The preceding chapters have directed our attention to the word of God as the foundation for faith. Taking that a step further, the need to accept the wholeness of the scriptures was stressed, and the faith was described as something which one needs to adhere to out of love and respect for God. The love and respect thus shown, grows out of, and deepens, one’s appreciation for God’s blessings and provisions. While there is a need to preserve the integrity of the scriptures there is also a need to embrace them in one’s inner self. The struggle to be spiritually pleasing to God is a struggle that is waged internally and involves the whole of our being.
The Bible uses several terms that form a picture of the whole person in relationship to God and His commands. These terms are the heart, soul, or spirit, and mind. Examining the usage of these terms in the scriptures allows us to see how an individual’s mind, emotions and behavior describe the sum and quality of our spiritual practice. While God’s conditions for obedience have changed through the ages for His people the common element is the need to bring all aspects of our lives in accordance with His will. In this sense the faithful have all been faced with the same challenges and demands while here on Earth.
Two ways of thinking are contrasted in the scriptures; that of the worldly mind which forgets God, and the spiritual mind which seeks to preserve the knowledge of God through faithful practice. While these terms seem to be exclusive of one another there is an interrelatedness between them that forms a comprehensive description of what one needs to become in relation to God. The worldly and spiritual minds not only demonstrate two ways of thinking but also two ways of living. Both represent an internal struggle to come to terms with our existence as humans and come to peace with ourselves and the world in which we live. The difference between the two is seen not only in the way in which life is actually lived but also in the final outcome. The spiritual mind leads one to God and salvation while the worldly mind will cause one to be eternally lost.
In the beginning sin was introduced through the intrusion of Satan intoGod’s creation and the ability of humans to think and act on their own. God in His mercy, has provided a way in which one may do as Christ did, and that is to overcome the world. In order to do this we must train our minds, or hearts, to think, act and do those things which are acceptable to God. The problems and difficulties that arise in the attempt to do this are evident in the scriptures as we shall see in a later chapter.
It is the whole person that must be trained spiritually. The soul is part of our existence and while on earth it is inseparable from the mind (the thinking, reasoning aspect of existence), the emotions (the feeling aspect of humans), and our behavior (which grows out of what we think and feel is right or wrong). Through the Bible God has provided a way for us to know what is pleasing and acceptable to Him and what is not. By following His commands one may become spiritually acceptable and thus the soul will be saved.
While it has taken thousands of years for mankind to probe the mysteries of the mind and how humans work, the scriptures revealed a depth of understanding about the mind and our inner workings long ago. The mind, or heart, represents the hidden or most intimate aspect of humans. This is brought out in a number of passages both in the Old and the New Testaments.
David demonstrates that the heart, or mind, is represented by one’s inner voice, characteristic of our hidden selves. “I remembered God and was troubled: I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.” (Psalm 77.3-6). David writes of the ability to “commune” with his heart. He speaks of being troubled and in the passage cited here speaks of the ability to turn one’s attention on the self and one’s activities. In one brief passage David sums up some of the most complex workings of the inner man which remains hidden from all but the self and God.
David also speaks of the ability of the heart, or mind, representing the inner self, to hold secrets. “If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; shall not God search this out? For he knoweth the secrets of the heart.” (Psalm 44.20-21). Paul also speaks of the secret aspect of the mind as he writes, “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?” (1 Corinthians 2.11). The ability to remain unknown to others is a characteristic of human identity. The hidden thoughts are private, known only to the individual and God.
The need for this inner aspect to be pleasing to God, as much as the outward aspect of mankind, is seen in the scriptures as well. “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19.14). God is able to know the thoughts of humans (1 Corinthians 3.20) and nothing is secret from Him. Christ also demonstrated the ability to know the thoughts of others during His stay on Earth (Matthew 9.4, 12.25, Luke 5.22, 6.8, 11.17, 24.38).
In contrast to the mind of the righteous who strive to please God are the hearts of those who do not regard the Lord. David writes, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” (Psalm 66.18). The wicked are described by the secretive nature of their thinking which David also speaks of. “Hide me from the counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: that they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not. They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, who shall see them? They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart is deep.” (Psalm 64.2-6).
Christ spoke of the hearts of those who do evil as he described their inner selves as well. “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man.” (Matthew 15.20-21). Quoting Isaiah, Christ stated, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” (Matthew 15.8, Isaiah 29.13).
The inner self, or heart, is represented by the aspect of decision making ability as well. The choices we make shape our emotions and behavior forming a bridge between what we fill our minds with and what we do. Israel was characterized as a nation that had decided to turn away from God. Speaking of God and the nation the Psalmist writes, “For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: that the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments: and might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.” (Psalm 78.5-8).
In Paul’s address to the Colossians he focused on the role of the mind as the seat of the decision making process. Paul notes that it is in the mind that mankind is alienated from God. “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister...” (Colossians 1.21-23).
In this passage Paul speaks of the separation that existed between the Colossians and God before they obeyed the gospel. His encouragement for them to abide in the faith places emphasis on the role of the mind and the decision making process in their continued faithfulness. Only by continuing in the faith, preserving their minds in spiritual paths, would they be saved. This passage also speaks of the behavior of the Colossians during the time that they were alienated from God separated by “wicked works” that emanated from their worldly minds.
Paul makes a contrast between the wisdom of the world and the spiritual wisdom that comes from God. Paul warns, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Colossians 2.8). Paul acknowledges that there is a wisdom of the world, but, as he stated in his letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 1.25-28), this wisdom of the world will not make one acceptable to God.
Paul goes on to note that the transformation of the Christian is internal. Speaking of the traits that they needed to put aside, Paul stated that the Colossians needed to “...put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” (Colossians 3.10). Further clarifying this, Paul states, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom...” (Colossians 3.16) once more pointing to the state of the inner man.
Paul encourages the Christians at Philippi to allow God’s word to influence their minds as well. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men...” (Philippians 2.5-6). Paul addresses not only a decision to allow God’s word to rest in their hearts, or minds, but indicates the reason and result of this. In contrast to the Philippians, Paul described the decision of ancient humans to put the knowledge of God away and think in other ways when he states, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient...” (Romans 1.28).
The mind is the center of human ability to learn. We have the capability to deliberately change how we think and behave. In spiritual terms, the decision to follow God and His commands, is referred to as wisdom in the scriptures. “My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding.” (Proverbs 2.1-2). Spiritual learning requires one to remember God’s commands as well. Solomon writes, “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.” (Proverbs 4.20-22).
David indicates he made a decision to honor God’s commands in his heart. He states, “I delight to do thy will, O God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40.8). The righteous are described as being wise in spiritual terms as also stated in the Psalms, “The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh judgment. The law of God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.” (Psalm 37.30-31). Sin in the Bible, as recorded in the lives of those who failed to live in accordance with God’s law, came about partly through a failure to make the decision to keep God’s law in their heart leading to a failure to honor God as Lord.
The mind must be trained to distinguish good from evil. This is an extension of gaining the proper knowledge of what is pleasing to God by having it in the mind to begin with. The Hebrew writer rebukes Christians for their failure to do this. “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Hebrews 5.12-14). Peter tells us what the milk is when he states, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby...” (1 Peter 2.2).
In these passages we can conclude that when one becomes a Christian there is a need for growth. Growth comes from nourishing the inner self with God’s word which is the food of the soul. Christ stated, “...It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4.4). Gaining spiritual knowledge feeds the soul. When this knowledge is retained it enables one to distinguish good from evil and makes one acceptable to God. It is the inner self, or mind, or soul, which is the aspect of mankind that is able to decide to pursue God’s word. When that is done there is spiritual growth resulting in spiritual wisdom making one pleasing to God. The reasoning aspect of mankind is able to acquire this knowledge which strengthens us mentally and emotionally to serve the Lord.
Training the mind influences our behavior which is the outward manifestation of our attitudes and way of thinking. While we grow we cultivate the desire to continue our inward development. That behavior stems from the mind or heart is demonstrated in the scriptures. Christ states, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” (Luke 6.45). In order to behave in a manner pleasing to God one must pursue spiritual growth which transforms our minds.
As alluded to above, our first priority has to be acquiring knowledge of God’s will. Solomon writes, “My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.” (Proverbs 7.1-3). This demands a willingness to accept and place God’s commands in the mind, or heart, meditating on them and remembering them. The writer of Proverbs states, “My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding...” (Proverbs 2.1-2).
Another behavior that marks the faithful is their willingness to examine their own actions in comparison to God’s will. Paul encourages Christians to, “Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves...” (2 Corinthians 13.5). As noted above, it is the word of God that teaches one to distinguish between good and evil. When one develops this ability, self examination provides opportunities to make changes that are needed in our lives. A failure to perform this results in sin and rejection by God.
Israel’s failure to retain and pursue God’s commands was a matter of the heart. Isaiah writes, “And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart?” (Isaiah 57.11). Hosea indicates that the behavior of the people was due to a lack of knowledge of God’s Law. He states, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” (Hosea 4.6). Christ defined how we show our love for God when he told His disciples, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14.15).
In these passages a link can be seen between the mind of man and behavior that comes out of that which is in the mind. To complete this picture, we find that the heart which is right with God is one whose emotions are acceptable as well. At the basis of desiring to please God is a reverence for Him that is described in a manner that combines the intellectual and emotional aspects of our nature. Solomon writes, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1.7). Fear in this context refers to respect for God as the creator of all things who has the power to save as well as destroy.
David states, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: His praise endureth for ever.” (Psalm 111.10). David was well aware of the ability of God to preserve him from his enemies and to redeem him as well. In the same Psalm David begins by praising God. “Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.” (Psalm 111.10). Some wish to dwell on the negative aspects of God’s judgment against those who did evil and many times fail to see that the purpose of the scriptures is to lead one closer to God and provide salvation. God is one to be respected, perhaps out of fearfulness in the beginning, but as one matures, out of love for the kindness God demonstrates as well.
Loving God is a matter of knowing Him. Love for God proceeds from an understanding of His commands and the reasons for them. One must approach God with a desire to do His will out of honesty. The writer of Hebrews states, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith...” (Hebrews 10.22). Christ stated that we need to, “...love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” (Matthew 22.37). Along with this is the definition of how one loves God, which is through keeping His commandments as noted above (John 14.15).
As one draws closer to God, through obedience to His commands, it is possible to develop a greater appreciation for the Lord and His law. Criticism of the scriptures sometimes arises from those who simply have not practiced what is taught in the Bible failing to understand what is actually being presented. Awareness of spiritual benefits from serving God will never come to those who exercise their will in opposition to Him or who follow a worldly way of life. As those of the ancient world who did not “like to retain God in their knowledge” (Romans 1.28) were rejected by God so we will be rejected if we do not hold to God out of love and respect.
Emotionally there are other benefits as well. Writing to the Colossians, Paul summarizes the result of a diligent pursuit of God. “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” (Colossians 3.15). Paul states that a decision must be made to dwell on the goodness of God. When one practices this, the contentment which results is in knowing that one is at peace with the creator. Writing to the Philippians, Paul states, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” (Philippians 4.8-9).
While much has been stated about the benefits of positive thinking, Paul places this in the realm of the spiritual. In one’s relationship to God there is much to be happy about. God’s blessings, the peace that one may enjoy with God and the eternal benefits of serving the Lord are enormous. Emotionally one will remain faithful to God if these things are appreciated. Paul states, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8.38-39).
The soul is representative of the whole of man and will reap the consequences of our thoughts and actions whether positive or negative. The scriptures indicate that even though we have a mortal body subject to physical decay, we have an eternal nature as well, which is the soul. The eternal disposition of the soul is inseparable from the mind and behavior with the accompanying emotions that we display in this life. Paul brings this out when he writes, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5.10).
The soul represents that part of man made in the image of God (Genesis 2.7). Various passages in the scriptures demonstrate a complex connection between the mind, emotions, behavior and the soul. In other words, the spiritual aspect of human existence is inseparable from thinking, feeling and doing. These things, perceived as a whole, define the quality of our spiritual status with God.
The scriptures establish a connection between the soul and our ability to make decisions indicating a relationship to the physical body and reasoning. There are numerous examples throughout the scriptures demonstrating this. The characteristic ability to think, plan and make decisions, informs us that the soul is not some immaterial quantity that has no relationship with our physical nature. Statements regarding the possession of a knowledge of right and wrong clarify this connection. God told Moses, “If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them...” (Leviticus 4.2). This statement precedes instructions that are repeated a number of times in the book indicating that knowledge of God’s law was to be remembered. This is an attribute of the mind and the soul.
An aspect of the soul, relating to the inner being, or mind, is that of the inner voice or the ability to introspect. “How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?” (Psalm 35.2). In this Psalm David prays for deliverance from those who oppress him. Notice that his contemplation is inward, or of the soul, and involves the heart, synonymous with the mind.
The soul represents the ability to make decisions as well. “And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go awhoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.” (Leviticus 20.6). The decision to keep God’s commands are noted by David as he writes, “Thy testimonies are wonderful, therefore doth my soul keep them.” (Psalm 119.129). The most important decision one needs to make is to submit to the power and authority of God. David, speaking of the mercy God had shown him in the face of his enemies, contrasts his righteous attitudes and behavior with those who practiced evil. David writes, “But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.” (Psalm 35.13).
The soul also embodies the emotions as illustrated in the scriptures. God warns Israel that if they “despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments...” there would be negative consequences for their hatred and lists them. (Leviticus 26.15-33). The soul is at the center of emphasis in these warnings condemning a lack of love toward the one who had blessed them. David wrote that he would be joyful to the Lord in his soul (Psalm 35.9) and it was his soul that was troubled at times (Psalm 88.3). David speaks of the strength that comes from the Lord stating, “My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.” (Psalm 119.28).
King Hezekiah praises God speaking of the sorrow that overcame him when he was told he would die. “What shall I say? He hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul.” (Isaiah 38.15). God granted Hezekiah an additional fifteen years to live as a result of his prayer (Isaiah 38.5). Christ spoke of His soul being in sorrow contemplating his sacrifice. He told his disciples, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.” (Matthew 26.38).
The love one has for God is a quality of the soul that desires to be right with the Lord. Christ stated, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (Matthew 22.37). Isaiah speaks of the love one needs to have for God when he writes, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God, for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61.10). While this passage prophetically speaks of Christ it also tells of the joy the soul may have in keeping the faith of God and the rewards for that service.
The final aspect to be considered in this chapter linking the soul to the mind and feelings is that of our behavior. God gave the Hebrews a number of instructions about things that would cause their souls to be cut off from the people. These included touching unclean things (Leviticus 5.2), swearing (Leviticus 5.4) and profaning hallowed things (Leviticus 22.3,6) among others. God’s judgment will also come in a negative sense against those who do evil as Paul told the Romans. “Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also to the Gentile; but glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: for there is no respect of persons with God.” (Romans 2.9-11).
The sum of the discussion is that for one to be pleasing to God one must be completely devoted to the Lord. It is necessary to adopt an attitude of humility thus allowing oneself to submit to the will of God. His will has been revealed in the scriptures as a guide to understanding how to please Him. Paul states, “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: for in Him we live, and move, and have our being...” (Acts 17.24-28).
One must search for God, through His word with every fiber of one’s being. The thoughts, feelings and behavior must be placed under the control of God by adhering to His commands. The writer of Hebrews speaks of this spiritual training and compares it to a father and his children. “Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits and live?” (Hebrews 12.9). Allowing ourselves to be corrected by God, through obedience to His commands, trains the mind, influences the emotions and has it’s effect on the way in which we make decisions and act. By doing these things we may have the peace that comes from a relationship with God that is based on true faith and acceptable service.