k111@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP (Peter Kim) (09/11/85)
Could someone explain to me how soul and mind are different
and how the difference is related to the idea of being born
again?
Peter Kim
ihnp4!gargoyle!sphinx!k111 or
ihnp4!gargoyle!paideia!peterptl@fluke.UUCP (Mike Andrews) (09/16/85)
Hi,
There is a fascinating book out by an Episcopalean priest, Fr. Dennis
Bennett, titled `The Holy Spirit and You.' In this book he points
out where the Bible tells us we are all made up of three parts: body,
soul, and spirit. He goes on to point out that the soul is comprised
of three parts: the mind, will and emotions. It is all very solid in
God's Word.
He is `born again' and talks very clearly and interestingly about it,
complete with real life examples. It's not hokey-pokey, the Baptism
of the Holy Spirit really exists. It is not a solve-all or guaranteed
God-will-perform-miracles-for-me-now Gift. It is a source of strength
from God that goes beyond anything else I've encountered. God will not
make your world, nor mine, everything we want it to be (drat!),
but He'll help us lift our crosses, like He's beginning to show me how.
First He is showing me just how weak I really am, simply by letting me
do things on my own, or rather mess up on my own. Even though I'm also
Spirit filled, I have some really difficult times with God, accepting
His Ways, even believing in Him. But I know He's there, though I wish He'd
do more, making life easier for me. He hasn't, He wants me to grow and
mature as a real Christian. To know who Christ really is, not just who
I make Him out to be in my own mind.
Anyone care to ask questions about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, or
provide answers, it will make a great topic! It really exists - ask
God to show you and wait for His answer. The waiting is not easy, but
you'll be amazed what will happen between the time you ask and the time
He answers. I've been involved in the Charismatic Renewal for about
5 years now, and I'm just now beginning to ask the questions and grow up.
God Bless,
Mike Andrews
*** Is 50 ; James 2 ; Mark 8 ***
--
******************************************************************************
God said He would never leave me nor forsake me, and that I am His temple.
A man is what he thinks.
A body led by the soul is only 2/3 of a person : the soul tries to get rid of
the spirit.
A body led by the spirit is a whole person : the spirit works to make the soul
help the body. And a spirit led by God the Holy Spirit is invincible.
*******************************************************************************
ARPA : fluke!ptl@uw-beaver.ARPA
UUCP : {uw-beaver, sun, allegra, sb6, lbl-csam}!fluke!ptlhomeier@aero.ARPA (Peter Homeier) (09/25/85)
[This line is thrown in the teeth of any line-eater around!] > Could someone explain to me how soul and mind are different > and how the difference is related to the idea of being born > again? > Peter Kim > ihnp4!gargoyle!sphinx!k111 or > ihnp4!gargoyle!paideia!peter Peter, perhaps I can help draw some distictions here. I believe that we as humans have three main parts, just as God has three persons in the Trinity. We have a spirit, a soul, and a body. Now, many people seem to mix the two words "spirit" and "soul"; I am not an expert in the original Greek, but I will try to explain what these mean as best I understand them. Our spirits are non-corporeal, but are the most intensely individual part of us. By this I mean that they are the part of us which is most permanent, and what is who we are. Our spirits are immortal, and will never end-- this makes questions of how and where our spirits spend eternity very important! Our spirits do not directly touch this visible world, only through our soul and body. The spirit "lives" in another world/realm/dimension than that we percieve through our five senses. Our spirits should be the head of our tri-partate beings, ruling the soul and the body. Our souls arise from the touching or mixing of our spirits and bodies. In Genesis it is written, "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 being.". (Genesis 2:7) That breath of life was the spirit, and the result of the mixing of the spirit and the body was the soul. The soul contains what we normally consider to be our personality and intellect. It contains the mind, by which we reason and remember; the emotions; the will; and perhaps other aspects of our personality. It also contains something the Bible calls the "heart", a vitally important part of our being which is the seat of faith, obedience, love, and also the corruptions and sins of a man. "For it is with the heart that man believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Rom. 10:10) Now, this "heart" that is spoken of here is not the same as our intellect or mind. Indeed, we may intellectually assent to a great many propositions about God that have never really touched our heart, and thus never been able to change our lives. We may use our minds to glorify God, to study His Word, to plan and work on His behalf, but unless our hearts are also involved, our work will be sterile and unfruitful. This is actually a crucial point, which some people never discover! Belief in God is an attribute of the *heart*, not just the mind. There is something about allowing God's word to penetrate here to the deepest inner parts of us that works the miracle. Have you ever felt like something that was said to you "cut you to the quick"? What it touched was your heart, right or wrong. The heart is essential to salvation, as the above scripture shows- one cannot be born again without a change in your heart. Our bodies we are the most familiar with since we can see and touch them. They are wondrous, complex, delightful houses for our spirits to live in when they are submitted to God; unfortunately, much of today's culture exalts the body and its passions above God or righteousness, saying "if it feels good, do it.". This way of immorality will bring nothing but sorrow and pain. When in proper order under the spirit and soul, the body can also give glory to God, whether by kneeling, singing, clapping, raising arms, even dancing at times. And even the most ordinary of daily chores can be raised up to a means of giving worship to God, if we approach it in the right spirit. Now, as for being born again, when a person accepts Jesus into his heart and is born again, his spirit is instantly and completely transformed from the old sinful state into a state of perfect cleanness and purity, desiring only what pleases the Lord. Many people when they first come to the Lord also expect that now they are completely free from all of their soul-impurities as well, such as old habits of bondage to various addictions or old styles of cruelty or manipulation. And in many cases, the Lord does indeed completely free and deliver us from certain points at that blessed moment of new life. However, we all eventually come to realize that despite our salvation and complete forgiveness for all our sins, we are still committing sins often, even despite our own wishes. See Romans chapter 7 for the agony that the Apostle Paul felt over his own remaining sinfulness in the flesh. Sometimes this leads believers to doubt the validity of their salvation; Satan comes with the lie, "You didn't really mean it. If you did, you wouldn't be doing those filthy things." heaping condemnation on the poor fallen Christian. It is essential that all Christians take hold of the unequivocal statement in Romans 8:1, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." No matter what you have done, Jesus still loves you and will not leave you. And you are not alone. We have all, myself included, suffered the same feelings of having betrayed His trust in us. But His love never ceases. And after salvation begins the wonderful work of Jesus bringing out His own loving nature in us, just as He demonstrated to us when He walked here on earth. This process, sometimes called "sanctification", continues steadily as long as we live here in this life. He changes us "from glory to glory" to be like Him. Now, our minds are one of those parts of us in our souls which must be changed. The best way for our minds to learn to think correctly is to study the Word, not just as an intellectual exercise but as a way to practice submission to the Spirit of God, who is the one who reveals the truth in the Word to us. Peter, I hope that this gives you some help on understand the difference between "soul" and "mind". I don't feel that I have a perfect understanding on this, so I would hope that other people would share their understandings with you too, and mostly that you would find in the Bible what it says on this. That's far more reliable than all of us. Good hunting! "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in him!" (Psalm 34:8) In Christ's love, -- Peter Homeier ______ Arpanet: homeier@aerospace / o \_/ UUCP: ..!ihnp4!trwrb!aero!homeier \___)__/ \ The Aerospace Corporation, M1-080 El Segundo, CA 90245
friesen@psivax.UUCP (Stanley Friesen) (09/29/85)
In article <1115@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP> k111@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP (Peter Kim) writes: >Could someone explain to me how soul and mind are different >and how the difference is related to the idea of being born >again? Well, I see the soul as the basis of what makes each individual a distinct person, that is to say your(or my) emotional predispositions, patterns of reaction, points of view &c. I see mind as essentially a synonym for 'intellect', or the cpacity to think and plan. To recap, soul is our emotional being, mind is our intellectual being. -- Sarima (Stanley Friesen) UUCP: {ttidca|ihnp4|sdcrdcf|quad1|nrcvax|bellcore|logico}!psivax!friesen ARPA: ttidca!psivax!friesen@rand-unix.arpa
zuker@cxsea.UUCP (Hunter Zuker) (10/12/85)
> In article <1115@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP> k111@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP (Peter Kim) writes: > >Could someone explain to me how soul and mind are different > >and how the difference is related to the idea of being born > >again? > Here's another opinion on your question. Soul is equivalent to spirit. You and I are spirit. We have bodies (or else it might be difficult to use the net :-)). The mind is an aspect of the body, which allows one to be analytical and logical. Which is not always how we as spirit participate in this reality :-}. Hunter Zuker uw-beaver!ssc-vax!cxsea!muaddib!zuker