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The basic understanding of man as set forth in the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is that man is a tripart being made up of body, soul and spirit.
This model of the tripart nature of man is pictured in the Old Testament tabernacle of Moses. A great deal is said about the Tabernacle in the book of Exodus and in the New Testament letter to the Hebrews. The Tabernacle in Exodus foreshadows Christ, the cross, the human condition before and after redemption, and the work of the Holy Spirit, to name only some of the types.
The body is the external part of man which can be seen, that which lives in three dimensions. All can observe the body, and make judgements of the character and actions of the person who lives in the body. Unless I live in a vacuum, my actions in the world are there to be viewed by those around me.
The soul is more hidden. It is the inner consciousness of a person, which contains all his or her thoughts, emotions, desires, etc. and is the real seat of the person’s character. If the person’s inner consciousness or thoughts are centered upon meeting the desires of the senses, or that of the body, then that person, according to theology, is a carnal individual, i.e. centered on the things of the flesh. The Apostle Paul speaks a great deal on this subject in his writings, particularly in Romans.
Still more hidden is the person’s spirit, or that innermost part of him that comes directly from God.
Because of the fall, in unredeemed people, this inner most part of man is dead, or dormant, surrounded by a thick wall (the sin nature) that keeps that person from being in direct atonement to the life of God that wants to energize him.
The object of the Christian way is to convert man and to transform him (or her) in such a way that he is led by an alive spirit within instead of by the desires of the senses of the outer body. This is where the Holy Spirit comes in. Man is to be quickened or made alive by the Holy Spirit, giving him the life of Christ, so that he or she may live unto God and not unto the flesh. For, as Paul says, “to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life.”
In the tripart man, the soul is the mediator between the body and the spirit. The spirit illuminating the soul (mind) brings life and causes the actions of the body to become less carnal and more Godly. As we walk in the Spirit, then, we do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. And that is basic Christian living.
Okay, but how do we get to that life where we can walk in the Spirit, live unto God, and turn away from a carnal life? That is the key. Do we just decree to do it through law, through rules and regulations — church edicts or meaningless rituals?
The Apostle Paul says no. Law is not the way. In fact, law keeping is a hindrance to the interaction of the spirit and soul. The only way we can truly be changed and made whole is by the Grace of God. This comes through His Son, Who is the way, the truth and the life.
The Tripart Nature Pictured in the Tabernacle:
The outer court is the body; the Holy Place is the soul, and the Holy of Holies is the spirit. The spirit in man is dead, dormant or hidden until it is awakened in Christ. He awakens the spirit by rending the veil that separates our soul (Holy Place) from our spirit (Holy of Holies.) The spirit is then in union with Christ and the Father by the power of the Holy Spirit and this union begins to affect the entire life of the believer. Hebrews tells us that the veil that was rent in the temple when Jesus was crucified was His flesh.
The essence of Christianity is to teach mankind to live led by the spirit instead of being led by the body, the five senses, or the flesh. After one is born again, his dead spirit is quickened and united with God’s Spirit; and thus, he or she has the ability to be led of God through the spirit instead of being led by the fleshly desires of the body.
The fleshly desires of the body and the senses of the body are destructive. They lead on a downward path into sin. But the consciousness of God through the spirit leads to life. God is life eternal.
Most of the material in this blog will be based upon the structure, rites, furnishings, materials and functions of the Old Testament Tabernacle and how all of it relates to Christ. I invite your comments.
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Truths From the Tabernacle 
Dear Sister Mary just read this portion on the tabernacle relating to our body, soul and spirit. This is wonderful. I never saw or knew any of this till we came to the recovery. There is a diagram in the book God’s Economy. I think it is on page five. It shows a map of the holy Land in relation to Egypt, the wilderness and the good Land; the three circles representing our body, soul and spirit; the tabernacle with the three sections, the outer court, the holy place and the holy of holies. Even in creation God already had it all planned.
Yes, Sister, all of the types point to the same Truths. Hallelujah!