Hi Dennis G.....I sure know why you're confused.  I don't think every Christian is aware of the "soul salvation" concept until the Holy Spirit brings it to the surface.  Lyn Mize made me aware that there was something there that I didn't know, but it did confuse me a bit.  Then I found the link about "Salvation of the Soul" (Saving of the Life) by Arlen L. Chitwood, and that clarified it more for me.  A couple of days ago, I think I sent the link in for the many chapters in the explanation that we all can read.  Nando repeated the link yesterday, I believe.  Soul salvation vs spirit salvation is a concept of which I wasn't even aware until just recently.  That put many scriptures in the right order when I had some confusion for a while.  I'm still soaking it in, but I'm understanding it better now, and that's a total blessing.

Here is a small part of Chitwood's teaching:

In order to effect man's eternal redemption, the Spirit of God deals with unsaved man on one basis alone.  The Spirit deals with unsaved man solely on the basis of Christ's finished work at Calvary.

 

But once an individual has believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and has been dealt with on the basis of Christ's finished work, realizing the birth from above - the salvation of his spirit - the salvation issue then shifts from the salvation of his spirit, to the salvation of his soul.  The salvation of the spirit becomes a past, completed work and is never dealt with as an issue beyond this point.  The Spirit of God, from this point forward, deals with the individual solely on the basis of present and future aspects of salvation.  The individual, from this point forward, is dealt with in relation to the salvation of his soul.

Thus, all Scriptures dealing with carnality or unfaithfulness of Christians, resulting in forfeiture or loss, MUST pertain to issues surrounding the salvation of the soul, NEVER to issues surrounding the salvation of the spirit.

 

Once the salvation of the spirit has been effected, making it possible for the indwelling Spirit of God to impart spiritual truth into and control an individual's life through his own spirit, then man's unredeemed soul occupies the center of attention.  And salvation now (in relation to the soul, not the spirit) becomes dependent on the actions of the individual.

Salvation now becomes dependent on the life one lives after his spirit has been saved.  Salvation now becomes dependent on the individual allowing the Spirit of God to impart spiritual truth into and control his life through his own spirit.

 

An individual allowing the Spirit of God to impart spiritual truth into and control his life through his own spirit progressively grows from immaturity to maturity.  He progressively grows into a spiritually mature Christian.  Growing in this manner, he exerts control over his emotions, feelings, and desires pertaining to his man-conscious (soulical) existence.  And, by this means, he will ultimately come into a realization of the salvation of his soul (life).

That should clarify things a bit for you.  If not, I'm very sorry I wasn't able to help more.  It's still new to me as well.  Maybe someone else among the Doves can add to this to make it more understandable...

YsiC,

Arlene