Simple Faith Baptist Church Oceanside California

This is my response to a brother's methodology concerning which part of our being becomes born again/ saved. I hope this study helps you as well in my response to this dear friend. 

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (KJV) 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.

The Bible is clear on the topic of our human makeup, our being if you will.

1. spirit
2. soul
3. body

All three parts are united in whole completion, but distinct and different as it pertains to parts, all 3 parts are required to complete the whole if that makes sense. Remember the old school Bible school methodological approach of interpretation, "Things that are different, are not the same". Apply this to the verses listed below:

1. Ecclesiastes 3:21 (KJV) Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
   Both man & beast possess a "spirit". The bible defines this as the "breath of life"
2. Genesis 2:7 (KJV) And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
   Genesis 6:17 (KJV) And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.
   Genesis 7:15 (KJV) And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.
   Job 33:4 (KJV) The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
   Acts 17:25 (KJV) Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
   
   This verse makes it even clearer, God defines the "breath of life" as the spirit ( lowercase ) of God, which is that "life-giving power to the soul in the body that animates us, or gives life to the whole, of the 3 parts"
   
   Job 27:3 (KJV) All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;
   Isaiah 42:5 (KJV) Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
   
   The spirit given ALL flesh from the Creator, is the life of the whole being of each creature.
   Job 10:12 (KJV) Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.
   Isaiah 38:16 (KJV) O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live.
   
   One of my favorites on this topic:
   John 6:63 (KJV) It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
   Jesus said it's the spirit that makes our body alive, or while it remains in the body, alive or life within.
   
   It is something supernatural of course. I do not think we can quite comprehend how God created and identifies each part, and how each part serves its purpose.
   Ecclesiastes 11:5 (KJV) As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.
   
   But, when we die physically, mankind that is, every man's spirit returns back to God who gave it, both the saved and the lost, for the spirit is simply the life giving force to our being, not our souls.
   
   Ecclesiastes 12:7 (KJV) Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
   
   I do agree with your earlier explanation regarding the spirit, how it plays the role of expressing the disposition of our soul, that is the real part of us in the body.
   1 Samuel 1:15 (KJV) And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.
   Our spirit is the part of us THROUGH which we communicate to God, and vice versa, in my perspective.
   Job 7:11 (KJV) Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
   Isaiah 26:9 (KJV) With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
   As I stated before, our soul is the real us in the body, and it's the origin of our heart/desires, but the spirit is connected with that function of our soul to help/aide/communicate with God etc.
   Isaiah 42:1 (KJV) Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
   Side nugget, God has a soul. Here, spirit is not referring to the life of His future's Son in the body, rather, the source of wisdom/information He would give Him, empower Him with to live out by etc. That's another study.
   
   1 Corinthians 15:45 (KJV) And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
   Adam did not have the power to make men alive, for he was created. Jesus Christ has the power to make men alive, for He is the Creator.
   
    
3. Matthew 10:28 (KJV) And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
   Lastly, the soul is the true self within our bodies. It is the part that either goes to heaven when man dies, or hell. We have already seen that the spirit of man returns back to God when they die physically, therefore that is the not the part of us that becomes born again or regenerated, it is the soul.
   
   Acts 2:27 (KJV) Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
   When our Saviour died, His spirit (ghost) was given back to God when He died, you remember that right? But His soul lived on, and fulfilled other work for God in hell, and Abraham’s bosom (paradise) prior to His rising from the dead.
   
   Hebrews 4:12 (KJV) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
   Clearly, the spirit is not the soul, and the soul is not the spirit. Differing words, different meanings, define within context.
   
   Hebrews 10:39 (KJV) But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
   James 1:21 (KJV) Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
   1 Peter 1:9 (KJV) Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
   1 Peter 1:22 (KJV) Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
   
   It's our soul that's saved, not our spirit. That is why, in conclusion, regarding 1 John 3 from our last conversation.
   1 John 3:9 (KJV) Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
   What's the seed that remains in us who believe in Jesus, which provides a supernatural operation whereby we are born again, and that part of us that is born again cannot sin against God because it's been regenerated ?
   1 Peter 1:23 (KJV) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
   It is the word of God, the gospel!
   1 Peter 1:25 (KJV) But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
   
   Old man vs the new man!
   Romans 6:6 (KJV) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
   Ephesians 4:22 (KJV) That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
   Colossians 3:9 (KJV) Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
   
   Ephesians 4:24 (KJV) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
   Colossians 3:10 (KJV) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
   
   Our soul is regenerated, that is, born again after we believe the gospel. That " new man/ new creature " is the same you (that is your soul), but redeemed and supernaturally given a new heart, new creature. However, we still battle the old man, the body of sin that is within our physical body, which is somehow connected with the old man, our spiritual nature prior to conversion, of which we battle with daily. The part of us that is born again is the soul, not the spirit. In our soul, the Holy Spirit planted the word of God, through the gospel, and its effect it has within us, even now, is eternal life, everlasting life, because that part was created in us after we believed the gospel. When God causes us to be born again, that new part within our soul is sealed by the Spirit, because it has been given Christ's righteousness and holiness, which cannot sin against God.
   
   I hope this helps. In love- Bro Carlos. Peace