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I. Eternal salvation:
А. Its source.
B. Its foundation.
C. Its way:
1. Faith.
2. Calling.
3. Confession.
4. Baptism.
D. Its results.
E. Its proof.
F. Its testimony:
1. Baptism.
2. The joy of salvation.
3. A change in living.
G. Its security.
II. Daily salvation.
III. Environmental salvation.
IV. The salvation of our body.
V. The salvation of our soul.
God’s salvation includes all the topics we previously covered, such as forgiveness, cleansing, sanctification, justification, reconciliation, regeneration, eternal life, release, and other such blessings. A person who receives these heavenly blessings in Christ is saved. However, in the Bible God speaks of at least five kinds of salvation, and if we do not clearly distinguish between these five kinds of salvation, we will be confused about what the Bible says about salvation.
The first kind of salvation spoken of in the Bible is eternal salvation. We receive this salvation at the time we believe; it includes the enlivening of our spirit.
1. “By grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works that no one should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9).
The salvation spoken of here is eternal salvation, and it refers to our spirit being enlivened (cf. v. 5). This is by God’s grace. Because of His love, God gave us grace; this grace is the source of our eternal salvation. The source of our eternal salvation is the grace that comes from God’s love; in other words, grace issues in our eternal salvation. Since our eternal salvation does not come from ourselves or our works, no one can boast; it is the gift of God. Our works have absolutely nothing to do with eternal salvation. If our works could gain eternal salvation for us, it would be easy for us to boast in ourselves. Since God’s grace is the source of our eternal salvation, we can only praise Him for His grace and give glory to Him.
2. “Who has saved us...not according to our works but according to His own purpose and grace” (2 Tim. 1:9).
God saved us according to His own purpose and grace, not according to our works. Our salvation is unrelated to our works; it is entirely according to God’s grace.
3. “Not out of works in righteousness which we did but according to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:5).
God gave us eternal salvation according to His mercy. His giving had absolutely nothing to do with any works in righteousness which we did. According to our real condition, we did not have any works in righteousness, and moreover, we were so full of sin that we were unworthy of God’s grace. Thank God not only for His grace but also for His mercy. His mercy caused His grace to reach us even when we were unworthy of salvation. His grace prepared salvation for us, and His mercy caused His salvation to reach us.
4. “Through the grace of the Lord Jesus we are saved” (Acts 15:11).
God’s saving grace reaches us through the Lord Jesus (John 1:17). Through this grace He accomplished salvation for us and completed all the things necessary for our salvation. Our salvation is through His grace, not our works.
1. “Jesus...will save His people” (Matt. 1:21).
The source of our eternal salvation is God’s grace, and the foundation of our eternal salvation is the Lord Jesus Himself. He is God incarnated to be our Savior. Jesus, the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua (Num. 13:16), means “Jehovah Savior” or “the salvation of Jehovah.” As our Savior, His name is Jesus. He is named Jehovah because He came to save us. He is Jehovah coming to be our Savior; He is God Himself coming as our salvation. Without Him, even God’s grace cannot save us. God’s grace, which accomplishes salvation, comes through Him. He is the means of God’s salvation, the foundation of God’s salvation.
2. “A Savior, Jesus” (Acts 13:23 see also Luke 2:11).
The Lord Jesus is the Savior established by God, so He is the foundation of our salvation.
3. “Grace...has been manifested through...our Savior Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 1:9-10).
God’s grace in saving us was manifested through the Lord Jesus. Although God has grace, it could not have been manifested without Christ.
4. “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved” (John 10:9).
The Lord Jesus is the door to God’s salvation. People must pass through Him to enter into God’s salvation. Whoever enters through Him participates in God’s salvation and is saved.
5. “There is salvation in no other, for neither is there another name under heaven given among men in which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
While there are sages and heroes among men, there is no Savior other than the Lord Jesus. Apart from Him there is no salvation. There is no name under heaven given among men in which we must be saved other than the precious name of Jesus. Only the Lord Jesus is the Savior established by God. He is God Himself coming as our Savior. Only He is the foundation of our salvation. His name is the only reliable name in the universe that saves people.
6. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15 see also Luke 19:10).
The Lord Jesus was God in the heavens. He was incarnated to be a man because He wanted to be the Savior of sinners. Therefore, Christ Jesus, who is God become man, is the foundation and means by which sinners are saved.
1. “By grace you have been saved through faith” (Eph. 2:8).
We are saved by God’s grace through faith. Even though God has grace, it is not possible for us to be saved if we do not have faith. God’s grace prepared salvation for us, but our faith obtains what God prepared and accomplished for us. God’s grace gives us salvation, and our faith receives God’s gift. If God’s grace was prepared but not obtained through our faith, and if God’s grace was given but not received through our faith, God’s salvation could not come to us. In order to obtain God’s salvation, we must use our faith to receive it. Faith is the way we obtain God’s salvation.
2. “Your faith has saved you” (Luke 7:50).
Although the Lord’s grace comes to save us, our faith causes the Lord’s grace to come upon us and to be efficacious in us. Therefore, subjectively speaking, our faith saves us.
3. “Salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16).
Despite the fact that God desires all men to be saved, His salvation can only save those who believe. Faith is the way that man causes God’s salvation to reach him.
4. “Believe and be saved” (Luke 8:12).
Faith is the way required for salvation. Once a person believes, he is saved.
5. “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved” (Acts 16:31).
There is no way to receive God’s salvation except through faith. There is no other path to the Lord’s salvation except faith. Once a person believes, he is saved.
1. “Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13 see also Acts 2:21).
When a person believes in the Lord, he spontaneously calls on the Lord (Rom. 10:14). Although we cannot see the Lord, we can call on His name. The Lord’s name is the Lord Himself. Therefore, to call on the Lord’s name is to call on the Lord Himself. This is the reason that those who call upon the name of the Lord are saved.
1. “With the mouth there is confession unto salvation” (Rom. 10:10).
If a person believes in the Lord, he must confess the Lord. To believe is to believe in one’s heart that Jesus is the Savior, and to confess is to confess with the mouth that Jesus is Lord. Faith is in one’s heart before God, while confession is with one’s mouth before others. Before God, we are saved as soon as we believe in our heart, but we must confess with our mouth before others to show that we have believed and are saved. If we believe in our heart but do not confess with our mouth, we will have a problem before both God and man. If we want a thorough salvation before both God and man, we must believe with our heart and confess with our mouth.
1. “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16).
This passage does not say, “He who believes shall be saved.” It says, “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved.” Faith is related to salvation, and baptism is related to salvation. Believing is inward; it involves a person’s exercise of faith to receive the Lord’s salvation. Baptism is outward; it involves a person’s acknowledgment of receiving the Lord’s salvation. Believing and being baptized are one complete step for receiving the Lord’s full salvation. If one merely believes without being baptized, he has taken only half a step toward the Lord’s full salvation. There are many elements to the Lord’s salvation; some are received by faith, and some are obtained through baptism. If we merely believe without being baptized, we can receive only part of the Lord’s full salvation. If we want to receive God’s full salvation, we must believe and be baptized.
2. “Which water, as the antitype, also now saves you, that is, baptism...through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 3:21).
Noah and his household of eight entered the ark and were saved from the destruction of the flood. Inside the ark they also passed through the flood and were saved by the flood from the corrupt generation that rebelled against God. Similarly, we have entered into Christ through faith and have escaped the judgment of God’s wrath. However, we also need to pass through baptism and be saved by baptism from our crooked and perverted generation. Just as the flood enabled the members of Noah’s household in the ark to be separated from the old world and to enter into a new world, so also baptism enables us who are in Christ by faith to be separated from the old creation and to enter into a new realm. In order to be saved from the corrupted world, we must be baptized. This aspect of the Lord’s salvation cannot be received by believing; we need to believe and be baptized in order to obtain it.
Faith, calling, confessing, and baptism are four interconnected matters constituting the complete way to receive the Lord’s salvation. They are one complete step to receive the Lord’s salvation. If we have these four matters, we are fully saved.
1. “Save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).
The first result of the Lord’s salvation is deliverance from sin. The Lord’s salvation saves us from our sins. Whoever receives the Lord’s salvation is delivered from the punishment and authority of sin.
2. “Redeemed us out of the curse of the law” (Gal. 3:13).
The Lord’s salvation satisfied the requirements of the law and redeemed us out of the curse of the law. Therefore, the Lord’s salvation delivers us from the curse of the law. Whoever receives the Lord’s salvation is no longer under the curse of the law
3. “Delivers us from the wrath which is coming” (1 Thes. 1:10).
The Lord’s salvation solves the problems of our sin and the punishment related to our sins. Therefore, the Lord’s salvation delivers us from God’s coming wrath. Whoever receives the Lord’s salvation does not need to fear God’s coming wrath because the Lord on the cross received the punishment of God’s wrath in our place and drank the cup of God’s wrath for us.
4. “Delivered us out of the authority of darkness” (Col. 1:13).
The Lord’s salvation delivers us out of the authority of darkness. The authority of darkness is Satan and his kingdom. Through His death on the cross, the Lord defeated Satan and his kingdom. Satan and his kingdom have no ground in us. We have been delivered from Satan’s kingdom and his domination.
5. “Rescue us out of the present evil age” (Gal. 1:4).
In the Lord’s salvation the world was judged through His death on the cross. Furthermore, when we were baptized into the Lord’s death, being buried together with Him, we were also saved from the world. Therefore, the Lord’s salvation rescues us out of the present evil age.
6. “Does not come into judgment but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24).
In the Lord’s salvation we escape judgment and death because He bore our sins on the cross, He was judged by God, and He fully tasted death on our behalf. We are saved, and we will not be judged and condemned again. We have already passed out of death into life.
1. “To give knowledge of salvation to His people by the forgiveness of their sins” (Luke 1:77 see also 1 John 5:13; 3:14; Rom. 8:16).
We can know that we are eternally saved now. We know we are saved because our sins are forgiven, our conscience is at peace, the burden of our sin has fallen away, and our spirit is released. The Word of God, the Bible, also tells us that we have the Lord’s life and that we are saved when we believe. The change in our life and living also proves that we are saved. The Holy Spirit is in our spirit, and He testifies that we are the children of God. These things give us the assurance to know that we are saved. (We will study the details of this point in chapter 15.)
1. “Baptism, not a putting away of the filth of the flesh but the appeal of a good conscience unto God” (1 Pet. 3:21).
A person who is saved by faith should not only be assured inwardly of his salvation but also testify outwardly of his salvation. As soon as one is saved, his first testimony should be baptism. Baptism is the way to obtain the Lord’s full salvation; it is also a testimony that one has obtained the Lord’s salvation. When one is baptized, he receives the Lord’s full salvation and testifies that he has obtained the Lord’s salvation. He testifies that his sins were washed away by the Lord, that he is joined to the Lord, and that he has died together with the Lord. Baptism is a silent testimony that comes out of a clear conscience. Although this is before God, it is also before others. Under normal conditions, when we see someone being baptized, we know he is saved.
1. “Restore to me the gladness of Your salvation”; “You surround me with the ringing shouts of deliverance” (Psa. 51:12; 32:7 see also Luke 15:24, 32; Acts 8:39; 16:34).
The second testimony of a person who has been saved is joy. Salvation causes sinners to be forgiven, to be released from the burden of sin, to be reconciled to God, to be released, to obtain the life of God, and even to obtain God Himself. Moreover, it causes people to obtain a heavenly inheritance and an eternal hope. Salvation makes people rejoice. How could a person who has received so many great, high, extraordinary, and wonderful blessings not rejoice? When the prodigal son returned home and tasted the great love of his father, he could not refrain from rejoicing together with his father. When the Ethiopian eunuch received the Lord’s salvation, he went on his way rejoicing. When the Philippian jailer and his entire household received the Lord’s salvation, they all exulted. Joy in those who are saved is a testimony of God’s salvation.
1. “Zaccheus...said to the Lord, Behold, the half of my possessions, Lord, I give to the poor, and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore four times as much. And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house” (Luke 19:8-9 see also Matt. 3:8).
The third testimony of a saved person is a change in his living. When someone encounters the Lord and is saved, he gains the Lord’s life through the Spirit’s entering into and abiding in him. The Lord’s life, which passed through death and resurrection, has great power. When the Lord’s life enters into a person, it changes him and is manifested in his outward living. No one who experiences this can remain the same. Zaccheus was a great sinner who was greedy and stingy. But as soon as he encountered the Lord, he changed and gave half of what he had to the poor and restored fourfold what he had taken from others by false accusation. This came from the Lord’s salvation, and it testified that the Lord’s salvation had come to him.
1. “Eternal salvation” (Heb. 5:9).
We are saved once for all. Our salvation is not based upon our works or ourselves; instead, it is based upon the Lord and His work. We ourselves and our works can change and are not reliable, but the Lord and His work will not change and are eternally reliable. We cannot obtain the Lord’s salvation by our works, and we cannot lose the Lord’s salvation by our works. The Lord did not save us because of things that we have done, and He will not take away His salvation because of things that we will do. Since our salvation is apart from works, our works have absolutely no effect on our salvation. The Lord’s gift of salvation issues from the grace of His unchanging love and is based upon His eternal work of redemption, which He accomplished on the cross. Therefore, it cannot be changed with respect to us because of our works. The Lord, His love, His grace, and His work are all eternal and unchanging. Therefore, the salvation He gives is also eternal and unchanging. Because His grace and His work have saved us, our salvation is once for all.
2. “By no means perish forever” (John 10:28, see also v. 29).
The greatest blessing we obtain when we are saved is the life of God. This life is the same as God Himself and will by no means perish forever. His life makes us those who will never perish. God gives us His life once for all; He will never repent and take His life from us. Once we obtain His life, we cannot lose it. We have received the eternal life, and we will never perish.
We not only have eternal life, which prevents us from perishing forever, but we also have the powerful hands of the Lord and the Father keeping us; no one can snatch us out of these powerful hands. Our salvation is as secure as God is. (We will examine the details concerning this matter in chapter 16.)
The second kind of salvation spoken of in the Bible is daily salvation. This is our living of salvation, which is lived out by our daily relying on the Lord after our salvation.
1. “Work out your own salvation” (Phil. 2:12).
The Chinese translation, which says, “Carry out the work of your salvation,” does not convey the meaning of this verse. There is no such sentence in the original language of the entire New Testament, and there is no such thought in the Bible. Our salvation is not something we can work to carry out; rather, we obtain it freely through God’s grace. If our salvation was something we could work to carry out, it would be out of our own works. God’s Word clearly states that we are saved not by our works but by God’s grace. The meaning of work out your own salvation is that we should live out the salvation we have already received. We have received salvation; now we need to live it out.
We receive God’s salvation as soon as we believe, so the question of our eternal salvation is resolved; however, after being eternally saved we still must live out God’s salvation. The main elements in God’s salvation are the divine life and God Himself. Therefore, living out God’s salvation mainly means to live out the life of God Himself. This is not something we can do as soon as we believe; it requires obedience with fear and trembling. Our receiving of salvation is by faith, and we receive it once and for all. Our living out of salvation is by obedience, and we must be in fear and trembling daily, even moment by moment, to work this out.
As soon as we are saved, God enters into us to be our salvation. After we are saved, our willing and our working are according to the operation of God within us for the accomplishment of His good pleasure. Therefore, we must be in fear and trembling every day to obey God’s operation within us to make us blameless and guileless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation, among whom we shine as luminaries, manifesting God’s life (vv. 13-16). This is how we can live out God, who lives in us as our salvation, and this is also how we live out the salvation we have received.
2. “He is able to save to the uttermost those who come forward to God through Him, since He lives always to intercede for them” (Heb. 7:25).
The salvation spoken of in this verse is not the salvation that Christ accomplished on the cross as our Savior; it is the salvation of Christ as our Priest in the heavens (cf. v. 24). This is not the Lord’s salvation for redemption of sins but Christ’s salvation through intercession. After we are saved by faith, the Lord gives us daily salvation. The Lord’s salvation as our Priest is based on His salvation as our Redeemer. His salvation of intercession is based on His salvation of redemption. His daily salvation is based on His eternal salvation. There is a distinction between these two kinds of salvation. The Lord as our Savior redeemed us from our sins and gave us eternal salvation. The Lord as our interceding Priest gives us a daily, instant salvation that saves us every day and solves our daily problems. In the former case, we received eternal life, and in the latter, we are enabled to live a heavenly life. The Lord’s eternal salvation saves us eternally, and the Lord’s daily salvation saves us to the uttermost. The word uttermost refers not only to time but also to extent. The Lord’s daily salvation with respect to time saves us to the end and with respect to extent saves us to the uttermost. This daily salvation comes from the Lord, who is always living in the heavens as our great High Priest to intercede for us.
3. “Deliver us from the evil one” (Matt. 6:13).
Being delivered from the evil one is to be delivered from Satan. The Lord said that we should pray this prayer every day. Thus, this is part of the daily salvation we receive. Satan tempts us daily, even hourly. He attacks and attempts to ensnare us; therefore, we need the Lord to deliver us from the evil one every hour of every day.
The third kind of salvation spoken of in the Bible is environmental salvation. This is the salvation God gives us today in our troubling environment.
1. “Who has delivered us out of so great a death, and will deliver us; in whom we have hoped that He will also yet deliver us” (2 Cor. 1:10, see also vv. 8-9).
Paul spoke this word after many afflictions had befallen him and his co-workers when they were in Asia. They were excessively burdened beyond their power and despaired even of living. They had the response of death in themselves, but God delivered them out of so great a death. This salvation does not refer to God’s eternal salvation; rather, it refers to environmental salvation. Paul experienced this kind of salvation in many desperate situations, so he believed that God would deliver them out of their present hardship, and he expressed hope that He would deliver them from sufferings in the future. Every saved one should believe in, hope for, and experience this kind of salvation in difficult situations. God enjoys giving us this kind of salvation.
2. “I know that for me this will turn out to salvation through your petition and the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:19, see also vv. 12-13).
Paul wrote these words when he was in prison. Nevertheless, he knew and believed that through the petition of the Philippian believers and the bountiful supply of the Spirit, his imprisonment would turn out to his salvation. This passage does not refer to being eternally saved from sins, from hell, or from being under the law; instead, it speaks of being saved from our sufferings, that is, environmental salvation.
3. “I was delivered out of the lion’s mouth. The Lord will deliver me from every evil work” (2 Tim. 4:17-18, see also vv. 14-16).
Although Paul encountered persecution from men and was imprisoned for the Lord’s sake, the Lord delivered him out of “the lion’s mouth.” He also believed that the Lord would deliver him from every evil work. These passages clearly refer to Paul’s receiving of God’s environmental salvation in his sufferings.
4. “The angel of Jehovah encamps / Around those who fear Him, and He delivers them” (Psa. 34:7).
The angel of Jehovah is His messenger who encamps around those who fear God and delivers them. This certainly refers to environmental deliverance. Frequently, when we encounter hardships, God sends His angels to deliver us. Sometimes God tells not only one angel to save us but sends many angels to encamp around us and deliver us. This kind of deliverance is something that we who fear Him can obtain at any time and in any place when we encounter hardships; therefore, it is environmental salvation.
The fourth kind of salvation spoken of in the Bible is the salvation of the body. This will occur when the Lord returns. It is the redemption of our old creation body into the glory of the new creation.
1. “We were saved in hope” (Rom. 8:24).
According to the context of this verse, saved does not refer to our spirit but to the redemption of our body. We are eternally saved when we believe and obtain eternal life in our spirit. We do not need to hope for something that we have already obtained. However, the redemption of our body requires us to hope because we must wait for the day of the Lord’s return. When we believed, we obtained eternal salvation, and our spirit was enlivened. However, our body is still groaning and travailing in pain in the old creation, which is under the slavery of corruption with the suffering of illness and aging. When the Lord returns, He will transfigure our body, which is under the slavery of the old creation, and bring it into the glorious freedom of the new creation. The salvation of our body will occur in the future.
2. “Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Rom. 13:11).
The salvation spoken of here must refer to the salvation of our body. It cannot refer to eternal salvation, because we obtained this salvation when our spirit was enlivened the moment we believed. The salvation of our body will occur in the future; thus, it is nearer than when we believed. The Lord’s return is nearer to us today than at the moment of our eternal salvation. Therefore, the salvation of our body, the redemption of our body, is nearer than when we believed.
The Bible also speaks of the salvation of our soul. People usually divide man into two parts, the soul and the body, but in the Bible, God tells us that man has three parts, spirit and soul and body (1 Thes. 5:23). Because we have these three parts, we have three kinds of salvation. Our spirit was enlivened when we believed. We obtained eternal salvation through our regeneration by the Holy Spirit. At that time God forgave our sins and enlivened our deadened spirit. The salvation of our body will occur when the Lord returns. At that time the Lord will transfigure our body, using His great power to transfigure the body of our humiliation into a glorious body. The salvation of our soul will be obtained when we enter into the millennial kingdom to reign with the Lord. It will be the Lord’s reward to us when our soul enjoys the joy of the kingdom with Him.
1. “Whoever wants to save his soul-life shall lose it; but whoever loses his soul-life for My sake shall find it” (Matt. 16:25, see also vv. 24-27; 10:37-39).
According to the principle of the Bible, the salvation spoken of here does not refer to eternal salvation, because eternal salvation is obtained freely through faith without any requirement that we pay a price. Salvation in these verses comes from losing our soul-life; it is obtained by our willingness to pay the price of sacrificing our soul. Moreover, eternal salvation is related to the enlivening of our spirit, whereas the salvation spoken of here is related to finding the soul-life. From the context of this passage, save refers to receiving a reward when the Lord returns in glory because we were willing to deny ourselves, take up our cross, follow the Lord, and lose our soul-life for the Lord’s sake. According to the New Testament, this reward is our entrance into the millennial kingdom and our enjoyment of the joy of our Lord (25:21). The enjoyment of joy is particularly related to the soul. If we are not willing to lose our enjoyment in this age, we will save our soul-life today but lose our soul-life in the future, that is, we will lose our soul’s enjoyment in the millennial kingdom. If we are willing to sacrifice our soul’s enjoyment for the Lord’s sake in this age, even to the extent of losing our soul-life, we will find our soul-life in the future; that is, we will obtain a reward when the Lord returns, and our soul will enjoy the joy of the millennial kingdom with the Lord. This is the salvation of the soul. The Lord also speaks of this matter in Matthew 10:39.
Our soul is not only where we experience joy and happiness but also where we experience suffering. Whether we experience joy or suffering, these are particularly felt in the soul. The suffering sensed by the soul actually gives one a feeling of suffering. All the ridicule, persecution, and harm that we receive from others because we believe, serve, and follow the Lord cause our soul to suffer. For example, some want to love the Lord, but their spouse does not agree and gives them trouble. Others want to serve God and take the Lord’s way, but their parents or children oppose them, their friends reject them, and even their closest relatives and neighbors persecute them. These are sufferings to the soul. If we do not love and follow the Lord because we want to avoid these sufferings, we will save our soul-life and avoid them. However, this will cause us to lose the enjoyment of the kingdom in our soul. If we are willing to bear these sufferings for the Lord’s sake, we will allow our soul to be troubled, to be dealt with, to be put to death, to be lost, and to be sacrificed for the Lord. This will be the salvation of our soul, and it will enable our soul to enjoy the joy of the Lord in the future.
Our soul is just our self. If we are willing to deny our self, to put the self to death without saving it, we will lose, rather than save, our soul-life. If we are willing to do this today, we will experience the Lord’s life in our spirit and enjoy the joy of the Lord in our soul in the future. In the future, when we enjoy the joy of the Lord in our soul, we will find our soul-life and obtain the salvation of our soul. This future salvation requires us to lose our soul-life today by allowing our soul to suffer, to be troubled, and even to be put to death.
2. “Whoever will lose his soul-life for My sake and the gospel’s shall save it” (Mark 8:35).
While this passage says the same thing as Matthew 16:25, which speaks of losing our soul-life for the Lord’s sake, it also speaks of losing our soul-life for the gospel’s sake. Being for the Lord’s sake and the gospel’s sake are inseparable matters. If we sacrifice the enjoyment of our soul and our soul-life itself in this age, we will obtain a special enjoyment of our soul in the future kingdom as we reign with the Lord in glory and enjoy the joy of the Lord.
3. “Whoever seeks to preserve his soul-life will lose it, and whoever loses it will preserve it alive” (Luke 17:33).
Any believer who seeks to preserve his soul-life and its enjoyment for himself in this age will lose the enjoyment of his soul in the age of the kingdom; whoever loses his soul’s enjoyment for the Lord will save his soul in the kingdom age and will obtain enjoyment.
4. “He who has endured to the end, this one shall be saved” (Matt. 10:22; 24:13).
The salvation spoken of here by the Lord requires enduring to the end. This is different from eternal salvation, which requires only faith. According to the context, the Lord is speaking of the salvation of the soul. Some believers are persecuted and killed for the Lord. If they endure to the end, the Lord will reward them in the future by causing their soul to avoid suffering and by giving them the enjoyment of His joy.
5. “In your endurance you will possess your souls” (Luke 21:19).
This verse clearly speaks of enduring suffering for the Lord, which causes our souls to be saved. This word is further proof of the Lord’s word in Matthew 10:22 concerning the salvation of our soul. Both verses speak of the same thing.
6. “Those who have faith to the gaining of the soul” (Heb. 10:39).
Although this verse speaks of faith causing our souls to be gained, it is not referring to the faith we had when we first believed in the Lord. Rather, it refers to our faith after believing in the Lord. This is not the faith needed for our entrance into salvation but the faith needed for our walk on the Lord’s way. It is not faith for obtaining life but faith for living. If we walk by faith on the Lord’s way after we are saved and live an overcoming life, this faith will cause our souls to be saved in the future, when we participate in the glory and joy of the kingdom.
7. “Therefore putting away all filthiness and the abundance of malice, receive in meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21).
This verse speaks of our souls being saved by putting away all filthiness and the abundance of malice and receiving in meekness the implanted word. This is different from eternal salvation, which requires only faith. Eternal salvation is obtained as soon as we believe and receive the Lord’s word. The salvation of our soul will be received in the future if we put away filthiness and malice and continually receive and keep the Lord’s word.
8. “Receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Pet. 1:9, see also v. 5).
Faith here refers to our faith for living after we are saved (cf. v. 7). This faith enables us to receive God’s preserving and to overcome tribulations and trials so that our souls can be saved. With such faith, we will receive the salvation that God has prepared, which will be manifested at the Lord’s return and which consists of our escaping all sufferings and enjoying the joy of glory.
9. “The Lord...will save me into His heavenly kingdom” (2 Tim. 4:18 see also 2 Pet. 1:11).
After Paul was saved, he sacrificed all the enjoyment of his soul in this age for the Lord’s sake, and he was prepared to lose his soul-life, to be willingly martyred for the Lord. Therefore, he believed that the Lord would save him into His heavenly kingdom and cause his soul to enjoy the Lord’s joy there. In the future the Lord will certainly give him much glory and a rich entrance into His kingdom so that he will enjoy glory and joy with the Lord.
Eternal salvation is freely given at the time of our believing through the enlivening of our spirit, and the salvation of our body will be received when the Lord returns, but the salvation of the soul will be obtained only in the millennial kingdom by those who are willing to suffer for the Lord and to lose the enjoyment of their soul today. The salvation that is related to the spirit and the body does not require us to do anything; only the salvation of the soul requires that we pay a price, the price of losing the enjoyment of our soul in this age. The salvation of our soul is the portion of God’s salvation that is a reward. (We will cover the details of this portion in chapters 47 and 48.)
