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Salvation and the Cleansing of Our Spirit—Part 1

Salvation and the Cleansing of Our Spirit—Part 1

The apostle Paul wrote,

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23 NIV84).

Is it just a coincidence that Paul lists these three domains—spirit, soul, and body—in the order he does, or is it inspired? Does it reveal that healing starts with the spirit, moves to the soul, and ends with the body?

The Greek word translated as “body” is soma and refers to the physical structure of our being, which is the easiest for us to identify and differentiate from soul and spirit. The Bible is filled with many instructions for the health of the body—guidance on hygiene, diet, exercise, and rest. If we use the metaphor of a computer, the soma would correspond to the hardware, the physical components of the machine that one can touch.

The Greek word for “soul” is psyche, from which we get words like “psychiatry” and “psychology”, and refers to our individuality, character, unique personhood; the psyche would correspond to the software on a computer, encompassing all the things we learn, such as our language, and what we hold to be true, our values, morals, and beliefs—thus, it is our mind.

The Greek word for “spirit” is pneuma and is translated into a variety of English words, such as wind, spirit, ghost, and breath—as in the “breath of life.” The spirit, breath of life, corresponds to the energy of our being and, first and foremost, is the life-giving energy from God.

The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground [body] and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life [spirit], and the man became a living being (Genesis 2:7 NIV84).

When a person dies, God’s creation reverses this process; the body goes back to dirt and the breath of life, the life energy from God, the “spirit,” returns to God:

The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7 NIV84)

The word “spirit” here is used to indicate the breath of life, the life energy. But the word has additional meanings that Paul applies when writing to the Corinthians:

Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit … when you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present (1 Corinthians 5:3, 4 NIV84).

Our spirit, as Paul uses the term above, refers to our affections, attitudes of the heart, and true motives of action, and it is where God works via His Spirit to cause us to be dissatisfied with sin, to give us a longing for something more, to create a conviction, an uneasy restlessness, when we are departing from Him and His path for our lives. The spirit is our innermost heart’s desires, preferences, and alignments—what we resonate with and also the attitudinal atmosphere we both create and prefer. Do we have a spirit of love or hate, of kindness or cruelty, of humility or arrogance, of gentleness or brutality, of fear or courage?

Think about your closest loved one, perhaps a child or spouse, going on a dangerous trip, perhaps to a war zone, and, with tears, you say to them, “I will be with you in spirit.” What do you mean? Are you saying you will go along with them bodily, in person? No, you will not be with them physically when you are with them in spirit. Are you saying that you are going to have an out-of-body experience and float alongside them in some ghost-like apparition? Of course not.

You are saying that you will be with them in heart, sympathy, compassion, attitude, desiring for their good, sharing in their struggles and hurts, rejoicing in their triumphs, celebrating their success, keeping their health, welfare, and good foremost in your affections and prayers. You have your heart’s energies oriented toward them for their good. To be with your child in spirit is to be in harmony with them in your inmost being, resonating and connecting with them along unseen energy bonds of the quantum universe that God has created. It is the alignment of one’s heart, affection, goodwill, and intentions for another’s health and happiness.

The way God created human beings, after Adam received the “spirit,” the breath of life, from his Creator, he had the ability to impact and shape, change, alter, and influence the tenor, vibration, character, condition, quality, and purity of that energy. Just as we can contaminate pure water and make it foul, so also we can contaminate the pure energy we receive from God. In fact, through Adam’s sin, he contaminated the pure motivation and animating energy of love with fear and selfishness, and we are all born with a life, a spirit, that we received from Adam that is already contaminated with fear and selfishness that need spiritual cleansing (Psalm 51:5). This is what Paul is telling us when he informs us that our entire being needs sanctifying—our motivational energies (spirits, pneuma) need to be sanctified.

 

How Salvation Actually Works

But what does this mean in practical terms? It means that salvation requires cleansing of the spirit from the contamination of sin (fear and selfishness). Salvation—cleansing, the removal of sin—starts with our spirits (pneuma), moves into our souls/minds (psyche), and ends with our bodies (soma) at the Second Coming.

In order to intelligently cooperate most effectively with God for the cleansing of our spirits, we must understand what our spirit is. The spirit is the part of our being that connects with the Spirit of God and is the means whereby God inspires, energizes, encourages, motivates, and convicts us. Our spirit is where the healing energy of God interacts with our energy, (inmost desires and motivations) to influence us. The Spirit is the vitalizing power of God that brings life.

Jesus said, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing” (John 6:63 NIV84).

The spirit is the wellspring, the energy source, the life-giving power that fuels our being—it is the breath of life given to us by God, but the Holy Spirit is the sustaining, healing, purifying, invigorating, inspiring, transforming, renewing, regenerating power of God that cleanses our spirits, enlightens our minds, inspires our songs, motivates our hearts, cleanses our consciences, ennobles our minds, and seals us to God’s kingdom of love.

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory (Ephesians 1:13, 14 NIV84).

It is the Holy Spirit that brings us the new healthy desires, motives, and presence of Jesus. It is via the Holy Spirit that we become partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). But when the Spirit moves upon our hearts, our inmost beings, we must choose to say “yes” to the leading of the Spirit—to forgive, to reject the old carnal ways of dishonesty, selfishness, evil surmising, gossiping, jealousy, revenge—and, instead, align our hearts with the “Spirit,” the attitude of Jesus Himself—to love our enemies and bless those who persecute us.

Jesus said to His disciples, when they asked if they should call fire down on the Samaritans,

“You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them” (Luke 9:55-56 NKJV, emphasis mine).

The disciples were fostering a spirit of God’s enemy, of revenge rather than a spirit of love and grace. They needed spiritual cleansing!

While the Holy Spirit brings us the truth, love, and conviction, it is up to us to accept or reject the cleansing energies of God’s Spirit; if, instead of having our spirits cleansed, we cling to resentment, bitterness, unforgiveness, unkindness, jealously, a desire for revenge etc., we grieve the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30).

But as we respond to the movements of the Holy Spirit upon our spirit, we move from merely being kept physically alive and sought after by the Holy Spirit, like the shepherd seeking the lost sheep, to actual thriving! When we choose to stay connected to God in a living faith/trust relationship, we experience the vitalizing power of God purifying our spirits. When we surrender our hearts and minds to Jesus in faith, it is then that we receive the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, who renews our spirits, transforms our motives, desires, hearts, and attitudes, and purifies our inmost being with love, joy, hope, and truth by taking what Jesus achieved and reproducing His spirit in us. As Paul wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20 NIV84).

But if we do not remain in a living faith/trust relationship with God—if, instead, we go our own way and do our own thing after our conversion—that would be like tying a plastic bag over our heads and cutting ourselves off from life-giving refreshing air. If we cut ourselves off from the Holy Spirit, we only breathe back into our souls the spiritual waste, fears, uncertainties, guilt, shame, doubts, mistakes, misunderstandings, shortcomings, denials, rationalizations, heartaches, hurts, disappointments, and wrongs. Our spirits will then slowly lose the heavenly atmosphere of joy, peace, patience, love, and hope. Just like the air inside the plastic bag becomes stale, so our spirits become stale, stagnant—and just like what happens when we breathe in the stale air, our spirits eventually lose energy and drive, and we become discouraged and are tempted to give up.

But when we retain our life-giving faith connection with God, our daily communion with Him, then we daily breathe in God’s Spirit and are filled with the presence of God, His life, His energy, His love, His affection, kindness, goodness, grace, truth, and power. 

Our spirit is our life energy. God’s Spirit is the full energy of the divine third Person of the Godhead who unites with us with the full power of the Godhead, bringing us the “Spirit” of the Lord—the new attitude of love rather than hate. As Paul wrote to Timothy,

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV).

I encourage you to be purposeful in your daily routines, to start every day in personal communion with God, meditating upon His Word, His creation, His providences, and talking with Him. Invite the Holy Spirit into your heart to cleanse, renew, refresh, and invigorate your spirit so that you will experience “the fruit of the Spirit [which] is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22, 23 NIV84).

And as Paul wrote to the Philippians, I close with this desire for you:

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose (Philippians 2:1, 2 NIV84).

 

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Testimony 72

I am blown away by the truth that you present. God’s Design Law makes so much sense! You have validated my impression that, if God is love, He would not kill those who don’t want to know him. If God gives us choice, then how can He destroy us if our choice is not to follow him. Thank you for opening my eyes and heart to the pure love of God seen through Jesus. The love I now have for Jesus is deeper and free from condemnation. My heart has been opened to love others as Jesus loves me. May God continue to bless your God-given insight into His word and your ministry. The truth has set me free!

H. Miller, Centereach, NY

Testimony 37

Hearing Dr. Jennings’ presentations in person came at a pivotal moment in my spiritual journey that began about nine months ago, when the fault lines inherent in my belief system began to crack under questions that most reasonable people end up asking about God and His nature. These were questions I couldn’t find answers to, and they shook my faith. I was unable let it go any longer and be satisfied. My Christian experience became distant. I was afraid; the fear in me rose like thorns, pushing me away from Jesus. And then someone heard my questions and introduced me to this ministry, and my life has totally changed.

I can tell you that this new, “present truth” message is far grander and life-changing than when I shifted from being an agnostic and then a nominal Christian. It has radically altered my worldview, because it reveals a God that makes sense. It is a revolution. I believe that Dr. Jennings’ message is the final message that must go to the world. If any message could be called “righteousness by faith,” as abused as that term is by the right and the left, this is that message, because Jennings’ biblical message identifies a God who is different, whose character isn’t an impossible contradiction.

I walk this path now without fear. I see people differently, and the Holy Spirit burns in my heart. Many call Dr. Jennings’ message false and compromising, but it isn’t false, because I’ve seen the fruits within my mind and body. It is not compromising, because in this message is the only road to holiness that makes any sense. No longer do I behold a pagan god who is always angry and suspicious. Instead, I behold a God who is freeing and loving, always working for our good, and giving me every reason to love my enemy even to my own death, just as Jesus pleads with us. God is good.

Anthony L., CA, USA

 

Testimony 11

I would love to have a copy of “Healing the Mind” DVDs to have in my therapy office. I enjoy having clients check out materials to enhance their therapy experience. I have sat under Dr. Jennings’ teaching at an American Association of Christian Counselors convention and respect his work greatly.

K.B., LA, USA

 

Testimony 42

I am just writing to say that I have been so blessed by the teachings of Come And Reason Minitries recently. I watched last week’s bible study lesson on Youtube and am thankful that the error in the printed lesson guide you use was pointed out and this week’s study was of equal benefit, if not more so. My understanding of God’s nature has been very confused of late and I am so grateful for clarity in this matter. I have never really fully understood previously how a good God can cause bad things to happen and now I realise that He doesn’t, it’s a natural consequence of sin. May the almighty Father and His Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, continue to bless your ministry.

Laura P., United Kingdom

 

Testimony 69

After reading your book, ‘Could It Be This Simple,’ someone was explaining Christianity in a way that made sense to me for the first time in my life. One morning, I simply prayed “I’m sorry and I love you.” As soon as I silently said that, I could literally feel God’s presence and light flood down on me from above and fill me up with love and joy. I sat there crying my eyes out, because I was so overpowered with this feeling of love and joy. It was just so incredible. I hope that more people can read this book and get a blessing from it. It’s really amazing.

Rachael H.

Testimony 48

I just want to tell you how blessed I have been reading “The Remedy!” It has become a daily part of my devotional relationship with God. In it I have found a God of love and a God that loves me! The bible has come alive for me! It is the first time that I can say that I have felt hope fill my heart as I have read God’s word. This is good news I can share! Thank you, Dr Jennings! Thank you for your heart for others. I can’t put into words how this has set me free! It has strengthened my trust and love for God.

Jason H.

 

Testimony 43

Two years ago I stumbled upon your book, “Could It Be This Simple,” and then found “The God-Shaped Brain” videos on YouTube, your bible study class, and the ‘Come And Reason’ mobile app. I shared your book with a friend and after nine months of showing love, patience, and kindness this person has been changed by the love of God, too. The same love that healed me, I now express to other women in tangible ways, such as to a Baptist woman with high anxiety and childhood trauma. She was extremely happy and relieved when I shared about the so-called “judgment of God” and burning in hell. She had no desire to serve a God that was so harsh. I have repeated the phrase dozens of times to her. “What we believe has power over us, but we have power over what we believe…”

This message that you are sharing has changed my life. I will continue to serve other women and bring this message of God’s healing love to their lives by sharing your books, YouTube videos, and The Remedy Bible app. Keep up the good work. Don’t be discouraged. God is doing a mighty work in and through this ministry!

Jill L., Midwest, USA

 

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I’m a youth leader in South Africa. We as a youth group are currently using a lot of the material on the Come and Reason site. Since we’ve started using the material, our youth group has grown.

R. V. N., South Africa

 

Testimony 19

I truly believe that to know who God really is the first step to understand ourselves in a balanced and kind way, so the healing can take place. Your approach really makes sense – Thank you for your ministry!

A.M., Pittsburg, PA, USA

Testimony 24

I wanted to thank you very much for presenting your understanding of God. I’ve always been troubled by this question: Why did Jesus have to die? Since my conversion I understood that The Father & Jesus are one, I did not have issues with that. But was there not any other way to save us than for Jesus to die? I guess I actually had a question about God – if He is so wise, how come He did not find another way? I did not see the real ‘beauty’  in the cross. Only when you explained the picture in the medical context, Jesus providing medicine for my selfishness, have I started to finally ‘see the light’. Thank you so much. Your seminar, “Healing the Mind,” are absolutely marvelous & have shared them with my family and many other people, including colleagues at work. Thanks, thanks, thanks. May God bless you abundantly in your ministry.

M. W., Australia

 

Testimony 45

I have been confused for years about what [christianity] calls [its] most disgusting teaching. It has never made much sense to me and for that reason has been evermore empty. I have listened to your class off and on and have struggled determining what is truth, because of the resistance design law encounters in the church. So, I thank God for your ministry. What you teach makes sense. It’s logical and backed up by the power of love. I have never seen that in Christ until now. I am astounded by the insight that is found when we look at God’s ministry through design law. All strength to this message, as I believe it to be the power of God.

Brendon S.

 

Testimony 50

After coming into contact with Come And Reason Ministries, I can finally say that many of my unanswered questions have fallen into place. I discovered that my view of God’s Law was “imposed laws and rules” with “imposed punishments” and that this was the major culprit of my many unanswered questions. Thanks be to God for using you and those around you to help us who have struggled with this “infection” of thought. I have now rejected the “imposed law” concept to fully embrace “Design Law”… to look thru “Design Law,” instead of “imposed law,” is a relief.

Viliami L., Australia

 

Testimony 57

You have helped make sense of thirty two years of confusion. The material you freely provide reorganized so much of my life into such a beautiful pattern that has always been hinted at from within, but misguided with my training and what I was experiencing externally. My filipno parents, who were converted from Catholicism to SDA, were sincere and did their best to raise me the right way and I have deep respect for them. However, being immigrants and not understanding the language made for a difficult transition as I was growing up, which also applied to my spiritual growth as I learned the patterns of religion. I have been listening to as many bible study classes and reading blog posts as my time in a work truck will allow, searching for the practical applications of where spirituality and reality meet, and I thank you for helping me find that. You have helped me reach a point in which I can truly say that I love God, that I believe He loves me, and, like David, I delight in His law. God bless.

Emmanuel V., Calgary, AB Canada

Testimony 14

We really appreciate your views on the judgment and they make good sense considering our free choice.

Anonymous

 

Testimony 46

Over the past couple of years God has been expanding my view of Himself and His character. Along my approximately 40-year journey, I have often had questions, but was hesitant to voice these and step outside the traditionally accepted thinking, for fear of admitting that I may in fact be eternally lost. In the recesses of my thinking has been the thought – if one blindly accepts (which is widely regarded as “real faith”) and does not question, is this really ‘truth?’ I often find it challenging to grapple with very theological ‘speak,’ but Dr. Jennings has a real gift of explaining spiritual concepts with clear practical examples. The weekly discussions are growing my Christian experience and slowly changing my view of how to live as a child of God in today’s complex world. Finally the whole Old Testament sanctuary teaching moved in my mind from fantasy to reality!

Beverly S., South Africa