Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty (snobbish, high-minded, exclusive), but readily adjust yourself to [people, things] and give yourselves to humble tasks. Never overestimate yourself or be wise in your own conceits. AMPC

Once again I defer to the Classic Amplified Bible version to bring clarity to harmony within this triune existence we now share. We share it because we are part of one body, the bride, Christ’s betrothed.

It is difficult enough to find harmony within self, to bring all three parts of our triune existence under subjection to God’s perfect design, but now we must also be in harmony with the rest of the bride at the same time.

In order to do so, then the body and the soul must bring themselves into subjection to the Spirit because the Spirit is God and does not change. We are reconciled to Him, not He to us. The body is flesh and cannot act in any manner which is not consistent with its design, so the burden is placed on the soul to be the unifying force, since it is so closely connected to the body.

1 Corinthians 9:27a But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection:

Since we are under subjection to the Spirit, we ought to know and understand the Spirit’s primary work in bringing the soul into subjection. In original design intent, it is conformance to the image of the Son, Jesus Christ. This is character building, a new creation, a new character which is true and does not act falsely.

That pesky old soul has a lifetime of self-centeredness which changed to God-centeredness, but the survival instinct is strong within us.

Romans 6:3-4 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Dead things do not kick and scream on their way to correction.