What exactly changed when you were born again? You might see the same reflection in the mirror, act the same, or yield to the same old temptations. You might even wonder if you really changed at all. The good news is—you did.
I remember when I really struggled to understand this. But the number one thing that revolutionized my life was this revelation, which I titled Spirit, Soul & Body.
Did you know that every born-again believer has undergone a complete inner transformation? Read this:
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17–18
It doesn’t say that all things are becoming new or have the potential of becoming new—they are new the moment we are born again.
What part of us did God make new? It’s obviously not our bodies; we are still shaped the same as before. It’s obviously not our minds; we still think the same and have the same emotions. It’s our spirits. Some people don’t realize this, but we are all made up of three parts, just as God is three parts—Father, Son, and Holy Ghost—and we are made in His image.
First Thessalonians 5:23 makes it clear:
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.
Once I understood that the new part of me wasn’t my body or my soul (mind, will, emotions, conscience), I knew it had to be my spirit. God’s Word confirms this again in 1 Corinthians 6:17, which states that “he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” The experience of being born again creates a spiritual union, and our spirits become one with God’s. While the new birth is complete in the spirit, it can take time to manifest in the body and soul through the process of renewal (Rom. 12:2). That’s why we must relate to God through our spirits, not our bodies or souls.
Spiritual reality isn’t felt. God’s Word declares that you have the same power living inside of you that raised Jesus from the dead (Eph. 1:19–20)! If you think truth can only be discerned through your natural senses, you’ll be baffled when the Bible says you’re a brand-new creature who can do the same works that Jesus did—and even more (2 Cor. 5:17 and John 14:12).
God’s Word reveals spiritual reality. If you want to know what your spirit is like, you must find out from the Word rather than rely on emotions. God’s Word is spirit and life. It set me free when I realized God had already given me everything I needed, and it’s all contained in my spirit. All I needed to do was release it. That simple understanding changes everything.
The Christian life is a process of renewing your mind and learning to release what you’ve already received. Unless you understand that you have already received in your renewed spirit all that you will ever need, there will always be doubt. You may know it’s possible or promised in the Word, but you’ll always be trying to perceive it in the mental, emotional, or physical realm. That’s a recipe for failure. That misconception can also result in a performance-based relationship with God—wondering if you’re good enough, if you read the Bible enough, if you give enough—to motivate God into giving you what you need.
It’s wrong to think that you have to make yourself worthy to receive God’s gifts. You’re already worthy because of Jesus’ sacrifice! In fact, you’ve already been given all that you need; it just requires an understanding of the relationship between the spirit, soul, and body. This understanding is the key to unlocking God’s grace and is the basis of comprehending the rest of Scripture.
If this teaching blessed you, visit my website at awmi.net, where you’ll find additional free teachings and resources. If you need prayer, I encourage you to call my Helpline at 719-635-1111, where one of my trained prayer ministers would love to agree with you in prayer.
We love you,
Andrew and Jamie
