by Allan McGregor

Created on: March 04, 2009

There exists today a common teaching that seems to have emerged in recent years that I find quite nonsensical. Crossing every denominational boundary, it is not only widespread but taught by some of the Church's most respected and reputable ministers: Christian leaders thoroughly immersed in the Word who have nevertheless embraced so flawed a doctrine.

Just what is this error, and what makes it so heinous?

Simply this: "I am a spirit; I have a soul, and I live in a body."

Endlessly repeated, it is probably so familiar by now that you may be wondering what I'm on about. However, while it may sound good it has no scriptural basis, but undermines what truth the Bible does reveal; and actually insults God and belittles the sacrifice of Jesus Christ: A pretty serious catalogue of injury to ascribe to any single teaching that would normally qualify as a heresy.

So am I being too harsh? Read on and see.

The watchword for any doctrine or dogma is always: 'If in doubt, check it out.'

Hence Paul's admonition:

'Test all things; hold fast that which is good.' (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

And Luke's endorsement of the Bereans as: 'more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.' (Acts 17:11)

But doesn't the Bible teach that I we are indeed a spirit; have a soul, and live in a body.

No, it doesn't. What it does say (in 1 Thessalonians 5:23) is something quite different.

'And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.'

Aha! So the Bible does say man is 'spirit and soul and body'.

Indeed it does! But that is not the false teaching, which wrongly describes the relationship between the three.

The Bible nowhere speaks of our being a spirit, having a soul and living in a body. Rather, God's Holy Spirit simple tells us every human being is a spirit, soul and body.

The counterfeit is subtle and teaches something quite different: namely, that our spirit is superior to our soul which, in turn, is superior to our body. And that is not God's perspective.

The Bible teaches from the outset that man is a tripartite being or trinity.

In Genesis 1:26 God himself declares '"Let us make man in our image, after our likeness"'

Christians often cite the plural usage: 'Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness' as evidence of the Divine Trinity, yet miss its oblique implication of man's

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