FOUNDATIONAL TRUTHS:

The Soul (1), What Is It?

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   Every Christian will admit that he/she has a soul.

Every Christian will affirm that their soul is the most important things they possess.

 

B.   What is the soul?

 

C.   How many sermons or classes have you sat through that involved a discussion of the soul?

 

D.   This lesson is entitled:  “Foundational Truths:  The Soul, What Is It?”

1.    The New Testament uses the word “soul” 39 times in 36 verses.

2.    For the most part, our study will focus on New Testament passages only.

 

I.             A DISTINCT DETAIL OF MAN

 

A.   Matthew 10:28

 

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.

 

1.    Jesus speaks of the body in this verse.  There is no debate over whether

human being has a body.

2.    In like manner, Jesus notes that all men have a soul. 

a.    This part of man cannot be seen.

b.    Therefore, it is more difficult to comprehend than the body.

 

B.   Matthew 16:26

 

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?  or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

 

1.    This is probably one of the most well-known verses about the soul.

2.    Jesus definitely affirms that man has a soul.

3.    He affirms that man can lose his soul. 

4.    He also teaches us that it is possible for a man to trade his soul for something.

 

II.           A DETAILED DISCUSSION OF SOUL

 

A.   There are times when it seems that man is a two-fold being, possessing only body and spirit.  It appears this way when the Bible speaks of death.

1.    Ecclesiastes 12:7

 

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was:  and the spirit unto God who gave it.

 

2.    James 2:26

 

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

 

B.   There are passages that teach that we are triune beings, that is, possessing a body, a spirit and a soul (1 Thess. 5:23).

 

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 the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

C.   Now look at Mark 12:30.

 

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength:  this is the first commandment.

 

1.    Jesus mentions the heart, the soul, the mind, and our strength which would

be our body.

2.    He does not include the spirit in sentence.

 

D.   The spirit and the soul are intertwined with one another and hard to distinguish.

1.    The example of Jesus’ death:

a.    Just prior to Jesus’ death on the cross, He said, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:36).

b.    In Acts 2:31, Peter refers to Jesus’ soul not being left in the hadean realm.

 

He seeing this before, spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

 

2.    We might not always be able to distinguish between the spirit and the soul, the Word of God can (Heb. 4:12).

 

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.

 

E.   In like manner, the heart, mind, and soul of man are closely tied together.

1.    Notice some of the things the soul can do.

a.    It can love (Matt. 22:37)

b.    It can be sorrowful (Matt. 26:38).

c.    It can magnify the Lord (Luke 1:46).

d.    It can be troubled (John 12:27).

e.    It can be vexed (2 Pet. 2:8).

f.     It can prosper (3 John 2).

2.    The heart and mind of man can do all of these things as well.

 

F.    God knows the body is clearly one component of man.  Too, He understands that heart, mind, soul, and spirit are intricately woven together.  Thus, there are times, the Bible only refers to the outer man and the inner man (2 Cor. 4:16).

 

For which cause we faint not; but though out outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

 

III.         A DISCREET DEFINITION OF SOUL

 

A.   The body is the physical component of man.  It is the tool through which the spirit and soul operate while we are living creatures on earth.

 

B.   The spirit is the life component of man. 

1.    This is why the word spirit is mentioned in conjunction with death. 

2.    When the spirit, the life component of man, exits the body, the body ceases to function.  It is dead.

 

C.   The soul is the spiritual component of man.  It is intricately intertwined with the spirit, the heart, and the mind of man.

1.    When the rich farmer was going to take his ease, and eat, and drink and be merry, the Lord said to him:  “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee…” (Luke 12:20). 

a.    In other words, he was going to die and leave his treasures behind.

b.    The Lord told him his soul would be required of him.  However, we read other passage earlier that reveals that death is the separation of the spirit from the body.

2.    It will be the soul that is punished in hell (Rom. 2:9).

 

Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil; of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile.

 

a.    Some things the soul can experience.

1)    The soul will experience pain (Luke 16:24).

2)    The soul will weep (Matt. 25:30).

3)    The soul will be able to speak (Luke 16:24)

4)    The soul will be able to recognize (Luke 16:23).

5)    The soul will be able to remember (Luke 16:25, 27-28).

b.    The heart and mind of man can do all of these things as well.

 

IV.         TWO DIVERSITIES DOCUMENTED IN SCRIPTURE

 

A.   The word “soul” can simply refer to a human being.

1.    Genesis 2:7

 

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.

 

2.    Acts 2:43

 

And fear came upon every soul:  and man wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

 

3.    Romans 13:1a

 

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers…

 

B.   The word “soul” can refer to two or more being joined harmoniously together to form a solitary unit, that is, one soul (Acts 4:32).

 

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul…

 

1.    Example:  friends

a.    Two friends, one soul.

b.    One soul dwelling in two bodies.

c.    Jonathan and David

2.    The believers of the first century believed the same things, taught the same things, and practiced the same things.  As a unit, they were “one soul” (See 1 Cor. 1:10).

 

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same things, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   In this lesson, we have attempted to present a definition of the soul of man.

1.    It is the spiritual component of man.

2.    It is not material in any way.  While on earth, the spiritual part of man uses the body, the material element of man, as tool.

3.    The soul is intertwined with the heart, the mind, and the spirit of man.

a.    They can be distinguished.

b.    However, they are so closely knit they can be spoken of as one, that is, the inner man.

 

B.   Right now, we are supposed to be preparing our souls for eternity.  The soul will face one of two destinations (Heb. 10:38-39).

 

Now the just shall live by faith:  but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.  But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.