What is Salvation?

By Mahlon Wickey  May, 2013

  

It has been said that the Bible is the world’s best seller, but also the world’s LEAST understood book.  But my question is; which translation is the world’s best seller, and which translation is the world’s LEAST understood?  In all honesty we could say that it was the King James translation that DIVIDED the Christian faith into hundreds of sects, movements, cults, and our entire church system!  All these hundreds of divided groups, and all our modern divided churches generally TEACH from only ONE source; the King James Bible!  This tells me that the King James Bible is indeed the world’s LEAST understood book, and this is WHY we should use our God-given WISDOM to carefully STUDY our beloved King James Bibles! 

 

This article is NOT intended to point out how WRONG Christians are in how they happen to believe on salvation.  Christians generally cannot control what they believe since they were unknowingly made "victims" and were "spoon fed" all their lives on what to believe and what NOT to believe!  There is much more to biblically "uncover" about salvation than what our modern DIVIDED churches have taught us all our lives.  This article will "uncover" some theological possibilities on salvation that are unthinkable in our modern Christian environment. 

 

Salvation is the MOST popular belief of our modern churches, and this is generally WHY people choose to "become" Christians, and the message of salvation is that IF people truly believe on Jesus Christ then they are "saved".  But certain Christians feel it DEPENDS on them to share and "explain" Jesus to others, and urging them to come to (their) church to "get saved" (as they are).  So WHY are certain Christians so determined to "explain" Jesus in urging others to "get saved" since Jesus is NOT a "secret" message, but is preached about and "explained" every Sunday to millions of people? 

 

Yes, our modern churches have a major influence on people in HOW Jesus is "found", and WHY people truly NEED to "get saved".  But it is Christians that NEED to be asked questions such as; what are you "saved" FROM, or what are you "saved" FOR, or what is REQUIRED to "get saved", or just asked the very simple question; what truly IS (yes, IS) salvation? 

 

Christians usually give these answers; we are saved from death and have eternal life, or saved to go to heaven, or saved from sin.  But "death", "eternal life", "heaven", and "saved from sin" MUST be discerned spiritually, and NOT by our "normal" human way of thinking.  But Christians generally realize that saved from death, saved for eternal life, saved to go to heaven, and saved from the effects of sin must come AFTER they die.  But the major dilemma for these many Christians is that they still strongly believe and INSIST that they are ALREADY saved! 

 

But another answer that is given by many Christians is that if (yes, IF) people willingly REJECT the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ then these people are DOOMED to the "fires of hell" to suffer END-LESS punishment and torment "forever"!  In other words, many Christians believe that the premise of salvation is limited ONLY in being saved from "going to hell". 

 

My question has always been; who in their RIGHT MIND would want to willingly REJECT the gospel of Jesus Christ if indeed this is the ONLY way to ESCAPE this most terrible NEVER-ENDING punishment and torment in "hell-fire"?  Maybe most people use their God-given common sense and simply do NOT BELIEVE in a God that is "supposedly" such a very cruel MONSTER!  Or maybe Christians are the people doing the REJECTING! 

 

Are they REJECTING that MOST people are NOT "called" to be saved DURING this present evil AGE, and are they rejecting that this is WHY most people are UNABLE to correctly respond to the gospel message?  Are they REJECTING that this present evil AGE is required in the divine PLAN of the AGES for the eventual salvation of mankind?  Are they also REJECTING the TRUTH about "hell" and "hell fire"?  Carefully read about these TWO types of "hell" in the link, "Gehenna" on my web site. 

 

But the ONE answer that is ALWAYS given by ALL Christians is that we MUST believe on Jesus Christ in order to be saved, and John 3:16 is generally quoted along with Acts 2:21…. 

 

(KJV) And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

 

But notice that we MUST do something else in addition to just believing on Jesus Christ in order to be saved.  Acts 2:21 says; "that whosoever SHALL CALL on the NAME of the Lord shall be saved".  To "call" (G1941) means "to entitle" (a legal RIGHT) to appeal for HELP on the NAME (G3686) of the Lord; which is ON the authority and character of Jesus Christ.  The point is, this is MUCH MORE that just becoming a so-called "believer" since "devils" ALSO believe, but they tremble (James 2:19).  Carefully read the link, "Devils" on my web site. 

 

When we realize that we truly do NEED the HELP of Jesus Christ in order to be saved then this causes TRUE humility, and we are then INSPIRED to earnestly PRAY by "calling on" the NAME of Jesus Christ for HELP in our humble and spiritual "walk" in this life.  TRUE humility INSPIRES us to know the NEED to be saved, and it was GOD that provided this NEED by "planting" a symbolic tree that was "pleasant to the eyes" (Gen 3:6), so that Eve would DESIRE to "eat" of this tree; which she DID!  Therefore Adam was INSPIRED to choose "sin and death" that all mankind inherited, and made all mankind accountable to be JUDGED, but it made God responsible to provide the PERFECT sacrifice for this "sin and death" condition. 

 

We have all heard the testimonies of sincere Christians of the EXACT circumstances, the EXACT date, and sometimes the EXACT time of day when they were "saved".  They most certainly experienced "something" that truly CHANGED their hearts and minds that seemed to have a LASTING affect on their lives and lifestyles.  Yes, there is indeed a "Christian" SPIRIT in today’s deceived world that INSPIRES the hearts of people at the "right moment", and it is this "Christian" SPIRIT that "speaks" to the hearts of people that they are now SAVED.  They then "feel good" about Jesus with a special "love for Jesus", and it is this "Christian" SPIRIT that INSPIRES sincere Christians to testify of all the blessings of Jesus, and to testify of the "love of Jesus" that is truly FELT in their hearts. 

 

But it is very obvious in the way and manner that the testimonies are given from sincere Christians is that they responded according to their EMOTIONS, and NOT according to the WISDOM of salvation.  Notice what Paul says…. 

 

2Tim 3:15 KJV And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 

 

The original Hebrew manuscripts were (and are) the INSPIRED Old Testament that were able to make Timothy WISE unto salvation.  This "hidden" WISDOM in the Old Testament CALLED FOR and pointed TOWARD Christ’s death and sacrifice; which made salvation possible through faith which is in Christ Jesus, as Paul explained.  Paul urged Timothy to use this type of "hidden" WISDOM (NOT emotions) so that his faith in Christ Jesus is CORRECT in the divine PURPOSE of salvation. 

 

But there is nothing WRONG with Christians expressing their emotions of being "saved" since they might NOT be aware of this "hidden" WISDOM of salvation in the Old Testament.  This is a history LESSON on how God "handled" the rebellion and repentance of the nation of Israel, and this history LESSON was able to make Timothy WISE unto salvation.  Wisdom is the ABILITY (given by God) to spiritually discern salvation found ONLY through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  This CORRECT faith in Christ Jesus is a GIFT of God!  Notice Ephesians 2:8…. 

 

KJV For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  

 

Please understand; this certain faith is NOT of OURSELVES!  In other words, this GIFT of God does NOT come by a "free will" choice that gives us the ability of OURSELVES to choose to "get saved".  The illusion and fallacy of so-called "free will" is instead "SELF will" (NOT "free will") that God created in ALL mankind.  Carefully read the link, "Freewill" on my web site. 

 

The LESSON of the history (HIS-story) of Israel would INCLUDE the history (HIS-story) of ALL mankind simply because all mankind is RULED by the MIXTURE of the knowledge of "good and evil", and therefore "in Adam" all mankind inherited BOTH "sin AND death".  This mixture did NOT produce TRUE lasting peace; but INSTEAD produced the PAIN of all wars, all evils, and all sufferings in the history (HIS-story) of all mankind! 

 

"In Adam" All mankind inherited this deadly mixture of the thoughts (spirits) of "good and evil", therefore all mankind is INSPIRED to experience the PAIN of all wars, all evils, and all sufferings for a DIVINE PURPOSE!  Yes, a sovereign God (in total CONTROL of "HIS-story" of all mankind) makes God responsible to "save" all mankind FROM this DEADLY mixture! 

 

As we all know, our modern churches believe that the KJ Bible IS the "word of God", but the KJ Bible is only a translation of the original words in the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts.  But these original manuscripts ALSO cannot be called the "word of God" because the TRUE "word of God" is SPIRIT, and NOT written words!  But the KJ Bible does indeed teach us in godly living, and it ALSO points to the "hidden" precious TRUTHS of God, but the KJ Bible must be carefully STUDIED in order to FIND these precious "gems" of TRUTH!  

 

The terms, "thy word" and the "word of God" are found many times in the KJ Bible, but these terms are NOT talking about the translated words found our beloved KJ Bibles!  The KJ Bible could be carefully read (even whole chapters memorized), but it does NOT have the POWER to "save" anyone!  So WHY do pastors proudly proclaim that they are teaching the "word of God" FROM their beloved KJ Bibles?  The LAW of the "natural" mind is that if "Christian" sounding terms are repeated enough times in the ears of unsuspecting minds then these terms will be believed as TRUTH, and therefore NEVER questioned! 

 

Carefully read and STUDY what Heb 4:12 says…. 

 

KJV For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  

 

This is NOT referring to our KJ Bibles as being the "word of God", but our modern churches DO believe that Heb 4:12 is indeed referring to our "quick", "powerful", and "sharp" beloved KJ Bibles!  Notice that the "word of God" is "sharp-ER" than any two-edged sword; which means it is a SPIRITUAL "sharpness".  I believe this type of "sharpness" spiritually AFFECTS the thoughts and intents of the hearts of only a very FEW saints to PREPARE and INSPIRE them for a "special" salvation.  We shall see later what this "special" salvation is all about. 

 

"Dividing asunder" (G3311) means separation or distribution, and I find it interesting that in Heb 2:4 this SAME Greek word (G3311) could ALSO mean "gifts" of the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit)…. 

 

KJV God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? 

 

If (yes, IF) the GIFTS of the Holy Spirit are indeed "separated and distributed", then this means that the "word of God" MUST "divide asunder" the soul FROM the spirit to determine WHICH gifts are to be separated and distributed to the soul OR the spirit of saints.  This SPIRITUAL "two-edged" sword has TWO very sharp "edges" that "cuts" BOTH ways, and when the soul and spirit are "divided asunder" to receive spiritual GIFTS is when one "edge" is piercing the soul and the other "edge" is piercing the spirit.  Notice the word "piercing" in Heb 4:12. 

 

The terms, "joints and marrow" are also spiritual terms.  "Joints" (G719 and G716) is linked to mean "fitted together", and "marrow" is defined by an online Dictionary as "strength and vitality".  Please understand; the "word of God" has the power and sharpness to "divide asunder" soul and spirit to receive spiritual GIFTS that are to be "fitted together" (joints) with "strength and vitality" (marrow).  These spiritual GIFTS are given to HELP and INSPIRE only a very FEW saints to prepare them for a "special" salvation.  This is how the very careful PROCESS of salvation is DONE; it is NOT done by the illusion and fallacy of the so-called "free will" choices of saints! 

 

Heb 4:12 also says that the "word of God" is a "discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart", and discerner (G2924) means "decisive" or "critical", and is taken from G2923 that means a JUDGE.  Yes, a certain JUDGE will judge the thoughts and intents of the hearts of only a very FEW saints in a decisive and critical manner to divinely determine HOW to chastise, correct, and INSPIRE these very FEW saints! 

 

These very FEW saints with the USE of their spiritual GIFTS must be JUDGED by the "word of God" to determine their spiritual PROCESS in preparing them for their "special" salvation.  Again, this power, sharpness, and control is NOT done by the feeble so-called "free will" choices of saints, simply because the "SELF will" of saints is NOT FREE from the "word of God" that "speaks" to the thoughts and intends of their hearts! 

 

Saints with the CORRECT faith in Christ Jesus (2Tim 3:15) are therefore ABLE to respond with the PROPER thoughts and intents of their hearts because they are INSPIRED by the "word of God" that is IN (yes, IN) their hearts that ALSO gives them the knowledge and WISDOM of the PURPOSE of their salvation. 

 

Heb 4:12 also says that the "word of God" is "quick" (G2198); which means "to live" (alive).  Yes, the "word of God" is ALIVE!  "Quick" is the same word as Christ being the JUDGE of the "QUICK and the dead" (Acts 10:42, 2Tim 4:1, and 1Pet 4:5).  Saints that are legally made "alive" are the "quick" (as also is the "word of God"), and Christ is the JUDGE of BOTH the "quick AND the dead"; which includes the spiritually DEAD (1Tim 5:6 and Luke 15:24), along with those DEAD in the graves.  So why would Christ ALSO be the JUDGE of the "quick" since they are ALREADY legally made "alive"?  Now think about this! 

 

Maybe judgment is NEEDED to determine HOW the "quick" are to be chastised, corrected, and inspired DURING their physical lives!  Since Christ is ALSO the judge of all (yes, ALL) the dead, will He ALSO judge, chastise, correct, and inspire the vast majority of souls that have died WITHOUT being "made alive"?  There is a resurrection BOTH of the just and unjust (Acts 24:15), and I believe that the unjust DEAD are "asleep" (UNAWARE of the passing of time), and Christ determines when to AWAKEN them out of their "sleep".  Christ is (yes, IS) the "word of God" that has the POWER to judge BOTH the "quick and the dead", and it could be thousands of years before the unjust DEAD will be "awakened" (resurrected) to be judged.  Carefully read the link, "Death" on my web site. 

 

Christ was dead (asleep) and was "awakened" (resurrected) on the THIRD day of His death.  Maybe the "just" that are "in Christ" that have died might ALSO be "awakened" on the THIRD day of their death since they are TRULY "in Christ"!  But of course they will NOT yet be resurrected with new bodies, as Christ was. 

 

AFTER three days the body starts to decay or "stink" (John 11:39), and maybe the spirit does NOT leave the body permanently until the body starts to DECAY, and a decaying body is UNABLE to live AGAIN since the SPIRIT does NOT return to a decaying body.  Maybe this is WHY the "quick" must be "awakened" on the THIRD day of their death since there is that slight "chance" that their bodies could live AGAIN. 

 

This would explain the "out of the body" experiences of people that have supposedly died, and their spirit RETURNED to their bodies and they became alive again, and were therefore able to recall and talk about their experiences.  Sure, they might have been "clinically" dead, but since their spirit RETURNED to their bodies, were they TRULY dead and were they TRULY "asleep"? 

 

The biblical meaning of "salvation" is explained in how (yes, HOW) the many words linked to "salvation" are used in the correct context of inspired scripture.  In the Old Testament the term, "salvation" is found 119 times; which are the Hebrew words, H3444, H8668, and H3468.  Some (but not all) of the words used are; safety, deliverance, victory, liberty, and RESCUE.  Therefore "salvation" could mean ANY of these words in the correct context in HOW they were used in scripture. 

 

The Old Testament "saviour" (H3467) means to "free" or to "succor", and "succor" is defined as; "to give assistance and aid in times of hardship and distress".  God was the "saviour" of Israel, and when Israel repented God came to the assistance and aid of Israel to rescue and to FREE Israel from hardship and distress.  Please understand; Israel was saved (yes, SAVED) several times DURING the history of Israel! 

 

The Greek "salvation" (G4991) is found 45 times, and means RESCUE or safety, and the words; save, salvation, saving, deliver, and health (yes, HEALTH) could apply to ANY of these many TYPES of "salvation" in the correct context of scripture.  I personally like to use the word, "rescue" since I believe this word defines salvation in a very simple and most accurate way. 

 

The New Testament "saviour" is G4990, and means a "deliverer" that can be BOTH God the Father OR Jesus Christ.  G4990 is found 24 times and is taken from G4982 that means; safe, deliver, and protect, and the words; saved, save, healed, make whole, preserve, and do well are ALSO used.  Again, (as in the Old Testament) these words in the New Testament means that to be "safe", to "deliver", to "protect", to be "saved", to "save", to be "healed" (yes, HEALED), to "make whole", to "preserve", and to "do well" could be applied to ANY example in HOW these words were used in the correct context of the New Testament scriptures. 

 

The major point is; all these many words that are linked to "salvation" are used in a very broad sense in many biblical examples.  Just a little research and study is required to trace these many TYPES of "salvation".  But our modern churches generally IGNORE that these many TYPES of "salvation" could APPLY in many ways in everyday situations in this physical life! 

 

So what is the TYPE of "salvation" that is found through the CORRECT faith in Christ Jesus, as was mentioned in 2Tim 3:15?  The early church had the FAITH in the salvation of the SOUL, as explained by these following scriptures….

 

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 5:20 KJV Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins 

 

1Peter 1:9 KJV Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 

 

Hebrews 10:39 KJV But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.  

 

James 1:21 mentions the "engrafted word" (G1721); which means the IMPLANTED "word" (of God) that is PLANTED in the hearts of saints.  Of course, the implanted "word of God" in the hearts of saints INSPIRES the CORRECT faith in Christ Jesus, and it is this FAITH that "shall SAVE a soul from DEATH" (James 5:20).  But the term, "soul" must be biblically defined BEFORE the "death" of the soul can be biblically defined! 

 

The Old Testament "soul" is found 420 times, but this Hebrew word (H5315) was translated 753 times (yes, 753 times) into many other words INSTEAD of just simply translated as "soul".  The term, "soul" (H5315) is linked to a breathing animal, and it is possible that all breathing creations of God (including plants) could be called "souls" simply because they all have built-in unique natures and characteristics that identifies and defines the breathing animal or plant (yes, plants do "breathe"). 

 

Keep in mind that H5315 was used 753 times in a very BROAD sense, and the term, "person(s)" was used many times.  "Person" is defined simply as an "individual", and therefore a "soul" could be defined by the unique nature and character of an individual PERSON.  Maybe the USE of spiritual GIFTS that are "fitted together" with "strength and vitality" (joints and marrow) determines the UNIQUE nature and character of the SOUL (person) of a believing saint.  This takes us right back to Heb 4:12, which indeed could be explaining this concept! 

 

The Greek "soul" (G5590) means the "breath" of an animal (same as H5315), but with animal "sentient" (able to "perceive" or "feel").  It is interesting that the meanings of BOTH the Old and New Testament "souls" are linked to the word "vitality"; such as the strength and VITALITY of "marrow" (Heb 4:12). 

 

I believe "souls" are defined as the "breath" of animals simply because carnal man can be defined as "brute beasts" (2Peter 2:12 and Jude 1:10).  Man and beast all have ONE breath and will all die the SAME physical death, and this is WHY carnal man has no preeminence (is NOT superior) above a beast…. 

 

Ecclesiastes 3:19 KJV For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. 

 

Adam was made a "living soul" (Gen 2:7).  In other words, the PERSON of Adam (his unique nature and character) was made ALIVE by the "breath of God" to be USED by God for HIS divine purpose.  Please understand; it was Adam’s UNIQUE nature and character that DIED, and therefore became USELESS to God.  It was Adam’s SOUL that died in the day he sinned; it was NOT Adam’s BODY that died!  The DEATH of Adam’s soul called for a savior that would rescue (save) Adam’s soul FROM death; to make it ALIVE as it was BEFORE Adam sinned!  ALL souls will remain DEAD UNTIL they are "in Christ" to be made ALIVE…. 

 

1 Corinthians 15:22 KJV For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.   

 

"In Adam" ALL souls die, and notice "even so"; meaning that eventually in future ages the SAME "all" will ALSO ("even so") be "in Christ" to be made ALIVE! 

 

ALL souls belong to God (Ezek 18:4); which means that ALL souls are in the LOVING CARE and responsibility of God!  ALL souls "in Adam" inherited sin and death, and therefore are BORN in sin and death.  ALL souls will spiritually DIE unless they are RESCUED (saved) from this spiritual DEATH!  Of course, the CORRECT faith in Christ Jesus is the RESCUE (salvation) of souls so that they will NOT DIE!  This means that souls with the CORRECT faith in Christ Jesus are NOT waiting for a FUTURE death that they can be rescued from. 

 

To "quicken" is to make "ALIVE" souls (persons) into a GODLY nature and character, and this is the "salvation of the soul" FROM the spiritual death that all souls inherited!  Souls that are "quickened" (legally made alive) with a GODLY nature and character will be USEFUL to God for HIS divine PURPOSE!  But souls do NOT appear "dead" TO US, but they are DEAD to God because they are USELESS to God in the "earthy" (animal) nature and character that they were all BORN in.  Many Christian souls (persons) generally have a "good" MORAL nature and character, but do they have the CORRECT faith and beliefs to be USEFUL to God for HIS divine PURPOSE?  That is the question! 

 

Are they USEFUL to God IF (yes, IF) they believe that God will cast (or even ALLOW) billions of unbelieving souls to suffer end-less punishment and torment in "hell fire"?  Are these Christian souls USEFUL to God IF (yes, IF) they refuse to study the scriptures in order to GROW in the grace and knowledge (yes, KNOWLEDGE) of their Saviour Jesus Christ (2Peter 3:18)?  Many of these Christian souls believe that biblical knowledge is NOT all that necessary, so are they USEFUL to God with this FLAWED "Christian" belief that will indeed PREVENT them to intimately know (knowledge is "to KNOW") the SOUL of their Saviour?  Yes, Christian souls should WANT to KNOW the nature and character of the PERSON (soul) that will RESCUE (save) them from "sin and death"! 

 

Christian souls FAIL (or refuse) to understand that the HONEST study of inspired scripture reveals the CORRECT doctrines and teachings that defines the WILL, pleasure, desire, and intention of the PERSON (soul) of God that INSPIRED the scriptures!  Do these Christian souls truly have a HUMBLE repentant nature and character during their "Christian" lives, and do they truly realize the NEED to "call on" (earnestly pray daily) for the HELP of Jesus Christ in order to be SAVED? 

 

The major FLAW about Christian souls is that they generally are NOT aware of the POWER of spiritual deception, and the spiritual HARM that it can have on their souls!  But please understand; ALL deceived Christian souls will STILL BE SAVED, but they might NOT qualify for a "special" salvation, and NOT be in the FIRST resurrection (Rev 20:5-6), therefore their souls will remain DEAD until they are resurrected in a FUTURE age. 

 

Notice what Job says about the "spirit in man".... 

 

Job 32:8 KJV But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. 

 

It is obvious that Job is NOT talking about the MANY "good and evil" thoughts (spirits) that "in Adam" all mankind has INHERITED, and is CURSED with!  There is a certain spirit (singular) in man that can be INSPIRED by the Almighty that gives man a certain "understanding".  I believe this is the ONE spirit that when the body dies it RETURNS back to God (Ecc 12:7).  Mark 15:37 says that when Christ died he "gave up the ghost" (His spirit), simply because the body is DEAD without "the" spirit (the ONE spirit), as explained in James 2:26. 

 

The word "inspiration" (H5397) means "vital breath", which simply refers to the "breath of God".  The word "understanding" (H995) means to "separate" (there is that word "separate" AGAIN); which again takes us right back to Heb 4:12!  Why is it VITAL (necessary) for this certain INSPIRED understanding to be separateD?  Separated from WHAT?  I believe that God’s VITAL breath (His Spirit) along with VITAL oxygen was breathed into Adam to give "breathing" life to Adam, and to ALSO put a certain understanding in the ONE "spirit in Adam" to be separated from the sinful CARNAL understanding that comes from the MANY "good and evil" spirits (thoughts). 

 

ALL mankind "in Adam" inherited this ONE "spirit in man" that can have a certain INSPIRED understanding of the Almighty God.  Yes, this DIVINE inspiration is HOW Almighty God is ABLE to bear WITNESS with OUR spirit (Rom 8:16).  To "witness" (G4828) means to testify jointly or to corroborate (to CONFIRM).  Spiritual discernment of precious TRUTHS of God are testified jointly and CONFIRMED by God’s Spirit with OUR spirit! 

 

God’s Spirit has an OPEN "line of communication" that is directly CONNECTED with OUR spirit that gives us a certain understanding that is separated from "good and evil" spirits!  The FUNCTION of this ONE "spirit in man" therefore could theoretically be called a "receiver" that is able to DISCERN "signals" from God’s Spirit on the same principle as "receivers" CONNECTED to our TVs that ALSO "discerns" signals. 

 

Our ONE spirit "communicates" prayer and fellowship with the SPIRIT of our heavenly Father.  But this type of communication (or "communion") is NOT done by the religious RITUAL of a tiny piece of bread and a tiny sip of wine given to members of a church during a "Holy Communion" service!  Carefully read the link, "Communion" on my web site. 

 

This ONE believing "spirit in man" has an OPEN line of communication with the SPIRIT of our heavenly Father through the CORRECT faith given as a GIFT for the "spirit in man" to USE!  But the vast majority of the spirits (spiritual "receivers") of mankind are NOT ABLE to discern the signals of precious TRUTHS of God DURING this evil temporary world/age of deception!  Without these spiritual SIGNALS from the TRUE God explains WHY the true God is REPLACED with false gods and false worship!  This also explains all the wars, all evils, all spiritual DECEPTIONS, and all the utter FAILURES of mankind! 

 

This ONE "spirit in man" has a built-in yearning to be rescued from the PAIN of all evils and sufferings, but deceived mankind is NOT AWARE that the PAIN of all evils and sufferings are only temporary during this evil world/age of DECEPTION according to the divine PLAN of the AGES! 

 

It is only a very small remnant (the "firstfruits" spoken of in Rom 8:23, James 1:18, and Rev 14:4) that God will WITNESS (testify jointly to CONFIRM) the precious TRUTHS of God and the WISDOM of their salvation.  It is this very small remnant that will be rescued (saved) with a SPECIAL salvation…. 

 

1Timothy 4:10 KJV For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. 

 

This word "specially (G3122) means "in the greatest degree", and this is one example that the KJ Bible was CORRECT by translating G3122 using the word "specially"!  It simply reveals a very profound TRUTH about the living God as being the Saviour of all men (yes, ALL men)!  If (yes, IF) we are HONEST with 1Tim 4:10 then we have to confess that just because TRUE believers are RESCUED (saved) "in the GREATEST degree" does NOT EXCLUDE unbelievers from ALSO being RESCUED (saved) "in a LESSER degree" during a FUTURE glorious age (or ages) by the Saviour of all man (yes, ALL men)! 

 

TRUE believers during this evil deceptive AGE will be RESCUED (saved) with a SPECIAL salvation to be a part of the FIRST resurrection (Rev 20:5-6).  Yes, this is WHY we should pay very close attention to supposedly "insignificant" KJ words; such as the supposedly "insignificant" KJ word, "specially"! 

 

This "special" salvation explains WHY there are many WARNINGS in the New Testament; NOT only warnings on MORAL issues but also warnings to NOT be deceived about the TRUE God and HIS divine PLAN of the AGES!  To be "called" by God to obtain a SPECIAL salvation "in the GREATEST degree" is very serious spiritual business!  As to WHO is chosen for this SPECIAL salvation is determined by the "word of God" (Christ); it is NOT determined by a feeble "free will" choice! 

 

This brings us to this very important question; WHY did the early church (the firstfruits) believe in the salvation of ONLY the soul?  Could it be that they knew their SPIRIT would STILL be saved along with their SOUL?  As we shall see, the SPIRIT is RESCUED (saved) ANYHOW, but the spirit is also given GIFTS (same as the soul), but ONLY the soul has an unique nature and character that must be spiritually PROCESSED so that the SOUL can be RESCUED (saved) along with the SPIRIT. 

 

But we can all agree that the nature and character of MOST souls in an evil deceived world/age are USELESS to God, and therefore God will have to DESTROY them.  The word "destroy" (G622) means to PERISH or to be LOST, and that is the spiritual condition of the vast billions of unbelieving souls in this temporary evil world/age of deception.  But are these vast billions of USELESS souls destroyed, perished, and lost "forever", as believed and taught by our modern churches? 

 

Souls are destroyed, perished, and lost since they are USELESS to God but ONLY during this temporary evil world/age.  So WHY then is the SPIRIT still SAVED?  There is the very interesting example of the Corinthian fornicator that was delivered unto Satan for the "destruction of the flesh" for the very PURPOSE so that his SPIRIT may be SAVED in the "day of the Lord Jesus".... 

 

1Cor 5:5 KJV To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus

 

The "destruction of the flesh" also means to "destroy the body", and in Matt 10:28 Christ said to fear Him (God) that is able to destroy BOTH soul and body in "Gehenna hell" (G1067).  But Christ did NOT mention the SPIRIT; which simply means that the SPIRIT will NOT be destroyed by "Gehenna hell"! 

 

The SOUL of this Corinthian fornicator directly affected the ACTIONS of his body, therefore BOTH his soul and body had to be destroyed, but ONLY God (NOT Satan) has the POWER to destroy BOTH soul and body in "Gehenna hell".  But a sovereign God has indeed given to Satan the POWER and CONTROL over the "destruction of the flesh" (physical death), and a man that is controlled by a "satanic" SPIRIT can have an "untimely" death such as a sudden sickness, or an accidental death, or is even driven to commit suicide! 

 

Satan was ALSO "turned loose" by a sovereign God to severely HARM Job (Job 1:12), but NOT on Job HIMSELF (or NOT on Job’s SOUL).  Satan supposedly caused all the EVIL and the severe PAIN that Job suffered, but Job KNEW that the LORD (NOT Satan) brought all this EVIL on him (Job 42:11).  Maybe the LORD used a "satanic" SPIRIT (NOT a spirit "being") to severally HARM Job for a divine PURPOSE!  Yes, we should take an HONEST theological "look" at just WHO this "Satan" truly is!  Carefully read the link, "Satan" on my web site. 

 

The function of this so-called "Satan" is to KEEP the souls of the vast majority of mankind to remain "unsaved", even to the "destruction of their flesh".  Only TRUE believers have escaped this so-called "Satan" from keeping their souls "unsaved", but they will all die the physical death ANYHOW, but the physical death of TRUE believers is NOT caused by this so-called "Satan"!  TRUE believers are sanctified "wholly" (the WHOLE man); which is spirit, soul, and BODY to be preserved blameless unto the "coming" of Jesus Christ (1Thes 5:23).  "Coming" (G3952) "strangely" means being NEAR, or to OFTEN return.  Carefully read the link, "Coming" on my web site. 

 

Sure, this Corinthian fornicator was a sanctified believer but with a serious "weakness of the flesh" that needed to be destroyed, and his soul ALSO could NOT be "saved from death" in that "satanic" state of mind. 

 

This Corinthian fornicator’s SOUL (his unique nature and character) would remain spiritually DEAD, destroyed, perished, and lost (just like all USELESS souls) so that his SPIRIT could still be SAVED in the FUTURE "day of the Lord Jesus" (1Cor 5:5).  Yes, this fornicator’s SPIRIT returned back to God at his physical death (determined by "Satan"), and when his SOUL is "awakened" by the JUDGE (Christ) to be judged by FIRE he will then be SAVED "yet so as by FIRE"! 

 

Notice how the apostle Paul explains this "judgment by fire"….

 

1Cor 3:15 KJV If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 

 

The sinful WORKS of this fornicator’s soul (his unique nature and character) will be "burned" and he will suffer this type of LOSS so that he himself (his SOUL) can by SAVED by this "judgment by fire".  Sure, Paul was writing ONLY to believers, but are we to assume that the vast billions of unbelievers would ESCAPE and be exempt from this "judgment by fire"?  The major dilemma and irony for our modern churches is that they generally teach that the "judgment by fire" is the dreaded "hell-fire" that is meant ONLY for the unbelievers!

 

This judgment by fire is the symbolic "Gehenna-fire" that EVERYONE will be "salted" with (Mark 9:49); so that EVERYONE will be "seasoned and preserved" (salted) for their eventual salvation!  This Gehenna-fire is unavoidable since it is for EVERYONE, and therefore this Gehenna-fire COULD NOT be the dreaded "hell fire" that will "forever" punish and torment ONLY the unbelievers, as taught by our modern churches.  It is during the FUTURE "day of the Lord Jesus" (1Cor 5:5) that this Corinthian fornicator’s SPIRIT will be rescued (saved) along with the SPIRITS of the REST of unbelieving mankind. 

 

Just what is this "judgment by fire" and what will it accomplish for God?  God is (yes, IS) a consuming FIRE (Deut 4:24, Deut 9:3, and Heb 12:29).  We all know that the nature and purpose of physical fire is that it destroys, consumes, dissolves, melts, and burns up earthy "elements" that disappear into the fire ITSELF.  God is (yes, IS) a spiritual "fire" that destroys, consumes, dissolves, melts, and burns up the USELESS works of carnal man that disappear into God HIMSELF, and also the "elements" of a physical creation will "melt" into God HIMSELF.

 

The apostle Peter writes about the "elements that shall melt with fervent heat" (2Peter 3:10-13).  The word "melt" is found 15 times in the Old Testament, which of course Peter knew about.  In these examples it speaks of "hearts" (yes, human HEARTS) being "melted", and also land and hills being "melted", and the EARTH being "burned".  Please search and BELIEVE how the term "melt" was used in these 15 examples. 

 

The term, "elements" (G4747) means "orderly arrangement", and "fervent heat" (G2741) means that "something" is set on fire, and the heat of this fire is "fervent"; meaning it will be very effective!  The "orderly arrangement" of an earthy creation was made subject to VANITY (Rom 8:20), and "vanity" (G3153) means "inutility", and is defined as uselessness.  This includes the VANITY of the "animal" nature and character of SOULS that are indeed USELESS to God.  The uselessness of the earthy creation including the uselessness of the carnal HEART and SOUL is TEMPORARY, simply because they are NOT designed or NOT suitable for the spiritual realm of ETERNITY! 

 

The word "melt" (G3089) means to "loosen", and to "loosen" does NOT mean to "pass away" out of existence!  Sure, "heaven and earth" that IS SUITABLE for sinful mankind WILL "pass away" (Matt 24:35), but the elements MUST be "loosened" from VANITY (uselessness) so as to bring about a NEW heavens and a NEW earth that WILL BE SUITABLE for all mankind in ETERNITY.  This is what Peter was talking about!  The FIRE of fervent heat will also MELT "cold cold" hearts (the Hank Williams song) so that HEARTS will ALSO be suitable in eternity! 

 

God himself is (yes, IS) the symbolic "lake of fire", and when death and hell are cast into this lake of fire it is cast INTO God HIMSELF to be consumed.  This "consuming" is not only death but ALSO "hell" (Hades; the state of death), and it is called the "second death" (Rev 20:14).  Theological common sense tells us that the FIRST death was the death of Adam’s SOUL (including his body 930 years later), and it is THIS death that "in Adam" all mankind has inherited, and the "second" death is the death (yes, DEATH) of the "first" death!  The symbolic "lake of fire" causes the DEATH of DEATH, and what is known as "death" (the opposite of LIFE) will be NO MORE, and "hell/Hades" (where ALL souls "sleep" in death) will ALSO be NO MORE!  "Hell" does NOT last "forever", as our modern churches believe and teach! 

 

Hosea 13:14 PROVES that God HIMSELF will be the "plagues" of death and the destruction of the "grave" (H7585), which is the equivalent of the "hell/Hades" of the New Testament. 

 

The symbolic lake of fire is when God’s WRATH will be FELT by those cast into the lake of fire.  The wrath of God (G3709) is simply God’s DESIRE to reach forth with violent PASSION!  God will NOT FAIL to accomplish His WILL, His pleasure, His desire, and His intention that He WANTS to DO for ALL mankind; which is to rescue (save) his (yes, HIS) creation of mankind FROM "sin and death"!  Please understand; the wrath of God is God’s DESIRE to SAVE, which is very different than the wrath of MAN! 

 

The term, "lake" (G3041) is linked to (G3040), which means HAVEN as used twice in Acts 27:12.  We all have to confess that "haven" simply means a place of SAFETY!  The symbolic "lake of fire" (which is God himself) is a very SAFE "place" to be in!  But it can be a "judgment by fire" that could be very severe since it is a FEARFUL thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb 10:31).  But it is NOT the type of "judgment by fire" from the dreaded "hell-fire" that torments and punishes "forever", as believed by many millions of Christians! 

 

Our modern churches have to confess that the Father sent Jesus Christ to be the "saviour of the world" (John 4:42 and 1John 4:14).  Quoting from Apollo 13; "Houston, we have a problem", and Christ speaking to His Father; "my PROBLEM is that I am NOT ABLE to actually save the world because the vast majority of souls DID NOT exercise their "free will" to "get saved"!  This means that Christ has to HONOR the "free will" choices of these billions of unfortunate souls, and therefore has to REFUSE to actually SAVE the world, and can save only a very few souls that somehow had the ability of themselves to choose to "get saved".  Our modern churches IGNORE that just maybe Jesus Christ will indeed be (yes, BE) the "saviour of the world", and actually do (yes, DO) what God the Father sent Him to do! 

 

Again, the term "world" (G2889) means "orderly arraignment", including its inhabitants.  Our modern churches confess that the elements will "melt" with fervent heat, but they IGNORE that the "cold cold HEARTS" of the inhabitants of the world will ALSO MELT with the "fervent heat" of God’s PASSION! 

 

Some believe that God will annihilate out of existence all worthless souls.  But an ALL-KNOWING God would KNOW from the beginning that billions of souls would be worthless to Him, so were these billions of souls created for the SOLE purpose just to be annihilated out of existence?  What nonsense! 

 

But all worthless souls are indeed NEEDED to fulfill this PRESENT evil world/AGE, but there will be FUTURE ages (Eph 2:7). 

 

A loving God CARES for ALL souls since they ALL belong to HIM, and He wants to RESCUE all souls from "sin and death".  But this divine CARE from a loving God is the discipline of all souls to experience the PAIN of all sufferings to KNOW the profound NEED to be rescued from "sin and death"!  

 

Salvation is TRULY explained in Rev 21:4…. 

 

KJV And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 

 

ALL mankind in an evil deceived world/AGE could NOT realize and appreciate true salvation if (yes, IF) ALL mankind NEVER experienced all these PAINFUL things!  Death, sorrow, crying, and PAIN is the history (HIS-story) of all mankind that God will eventually rescue all mankind FROM!  Salvation could simply be the FINISHED "product" of the creation of all mankind. 

 

In conclusion; this article made a "humanly" feeble attempt to "uncover" the theological possibilities on salvation.  I quoted the meanings of certain words, and some might think these are just "technicalities" that DO NOT show the "simplicity of Christ".  But it is very SIMPLE to SIMPLY believe the inspired meanings of certain words!  What is complicated are the doctrines of "free will" and "hell fire" that explains how man’s WILL is "mysteriously" more powerful than God’s WILL, and that man has the POWER to choose to "get saved" in order to AVOID the unavoidable "Gehenna hell fire".  The inspired meanings of certain words are NOT IN DISPUTE, and IF we refuse to accept and TEACH them to others we might NOT be USEFUL to God, and we might NOT qualify for a SPECIAL salvation, and we might NOT rule with Jesus Christ in the coming glorious AGE!           

 

By Mahlon Wickey   May, 2013


 

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