The Psychology of the Apostle Paul - The greatest psychologist of all time!

And you shall KNOW the truth, and the truth shall MAKE you FREE
John 8:32

INTRODUCTION

The Apostle Paul is the only person that explains the true composition of the human being.  He uses mind terms such as:  Wisdom, understanding, knowledge and revelation.  These are all terms for understanding something. And it has to do with your mind.   I have come across many people that battle with life due only to one thing:  the lack of understanding of what God has done.  Jesus said that you will KNOW the truth and that shall make you free and bring the believer into a state of rest.  (Heb 4:9-11) Paul had a great understanding of the following:
* How man is put together

* How God intended the human being to function

* How God sees us

* How we live in victory daily

UNDERSTANDING THE DIVIDING OF SOUL AND SPIRIT

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,

The tri-partite man consists of three parts:  Body, Soul and Spirit.  In the scripture above, the writer says that we need to divide soul and spirit.  When a person accepts Jesus as saviour, the spirit of Christ is joined to your spirit.  (1 Cor. 6:17 - joined to the lord is one spirit)  Here we can see that Christ is now in the spirit of the new man.  The old adamic nature has been removed and the new nature is Christ and we are now partakers of the Divine Nature (2 Peter 1:4)  This is extremely important as we are now 100%, fully saved in spirit. 

UNDERSTANDING SPIRIT AND SOUL SALVATION

The new man is now fully saved in spirit.  But it is necessary that there is be a dividing of soul and spirit.  The soul (intellect, mind and emotions) needs to be taught and come in line with what has happened in the spirit.  This is where there is a battle because we still  think the old way.  The mind has not yet caught up with what has happened in the spirit of the man.  The Holy Spirit's work is to teach us Christ. (John 16:13,14)  

Click on the diagram

UNDERSTANDING THE DEATH OF THE OLD MAN (THE OLD WAY OF THINKING)

We need to see that the old man (old way of thinking) has been fully dealt with on the cross (The Apostle Paul is the only writer that gives a full explanation of what happened to us on the cross).  

Paul uses the word "reckoning".  This word means a decision one must take.  In Romans 6:11, Paul says the following: Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  

We need to see ourselves as dead to sin! Why? Because in our spirit, Christ resides in us and we have a new life.
(Important point here:  Read Romans chapter six.

Galatians 2:20 says that:  I am crucified with Christ.  Christ now lives in me as me.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR DEATH AND YOUR NEW LIFE

Galatians 2:20

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:  and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Paul says that he no  longer lives (he lives in the flesh), but CHRIST now lives in him as himself.  His old man is crucified.  Christ now lives in his spirit and now he is able to live the Christ life.

UNDERSTANDING THE RENEWING THE MIND

Romans 12:2

And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

We need to have a renewing of the mind with the help of the Holy Spirit to see the NEW YOU!  This renewing is a continual process and the Holy Spirit will  help us daily to come to  this  new knowledge.  He will use the circumstances and situations in your life to come to this life-long renewing.

UNDERSTANDING THE NEW CREATION

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

Being in Christ is the same as having Christ in you.  (The same as a tea bag is in the water and the water is in the tea bag).  

When we were immersed into the death of Christ on the cross and died with him, it made the way to becoming a new creature and on believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, we instantly become new creations.  How?  Because Christ now lives in you as you.  A whole, brand new beginning!  All the  old things pass away, and your new Father sees all things as new, and so must you!

UNDERSTANDING FORGETTING THE PAST

Philippians Chapter 3

As all things have now passed away, we must see how the greatest psychologist handled it.  Paul had a horrible situation in his life that he had to deal with.  He had a mission to  kill Christians!  He was also a Jew among Jews and there were things that he had to deal with.

He had to deal with his own idea of self-righteousness and the murder of Christians.

In his words, he states the following: "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ:" and "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,"  

The excellency of the KNOWLEDGE of Christ Jesus my Lord.  Paul sees that the knowledge of Christ in Him is the greatest thing, the greatest knowledge that a human can receive because it is the key to a life of freedom, freedom from guilt and condemnation and a completely liberated state.

Then he goes on to say these incredible words in Philippians 3 verse 13:  "forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before (in front of me), (vs 14) I press toward (I look forward) 

Forgetting, forgetting, forgetting!!! See the new creation.  See Christ in you!  A new life!  The high calling of God in Christ Jesus (vs 14)

UNDERSTANDING CHRISTIAN MATURITY

Christian maturity comes by seeing myself as God sees me.  When God looks at me, what does he see?

He sees me through the cross.  What happened there?  I died with Christ (Gal. 2:20)  Christ now lives in me and I am perfect in spirit. .  (Gal. 2:20)  I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:30) For you are dead, and YOUR LIFE is hid with Christ in God.  What does the Father see when He looks at 

you?  My friend.  HE SEES HIS SON!!! Christ in you is your hope of glory.  (Col 1:27)  The Father sees you as perfect (Phil. 3:15), complete (Col. 2;10 And you are complete in Him), righteous, sanctified and redeemed, (1 Cor. 1:30 - Christ in us is made these to us).

CHRIST IN YOU AS YOU ARE ALL THESE THINGS!

UNDERSTANDING YOUR NEW IDENTITY.

Christ in you is the new you, the new creation.  This is your identity.  When you look in the mirror, see Christ in you as you.  When you leave for work in the morning, say:  "Here we go Lord."   Do everything as Christ; His job, His work, His career.  Live as Him.

THIS IS THE LIBERATING TRUTH OF THE SONS OF GOD.

This understanding, as you grow into it, will give you a freedom from anything that is in your life. (Like you've never had before!)

In conclusion:  Romans 8:1
There is therefore NOW NO CONDEMNATION  to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh (old way of thinking), but after the Spirit. (Living as Christ in you - Spirit teaches Christ)

CHRIST IN YOU AS YOUR LIFE.  Be blessed in Him.