In Genesis 1:26-28 (ESV) we read “Then God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness….”
God makes it clear in His word that we are created in His image and he also makes it clear that he views himself in partnership with others. “let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness”.
So, who is God in partnership with?
God sees himself as three parts:
- The Father (God)
- The Son (Jesus)
- The Holy Spirit (Spirit)
So, if we are created in their image, is it possible that we are also made up of three parts?
We absolutely are! 1. We are a body (physical)
2. Soul (mind, will and emotions)
3. Spirit (spiritual)
This is how our image parallels God’s image.
According to the apostle Paul, people are also divided into three classes due to what they do or do not believe about God:
- Non-Believers (Natural Man) – Does not accept God or His word
- Believers (Spiritual Man)- Accepts God and His word
- Believers (Carnal Man)- Accepts God but struggles with understanding & applying God’s word
A non-believer/natural man is functioning out of body and soul only and his spirit has not been born again. This means he is operating in a soulish manner out of his own thinking, his own will and being led by his own emotions. He will not receive or accept the things of God and he often mocks God or calls those who follow God fools. Because this natural man is not born again by the spirit, he cannot understand the word of God because he does not have the Holy Spirit to help him interpret it.
1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV) “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”
A believer/spiritual man is functioning out of body, soul and spirit and has been born again. This means he is operating out of the spirit and is led by Holy Spirit in his thinking, he is following God’s will, and he is in control of his emotions. He receives and accepts the things of God and lives in obedience to the Lord. Because this spiritual man is born again by the spirit, the Holy Spirit is helping him to interpret and understand the word of God.
1 Corinthians 2:15 (ESV) “The spiritual person judges all things but is himself to be judged by no one. ‘For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.”
A believer/carnal man is functioning out of body and soul, even though his spirit has been born again. This means he is a child of God, but he is disobedient. He is not working out his salvation through sanctification by learning and applying the word of God in his life. He is not being led by the Holy Spirit, but rather by his carnal/sin nature. God will discipline this man because he loves him.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (ESV) “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh.”
We are all made in the image of God with a body, soul and spirit, but how abundant our lives are is determined by what we believe, how we respond and what we do with our lives. As believers, we can impact the kingdom greatly by being led by the Spirit of God, aligning with what He is doing through our obedience in what He has created us to do in the kingdom of Heaven.