Today, focus is on the totality of operations, purposes, and substance acknowledged by the living as divinity and spirit. In addition to the Father, who is spirit, and the Incarnate Son who appears using flesh and bone, the Holy Spirit depicted by a dove completes the three persons of the One we call the GODhead. The Holy Spirit is also known as the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Prophecy, and the Spirit of Truth. The holy writings convey and impart spirit matter, and speak of ministering spirits (the holy angels); spirit substance from the fullness of divine being such as faith, holiness, immortality, incorruption, wisdom, and wrath against sin; the spirit imparted to mankind from GOD that is life essence (we also say, breath, word); the spirit matter that indwelled Jesus Christ while on the earth; the spirit that operates in rebirth and resurrection of a sinner’s inborn spirit; and the gifts of the Holy Spirit that are required to edify and empower the community of believers who follow Christ as his church. The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “John” (Level 1 with 3 points, date enrolled is withheld) posted the following:
What do christians mean by 'spirit'? What is spirit, like when they say that god consists of spirit?
And is it the same stuff as souls are made of?
Please be as specific as possible, since this is a very important aspect of theology to understand.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. (Isaiah 11: 1-6, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Hope That Is True (02/20/2017); Divine Presence and Spirit (01/18/2017); Learning From A Spirit? (08/25/2016); Word, Son, and Christ? (08/24/2016); Spirit, Spirit Beings, Spirit Persons? (10/13/2015); Can The Bible Be Increased? (05/31/2015); The Words Are Spirit? (06/03/2015)
“John”, the finite tools of created beings and living creatures such as emotion, intelligence, logic, philosophy, science and technology are useless to completely and correctly apprehend “spirit” . Moreover, sacred knowledge from GOD, about GOD, is granted on a “need to know” basis through discovery and is given to those who are in peculiar personal relationships with divinity (e.g., apostles, covenant partners, offspring, prophets, spokespersons). Those who receive revealed truth become shielded against spiritual confusion and error by themselves containing aspects of divine person (we say, the imparted spirit); and by their being directed and focused through divine law, sacred practice, and eternal purpose.
The GODhead (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) should be acknowledged as a single fullness who manifests all divine substance. The three persons of the GODhead interact having oneness without sameness. Inseparable aspects of Deity (where you find one, all the others also appear; however, not necessarily in the same measure or proportion) continually coalesce, interact, distance themselves from one another without separation, and reconfigure. Included are such substance as authority, awe, completeness, longsuffering, lovingkindness, perfection, person, presence, righteousness, and sovereign will.
Man became a “living soul” when GOD imparted life essence (we also say, breath, spirit, word) into a form that had been prepared to serve as a vessel for divine substance. Spirit may exist without form (we say, body); and the dead may be understood as spirit separated from body; however, the living must have both form and spirit. Because the Scriptures do speak of “souls under the altar,” many believe there can be disembodied souls, and even, undying and eternal souls. Resurrected spirits without their body from GOD are like promises, prophecies, and visions without their fulfillment. Just as “possibilities” have existence without material form; resurrected spirits are as shadows, and lack full substance to those in mortality. Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible:
(1.) Deuteronomy 29: 29, King James Version (KJV): 29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
(2.) Romans 8: 5-9, KJV: 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
There is far more to be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (3.) 1st Corinthians 13: 11-13, KJV: 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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