The Scandal of Identity TheftSample

A Living Soul

When we talk about the soul of man, it can sometimes become confusing. While growing up in the church, I heard words like "spirit" and "soul" used interchangeably, and the clarity of the two was not there, making me more conflicted. But on my quest to discover who I was, I saw the need to understand the way I was made by God, and the only way to find that was to go back to His word.

“At the time God made Earth and Heaven, before any grasses or shrubs had sprouted from the ground—God hadn’t yet sent rain on Earth, nor was there anyone around to work the ground (the whole Earth was watered by underground springs)—God formed Man out of dirt from the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life. The Man came alive—a living soul!” (Gen. 2:7, MSG).

Finally, we have arrived where we can answer the long-awaited question: “Who are you?” From the scripture above, it is evident who God says we are, and the answer is “We are a living soul!” I also want to remind you of the definition of identity, which is, “exact likeness in nature and qualities.” I want you to constantly keep this definition ever before you as you read this plan. Let us look at what God said when He was ready to create man:

God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature so they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, And, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.” God created human beings; he created them godlike, Reflecting God’s nature. He created them male and female. God blessed them: “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth.” (Gen. 1:26–28, MSG)

Look closely at verse 26: “God spoke: ‘Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature.’” Do you see the definition of identity—“exact likeness in nature and qualities”? It is amazing that God made us in his image, reflecting his nature—God patterned us after himself! I also want to point out that when God made man, he was conversing with someone because he said, “Let us make humans in our image” (Gen. 1:26a).

Since God is triune—one God but three coequal and coeternal persons in the Godhead—if we are made in His image, then we also are comprised of three parts. We are tripartite—divided into or composed of three parts. Like God, man is also made up three parts—spirit, soul, and body. Once we understand how we are made up, it is so much easier to reclaim our identity, walk out our destiny, and fulfill our purpose.