Laurie and others interested in soul salvation,
INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS
I agree completely with your exposition on spiritual salvation being a
permanent thing not subject to loss versus works after spiritual
salvation that are needed to qualify for rewards, or crowns, and for being a
part of the Bride of Christ and participating in the wedding inside of the
kingdom. The guests at the wedding are as you state at heaven, but not inside
where the action is taking place.
Good job, Laurie, in my humble opinion but do not expect anyone to change
their views on this because many persons hold strong views on this topic and are
resistant to logical comments even though based on Holy Scripture as your
arguments are indeed.
Having been once a member of the Roman Catholic Church before converting to
Protestantism and knowing about Purgatory I naturally wondered how the doctrine
of works for soul salvation would relate to the concept of Purgatory where
salvation can be obtained by works of others in our behalf (more on
that below).
I have therefore been interested in understanding this subject of
works for a number of years and had to change my previous view that salvation of
the spirit was all that was needed to enter heaven and rule and reign with
Christ.
SOME SALVATION TERMS DEFINED
This book by Whipple has a glossary of selected terms at the back of the
book. Two definitions are as follows:
"Salvation of the Body: The raising of the body at the rapture of the
church.
"Salvation of the Soul: A salvation that operates in the present continuous
tense ( Gr. not yet completed) and ends at the Judgment Seat of Christ. This
salvation should be presently working to save the life (soul) of a believer by
producing spiritual fruit in his life, so that he may enter the kingdom of
heaven and rule and reign with Christ.
"Salvation of the Spirit: A salvation that is a work completed in the past,
with its finished results extending into the present time (Gr. present tense).
This is the salvation that guarantees eternal life to all who trust Jesus Christ
as saviour."
NEW TESTAMENT VERSES ON SOUL SALVATION
There are three direct statements in the New Testament that
refer to the salvation of the soul. The first 1) shows us how to save our soul,
the second 2) where the soul is saved and the last 3) the consequences of not
having the soul saved.
1) KJV: James 1:21 "Wherefore, lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of
naughtiness and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to
save your souls."
2) KJV: 1 Peter 1:7-9 "That the trial of your faith being much more
precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be
found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (8) Whom
having not seen, ye love, in whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, ye
rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory; (9) receiving the end of your
faith, even the salvation of your soul.
3) KJV: Hebrews 10:38,39 "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man
draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. (39) But we are not of them
who draw back into perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of
the soul."
SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
This book by Whipple answers many questions too which I cannot get into in
depth here. The reader may ask doesn't Romans 8:1 say there is no condemnation
to them which are in Christ Jesus? (The answer is yes if we allow sins to be
unconfessed and have power over our lives).
Or he may ask if II Corinthians says absent from the body is present with
the Lord where does outer darkness fit into the picture? (The answer is that
this verse applies to before the Judgment Seat of Christ where we labor now to
be accepted there).
Or, isn't this business about works another version of purgatory from the
Roman Catholic Church? (The answer is no since Satan creates such deceptions to
confuse believers. Purgatory is a counterfeit doctrine relating to works needed
for salvation of the soul and has used it to mislead believers especially
as you say in the Roman Catholic Church).
PLEASE LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS TOPIC
I hope and pray that anyone still on the fence regarding this subject will
be encouraged to read more about it in the sources provided and will pray that
the Holy Spirit will cast a light of understanding in their minds on this
extremely important topic. The book I recommend is by Whipple. Later the web
site by Mize would provide some new insights and the book by Harman
provides details about the nature of the kingdom of heaven itself and how the
salvation of the soul is relevant in that environment.
POSTSCRIPT
Of course, there is always the possibility that this topic may lead to
contention and serious disagreement among believers. Therefore, Mr. John Tng is
well aware that he may want to limit the life of this thread in that event. It
is always good, however, to bring the topic up for review as new members arrive
on this web site and as others want to review where they stand now in regard to
the topic.
May God bless everyone who has read this message and is open to
knowing the complete truth regarding the need for works after salvation of the
spirit obtained at the second birth based on faith and faith alone in Jesus
Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
Yours in Christ,
Robert