HAVE YOU ever wondered how your spirit, soul, and body really work together and what it truly means to be made in God's image?

We are a Tri-une Being Made in the Image of God

"God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." Genesis 1:27

We are created as a being, in God's image. God, the Creator, has created us after Himself and in His likeness.

"Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." Genesis 2:7

We see in this verse that man has three parts. Man's body is formed from the dust of the ground. God breathed into man the breath of life. The word "breath" in Hebrew is the same as "spirit". From God's Spirit, He imparts spirit into man's body. Man became a walking, living being, a soul.

Did you know there are three different Hebrew words used to describe the creation of man? One refers to the body, one refers to the spirit, and one refers to the soul.

Paul understood this and wrote a prayer:

“And the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly, and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23) 

All Three Parts of our Humanity Falls Short of the Glory of God

•  “dead in your offenses”— Through the fall, our God-contacting spirit was deadened—losing its function to contact God—Eph. 2:1.
• “enemies in your mind”— Our soul, especially our mind, was contaminated and became at enmity with God—Col. 1:21.
• “body of sin”— Our God-created body was ruined and became a body of sin and death unable to fulfill God’s purpose—Rom 6:6; 7:24. 

Sanctified and Redeemed on Three Levels

That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John  3:6; 1 Pet 1:23) 

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Rom 12:2)

“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”   1 Corinthians 9:27 (KJV)

The Body & Spirit Dichotomy

There are many perspectives on how to divide and understand the human being—spirit, soul, and body. A common theological tension arises in how we view the relationship between the body and the spirit.

Often, the body is labeled as carnal, fleshly, and inherently sinful—seen as the part of us that “falls short of the glory of God”—while the spirit is believed to be already perfected, fully renewed, and incapable of sin. This view can easily lead to an internal dualism: a split within the self where one begins to see a part of one's own being as evil and irredeemable. While this might seem to align with certain religious ascetic traditions, it is not consistent with the full counsel of Scripture.  

The belief that one part of us (the body) is inherently sinful, and another (the spirit) is inherently good or perfect is common in some pietistic or gnostic expressions of Christianity, which ultimately treat the physical body as an evil, fallen trap and the spirit as a pure, heavenly spark. While this may sound spiritual, it is not biblically accurate—and historically, it has produced religious excesses like asceticism, body-punishing rituals called mortification of the flesh which lead to secret immorality hidden under religious appearance.

The Biblical Problem with Internal Dualism

Dualism divides the self into “good” (spirit) and “evil” (body), but the Bible presents a more holistic anthropology: every part of the human being—spirit, soul, and body—is capable of corruption or sanctification, depending on how it is used and who it is yielded to.

For instance, in 2 Corinthians 7:1 (NKJV), Paul urges believers to “cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” This clearly shows that not only the body, but also the spirit, is capable of being polluted and in need of purification. Similarly, the soul—our seat of thought, emotion, and will—requires daily transformation as described in Romans 12:2, where Paul calls us to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.  For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. (Rom 6:19-22) 

Jesus Christ, in His incarnation, shows us the true dignity of the body. John 1:14 declares, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” and Hebrews 4:15 assures us that although He was tempted in all points as we are, He remained without sin. His physical body was not a source of sin, but a vessel for righteousness. This affirms that our bodies in themselves are not sinful; rather, it is what we do with them—and to whom we yield them—that determines whether they are instruments of sin or righteousness. Paul echoes this in Romans 6:13 when he says, “Do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God… as instruments of righteousness.”

Historically, when the body has been viewed as inherently evil, it led to unhealthy practices such as self-flagellation, religious extremism, and even secret immorality—cases where priests and nuns, while outwardly suppressing the body, committed hidden sins. The problem is not the flesh itself but the unrenewed desires and misaligned loyalties that exploit our faculties. Like consuming unhealthy food damages our physical health, surrounding ourselves with corrupt influences damages the soul, and opening our spirits to dark or deceptive forces through unforgiveness or occultism leads to torment. This confirms that all three parts of our being can be corrupted—not just the body.

Therefore, instead of viewing our composition in terms of good vs. bad parts, Scripture frames the contrast in terms of two opposing ways of living: one shaped by the Holy Spirit, the other by the flesh—defined as human effort, self-reliance, and worldly thinking. Galatians 5:16–17 explains this clearly: “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit… and these are contrary to one another.” This is not a statement about internal division, but about spiritual allegiance. The human being is one, but we are constantly choosing between two pathways—submitting either to God’s Spirit or to the ways of the world.

In conclusion, sanctification is not just about fixing our thoughts or emotions, nor is it only a spiritual awakening; it is a comprehensive transformation of spirit, soul, and body. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19–20), our souls must be renewed in truth, and our spirits must be kept pure and sensitive to God. Every part of us was created good and is being restored to reflect the image of God. The goal is not to reject or escape our physical nature, but to bring every part of our being under the Lordship of Christ, that we may be “blameless in spirit, soul, and body at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

How We function as a Tri-Part Being? 

In this teaching, we’ll explore how each part of your being reflects the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each with mind, will, and emotions. You’ll discover:

• PHYSICAL WORLD: Your body is the vehicle through which you engage with the physical, natural world.

• PSYCHOLOGICAL WORLD: Your soul is the seat of your mind, will, and emotions—how you connect and relate to others socially.

• SPIRITUAL WORLD: Your spirit is the part of you that perceives beyond the natural realm, into the unseen spiritual world.

The Christian doctrine of the Trinity teaches that One God exists eternally in three distinct Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These are not three parts of God or three modes of being, but three co-equal, co-eternal persons who fully share the divine essence. What is crucial—and often overlooked—is that each Person of the Godhead possesses the full attributes of personhood.

The Trinity and Godhead 

1. Each has a Form or Distinct Image. 

Though God is Spirit and transcends physical form (John 4:24), Scripture reveals that each Person of the Godhead can manifest in tangible ways:

• The Father is often described with anthropomorphic imagery (eyes, hands, voice), not because He is flesh, but to communicate that He is personal and relational.
• The Son, Jesus Christ, is the only Person of the Godhead who took on human flesh permanently (John 1:14; Col. 2:9). He is the express image of the invisible God (Heb. 1:3).
• The Holy Spirit appears in physical forms (like a dove or tongues of fire) and moves dynamically in creation, yet remains unseen, like wind (John 3:8).

2. Each has a Personality

Personhood includes identity, self-awareness, and relationship. All three members of the Trinity interact with one another in Scripture:

• The Father sends the Son (John 3:16).
• The Son submits to the Father (Luke 22:42) and glorifies Him.
• The Spirit proceeds from both and glorifies the Son (John 16:13–14).

3. Each has a Will and Desires

• The Father’s will is supreme and is often referenced as the origin of divine purpose (Matt. 6:10).
• Jesus, the Son, has a will distinct from the Father but always in unity with Him (John 6:38).
• The Holy Spirit distributes gifts as He wills (1 Cor. 12:11), showing volition.

4. Each has Emotions and Relational Depth

• The Father loves (John 3:16), grieves, and rejoices.
• The Son weeps (John 11:35), feels compassion (Matt. 9:36), and rejoices in the Spirit (Luke 10:21).
• The Spirit can be grieved (Eph. 4:30) and brings joy (Rom. 14:17).

5. Each has a Mind and Intellect

• The Father is all-wise and plans the end from the beginning (Isa. 46:10).
• The Son possesses divine knowledge and wisdom (Col. 2:3), and as a human, also grew in wisdom (Luke 2:52).
• The Spirit searches the deep things of God (1 Cor. 2:10–11) and teaches and reminds us (John 14:26).

6. Each has Sensory Capacity

Though God is Spirit and not limited by human senses, Scripture speaks of divine perception:

• The Father hears prayers, sees injustice, smells offerings (OT imagery), and even tastes are used metaphorically (“taste and see that the Lord is good” – Ps. 34:8).
• Jesus, in His incarnation, touched, saw, heard, and smelled—fully human in every sensory way.
• The Spirit “speaks,” “moves,” “descends,” and communicates to human hearts.

Why This Matters

To be made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26) means that

• we, too, are triune beings—spirit, soul, and body—each part reflecting aspects of the Godhead’s fullness.
• The way we feel, think, decide, perceive, relate, and act is not random or animalistic; it reflects the nature of our Creator.
• Just as the Godhead exists in unity and distinction, so we function best when all aspects of our being are aligned under God’s Spirit.

Created in God’s Image: A Three-Dimensional Reflection of Divine Personhood

The Genesis declaration that humankind is made “in the image of God” (Gen. 1:26–27) is far more profound than a mere spiritual metaphor. It speaks to the whole tripartite nature of humanity—body, soul, and spirit—each possessing distinct faculties, unique functions, and mirroring aspects of the triune God.

Just as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are unified yet distinct in role and personhood, we as human beings also carry complexity, intelligence, and relational capacity in each part of our being.

1. Mind and Reasoning in All Three Dimensions

Contrary to the reductionist idea that only the soul thinks, the Bible and human experience both point to the reality that body, soul, and spirit all engage in cognition and memory:

• Body: The nervous system has its own form of “memory” (e.g., muscle memory, pain reflexes, gut responses). The body learns, adapts, and is conditioned by habit.
• Soul: The seat of intellect, emotions, and will—the realm of conscious reasoning, moral struggle, and decision-making. This is where the Big Five personality traits manifest.
• Spirit: The deepest part of our being—our intuition, conscience, and sense of divine connection. This is where we discern good from evil beyond logic, perceive unseen realities, and experience the inner witness of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:16).

2. Nourishment and Need: Three-Fold Sustenance

Each aspect of our being requires a different kind of nourishment:

• The Body needs food, water, rest, and exercise. Malnourishment or intoxication through stimulants, parasites, or toxins leads to decay.
• The Soul requires truth, relationships, emotional safety, and intellectual stimulation. It can also be “infected” with poor reasoning, trauma, or—as Prof. Gad Saad puts it—“ideological parasites” that corrupt clear thinking.
• The Spirit feeds on worship, communion with God, truth, prayer, and spiritual disciplines. Starving the spirit leads to numbness, confusion of purpose, and alienation from God.

3. Emotion on Three Levels

Emotions are not confined to the soul. Each part of our being reacts emotionally in its own way:

• Physically: Emotions manifest through sweat, tears, increased heartbeat, goosebumps, trembling.
• Soulishly: Here we experience anguish, shame, indignation, jealousy, hope, and empathy—the vast range of human emotion.
• Spiritually: Our spirit reflects attitude, peace, joy unspeakable, despair, or discernment. Paul speaks of being “pressed in spirit” (Acts 18:5) or “deeply troubled in spirit” (John 13:21), a spiritual emotion deeper than mood.

4. Sensory Perception: Operating in Three Realms

Scripture and language show us that our senses operate on three levels—body, soul, and spirit:

Sight:

• Blepo – physical sight (Mark 8:24)
• Theoreo – intellectual or analytical seeing (John 6:40)
• Eido – spiritual seeing or perceiving with inner knowledge (Luke 10:22)

Hearing:

• Hearing sound
• Hearing with understanding (“he who has ears to hear…” – Matt. 11:15)
• Hearing by the Spirit, leading to obedience and transformation (Rom. 10:17)

Taste and Smell:

• Physically, we taste sweet, bitter, sour
• The soul assigns interpretation and memory to taste and smell (e.g., comfort food, nostalgia, trauma response)
• Spiritually, we “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps. 34:8), indicating inner satisfaction and spiritual perception

Touch:

• Physically, we experience sensation, pain, pleasure, arousal
• Emotionally, we are “touched” by music, stories, connection
• Spiritually, people speak of being “touched by God” — euphoric, healing, or transformative moments that defy sensory explanation

5. Personality and Presence: Revealed on Three Levels

Human personality is layered, and fully expresses itself only when seen through all three dimensions:

• Bodily Persona: Your gender, dress, voice, body language, and facial expressions create a first impression.
• Soulful Personality: This is your character, temperament, and how you relate emotionally and intellectually—what psychologists call the Big Five Traits: Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Openness to Experience.
• Spiritual Persona: Beyond charisma or intellect, some carry spiritual authority, maturity, or discernible peace. Paul was “known” in the spirit realm (Acts 19:15), whereas the sons of Sceva were not. Your spiritual presence reveals maturity, light, and authority—or lack thereof.

The "Imago Dei" in Full Dimension

To be made in God’s image is not merely about having a soul or moral conscience—it is to exist in a threefold design that reflects the relational, intelligent, and personal nature of the triune God. Each part of our being can be sanctified, healed, and aligned under the lordship of Christ. Likewise, each part can also fall into disrepair, deception, or bondage.

Understanding how God created us not only helps us live in wholeness but also gives us the tools to disciple others holistically.

The body must be stewarded, the soul renewed, and the spirit awakened. Only then do we reflect God’s image in fullness—physically, relationally, and spiritually.

As we keep obeying the Holy Spirit and following His lead, we grow in our ability to hear His voice and know what’s right and wrong.

Hebrews 5:14 says,

“But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

Spiritual maturity comes from practice—by actually living it out, your spiritual senses get sharper.

It’s kind of like training your body in the gym, but this time it’s your heart and spirit learning to recognize what’s from God and what’s not.

1 Thessalonians 4:3–4 adds,

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification… that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honour.”

That means God wants us to learn how to manage our whole selves—body, soul, and spirit—in a way that honours Him. It’s not just about avoiding obvious sins, but about becoming whole and spiritually healthy.

What I’ve learned is that my spirit and my mind don’t always work the same way. My spirit often picks up on something small but powerful—what I’d call a spiritual impression or God-moment. It might be a sentence, a picture in my mind, or a sudden deep understanding. It’s short, but I know it’s from God because it feels clear, full of wisdom, fresh, and weighty—like it sticks to your soul. I’ll often sit with that moment for days, thinking it over, and it keeps giving me deeper insight.

On the other hand, my mind loves to dig, explore, read, and connect the dots. It wants to figure everything out and put it into a system or idea. That’s great—God gave us minds to think deeply. But our minds can also be limited. They rely on what we know, what we remember, and how we’ve been taught. Our spirit, though, can connect directly with God’s truth in ways that go beyond logic—and often feel more like deep knowing than just understanding.

The goal is not to separate your mind and spirit, but to get them working together. The spirit receives truth from God; the mind helps us understand it and live it out.

When the spirit leads, the mind gets renewed, and even our physical bodies begin to follow in step.

That’s what it means to live from the inside out—led by the Spirit of God, growing in maturity, and becoming more like Jesus in every part of who you are.

Life in The Spirit

Romans 8:1–5 gives us a powerful picture of two completely different paths we can walk in life. It’s like the difference between gravity and helium.

The law of sin and death is like gravity—it pulls us down, keeps us stuck, and leads to destruction. But the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus is like helium—it lifts us, sets us free, and leads us into true life.

Paul is showing us that it’s not about trying harder, but about which law you’re living under. The Spirit lifts; the flesh pulls down.

Here’s the key: you can’t just switch off your body, silence your soul, or turn off your spirit. You’re always all three—body, soul, and spirit.

The real question is: Where’s your focus? What are you setting your mind on? Verse 5 says,

 “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”

So walking in the Spirit doesn’t mean escaping real life—it means filling your life with the things of the Spirit. That renews your mind and sets your whole being on a different path.

What are the things of the Spirit? It’s testifying about Jesus. It’s prayer—talking and listening to God. It’s using the gifts of the Spirit. It’s preaching and teaching truth. It’s worship and soaking in God’s presence. It’s meditating on Scripture. It’s witnessing to others, defending what’s true, correcting and building up with love and grace. And all of this should flow from the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23).

You don’t need to disconnect from yourself—you just need to redirect your focus.

The more you’re “busy” with the Spirit, the more your soul and body will come into alignment with the life and freedom Jesus gave you. That’s how you live fully—spirit, soul, and body—led from the inside out.

There is a Divine Order of Rank

There is a divine order built into all of creation—a structure of alignment and authority that brings peace, purpose, and power. Just as there is order within the Godhead, there is meant to be order within us as human beings made in God’s image.

In the Trinity, we see perfect unity, but also perfect submission. The Son submits to the Father (John 5:19, “The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do…”), and the Holy Spirit glorifies and reveals the Son(John 16:13–14). There is no competition or inferiority in this relationship—just joyful, purposeful cooperation.

Likewise, in us, there is a God-designed order: our body must submit to the soul, and the soul must submit to the spirit, which in turn is submitted to the Holy Spirit. When this order is reversed—when the body drives our choices, or when the soul (our emotions, will, or intellect) overrides the spirit—we experience chaos, confusion, and spiritual weakness.

The Apostle Paul speaks of this alignment in several places. In 1 Corinthians 9:27 (NKJV) he writes, 

“But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection…”

—not to punish it, but to train it to serve a higher purpose. Romans 12:1–2 tells us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, and to renew our minds so we can discern God’s will. This shows us that the soul (mind, will, emotions) must be renewed by the Spirit, and that our body must become an obedient servant, not a rebellious master.

This is not about becoming hyper-spiritual or rejecting the body or soul. It’s about bringing every part of who we are into the right order, where each part serves its God-intended role. The spirit, when reborn in Christ, receives truth and direction from the Holy Spirit. The soul interprets and acts on that truth through thoughts, emotions, and choices. The body then carries out those choices in action.

When the spirit leads, and the soul agrees, and the body follows, we live in wholeness and power.

But when the body or soul leads, we are pulled by cravings, emotions, or worldly pressures—and we drift from God’s design.

Training your being in this divine order is part of your daily discipleship. It takes awareness, practice, and surrender—but it leads to a life of peace, strength, and purpose. As Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless…”