What is the essence of a human being? According to Christianity, we each have an individual soul that is the core of who we are, an “immortal spark” within us that cannot be extinguished. This soul is often referred to as the “real us” beneath the layers of physical matter we are inhabited with throughout our lives.
The idea of our souls as an indestructible part of us has gone beyond just Christianity, and if you look around, you’ll notice that many cultures and spiritual paths have had some version of the concept. So what is the Christian version of a soul?
The Bible serves as Christianity’s basis for understanding the concept of the soul. According to the Bible, the soul is made in the image of God and is eternal. It is distinct from the body, yet intimately connected to it. The soul exists from before life even begins and will be only separated from the body upon death. Christianity also teaches that the soul can be affected by one’s actions in this life, either for good or for bad.
Christianity teaches that the soul is the source of all personal attributes, including the capacity for morality, courage, love, and creativity. These are not part of the physical body but instead come from our spirits, nurtured and developed during our lifetime. Our body may decay, our intellect may diminish, but our souls remain intact.
Christians have traditionally believed that the soul is placed within the body upon conception and leaves the body upon death. As such, Christians maintain that it is the soul, not the body, that is the eternal part of us, and it is the soul that will be judged by God upon death and will reside with God in Heaven or Hell accordingly.
Salvation
The Christian belief about salvation is that it is an act of deliverance from the eternal punishments of sin. It is the opinion of many Christians that we are saved not only from physical death, but from spiritual death as well. The concept of spiritual death, or separation from God, is sometimes referred to as “the second death” and is often spoken of in the Bible.
To be saved from spiritual death, Christians maintain that we must accept Christ as our Savior. This means recognizing Jesus’s place as both God and man, believing that He suffered and died to pay the penalty for our sin and allowing Him to come into our hearts and be the Lord of our lives.
Once we admit Jesus as our lord, the Bible states that we are “born again”, with the Holy Spirit entering our soul and guiding us to live a life pleasing to God. This salvation is a lifelong process, and it is with this transformation that our soul is truly saved.
The Soul and the Church
The soul is central to Christianity. The Church, which is the body of Christ on Earth, exists to minister to the spiritual needs of its members, from baptism to burial. It is the task of the church to ensure that the soul is sound, nurtured, and strengthened in Christ.
The primary purpose of the church is to lead individuals to God and to teach them the ways of the Lord. This teaching is centered on eternal life, the idea that there is an immortal spark in us that out lasts our physical life on the Earth, and that the purpose of our lives is to be in harmony with who we were created to be.
The church provides a forum for people to discuss and explore their faith, to worship together, and to confess their sins and be forgiven. It helps people to experience, through a collective and supportive community, the power and love of God.
The church is also the primary source for educating believers about the soul and its connection to the divine. It provides a source of guidance and wisdom and reminds members of the believer’s importance in the eyes of God.
An Eternal Soul
The soul is an integral part of being human and is seen in Christianity as an immortal part of us that will always remain and move on even after the body has gone. The soul is the invisible part of us that connects with the divine, and it is the core of our self, the “real us” beneath the layers of physical matter.
Christianity teaches that the soul is eternal, with only God having the power to create or destroy it. Our physical bodies may wear and tear, but our souls—if nurtured and guided—will remain intact and may lead us to everlasting peace.
Sin and the Soul
Sin is a reality in every human life, and Christianity views it as an offense against God. While the body is the physical representation of us and can be affected by our sinful actions, our soul is the more essential and spiritual part of us that is not damaged by sin.
In fact, the soul is seen as something that can be redeemed even when the body has failed. We can repent and accept Jesus as our savior, and with the transformation that comes with that, the soul can be completely clean and eventually restored.
Healing and Praying for the Soul
Praying for the soul is something that Christians have been doing for centuries. When we pray, we open our hearts to God, allowing Him to heal us, help us, and guide us. Prayers for the soul are often used for comfort and peace, for healing and restoration, for a deeper understanding of the divine, and for stronger faith.
In Jesus’s time, it was believed that illnesses of the body were associated with illnesses of the soul, and many of Jesus’s healing miracles involved dealing with both. Therefore, praying for physical healing of the body often corresponds to prayers for healing of the soul.
The Soul and the Mind
Though the soul is seen as something that cannot be destroyed, it can be negatively affected. Negativity, depression, and other mental illnesses can weigh down the spirit and can corrupt our relationship with God. It is important that we keep our spiritual life nourished and strong if we are to have a proper outlook on life.
Christians have traditionally attributed the soul not only to our spiritual life, but also to our mental life. The spiritual life of the soul and the mental life of the mind are deeply intertwined, and a healthy spiritual life is thought to lead to a healthy mind.
The Soul and Our Choices
Eastern and Western religions alike have come to the conclusion that the soul is connected to our choices, and Christianity is no different. Our decisions and actions in this life are said to have a bearing on our soul and can affect it for better or for worse. That doesn’t mean that God isn’t in control, but rather that He is concerned with each person’s journey and wants us to accept His grace and love.
The Bible provides us with many examples of how the decisions we make can affect our soul. The book of Isaiah warns us against “blindness” and advising us to stay away from being “deceived”, while the Bible encourages us to stay in the light and to seek God in all our ways, letting Him be the judge of all our actions.
