Preacher: Pastor Poju Oyemade
Church: Covenant Nation
Series: The New Man in Christ – His Work, Worship & Warfare
Date: 26th April, 2026
The teaching continued the series on The New Man in Christ Jesus, with emphasis on the distinction between the spirit, soul, and body, and how transformation happens in the life of a believer.
It is established that man is made up of spirit, soul, and body.
1 Thessalonians 5:23
The scripture shows the clear distinction between the spirit, soul, and body.
Hebrews 4:12
The Word of God is able to divide between soul and spirit.
The Spirit, Soul, and Body
When a person gets born again, it is the spirit of man that is recreated.
The spirit is the real man.
It is born of incorruptible seed, created in righteousness and true holiness.
However, the soul does not get born again immediately.
The soul is the seat of:
• Thoughts
• Emotions
• Decisions
• Reactions
• Behavioural patterns
This explains why a person can be genuinely born again and still struggle with anger, unforgiveness, wrong reactions, or old behavioural patterns.
The Condition of a Man’s Life Reflects His Soul
The condition of a person’s life is largely a reflection of the condition of the soul.
3 John 1:2
“I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
If the soul prospers, the outward life begins to prosper.
This means the great error is trying to change outward circumstances without changing the condition of the soul.
Transformation Begins with the Mind
Romans 12:2
“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
True transformation does not begin from the outside.
It begins with the renewal of the mind.
The food of the soul is knowledge.
To change the condition of the soul, a believer must receive the right knowledge and process it properly.
Position vs Condition
A major distinction was made between the believer’s position in Christ and the believer’s condition in life.
• Position refers to what Christ has already done for us
• Condition refers to what is currently being expressed in our lives
Positionally, we are seated with Christ.
Conditionally, our lives may still need to reflect that reality.
The work of the Holy Spirit is to bring the soul into alignment with the believer’s position in Christ.
Why Knowledge Is Important
Paul’s prayers were often prayers for knowledge and understanding.
Ephesians 1:17–18
He prayed that the eyes of their understanding would be enlightened.
This means many problems in a believer’s life are first knowledge problems.
When a person knows what has already been given in Christ, they can begin to walk in the reality of it.
Spiritual Warfare Takes Place in the Soul
Though the believer’s spirit is seated with Christ, the battleground is often in the soul.
2 Corinthians 10:4–5
Spiritual warfare involves pulling down strongholds, casting down imaginations, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
Warfare is not always visible.
It often happens in the thoughts, imaginations, fears, and internal conversations of a person.
Reckoning What Christ Has Done
Romans 6:11
“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
To reckon means to count as true what God has already done.
The believer does not become a new creation by behaving differently.
Rather, because he is already a new creation, his behaviour must now come into alignment with that truth.
Practical Application
- Change begins when a believer starts declaring and acknowledging what is already true in Christ.
For example:
• The love of God has been shed abroad in my heart
• I walk in the love of Christ
• I forgive as Christ forgave me
• I am dead to sin and alive unto God
• My mind is renewed by the Word of God
As the soul is renewed, the outward life begins to change.
Key Takeaways
• The spirit is born again, but the soul must be renewed
• Behaviour is largely shaped by the condition of the soul
• The believer’s position in Christ is eternal
• The believer’s condition can change as the soul is renewed
• True transformation begins with knowledge
• Spiritual warfare takes place in the thoughts and imaginations
• The Christian life is learning to walk in the reality of what Christ has already done
Closing Thought
Christianity does not begin with trying harder.
It begins with knowing what Christ has already done, renewing the mind with that truth, and allowing the inward reality to shape the outward life.
