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God formed our bodies from the earth so we can relate to the physical world. He gave us a human spirit so we can relate to Him. We became a living soul so we can know and relate to the visible, physical world, and the invisible, spiritual world.
Three aspects of man using the tree illustration:
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The roots = our spirit = our being, personhood; our inner man.
Man is a spiritual being.
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Romans 8:16.
The spirit was made to receive life from God. The spirit is our means of knowing and responding to God and is our vehicle of worship. The spirit gives man God-consciousness. Our spirit is eternal.
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
1 Corinthians 2:14
Also, the spirit is the essence of man's life. For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. James 2:26
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The trunk = our soul = our personality. Our mind, will and emotions.
The soul gives us our unique personality. It expresses our thoughts, feelings, and choices. It is our means of relating to others.
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The leaves = our body = doing behavior.
Our body is the most visible and changing aspect of who we are. It is the means of "doing" and of relating to the world through our five senses.
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© 1973, 1998, 1999 Scope Ministries International, Inc.
Jim Craddock, Founder and President Emeritus
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