The Humanity of Christ and the Healing of the Dysfunction of the Human Spirit

The book represents a personal quest in what Anselm referred to as faith seeking understanding. The primary focus centers on proposing an interpretation of the nature and function of the human spirit and its relationship to the divine spirit and the living of a godly Christian life. Thus the book has a dual concern; namely an academic one and a spiritual one. The undergirding premise is that apart of the human spirit the divine spirit is personally unknowable. This premise contains the following supporting concepts: First the core of human personhood resides in the human spirit and constitutes the unique capacity for personal self-relatedness. Second as the result of humanitys idolatrous displacement of God a radical reversal occurred with the human spirit. When restored to its original relationship with the divine spirit the human spirit as James Loder writes is called out of its futility and perversity into the light (and truth) of the divine spirit. Dr. Alexander is one of the few scholars whose academic writings often hit a home run. This work is a theologico-spiritual guide for readers to find healing and holiness despite our distorted self and broken world. This graceful interdisciplinary study of the human spirit in light of Christs humanity sheds light on who we are as human beings pointing us to live in the light and with the love of the divine Spirit. --K. K. Yeo Harry R. Kendall Professor of New Testament Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary With the mind of a scholar and heart of a pastor Alexander skillfully unfolds an alternative to law-based sanctification by exploring the meaning of the human spirit and how it may be healed through relationship with the divine Spirit. Biblically informed and academically sound this book should be part of every serious study of this crucial doctrine. --L. Arnold Hustad Professor of Theology and Philosophy Crown College Don Alexander has successfully blended academic research and practical pastoral concerns in his anthropological study of the human spirit. The book is the culmination of years of theological reflection exegesis and teaching on the topic of holiness. The authors intention is to give the human spirit its due significance in the discussion of holiness especially in view of the de-emphasis of the human spirit in Reformation theology. --George Gianoulis Professor of Greek and New Testament Emeritus Crown College Donald L. Alexander is Emeritus Professor of Biblical Studies and Spiritual Theology at Bethel University St. Paul MN. He holds MDiv degrees from Bethel Theological Seminary and MA and PhD degrees from the University of California Santa Barbara CA. He has held pastorates in California Washington and Minnesota. From 1968-82 he served as a missionary with the Christian and Missionary Alliance at the Alliance Bible Seminary in Hong Kong China. Following the transfer of the seminary leadership to the Chinese Church he served as the administrative vice-president.