1. I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2. And be ye not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, that acceptable and perfect will of God.
Understanding Soul and Spirit
It is normal for people to have confidence in what they can see, but it takes faith to have confidence in what cannot be seen. Everyone can agree that as physical beings we are three-dimensional — having height, width, and length. Far fewer understand, or accept, that we are also three-dimensional in our being: spirit, soul, and body. Some dismiss the spirit altogether while acknowledging the soul and the body — yet still do not recognize the soul as a true dimension of the complete person. Others confuse the soul with the spirit, attributing it to the spiritual realm without understanding its role in how we think, feel, and choose.
To understand the soul, it may be best to first understand the spirit. Romans 8:16 says, “For His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.” This verse makes it clear that “His Spirit” refers to the Holy Spirit. When you are born again, your spirit is no longer dead in sin but alive in the spiritual realm. The Holy Spirit communicates with your spirit, providing instructions, guidance, and warnings — what the natural world calls intuition.
When Jesus died on the Cross, the veil of the temple was torn, signifying that the old covenant had ended and the new covenant had begun. Under the new covenant, the children of God gained direct access to Him because the torn veil removed the barrier between God and His people. Also under the new covenant, your spirit communicates with the Holy Spirit — which is the Spirit of God Himself. When you were born again, it was your spirit that was saved, becoming a new creation and adopted by God, not your soul or your body. When you physically die, your spirit sheds its earthly tabernacle — the body — and is received by God. We know this from the words of Stephen in Acts 7:59: “And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’” And when God grants eternal life, you will receive a new and glorious body like that of Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:21).
As for the soul, it is the thought-dimension of mankind and lives alongside the flesh — and must choose to surrender to God. Notice the common saying is “sold your soul to the devil,’ not “sold your spirit.” Once you are born again, your spirit is made new, but your flesh still desires the things the god of this world offers: momentary physical pleasures, material distractions, and — just like him — thoughts of superiority. Your thoughts become food for your soul, and your soul in turn feeds your flesh. This is why Paul instructs “Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Your mind is the collection of thoughts that come from your soul — your deepest most inner being.
The Soul Holds the Motives God Searches and Satan Tempts
As previously stated, your spirit belongs to God once you are born again, and the devil has no rights to anything in the heavenly, spiritual realm. However, your soul is in your hands, and you govern it in this world. This returns us to the gift of free will. Satan did not tempt the spirit of Eve — he attacked her reasoning, her sense of logic, the place where free will is exercised and the depths of the soul are exposed through the thoughts that lead to actions.
Even under the New Covenant, though the Mosaic/Levitical laws no longer apply, God is still the same and does not change. Speaking for the Lord, Jeremiah 17:10 declares, “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” The Holy Spirit examines our souls — the dwelling place of our thoughts, motives, and the intentions that shape our choices. As we learn from Proverbs 16:2, “All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD.”
Philippians 2:12 says, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Here we see Paul encouraging the church in Philippi to exercise their faith with reverence toward God, even when their teacher is not present. As it is often said, integrity is not measured by what a person does when others are watching, but by what is done when no one is around. How you train your soul will determine whether your body becomes an example of faith and Godly integrity — a sacrifice worthy of being presented to God — or whether you will continue to surrender to the desires of the flesh.
A Soul Shaped by Christ to Look and Live Like Christ
To be a living sacrifice to God means practicing a new nature in self and toward others. This includes being slow to anger and seeking to understand before reacting. It means not criticizing others or measuring them by yourself in order to feel superior — so that you don’t think of yourself as being higher than you ought (Romans 12:3). Your thoughts should be to judge situations without being judgmental toward people in them, guarding your heart from hypocrisy. A soul shaped by compassion reflects on its own imperfections and seeks to show others their own possibilities.
When Jesus told the disciples to deny themselves (Matthew 16:24), He was instructing them to shed their self-centered and even self-willed desires. When we shape our souls with thoughts of Christlike humility, compassion, and even healthy self-respect, we slowly shed the sin-nature that once controlled our flesh. Yes, we will stumble, but we are less likely to indulge the flesh — and far less likely to backslide — when our souls are transformed into the likeness of Christ and of our reborn spirits.
We too are a trinity, and the mission is to bring our trinity into unity. When our spirit, soul, and body are in harmony, 1 Thessalonians 5:23 becomes a living reality, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly: and I pray God your whole spirit, and soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Scriptures Based on Godly Growth
1 Peter 1:15-16
“But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”
1 Timothy 4:7
“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.”
Titus 2:11-12
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying all ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.”
2 Timothy 2:22
“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
Hebrews 13:20-21
“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
A Prayer of Gratitude to God and for a Spirit-Led Soul
Father God in Heaven, I am thankful that You have given Your Spirit to commune with my spirit to guide me. In my natural state, my flesh is anchored to my soul and my soul to the world. But through Your Holy Spirit, my thoughts are corrected, distractions are exposed for what they are, and my flesh is denied. My soul is no longer in the hands of the evil one, and my innermost thoughts are now aligned with the righteous, cleansing work You have performed within me. You sacrificed Your Son, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, as an example to follow, and in His name I pray. Amen.
Trinitarian Benediction
May the cleansing work of God Almighty shape your soul.
May the life of Christ Jesus be the example you seek for your soul.
And may the Holy Spirit lead your soul into godly living.