Apostle Peter refers to man’s spirit as the hidden man of the heart.

CONDITION YOUR SPIRIT WITH THE WORD

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:2).

Man is a spirit. In 1 Peter 3:4, the Apostle Peter refers to man’s spirit as the hidden man of the heart. It means you can’t find the human spirit with your natural eyes, touch him with your physical hands, or smell him with your nose. Yet, the human spirit is the real person; you’re not a physical body. It doesn’t matter what you look like on the outside, and by that I mean your physical body, that isn’t the real you; you’re a spirit being, and your body is the house where you live.

Therefore, what character of personality you come up with is dependent on the quality of your spirit. For example, whether you’re hot tempered, soft-minded, harsh, impatient, or you’re loving, gentle, patient, kind and humble—these vices and virtues are all determined or conditioned by the state of your spirit. Someone might say, “I’m the way I am because I took after my forebears; my great grandfather was said to be hot tempered, and I think I got it from him.” Not when you’re born again! You have a new ancestry.

It makes no difference what your grandpa was like, you’re to condition your spirit with the Word, and be who God has made you. You’re to mould your character with the Word; it’s your responsibility! Whether or not you’re successful in life depends on the character of your spirit; the quality of your personality. The beautiful thing about it is that your spirit can be developed or trained. Your spirit is malleable; you can change the character of your spirit, and the material with which that can be done is the Word of God. Romans 1:16 shows us that it’s your spirit that’s born again by receiving eternal life through the message of the Gospel. You have the life and nature of God in you now—the nature of righteousness. Therefore, you’re expected to produce fruits unto righteousness. Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control as itemized in Galatians 5:22-23, are features or fruits of your recreated human spirit.

Further Study:

1 Thessalonians 5:23;
Ephesians 4:22-24