You Are God’s House

“If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!””

(John 14:7, NLT)

Picking up what we learned in the previous chapters, let’s take a closer look at what God says about your soul. The Bible teaches that we are comprised of three parts—a spirit, a soul, and a body. Your spirit is made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26) and is the core of your being. Your soul is the seat of your mind, emotions, and will. And your body is what houses them.

Jesus taught that of all the riches on earth; your soul is worth more than it all. He warned that to lose one’s soul is the greatest tragedy a human being can experience:

“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”

(Matthew 16:26, NLT)

Jesus came to the earth to save our soul.

“For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.””

(Luke 19:10, NLT)

“When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

(John 19:30, NLT)

What was finished? The price needed to redeem our soul was paid in full by Christ’s shed blood. From that moment on, every person who places faith in Christ’s atoning sacrifice immediately receives the gift of salvation.

And there’s more good news! At the moment of salvation, our soul is literally reborn. You’ve probably heard the phrase “born-again.” Did you know that it was Jesus who first coined that phrase? He once told a very respected religious teacher:

 “Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God.”

(John 3:3, AMP)

What did Jesus mean? How can a person be born twice? Well, that is exactly what a man named Nicodemus asked Jesus.

“Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?””

(John 3:4, NASB95)

““That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

(John 3:6, NASB95)

Jesus was referring to the fact that we are all born with a fallen nature because of the sin of the first man ever created, Adam. The Bible calls this fallen nature “the flesh.”

 “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.”

(Romans 5:12, NLT)

We all inherited Adam’s guilt and an inner nature that breaks God’s laws. Scripture testifies regarding the entire human race:

“As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one.”

(Romans 3:10, NLT)

“All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.””

(Romans 3:12, NLT)

This is why Jesus described the human soul as lost. Until one turns to Christ, they are in a broken relationship with God, literally spiritually dead. Ephesians 2:1 says,

“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.”

(Ephesians 2:1, NLT)

This is not figurative language. It is a hardcore fact. Think of it this way. You might own a beautiful lamp and have it placed prominently in your living room for guests to admire. It is equipped with a 100-watt light bulb. But it will never light up until it is plugged into an electrical power source. No power, no light. The same is true of the human soul. It is dead without a power source. It is unplugged from God until one turns to Christ for forgiveness. Then and only then is the Holy Spirit sent to dwell within us, bringing with Him true spiritual life!

Scripture teaches that at the moment of salvation, we become God’s house, and we are truly alive for the first time in our life. Paul the apostle wrote in 1 Corinthians:

 “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,”

(1 Corinthians 6:19, NLT)

 This is what makes Christianity different from all the other options. Other religions require a person to jump through this hoop and that one, do this, do that, think this, say that, and hopefully, you will one day achieve salvation. But with Christianity, Jesus paid it all.

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.”

(Ephesians 2:8, NLT)

Once we know Christ, supernatural change comes from the Holy Spirit working within us, not by our own self-help efforts.

In summary, we are all initially born of the flesh, complete with Adam’s corrupt nature. Once we turn to Christ by faith, we experience a second birth with a brand-new nature. Following this wonderful transformation, we can honestly look up to Heaven and address God as our Heavenly Father. Paul wrote that we cry out:

“Now we call him, “Abba, Father.””

(Romans 8:15, NLT)

The word abba means “daddy.” Once the Holy Spirit takes up residence in you, God is your heavenly Father, and your soul is His home!