What is the Difference Between the Soul & the Spirit?
The soul is often seen as the essence of a person, encompassing emotions and individuality, while the spirit is viewed as the part that connects with the divine or transcendent. As we grow in our understanding of the differences and truths of what the soul and spirit are, let us strive to magnify God with our souls and rejoice in Him with our spirits, living a life that reflects His love, grace and purpose in our lives.
The Soul
The soul is considered the essence of a person, representing their emotions, thoughts, and individuality. It is often associated with the life force that animates the body and is seen as the seat of human consciousness and personality. In many religious contexts, the soul is viewed as immortal and continues to exist after physical death. The soul is our humanity, which enables us to feel emotions - it is our way to magnify God through our human limitations.
While the soul is the source of our expression through our humanity, it has its limitations and the only way we can experience God is through our spirit. The soul is merely a channel. The soul is basically our mind, our emotions, and our will. It is who we are as human beings. But it is also used to express God.
Although we express God’s magnanimity in our souls, we can never express God’s power through our soul because it is our humanity. We can do good works and be godly and still fall short. We can never express God’s love for us through our soul alone. We then need the spirit to express God’s love.
While the soul is the source of our expression through our humanity, it has its limitations and the only way we can experience God is through our spirit. The soul is merely a channel.
The Spirit
The spirit, on the other hand, is often described as the immaterial aspect of humanity that connects with God or the divine. It is seen as the part of a person that can experience spiritual life and relationship with God. The spirit is considered to be the source of inspiration and moral guidance, and it is believed to be what allows individuals to worship and connect with the divine. The spirit is our spiritual and deeper connection with the Lord. We express our love to God and Jesus Christ through our spirit because this is one of the gifts that Christ gave us when he became human and died for our sins. And thus, we can only use the spirit if we believe in God and Christ, and if we follow the ways of the spirit.
The Roles of the Soul & Spirit
If you imagine each of your parts, body, soul and spirit, understanding that the soul is the source of our expression through our humanity, it has its limitations and the only way we can experience God is through our spirit. The soul is merely a channel.
In Romans 8:4, we are reminded by this: "In order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” This verse demands us to walk with our spirit, which means living a life according to the spirit and not our soul. The way of the spirit is the way of God. The spirit came to us through Jesus Christ. He lived amongst us and became human; for this reason, he has given us the gift of connecting with God through our spirit.
In conclusion, understanding the distinctions between the body, soul, and spirit is vital for deepening our relationship with God. The Bible reveals that while the body interacts with the physical world, the soul reflects our humanity—our thoughts, emotions, and will. The spirit, however, is the innermost part of us, designed to connect with God in a profound and eternal way. Through the spirit, we experience His presence, express true worship, and live according to His will.
These distinctions remind us that our faith is not just about outward actions or human emotions but about living a Spirit-led life that glorifies God in all we do. The Apostle Paul’s words in Romans 8:4 challenge us to move beyond the limitations of the flesh and soul, walking instead in the Spirit. This walk begins when we place our faith in Jesus Christ, who not only redeems our souls but also empowers our spirits to live in communion with God.
"The soul, therefore, is a living essence, uncomplicated, incorporeal, invisible – in its proper nature – to the eyes of the body, immortal, reasoning and intelligent, formless, making use of an organic body and being the source of its powers of life, growth, sensation and generation, the intellect being its purest part though not in any way alien to it (as the eye is to the body, so the intellect is to the soul). It has power over itself, its volition and energy, and is mutable, i.e., able to be changed, because it is created. All of these features are natural to it through the Grace imparted by its Creator, and its being and nature are thus because of this same Grace which it has received".
~ John the Damascan