Defile His Spirit

Dr. Couch: We understand how we can defile the flesh, but how does one defile his spirit? I find it interesting that we are responsible for external and internal defilement as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 7:1. ANSWER:  By the way Paul pens this verse, we are capable of defiling "flesh and spirit." It is as if he puts the two together. He does not use an article before each word. We defile both together, not just one, such as just the "flesh." The passage reads: "Having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."    The word "defilement" means "pollution, contaminate, stain." It is implying a stain of excrement. It can be seen and cannot be missed! When we make the outer flesh filthy with sin we also do the same to our whole inner being, our spirit. In the human being, both body and spirit work together. They stand in wholeness together, or they are polluted together.    "Perfecting" in the Greek is a Present Participle of "epiteleo" meaning "to bring to a completion, to a maturity." To cleanse ourselves would be to confess our sins and walk away from those that are making us filthy.      Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (9/10)