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It may be helpful to construct a working model of our constituent parts to use in considering how we as Christians are to respond to and walk by the power of the Holy Spirit.

If we think of Adam and Even as being created with a bodies, souls, and spirits, we can see that Satan appealed to the desire of the soul and first tempted Eve to sin and subsequently Adam chose to sin. They had been warned by God that on the day they sinned, they would 'die'. One can see a picture of everyone born physically since then as having a 'dead' or ineffective spirit.

We can think of being 'born again' or receiving eternal life by the spirit of Christ in us as the moment when we cross from death to life.

It is interesting to note that it was expected that as a teacher Nicodemus should have understood that it was needful for a 'birth' to restore that which could then receive eternal life.

Those who have not been 'born again' are unable to have eternal life and come into judgment. After having been judged according their works they suffer for their sins and ultimately suffer the 'second death'.

It is helpful to view our spirit as something which was dead or inactive and by virtue of the work of the Holy Spirit has been made alive.

This new creation (the Christian with a regenerated spirit) is configured with a body that interacts with the physical world and a spirit which interacts with God. In between these two is his soul where choices are made that influence whether the body has a more worldly or spiritual orientation.

People without this spiritual regeneration (those who are not Christian) are compelled by the influences of the old sinful nature (called the 'flesh'). These are those that Satan can organize to accomplish his goals.

Many of those who declare their hostility towards God and reject him thinking themselves free, come evermore under the control of Satan who despises them and desires to use them as pawns to advance his own plans. These sad people (dead in their sins) having no hope of eternal life have no way (unless God in his mercy should intervene) to recognize much less accept the truth.

Sometimes the word 'heart' is used to refer to the actual physical heart (cardia). However, often it is used to refer to what might be considered an appendage to the soul. It can be thought of as a repository for those things we hold as integral to our life. It can sort of work as an 'automatic pilot' from which we are inclined to act in one way or another.

Here we see that the heart can though 'exercise' become filled with that which inclines actions and even thoughts. In this case towards evil.

In contrast to the 'automatic pilot' influence on our lives that our heart exercises through the soul, there is the 'manual control' that is our mind. Here we evaluate, consider, reflect, and conclude. It can be easier and more comfortable to go through life sort of on 'cruise control' being directed by what we have allowed in our heart. However, the Christian is called to a life of intentional control by which the heart can be purged of its old inclinations and sort of reprogrammed with that which can be drawn from the Spirit.

While we can visualize the mind and heart as part of the soul, it is less clear to see how our old nature operates.

It seems that there are material elements to this nature ('body of sin', the flesh) as well as immaterial elements (what was put to death at salvation). It seems as if our new birth resulting in salvation in some way disables the compulsive aspect of our old nature. As a result, we are freed from the power of sin, but not the influence. While some verses emphasize that we are free from the compelling nature of sin, the Christian desiring to walk by the power of the Holy Spirit has to understand that there is still within us something that opposes this effort.

When we Christians face our own inclination to sin, it can help to understand that there is some physical component in our body as well as an immaterial component in our soul that resists the intention of our mind to follow Christ.

It can be frustrating, especially for new Christians, to read about the peace, love, and joy that the Christian life should offer and yet somehow feel cheated because it isn’t experienced. The reason for this is that often there is much we need to learn, understand, practice, and change.

My little children, for whom I am again suffering birth pangs until Christ is completely and permanently formed (molded) within you, - Galatians 4:19 AMP

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