spirit and the Soul is the substance of faith. The ability to walk by the Spirit and not by sight (eyes within the body) is the measure of walking by faith. Faith comes by hearing, specifically, hearing the Word of God.

What is Faith, Hope, and Love in the Anatomy of a Believer?

What does faith have to do with the soul and the spirit? It turns out that faith is the substance that bonds the spirit with the soul. When a person is of little faith, they can’t seem to process the things of the spirit into their thinking, feelings, or might. When a person has great faith, the linkage is much stronger than the flesh side of their life.

But My righteous one shall live by faith; And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.

Hebrews 10:38-39

Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith.

Habakkuk 2:4

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

I Corinthians 13:4-7

But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

I Corinthians 13:13

What about the Spirit of God and the Gifts of the Spirit?

There is another important dimension to the anatomy of a believer and having the Spirit of God. God has given us gifts of the Spirit. Paul writes extensively trying to help us understand this important part of our lives in the faith.

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.

I Corinthians 12:1

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

I Corinthians 12:4-7

Paul begins to explain that a believer, upon receiving the Spirit of God (also called the baptism of the Holy Spirit), also receives gifts of the Spirit to empower and enable the brethren to live the life of faith better. These are for the common good of all believers. Some gifts help the individual recipient and some help others. The various ways that the gifts are used and manifested are different, but yet of the same Spirit.
For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

I Corinthians 12:8-11

The gift of wisdom and knowledge helps the soul with the intellect and decision making process. The gift of faith strengthens the bond between the Spirit and the Soul. The gift of healing helps the body. The discerning of spirits is crucial because there is more spirit than just the Spirit of God in the spiritual realm. For example, the spirit of witchcraft and rebellion are very real influences on souls in this world.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12

There are other gifts as well and the subject of spiritual gifts is an extensive subject in its own right. However, for our discussion, a believer is not just a living soul with a born again spirit. He truly is a new creature as the Bible says. He is empowered and strengthened to live a totally different way from the world. Living by the guidance of the Spirit of God improves the heart, soul, and might within the person. The process of learning to follow the Spirit of God is called the perfecting (maturing) of the Saints. Each Saint is to become a precious stone.

The Diamond Shape of the Soul

I recently learned that diamonds, like everything special and precious, have their very own distinguishing qualities. The greatest value in a diamond comes from the cutting and polishing work. Diamonds are fascinating. They are the hardest substance that a common man can know, having great value, and sought by all. They also come out of the gravel of the earth and are camouflaged in broken glass or crushed ice. The same is said for your soul. In fact, the Bible draws direct comparison between a soul and a precious stone.

You, the “living soul,” are fascinating to say the least. You can be harder than diamonds with the Lord and others. You have great intrinsic value to begin with, however, you come from the dirt of the earth. Some of you are pretty camouflaged in the broken glass of your life. People that love you call you diamonds in the rough. Others call you gravel. The Master of the Universe would like to examine you closely, do some precision cutting, and polish you to brilliance. He would like your “living soul” to be part of the setting in His crown for eternity.

You will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

Isaiah 62:3

Yeshua says you are worth more than all of the cut and polished diamonds of the world.

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?

Mark 8:36

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