UNDERSTANDING THE REAL YOU

Topic: The Components of the human soul

Text: Romans 7:22-25

Memory verse: Gen. 6:5 (AMP) “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination and intention of all human thinking was only evil continually”

Introduction

Still continuing our series on strengthening the inner man, we shall look at the components of the human soul, bearing in mind that man is made of The Spirit, The Soul and the Body. 

The soul is the very being of man. It is what forms the personality of a person. It is what distinguishes one person from another and from any other creature of God. It is however a composite of three parts: The Mind, The Will and The Emotions.

Discussion

The Amplified version paraphrase of Rom 7:23 tends to portray the existence and operations of these three parts (the mind, will and emotions).  

"But I discern in my bodily members [in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh] a different law (rule of action) at war against the law of my mind (my reason) and making me a prisoner to the law of sin that dwells in my bodily organs [in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh]." 

An examination of the above text reveals that these three parts are clearly mentioned; the appetites (feelings and emotions), the will, and the mind (the reason). 

The Mind  is the center of thoughts, intellect and reasoning. This is the thinking faculty of a man where everything generates. It is most times used interchangeable with the soul in the scriptures because of its active nature (Prov. 23:7a).

The Will is the center of intents, the place of decision making. It is where man decides to either surrender to God or choose to do his own will.

The faculty of Emotions is the center where human feelings emante.

In the original make of man, the mind being illuminated by the spirit of God influences the positive decisions in the will and the emotions were under check, subject to the law of God. But as in our text, the man that is struggling to get in tune with God has a major struggle inside of him: though in his mind he knows what God expects of him, he knows the law of God, but he lacks the will power to do it and is always controlled by his feelings and desires.

Central Theme:

Though every part of the soul is key to what we are, the mind plays a major role in determining what a man does. This is revealed in our memory verse above (Gen 6: 5), in that when God looked at man, He saw were the problem was “…and that every imagination and intention of all human thinking was only evil continually.” This is why the scriptures tell us to renew our minds so we can be recreated (Rom. 12:2). Our decisions and actions cannot be better than our thought system.

Conclusion

What we need to worry about is the part of the soul that informs our decisions and triggers our emotions, and desires, which is the mind. This is the part that God is also concerned about that is why he searches the inwards of man, discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Heb 4:12)