The human spirit is the immaterial, eternal part of human beings that connects us to God. The Bible has much to say about the nature and role of the human spirit. Here is an overview of key biblical teachings on the human spirit:
1. The human spirit comes from God
The Bible teaches that God is the Creator of all things, including human beings. When God created Adam, He “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7). This breath from God animated Adam and made him a living person. The human spirit is this breath of life from God that gives us life.
The prophet Zechariah spoke of God as the one “who forms the human spirit within a person” (Zechariah 12:1). Our spirit comes from God and represents the part of us made in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-27). Just as God is eternal Spirit (John 4:24), He has given human beings an eternal spirit.
2. The human spirit distinguishes us from animals
Humans share many attributes of the physical creation with animals, but the Bible teaches we are more than highly evolved animals. Genesis 1:26-27 and 2:7 indicate that God personally created human beings and gave us His spiritual breath. Animals were brought forth from the ground by God’s command, but humans received the breath of God.
The human spirit enables characteristics like personality, morality, abstract reasoning, creativity, relationships, and worship of God. Animals operate by instinct, but the human spirit enables self-awareness, choices, appreciation of beauty, and other intangibles that reflect our likeness to a creative, relational God.
3. The human spirit is where God communes with us
God interacts with the physical realm but He is Spirit (John 4:24), so our spiritual component is required for relationship with Him. God is often described as speaking to, teaching, convicting, guiding, and comforting the human spirit. “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children” (Romans 8:16).
Proverbs 20:27 states, “The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord.” God communicates His light to our inner being through our spirit. The spirit is the place where the Lord graciously makes His presence known to us. As Jesus said, “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).
4. Sin has corrupted the human spirit
Though created good by God, the human spirit has been deeply impacted by sin. Scripture speaks of the “spirit of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2) and a “broken spirit” (Psalm 51:17). When Adam and Eve sinned, it brought spiritual death and separation from God (Genesis 3, Romans 5:12). Our natural spiritual state includes selfishness, ignorance of God, foolishness, and longing for sin.
Apart from God’s grace, the human spirit is darkened, confused, deceived, and bound to sin. “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness” (1 Corinthians 2:14). We need spiritual rebirth (John 3:3).
5. Redemption heals and transforms the human spirit
The good news is that Christ’s death and resurrection provide redemption for our fallen human spirit. When we repent and place our faith in Christ, we are “born again” spiritually (John 3:3). God gives us a new heart and new spirit that is responsive and joined to Him (Ezekiel 36:26).
The Holy Spirit comes to indwell our spirit, bringing spiritual light, life, truth, power, hope, and transformation. “He who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:17). God’s Spirit begins the lifelong process of sanctifying our human spirit.
6. Our spirit needs Biblical guidance and discipline
To grow spiritually strong, we need to nourish our spirit with God’s Word and learn to “walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16). The human spirit can still be influenced by the flesh and the world. We need to develop the habit of prayer, worship, Scripture reading, fellowship, and obedience to train our spirit.
Paul wrote, “Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity…now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness” (Romans 6:19). As we offer ourselves fully to God, our spirit is renewed day by day.
7. The human spirit returns to God at death
At death, the eternal human spirit departs the temporal earthly body. The Bible depicts this as the spirit returning to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7 says, “The spirit returns to God who gave it.” And Luke 23:46 records Jesus’ last words: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
For those in Christ, the spirit goes to be with the Lord to await future resurrection (Philippians 1:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:8). The spirits of those who reject Christ go to a place of torment (Luke 16:19-31). Upon Christ’s return, He will raise our spiritual bodies to live forever.
8. The Holy Spirit fills and transforms our human spirit
The greatest work in our human spirit is done through the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Bible contrasts the “spirit of the world” with the Spirit who is from God (1 Corinthians 2:12). When we place our faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to take up residence in our spirit.
The Holy Spirit empowers our spirit with wisdom, hope, truth, courage, and more Christ-like characteristics. As we surrender control of our spirit to the Holy Spirit, He bears His fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23) and transforms us to be more like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).
9. Our spirit will one day be made perfect in Christ
At the resurrection, our spirit will be united with a new, glorified, immortal physical body like Christ’s resurrected body (1 Corinthians 15:20, 49, Romans 8:11). John wrote, “When he appears, we shall be like him” (1 John 3:2). In heaven, our spirit will be freed from the presence and corruption of sin.
We will then fully bear the image of God as perfected spiritual beings. Our spirit will commune with God face-to-face and be filled with righteousness, peace, and joy (1 Corinthians 13:12, Revelation 21:3-4). The destiny of the redeemed human spirit is glorious transformation in Christ.
Conclusion
The human spirit is fundamental to who we are. Scripture reveals the divine origin, fallen state, redemption, present sanctification, and future glorification of the human spirit. As we yield to the Holy Spirit’s work in our spirit, He restores God’s image in us and transforms us into the people we were created to be. The Bible offers great hope for the human spirit that puts its trust in Christ and seeks to follow Him.