The Soul: Bridging the Physical Outward Man and the Spiritual Inner Man

The Soul: Bridging the Physical Outward Man and the Spiritual Inner Man

To understand how we are designed to function, we must understand the position of the soul. The scriptures show us that man is a triune being. In his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul writes:

"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 our Lord Jesus Christ." (1Thess.5:23)

These three parts—spirit, soul, and body—make up your complete and entire being. Yet, they are so distinct that they can be divided into separate parts, which is exactly what happens at physical death.

• The Body is of the earth and returns to the dust. As it is written: "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was" (Eccl.12:7).
• The Spirit is from God and returns to Him. The scripture continues: "...and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." (Eccl.12:7).
• The Soul is the personal, individual "you" that must go to its designated spiritual destination. In the resurrection of Christ, Peter quotes David, saying: "Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." (Acts.2:27).

The Soul’s Strategic Position

Your soul does not exist in isolation; it sits directly between the physical and the spiritual realms. It acts as the bridge.

   [ SPIRIT ]  <--->  [ SOUL ]  <--->  [ BODY ]
   (Inner Man)       (The Bridge)    (Outward Man)

The soul’s connection to the physical body is what the Bible refers to as the outward man. Through the body, your soul can discern, experience, and interact with the physical world.

Conversely, the soul’s connection to the spirit is what the Bible refers to as the inner man. Through the spirit, your soul has the capacity to discern, commune with, and receive from the spiritual realm.

Because the soul is positioned between these two distinct worlds, it must choose which direction it will look and where it will draw its life. The core struggle of the Christian walk is determined by which way the soul is facing.

1. The Outward-In Walk (The Carnal Mind)

When the soul draws its primary direction, identity, and comfort from the physical body, it operates from the outside inward. This is the carnal mind. The carnal mind judges its spiritual standing and relationship with God based entirely on outward, physical circumstances.

If a carnal person gets sick or faces financial trouble, they assume God is angry with them. If they achieve physical prosperity, they assume they are spiritual. This is what Paul warns against when he describes men of corrupt minds:

"...supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself." (1Tim.6:5)

Because the outward man is constantly bombarded by the physical senses, worldly media, and social noise, an outward-in life is easily deceived, unstable, and led into sin.

2. The Inward-Out Walk (The Spiritual Mind)

God created man to work from the inside outward. A spiritual mind does not look to physical circumstances or sensory experiences but operates from the inner man outward. This walk is anchored entirely in the spirit and the word of God. The scriptures show that true spiritual strength and life are ministered strictly through the hearing of faith, as Paul asks:

"He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" (Gal.3:5)

This inward-out operation is fueled by the words of Christ, which are the very source of life. Jesus declared:

"...the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." (John.6:63)

When we believe the bible, these words perform an effectual work in the inner man, producing genuine godliness that we do not have to perform or fake through the flesh. As Paul notes:

"For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe." (1Thess.2:13)

By letting the word of God renew our knowledge, our inner man is established. This enables the soul to discern spiritual realities rather than physical ones. The believer is then strengthened in the inner man to walk after the spirit, as it is written:

"That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;" (Eph.3:16)

Conclusion

Your soul is the deciding factor. It is the bridge between the earthen vessel of your body and the eternal spirit of God. If you try to live from the outside in, you will remain trapped in carnal defeat. But when you quiet the noise of the world, sit down with the word of God, and allow His written words to get inside your heart, God's written word will perform its designed, effectual work to strengthen your inner man. Stay in the word; it is the hand to your glove, the only true source of spiritual knowledge, and the power that renews your soul into the image of Christ.