The Heart

THE DAILY WORD
By Jim Seekamp

Friday June 6, 2008

On Monday we looked at the 3 parts of man: spirit, soul, and body. People always have questions when I bring this up, so here is a further explanation:

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

It is the human SPIRIT that becomes a new creation when we get saved, not our SOUL. The spirit is the "inner man" that becomes a new creation in Christ.

Jesus said that we must be "born again" to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven:

John 3:3 (NIV) (Jesus speaking)
In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. "

Jesus made it clear that this rebirth is a SPIRITUAL rebirth; it does not happen to the human soul:

John 3:5,6 (NIV) (Jesus speaking)
5. Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

Jesus said in verse 6 that "Spirit gives birth to SPIRIT!"

The new birth is then the rebirth of the human spirit.

Titus 3:5 (NIV)
he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of REBIRTH and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

The rebirth was done in the believer's human spirit at the time he was born again. The very nature of the human spirit changes at the new birth. We are re-created spiritually with God's righteousness and holiness:

Ephesians 4:24 (NIV)
And that you put on the new man, which after God is CREATED in righteousness and true holiness.

The NEW MAN-- the born again human spirit-- has God's righteousness and holiness. The "old man" (the human spirit BEFORE the new birth) is not righteous or holy, but corrupt:

Ephesians 4:22 (NIV)
That you put off concerning the former conversation the OLD MAN, which is CORRUPT...

The Old Testament prophesies that the new birth will happen in the human spirit:

Ezekiel 36:25-27 (NIV)
25. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26. I will give you a NEW HEART and put a NEW SPIRIT in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

The spirit is also called the "heart" in verse 26 above. Peter also refers to the spirit as the "heart":

1 Peter 3:4
But let it be the "hidden man of the heart", in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet SPIRIT, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Paul also calls the spirit the "heart":

Galatians 4:6 (NIV)
Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."

Peter told us that the heart (born again human spirit) of a believer is INCORRUPTIBLE:

1 Peter 3:4
But let it be the "hidden man of the heart", in that which is NOT CORRUPTIBLE, even the ornament of a meek and quiet SPIRIT, which is in the sight of God of great price.

So it is undeniable Biblical fact that the human spirit is what is born again at the new birth, that it is made righteous and holy, and is incorruptible.

PRAYER
Thank You Father for Your life-giving Word. Thank You for sending Jesus Christ to save me by His work at the cross. Thank You for making me a new creation in Christ Jesus. Help me to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is not a single good work I can do that will make me more born again than I already am.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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