Continued from last week.

(Hebrews 4:12 "For the Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even unto the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit"). Consequently if the soul and spirit can be divided it is logically to know they are not the same. Further study of God's word clearly shows us what changes and becomes new when a person accepts Christ as their savior. (2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away: behold all things are become new.") That may cause another debate. What becomes new when you accept Christ as your savior? Answer: the instant you accept Christ, God gives you a brand new spirit. He does not remake your old spirit. He gives you a new spirit; but your soul and body stays the same. Then your soul becomes your responsibility so look again at the text for this discussion. (James 1:21 "Receive with meekness the engrafted word which is able to save your soul.") If you let God's word to be engrafted into your life, it will save your soul. Some may ask, what is your soul? It is your mind, your ability to make decisions. And often called your spiritual heart, or your personality. It does not die when your physical body dies. It is the part God gives to be eternal and will never die.

Remember, when people accept Christ as savior they become triune like God Himself. Christian people are a living soul; they have a spirit, and live in a temporary body.

If our physical bodies in which we are now living are not fed and exercised they will weaken and eventually die. We must realize our souls require the same. They must receive nourishment and exercise. We should know the right food for our soul is the word and truth of God. It is easy to find and we must seek it. The right exercise for our soul is believing the truth of God with a strong faith and it is also easy to find, but we must be careful to separate it from the abundance of the dangerous imaginations of unsaved minds that multiply so rapidly by evil spirits it may become a huge mountain of false propaganda that can even deceive our soul. Our own mind is the spirit that guards our soul, and the great apostle Paul shows us how to use it to always make a right decision. (Romans 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercy of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect will of God.")

continued next week...