Understanding the Human Spirit
The human spirit is the part of man that connects him to God, his Creator. As Jesus said in John 4:24, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” The spirit is the heavenly, God-breathed nature within man. It is the deepest part of man. It predates both the soul and the body, for it was created by God, who is referred to in Scripture as “the Father of spirits” (Hebrews 12:9).
This truth is echoed in Numbers 16:22: “Then they fell on their faces and said, ‘O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?”
Creation and formation differ in a sense. To create is to bring something into existence from nothing, while to form or make is to shape something from an existing material. Angels, for instance, are spirits created directly by God. Man, however, was formed from the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7) and given a spirit. A man’s body was formed from the dust of the earth, allowing him to function on earth.
Because man’s body is made from the earth, he is designed to live and operate within the earthly realm. Heaven, by contrast, is a domain for spirits. This is why the physical body cannot enter the heavenly realm. As Paul writes: “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable… We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet” (1 Corinthians 15:50–52).
The Death of the Spirit
The spirit of man can die—not by ceasing to exist, but by being separated from God through sin and unbelief. Spiritual death means disconnection from the life of God. When a person’s spirit is dead, the flesh dominates the soul. But when one is born again, the spirit is revived through faith in Christ, and the Holy Spirit empowers them to live a spiritually led life: “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” (Romans 8:14)
Paul exhorts believers to no longer let sin control their bodies: “Do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires… For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:12,14).
The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit dwells within the human spirit. He operates within, through, and from our spirit, energizing our mortal bodies and guiding us into sonship: “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” (Romans 8:11) “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” (Romans 8:16)
A Spiritual Connection with God
God is Spirit, and He communicates with us through our human spirit. When you believe and confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, your spirit is opened to fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Salvation brings not just forgiveness, but a divine seal: “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13–14)
