Many writers on the Spirit-filled life emphasize the importance of the Word and the Spirit to live the Christ-life by faith. Neither Word only nor Spirit only, but Word and Spirit. Both are essential to man’s faith response. The Word, the Spirit, and faith involve the whole soul of man.
The soul of man consists of the mind, affections, and will. The mind has to do with understanding, the affections with being affected by/convinced of what is understood (and producing corresponding emotions), and the will with responding to that of which one has become convinced. Thus, it is the mind and the affections that move the will.
The Word, the Spirit, and man’s faith-response correlate to the mind, the affections, and the will.
First, the Word of God informs the mind. This is why believers must love the Word. Personal Bible study and the corporate preaching of the Word are vital to imbibing right information. The Word is truth (John 17:17). If we are to make wise life decisions and walk by faith, we must be informed with truth to protect us from deceptions and to provide a foundation for the faith walk. Faith comes by the words of God (Rom. 10:17).
Second, the Spirit illuminates the truth of the Word, and we are affected by being convinced of that truth. The Holy Spirit, the ultimate author of the Bible (2 Pet. 1:21), is the teacher who enlightens our understanding (Eph. 1:17-18), and in that illumination, convinces us of the truth (John 16:8). When we are convinced of truth, our faith response would be the obvious, natural response. Lacking the Spirit’s illumination and convincing, however, makes any attempt at faith mere wishful thinking.
The Word informs the mind. The Spirit illuminates and convinces so that we are affected by what we understand. With these two matters settled, then thirdly, the will can respond in faith to that truth. Herein the soul of man is fully operating. The mind is informed by the Word; the affections are convinced by the Spirit; the will responds in faith.
In salvation, the mind is informed by the word of the gospel, the affections are convinced by the Spirit, and the will responds in faith. This pattern is also true for walking by faith to grow in grace.
John Van Gelderen
Post Author
Very insightful. Corresponding to the three dimensions of genuine belief – accept, agree, depend.
Thanks Jim. Yes, it does seem there is an actual correspondence to the soul.
I appreciate the thoughts. I’m trying to think of the implications of this on what some call spiritual abuse: Would that then be man trying to (in his own persuasion) force on another the Word of God (#1 Word, Truth) leading to willful change (#3 Faith) in another without relying on the Spirit’s convincement (#2 Spirit)? In essence, can spiritual abuse be reduced to trying to mimic or be the Holy Spirit in another’s life? (Shortcutting the process laid out in 2 Tim. 2:24-26) So they’d be eclipsing the Holy Spirit’s work of convincement and replacing it with man’s persuasion?… Read more »
Thanks Adam, very insightful comment. In the least, a part of spiritual abuse is this eclipsing of the role of the Holy Spirit in other’s lives. It appears to be an unbelief in the power of the Spirit in others. Obviously, guidance should be given to children. But care should be taken to teach young believers the reality of the Spirit’s leading and the ways of His leading.
I wanted to point out this related article as well as Pastor O’Gorman’s excellent comment there regarding this matter: https://www.revivalfocus.org/the-red-flag-of-lose-lose-scenarios/#comments
From what I’ve read about spiritual abuse and similar topics, your definition of purely spiritual abuse is accurate, but the term is also more widely used to refer to any type of abuse perpetrated by one in a position of spiritual leadership (including but not limited to clergy). It’s just helpful to recognize that the term is used in different ways. The term “religious/spiritual trauma” is used in a similar manner.
Thanks! That’s helpful too.
Thank you for this article. Acts 7:51-53, and Heb. 4:1,2 have been healthy warnings and guiding lights to me in the matters of what you have brought out to be a triple necessity. John 7:17 as well. The Lord (and others whom He has placed into my life, often to my discomfort!) have taught me the vital necessity of God’s Word taught by God’s Spirit and mixed with genuine faith. I do not want to be worse off for “knowing the truth” without walking in it (true faith); or for thinking I know God’s Word, but lack The Author’s interpretation… Read more »
Thanks for sharing this we enriching testimony!