When believers confuse the difference between spirit and soul they unknowingly adopt strange doctrines that sound good and true but are far from right. You see Jesus came not only to give us a new spirit but also to save our souls. Remember it goes like this. First we believe then we receive His Spirit that makes alive. Then we obey that new spirit nature in our souls. When we obey that spirit nature, we transform and that is how Jesus saves our souls.
Luke 9
53 But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem.
54 And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?”
55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.
56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s souls but to save them.” And they went to another village.
Jesus makes it clear to His disciples that He did not come to destroy souls but to save them. This brings us back to the difference between spirit and soul. We believe and receive a new spirit, God’s Spirit. That is how the spirit receives salvation. By believing and it is a gift, for free and cannot be earned.
Ephesians 2
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
But it does most certainly not stop there!! There is still a soul that needs salvation. That salvation is obeying that new spirit-nature and transforming. That takes time, a long time or at least in my case. I’m sure some people can transform a lot quicker than others but we all still have to transform and become just like Christ. We are to have a soul just like His. It is His Spirit that leads us to have a soul like His. That can only be achieved through obedience to that Spirit, by being a doer and not just a believer. Remember believing is doing because faith without work is dead.
This is what Paul has to say on the matter in:
Philippians 2
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
How do we work out our own salvation? By being obedient to the Spirit and transforming that soul to be Christ like!
This is what James has to say on the matter in:
James 1
21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
So if we receive and do the word we will save our souls.
This is what Peter had to say on the matter in
1 Peter 1
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 receiving the end of your faith — the salvation of your souls.
So the end or product of faith is salvation for the soul. Remember not just believing but doing as well.
This is what Jesus said on this matter
Luke 2
19 By your patience possess your souls.
It is absolutely clear and cannot be denied. We are to obey the Lord in spirit to transform and to save our souls. That is soul salvation. It cannot and should never be confused with spirit salvation which we only have to believe to receive. Spirit salvation is a gift and cannot be earned but we work out our own soul salvation in obedience to the Spirit. The word says by the mouth of two or three a thing is confirmed. Here we have witness of four, and one of those happens to be the Lord who cannot lie!
Next time we will look at exactly how does a soul transform and what does it mean to become Christ like in soul.
Till then
God bless
Recent Comments