Spirit, Soul and Body — the Inner and Outer Man

Most Christians do not appreciate that they have their own personal Spirit which is contained within their physical Body termed the Outer Man. The Outer Man also contains their Inner Man that the scriptures refer to as the Soul.

The presence of both the human Spirit within the Soul is termed the “Inward Man” as shown in the scripture verse below. It is this invisible spiritual component of “mankind” that departs the body when death occurs—to spend the remainder of eternity elsewhere.

"...but though our OUTWARD [physical body] MAN perish [as it ages], yet the INWARD [spiritual] MAN is renewed day by day [by feeding on the word of God—Hebrews 5:12-14].”  (2 Corinthians 4:16)

This article is the first one in a series that aims to help Christians understand more about their spiritual ‘organs’ that our Creator has given us—and from this, obtain a better understanding as to how the spirit world around us functions.

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

This article covers the following topics:

• God has provided our ‘Inner Man‘ who comes with spiritual ‘organs’;
• God’s creation of Adam – How mankind was first formed;
• The Location of mankind’s spiritual ‘organs’ within the Inner Man;
• About the Spirit of Man within the Inner Man;
• About the Soul of the Inner Man;
• The Soul resides in the blood of the Outer Man.

Also, you can view a Bible study presentation of this article below.

God has provided our ‘Inner Man’ with spiritual ‘organs’

Most Christians today have failed to realize that within their body they have their own personal “Soul“.

Both the Spirit and the SOUL of their ‘Inner Man‘ live on eternally after their “Outward Man” dies.  Some prefer to believe that the human Spirit and Soul are the same thing — but scripture proves this view incorrect. 

"...and I pray God your whole SPIRIT and SOUL and BODY be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."  (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

Christians should understand that God has placed our own unique “Spirit’ and “Soul” within us. This occurred prior to our birth. Unless these facts are appreciated, it becomes impossible to comprehend anything meaningful about the spiritual aspect of human life. 

Knowing this helps Christians to understand why we have been placed here on the Earth. It also assists to know how God wants us to relate to Him spiritually. 

"...the true worshippers shall worship the Father in SPIRIT and IN TRUTH: for the Father seeketh such to worship him."  (John 4:23)

God’s purpose for Life and Death

Throughout one’s lifetime on the Earth, our eternal ‘Spirit and Soul‘ are constrained within our mortal bodies (Luke 24:39). This means that our ‘Outer Man‘ (or physical body) is limited to the dimension of time.  Once our physical body dies, our ‘Inner Man‘ is released back into the ‘spirit world’. It also experiences the timelessness of eternity from which it came prior to our birth. 

This process of birth followed by death is what God (our Creator) has foreordained for everyone born upon the Earth.  This process enables everyone to choose throughout their lifetime where they want to spend eternity.

"And as it is appointed unto men [i.e. all mankind] ONCE TO DIE, but after this THE JUDGMENT:"  (Hebrews 9:27)

The Bible says that the Inner Man of individuals depart to either Heaven (with our Creator) or Hell – with God’s tormentors (Matthew 18:32-35).  In other words, God gives all of humanity ONE lifetime in which to choose their eternal ‘destination’.

God’s creation of Adam – How mankind was first formed

The Bible reveals Adam’s “Soul” originated from the (breath of the Holy Spirit – Genesis 2:7). The “breath” then amalgamated with the “dust” of the Earth to produce the “Living Soul”. 

When this event first occurred, it produced the man Adam, thereby God creating the FIRST ‘Living Soul‘.

Sometime later (after that 6th day) God created Eve from Adam’s rib (Gen 2:21-22). 

God created Eve (Adam’s wife) as someone to assist Adam undertake God’s work in the Garden — Genesis 2:19-25.  The Bible states that she is “the mother” of all ‘Souls’ born upon the Earth – Genesis 3:20. 

Every “Living Soul” exists within their Inner Man for eternity. This is because as NOTHING that is spiritual can die (2 Cor 4:18). 

Our personal ‘Spirit‘ originally came from God in eternity past. The Bible also says that God has foreknown each of us prior to our birth:

"BEFORE I formed thee in the belly I KNEW THEE; and BEFORE thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”  (Jeremiah 1:5)

The Location of mankind’s spiritual ‘organs’ within the Inner Man

The illustration below indicates the location of both our physical and spiritual organs contained within our “Outer Man” and “Inner Man“.

Shown on the left-side of the illustration (above) is the ‘Outer Man’s‘ physical body. On the right-side is the “Inward Man” or “ghost” (Mark 15:37-39) within each of us. If viewed in the spiritual realm, the Soul would appear with exactly the same physical features as the man pictured. If he was a “son of God” (1 John 3:1) he would be clothed in the Garments of Salvation (Isaiah 61:10). On the contrary, if he died a sinner, he might probably appear naked or clothed in “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6).

About the Spirit of Man within the Inner Man

The Bible states that God has placed our own personal ‘Spirit’ within us; and He did this when we were in our mother’s womb:

"...the Lord...which formeth the SPIRIT OF MAN within him..."  (Zechariah 12:1)

"The SPIRIT OF MAN is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly."  (Proverbs 20:27)

Scripture also says it is our personal ‘Spirit’ within us that gives us “understanding” — about God:

"But there is a SPIRIT IN MAN: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding."  (Job 32:8)

The Bible further indicates that our (personal) Spirit is located in the ‘belly’ region of our body—under our physical heart:

"...the spirit within me constraineth [or forces] me, behold my BELLY is as [sparkling] wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles. I will speak [or prophesy] that I may be refreshed [from God]..."   (Job 32:18-20)

For anyone who has prophesied out aloud, the experience is like having words inside you like frothy bubbles. As they cannot be contained, they must be released…like a soda bottle that has been shaken and then opened!

Luke 3:23-38 commences with the ancestry of Jesus Christ through the line of His step-father Joseph to Adam. This family tree extract in the verse below proves that Adam was the first “son of God” to walk on the Earth:

 Jesus Christ (verse 23) “...which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.”  (Luke 3:38)

“And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.”  (1 Cor 15:45)

The Soul resides in the blood of the Outer Man

The Bible refers to our physical body as our ‘Outer-Man‘. However within it there exists an ‘Inner-Man‘ who is the real individual—you and me.  He (not ‘she’) never sleeps.

Our ‘Outer-Man’ is merely a ‘biological container’ – or “vessel”. Our physical body enables our ‘Inner-Man‘ to move about upon the surface of the Earth. This behaviour could be associated to a man wearing a space suit while walking in space.

Therefore, the Bible confirms that out “Outer Man” is simply a “vessel” to accommodate our “Inner man“.

“That every one of you should know HOW TO POSSESS HIS VESSEL in sanctification and honour.”  (1 Thes. 4:4)

The Bible states that man’s ‘soul’ resides within the blood of our body: 

"For the life of the flesh is in the blood...for it is THE [sinless] BLOOD [of an innocent substitute victim] that maketh an atonement for the [sins of the sinner’s] soul."  (Lev 17:11)      

Referring to Jesus, the prophet Isaiah said:

"...because He hath POURED out HIS SOUL [meaning, His sinless blood, His life] unto death..."    (Isaiah 53:12)

“While we look not at the things which are seen [in our physical world], but at the things which are NOT SEEN: for THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN are TEMPORAL; but THE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT SEEN ARE ETERNAL.”  (2 Cor 4:18)

Summary

The foregoing scriptures reveal the following facts:

• Our “soul” is what gives “life” to the “body“;
• The “soul” resides in the “blood of the body“;
• A individual’s Soul is recognizable in the Spirit World immediately after death. This is because the blood in our veins covers every portion of our body. In this claim, Lazarus (the beggar) was instantly recognizable to the Rich Man in Hell (Luke 16:19-31). This meant that they saw each other spirit-to-spirit;
• The human soul would appear in the spirit world as being transparent, possibly as a ghost might appear.
• A disembodied ‘living soul‘ no longer has a ‘body‘ of flesh and blood (or “tabernacle”) in which to dwell.

A disembodied “soul” cannot remain on the Earth as a ‘ghost’. Some writers might fantasise about about such a phenomenon; however souls at death are sent by the angels to either Heaven or Hell (Luke 16:22).  This is where each soul awaits their Judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10).

The “righteous” go to Heaven who live in a “mansion” to await the Judgment for Rewards:

"In my Father's house are MANY MANSIONS: if it were not so, I would have told you. I [Jesus] go to prepare a place [in your mansion] for you."  (John 14:2)

The “wicked” or any “unrighteous Christian sinners” go immediately to Hell to await the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11). This is the place where their “books” that recorded every idle word they spoke (Matthew 12:36) will be opened, and judgment pronounced.

"And I saw a great white throne, and him [Jesus] that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  12 And I saw the dead [resurrected in their immortal bodies from Hell], small and great, stand before God; and the books [that recorded every one of their sins] were opened: and another [little] book [that records the names of the "righteous"] was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead [sinners] were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged [by ] every man according to their works.  14 And death and hell were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second [or eternal] death.  15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the Lake of Fire."  (Revelation 20:11-15)

"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"  (Matt 16:26)

Invitation

I encourage you to share this article with your pastor and your trusted church members. This is to determine for yourself whether the claims in this article are true or not.

On the contrary, if this article has caused you any concern about your Christian faith, feel free to post a comment or question in the Comments box below. If you prefer to ask me a private question, feel free to contact me using my website’s Contact form.

Other articles in this ‘Spirit, Soul and Body‘ series are:

• The Inner and Outer Man (this article)
• Our ‘Spirit’
• The MIND
• The HEART
• Evil Spirits
• Communicating with God