Mankind is spiritually dead before salvation, walking according to the world, the flesh, and the influence of Satan. Though an unsaved person may function normally in earthly life, he remains unable to receive or understand the things of God because they must be spiritually discerned. Salvation is therefore not the result of human effort or merit, but the mercy and grace of God through Jesus Christ, who raises the believer from spiritual death and seats him in a new position before God the Father.

Pastor John distinguishes between the body, soul, and spirit. The physical body is described as the vehicle through which a person operates on earth. The soul is the real person, possessing mind, will, emotions, desires, and free choice. The spirit is the part of man designed to commune with God. Before the new birth, the spirit is dead, leaving the soul vulnerable to sin and Satanic influence. After salvation, the spirit is made alive and becomes capable of receiving direction, conviction, revelation, and witness from the Holy Spirit.

The soul remains affected by the sinful nature even after salvation. Jesus taught that defilement comes from within, not merely from external actions or physical contact. The heart is a biblical term for the inner man, or soul. The physical heart does not contain the soul; it is just a biological pump and that a person’s identity does not change through a heart transplant. The problem is not physical anatomy, but the fallen nature inherited from Adam.

The born-again spirit is the “candle of the LORD,” able to search the inward parts of man. Through the Holy Spirit, Christians can understand spiritual truth and receive the mind of Christ. This requires daily cooperation as each believer must choose to pray, read the Bible, and present his body as a living sacrifice. The Holy Spirit will not override the believer’s will because the soul must willingly yield to God.

Every person experiences a battle between the desire to obey God and the pull of sin. Victory does not come by pretending the struggle is absent, but by recognizing that sin does not have to rule. Each person can choose not to sin by yielding to the Holy Spirit and allowing the born-again spirit to govern the soul and body.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the source of power for Christians. Jesus knew we would face opposition from Lucifer, fallen angels, and evil spirits, so He commanded His disciples to wait for the promise of God the Father. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is an empowering experience that strengthens the believer’s spirit, makes it easier to walk in obedience, and enables resistance against the flesh.

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