We need to consider man’s created anatomy. The imparted spirit-breath of God originally animated Adam in his creation, producing his individual “living soul.”

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath (Heb., ruach spirit) of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7)

There is also a “spirit of man” in all men which is to correspond to “the Spirit of God,” and to be the perfect receptacle to later receive the eternal resurrected “Spirit of life in Christ Jesus,” as Paul wrote of here concerning believers.

“But ye (brethren) are not in the flesh, but in (union with) the Spirit, if so be that the ‘Spirit of God’ dwell IN YOU. Now if any man have not the ‘Spirit of Christ,’ he is none of his. ¹⁰ And if ‘Christ be IN YOU,’ the body is dead because of sin; but the ‘Spirit is life” because of righteousness. ¹¹ But if the ‘Spirit of him’ (God the Father) that raised up Jesus from the dead ‘dwell IN YOU,’ he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies (in the resurrection) by His Spirit That Dwelleth IN YOU.” (Romans 8:9-11)

The “spirit of man” is as man’s ‘receiver’ in all men. It enables fallen men to receive the light of the Lord that searches out and convicts a man’s heart’s conscience of his need for a new beginning. This hope is only possible because of Jesus and His cross, regardless of his darkened heart condition.

Oh, the wisdom and foresight of God as seen in His creation and by His work within man. We should have hope in God’s work of renewing and repurposing our deceitful, sin-corrupted, hearts.

“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2 Cor 4:4)

The Gospel of Christ’s light shines from the believer’s spirit into their soul’s mind, emotion, and will for the repurposing the believers heart.

“The spirit of man is the candle (oil lamp) of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly (the soul).” (Proverbs 20:27)

Here above, the word “candle,” translated from the Hebrew word ‘ner’ actually means “lamp,” as an “oil lamp” of that day. Thus, man’s human “spirit” is as an “oil lamp” that is able to receive “the oil of the Spirit (God’s Spirit)” (Isa. 61:1). that burns within men as the “light of the Lord” (Isa. 2:5) shining upon men to convict them… and turn their hearts to Him.

Know that the heart consists of … man’s ‘soul’ in the presence of the Lord’s Spirit shining as a truth revealing light… which searches out and convicts the heart of a man. Thereby, a man’s heart is faced with a heartfelt choice … to believe and respond to that conviction of the Lord … or reject it.

Moving on, now considered how King David, who committed adultery with Bathsheba and then arranged the death of her husband, is referred to by the Lord as “a man after mine own heart” (Acts 13:22, 1Sam. 13:14). The key word here is “heart.” The Lord is not so much concerned about our performance as He is about our “heart.” Read Rom. 4:7-8 to note that David’s sins were forgiven and that God does not “impute (count)” the sins of His believers.

We need to know we’re delivered from ‘the law,’ which is contrary to us God’s plan for us during today’s “the dispensation of the ‘grace’ of God.” We see here how Jesus by His cross totally removed the external ‘law’ from burdening us.

“(Jesus Christ died on the cross…) Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” (Colossians 2:14)

Paul wrote, “… ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Rom. 6:14). There is a great difference between living “under ‘the law’” and living “under grace.” ‘Law’ and ‘grace’ are two contrary paradigms.

1. The law demands but it’s powerless to help us achieve righteous living… due to “Sin in the (our) flesh.”

“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:” (Romans 8:3) We know that our secular laws are to protect us, but these laws are not able to change us.

2. The Grace of Christ’s Cross paid for All our sins and freed us from the dominion of “Sin in the flesh” (Rom. 6:6-7).

3. Then Grace works to ‘repurpose our heart,’ to choose the righteous thing over the other.

4. In time we recognize God’s grace and love seen in the offering of Christ’s Cross for us; this motivates our heart to ‘choose’ righteousness. But, be aware that any remnant of ‘law’ prevents righteous living by empowering “Sin in the flesh.” “… the strength (provoking source) of Sin is the Law” (1Cor 15:56)

Pure Grace must be received. We must let go of reliance upon law-keeping.

“Christ is become of no effect (no benefit) unto you, whosoever of you (thinks you) are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” (Gal. 5:4)

“if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace…” (Rom. 11:6)

“… sin exercises its power [upon the soul] through the Law.” (1 Corinthians 15:56b (AMP)

But… “the love of Christ constraineth (urges and impels) us…” (2 Corinthians 5:14a), winning our allegiance.