I didn't comment because it appeared that you were saying that there is no soul.
If you want to go deeper, we would have to go beyond just a few scriptures. At some point, we might just be dealing with semantics.
If Jesus said, John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" then man is a spirit.
1 Peter 3: 4
But let it be the
hidden man of the
heart, in that which is not
corruptible, even the ornament of a
meek and quiet spirit,which is in the
sight of
God of great
price.
If man is not a spirit, then what is the hidden man of the heart?
I wasn't saying that there is no soul. What gave you that impression?
Jesus says one must be born again. What does that mean?
One must be born from water and spirit. How do you understand that?
Jesus didn't say, what is born from water is water. Why not?
So how do the scriptures show what he meant by, 'What is born from spirit, is spirit'?
How is one born from water? Baptized in water - immersed in water, becomes a new man.
How is one born from spirit? Baptized in spirit - immersed/anointed by spirit, becomes a son of God.
When did this first happen? The disciples of Jesus were all baptized in water before the day of Pentecost 33 C.E.
On that day this happened...
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them. Acts 2:1-4
Peter explained what happened.
He quoted Joel 2, from verse 28, then he said...
"God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear." Act 2:32, 33
It seems clearly evident that the scriptures are saying that one born of spirit, is born from spirit, that is, God's spirit, and therefore they are born, not from flesh, but from God - from above. Therefore, they are spiritual sons of God - adopted by him -
to be (not yet) spirit sons in heaven.
Romans 8:14-16
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[f] And by him we cry, “Abba,[g] Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Footnotes:
- Romans 8:15 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture; also in verse 23.
- Romans 8:15 Aramaic for father
John 1:13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will,
but born of God.
John 3:3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you,
no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.
Footnotes:
- John 3:3 The Greek for again also means from above; also in verse 7.
1 John 3:9
No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.
1 Peter 1:23
For you have been born again [or given you new birth], not of perishable seed,
but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
So the reason they were to be born from water and spirit, was that they would be God's heavenly children.
Two births were necessary - actually three, but two were mentioned to Nicodemus. The third is mentioned at
Luke 12:50; Mark 10:38-39
38 But Jesus said to them: “You do not know what you are asking for.
Can you drink the cup that I am drinking or be baptized with the baptism with which I am being baptized?” 39 They said to him: “We can.” At that Jesus said to them: “The cup I am drinking, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am being baptized, you will be baptized.
They would also be baptized into his death - immersed in death. Like Jesus, they will be put to death in the flesh, and raised alive in the spirit. 1 Corinthians 15
Is not 1 Peter 3: 4 referring to the inner man/person?
The verse says....Rather, it should be that of
your inner self, the unfading beauty of
a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
Is that not what you understand from the verse? How else do you suggest it be understood?
See Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10, 12
1 Timothy 2:9, 10
9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,
10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.
It seems clear Paul is speaking about the person one is, on the inside - that part that God examines.
Psalm 7:9 ...you, the righteous who probes minds and hearts
Proverbs 21:2 A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart [or,
Jehovah examines the hearts].