Lyn Mize
The salvation of the soul is probably the most
misunderstood concept in Christianity today. This may
sound incredible, since virtually every church-going
Christian thinks that his understanding of soul
salvation is correct, but only a handful of Christians
has bothered to check out the Scriptures to see what
soul salvation really means. It matters not what
preachers say about soul salvation, if the Scriptures
say something different. Spirit and soul are not the
same in the Bible. The following Scripture clearly
establishes that soul and spirit are not the same:
1
Th 5:23 (KJV) And the very God of peace sanctify you
wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be
preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
This confirms that man
is a triune being, just as God is a Trinity. It also
helps to confirm that spirit salvation differs from soul
salvation. Spirit salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ
plus nothing. The following Scripture about Paul and
Silas confirms this:
Acts
16:30-31 (KJV) (30) And (the Philippian jailer)
brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be
saved? (31) And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Spirit salvation is
very simple. One simply believes that Jesus Christ died
for his sins. One can do nothing to earn this salvation.
It is a gift from God, and the Holy Spirit even provides
the faith. However, the Scriptures go into great detail
regarding soul salvation, which should occur
after spirit salvation. The Scriptures are also
clear that effort or striving is necessary for soul
salvation. The following Scripture confirms this:
James
1:21 (KJV) Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and
superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness
the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
James 1:21 (ASV 1901) Wherefore putting away
all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive
with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save
your souls.
This Scripture is
addressing believers and it states that a believer can
save his soul by getting rid of sin in his life and
studying and obeying the Bible. This requirement differs
from Acts 16:30-31. Spirit salvation and soul
salvation are not the same.
The difference between
spirit salvation and soul salvation is the difference
between grace and works. The spirit is saved by faith in
Jesus Christ, while the soul is saved by faithfulness to
Jesus Christ. Soul salvation does not determine whether
a person enters heaven, but it does determine his reward
in heaven. Some Christians will enter heaven with no
reward because of unfaithfulness to Jesus. The following
Scripture confirms this:
1
Cor 3:13-15 (KJV) (13) Every man's work shall be made
manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it
shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try
every man's work of what sort it is. (14) If any man's
work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall
receive a reward. (15) If any man's work shall be
burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be
saved; yet so as by fire.
The following Scripture
also confirms that soul salvation is the result of
works:
1
Pet 1:7-9 (KJV) (7) 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
honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (8)
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye
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 souls.
This Scripture is
addressed to believers who have faith that has matured,
and when tested at the return of Jesus, will be found to
be as precious as gold resulting in praise, honor and
glory from the Lord Jesus Christ. This results in the
saving of their souls or reward for being faithful.
In the following
Scripture, Jesus explains the requirement for soul
salvation:
Mat
16:24-27 (KJV) (24) Then said Jesus unto his
disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (25)
For whosoever will save his life (psuche) shall lose
it: and whosoever will lose his life (psuche) for my
sake shall find it. (26) For what is a man profited,
if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul (psuche)? or what shall a man give in exchange
for his soul (psuche)? (27) For the Son of man shall come in
the glory of his Father with his angels; and then
he shall reward every man according to his works.
Please note that the
Greek word for life and soul is the same word psuche
throughout this passage of Scripture. Jesus is
telling His disciples about soul salvation and how it
determines their reward for successfully crucifying the
old flesh nature. This passage of Scripture clearly establishes
that soul salvation is according to works.
Spirit and soul are not
the same. The soul is what a person is in regard
to his character or his person. It is possible for
a person to be totally changed as a person and in
character. The reason for this is that the soul is
a person's mind, emotions, intellect, will and
heart. It is what kind of person he is in
life. This is why the Greek word psuche is
alternately translated as life or soul.
It is possible for a
person to lose his soul in this life and be a totally
different person. This happens when a person lives
according to his new spirit nature, which never sins (1
John 3:9), instead of his old flesh nature, which can do
nothing good. Therefore, the Christian who loses his
soul in order to save it is the faithful, spiritual
Christian who will receive a reward at the Judgment Seat
of Christ when the Christian's works will be tried by
fire. The souls of Christians who continued to live
according to their old flesh nature will be lost (i.e.,
they will perish or be destroyed), and they will receive
no reward. Their spirits—which are born of
God—will still be saved, and they will still receive a
redeemed body. The redeemed body will live in
complete submission to the spirit, so the soul (i.e.,
personality, character and mind) of these believers will
be totally different in heaven. Their souls will perish,
but they will be completely and totally redeemed.
There will be
Christians who will be disqualified as the Bride of
Christ, and they will lose their inheritance as a coheir
with Jesus Christ. They will still be in heaven, and
they will be totally forgiven for all their sins.
Christians who had lived their lives as gluttons will no
longer be gluttons. Christians who had lived lives as
busybodies and gossips will no longer be that way.
Christians who were liars will no longer be liars.
Christians who were pharisaical and self-righteous will
no longer be that way.
In like manner,
Christians who were drunkards will no longer be
drunkards. Christians who were homosexuals will no
longer be homosexual. Christians who were adulterers
will no longer be adulterers. Christians caught up in
seeking after wealth and material possessions will no
longer be worldly minded. All of these Christians
will have lost their souls, but they will have new
souls. Simply stated, their lives will be totally
different, but they will have no positions of honor and
glory in the millennial kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Only the John 3v5 and Ephesians 5v26 Believers
will be accounted worthy
of the Pre Trib Rapture inside grace.
Doug R