There are many tools to help us understand Scripture; one of them is to take note of repetition. During our small group meet studying Proverbs 3, we observed that heart was repeated 3x.1 Why is the heart important? The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?2 So we are instructed, Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.3 The NIV uses the term wellspring. Which is defined as a source of continual supply.4 Another tool is the 1st mention to understand context. The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. It seems the heart and the mind (the realm of thoughts) are used interchangeably. Yet, other Scripture distinguish them explicitly—serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,5
One of the concerns raised was about conflict regarding an issue which was never an issue prior to the wedding. This comes as no surprise. It is written, Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles . . .6 Isn’t this verse a contradiction with what Jesus promised, Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled . . .7?
The promises may best be understood as partial, progressive, and conditional. And know the sanctifying work of the Spirit on our spirit, soul, and body.8 The body through our 5 senses gives us world-consciousness. The soul gives us self-consciousness through our mind (imagination, memory, reason), emotions, and will. The spirit is our heart, our conscience; it gives us God-consciousness.
Apart from the redemptive work of Jesus, we were dead.9 Our body was controlled by the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life.10 As our spirit was dead, the soul and body had no conflict with each other. But at the moment that we believe in Jesus, changes begin to occur. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life . . .11 But God being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together in Christ—by grace you have been save.12 At that moment our spirit is brought to life, and the Spirit indwells our heart. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes . . . you shall be my people, and I will be your God.13
Now, the conflict arises. But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 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, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.14 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh which wage war against your soul.15
God sanctifies us, 1st, by taking possession of our spirit through regeneration.16 2nd, by spreading himself as the life-giving Spirit from our spirit into our soul to saturate and transform our soul.17 Lastly, by enlivening our mortal body through our soul and transforming our body by His life power.18 When the soul subjects itself to the Spirit, so does the body. Then our whole being is in agreement (integrated). Only then do we experience the promised “shalom” or peace.19
Notes:
1. Proverbs 3:1,3,5
2. Jeremiah 17:9
3. Proverbs 4:23
4. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wellspring
5. Deuteronomy 10:12
6. 1 Corinthians 7:28b
7. John 14:27
8. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
9. Ephesians 2:1-3
10. 1 John 2:15-17
11. John 3:36
12. Ephesians 2:4-5
13. Ezekiel 36:25-28
14. Galatians 5:16-17
15. 1 Peter 2:11
16. John 3:5-8; Ezekiel 36:25-28
17. 2 Corinthians 3:12-18; Romans 12:1-2
18. Romans 8:11,13; Philippians 3:21
19. John 14:27; 16:33
