Note 25 at 1 Th. 5:23: The believer's born-again (see note 2 at Jn. 3:3, p. 92) spirit is complete in every way (see ref. d at this v.). But Paul made it very clear in this verse that it is God's will for our entire person to be sanctified. Our soul and body will not experience the same degree of sanctification as our spirit until we go to be with the Lord or He returns for us. They can be blameless but not sinless (see note 7 at 1 Cor. 1:8, p. 859 ; see note 2 at Lk. 1:6, p. 38)

Note 26 at 1 Th. 5:23: This is one of the clearest references in scripture that we are a three part being-i.e., spirit, soul, and body. It's obvious that we all have a physical body. Likewise, it is easy to understand we have an inner part which the Bible refers to as the soul. For instance, we have emotions by which we can feel pain when no one has physically touched us. It's not a physical pain but it is in an inner part of us. This is what many people call the personality. It is comprised of our carnal intellect, our emotions, our will, and our conscience.

The spirit part of man cannot be perceived through any of our physical senses (Jn. 3:6). Therefore, the natural man (see note 1 at 1 Cor. 2:14, p. 869) cannot understand the existence and function of the spirit, and the terms spirit and soul are commonly used interchangeably. Paul makes a clear distinction between them here.

The spirit part of Adam was the part of him that died when he ate of the forbidden fruit (Gen. 2:16-17). Adam's physical body didn't die until 930 years later (Gen. 5:5). So, when Ephesians 2:1 says we were dead in trespasses and sins, it was speaking of a spiritual death (see note 9 at Col. 3:3, p. 1206). Our spirits were dead or separated from God.

At the new birth (see note 2 at Jn. 3:3, p. 92) our dead spirit is made alive unto God. The Christian is completely new in his spirit. The rest of the Christian life is bringing the body and the soul under the control of this born-again spirit through the renewing of the mind (see note 9 at Rom. 12:2, p. 826).