The concept of “spirit” is found throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. At its essence, spirit refers to the non-physical part of a person that connects with God. Understanding the biblical meaning of spirit is important for spiritual growth and interpreting many passages of Scripture. This article will provide an overview of how spirit is understood in the Bible.
The Nature of Spirit
The Bible makes clear that human beings have both a physical body and a non-physical spirit. When God created the first man, Adam, the Bible says “The Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature” (Genesis 2:7). This verse indicates there are two aspects to a person – the physical body from the dust and the non-physical “breath of life” given by God.
The spirit is the immaterial part that connects with God. Jesus distinguished between the physical and spiritual realms when he said “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all” (John 6:63). Your physical body will eventually die, but your spirit lives on. In fact, Ecclesiastes 12:7 says when you die, your spirit returns to God: “The dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.”
Some key aspects of the human spirit according to Scripture include:
- The spirit gives life to the body (Genesis 2:7, James 2:26)
- The spirit can know and commune with God (Romans 8:16, 1 Corinthians 2:10-11)
- The spirit is the inner self or heart (Psalm 51:10, Mark 12:30)
- The spirit can be troubled, refreshed, renewed (2 Corinthians 7:1, 2 Corinthians 4:16)
Your spirit is the source of your thoughts, beliefs, emotions, dreams, intuition, and connection with God. It is the inner you.
The Spirit of God
In addition to the human spirit, the Bible also talks about the Spirit of God. Just as your spirit is the non-physical part of you that connects with God, the Spirit of God is the non-physical part of God Himself that connects with your spirit.
The Spirit of God (also called the Holy Spirit) appears throughout the Old Testament indwelling certain people for a specific purpose. For example, in the book of Judges it says, “The Spirit of the LORD was upon him” referring to Othniel, a leader sent to deliver Israel (Judges 3:10). The Spirit gave him power and wisdom.
However, Jesus brought a new promise – that God would send the Holy Spirit to indwell all believers permanently:
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:16-17)
The Bible presents the Holy Spirit as fully God, co-equal with God the Father and Jesus the Son. The Spirit has intellect (1 Corinthians 2:10-11), feelings (Ephesians 4:30), and will (1 Corinthians 12:11). The Holy Spirit is eternal (Hebrews 9:14), omnipresent (Psalm 139:7), and omniscient (1 Corinthians 2:10-11).
The Holy Spirit acts as Helper, Comforter, Counselor, and Advocate for believers. He convicts people of sin (John 16:8), guides into truth (John 16:13), assures of salvation (Romans 8:16), and empowers to live for God (Galatians 5:16). Through the Spirit, Christians experience new spiritual life, a close relationship with God, and spiritual gifts for ministry.
Contrast of Spirit and Flesh
Now that we have defined the human spirit and the Spirit of God, we can understand the contrast that Scripture often makes between “spirit” and “flesh.”
The term “flesh” refers to the physical, material part of a person – particularly their natural tendencies apart from God. Our fleshly nature is prone to sinful desires like lust, greed, pride, anger and laziness. “Flesh” can also refer to a perspective focused only on the physical world while ignoring spiritual realities.
In contrast, the “spirit” is the immaterial part in tune with God’s Spirit. Walking according to the spirit is associated with righteousness, peace, faithfulness, and self-control.
“For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other.” (Galatians 5:17)
All believers still struggle with their fleshly nature even after salvation. The process of sanctification involves putting to death the misdeeds of the body by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:13). Spiritual growth comes through walking by the Spirit rather than the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
Dead, Alive, and New Spirits
The Bible also discusses the spiritual states of unbelievers and believers. Unbelievers are considered “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). They are spiritually dead – meaning their spirit is totally disconnected from God rather than being alive to Him. Salvation brings spiritual resurrection as the Holy Spirit breathes new life into a dead spirit.
Christians also receive an entirely new spirit – the Holy Spirit dwelling in their inner being. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Through Christ we become partakers of the divine nature by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:4).
Fruit of the Spirit
As believers walk in step with the Spirit, His work is evidenced by the fruit produced in their lives. Galatians 5:22-23 describes the fruit of the Spirit:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
The qualities described here mark a Spirit-filled life. These virtues come not through human striving, but supernaturally through the work of God’s Spirit within His people.
The Spirit produces love that overflows to others, contagious joy, inner peace beyond circumstances, patience in trials, kindness to all people, goodness at the core, faithfulness to God’s Word, gentleness of heart, and self-control over sinful impulses. This fruit nourishes the overall health of the Body of Christ and honors God.
Gifts of the Spirit
In addition to fruit, the Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts to believers such as teaching, encouragement, generosity, leadership, mercy, and evangelism. These enable more effective ministry as the Church builds up each other and advances the Gospel.
The New Testament lists spiritual gifts in Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 27-30 and Ephesians 4:11. Each Christian receives one or more supernatural abilities through the Spirit. There are diversity and unity as the same Spirit gives varieties of gifts united under the same purpose of God’s glory.
| Gifts of the Holy Spirit |
|---|
| Prophecy |
| Serving |
| Teaching |
| Encouraging |
| Giving |
| Leadership |
| Mercy |
When believers minister in spiritual gifts, they operate in the power of the Holy Spirit. Giftedness provides concrete ways for the Spirit to work through each part of the Body.
Led by the Spirit
In addition to fruit and gifts, the Holy Spirit works in believers by leading them. Romans 8:14 states, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” The Spirit guides believers as they seek to follow Him.
The Bible encourages Christians to walk in step with the Spirit daily. Galatians 5:25 says, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” This includes:
- Following His promptings and conviction of sin
- Studying Scripture to renew our minds
- Praying to align our hearts with God’s will
- Depending on the Spirit’s power to resist sin and serve others
- Yielding moment by moment to His control rather than our fleshly nature
By keeping in step with the Spirit, He leads us into greater Christlikeness and bears more spiritual fruit through us.
Blasphemy Against the Spirit
The Bible gives a serious warning about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” (Mark 3:29).
This passage refers to the Pharisees accusing Jesus of being possessed by an evil spirit when His miraculous works were by the power of the Holy Spirit. Attributing the Spirit’s work to evil is dangerously close to rejecting the Spirit entirely. It demonstrates a sinful hardness of heart and can lead to a state where someone is unable to repent.
However, many other sins believers commit can be forgiven (Matthew 12:31). Even a lack of understanding about the Spirit can be remedied if the heart remains receptive. Blasphemy against the Spirit may be an attitude of defiant rejection more than any isolated incident.
Baptism with the Spirit
The baptism with the Holy Spirit is mentioned specifically in all four Gospels and the book of Acts. John the Baptist said, “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me … will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11). Jesus later promised His disciples, “you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:5).
On the day of Pentecost, the disciples waited in Jerusalem as Jesus instructed and “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4). Peter confirmed this as the baptism prophesied by John. The promised Spirit came in power, anointing the first believers and emboldening them as messengers of the Gospel.
There are differing beliefs on the baptism of the Holy Spirit and whether it is a separate experience from receiving the Spirit at salvation. But all Christians agree that being filled by the Spirit and walking in His power and guidance daily is essential.
Conclusion
The concept of spirit – both the inner person and God’s Spirit – runs richly throughout Scripture. Understanding spirit biblical helps us comprehend God’s design for humanity and spiritual rebirth. By the Holy Spirit, we can experience intimate relationship with God, be conformed to Christ, produce spiritual fruit, utilize gifts to serve others, and fulfill our eternal purpose bringing glory to God. Walking in step with the Spirit yields an abundant Christian life and empowered Kingdom impact.
