Salvation: past, present, or future?

by Derek Mize  

The Word of God speaks about the salvation of man in three tenses:  past, present, and future.  Christians have been saved;  Christians are being saved;  and Christians will be saved.  In Ephesians 2:8,9 of the Holy Bible, salvation is described as being a past, completed act.  1 Corinthians 1:18 states that salvation is a present, continuous work;  and in Hebrews 1:14, salvation is an inherited possession for the future:

(Eph 2:8-9 NIV)  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- {9} not by works, so that no one can boast.

(1 Cor 1:18 NIV)  For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

(Heb 1:14 NIV)  Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Many Christians do not understand the whole salvation of man according to how the Bible teaches it because they do not  read or study their Bibles on a frequent basis or they just simply do not believe what the Bible says.   The Bible is not a buffet for Christians to pick and choose what scriptures they want to eat.  They must eat the whole Bible in it’s entirety.  For example, James 1:21 tells very specifically how to save your soul.

(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.

This Scripture appears to disagree with Acts 16:30-31, where it says, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"  "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."  Since these two Scriptures are talking about different criteria for salvation, which must mean there is something else a Christian must do in order to save his soul.  Man is a tripartite or three part being consisting of body, soul, and spirit.  These are the three salvations that will be discussed throughout this paper.

(1 Th 5:23 NIV)  May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

There is only one place in the Bible where a person asked, "what must I do to be saved?"  The verse reads:

(Acts 16:30-31 NIV)  He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" {31} They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household."

This requirement for salvation is so simple, a small child can even understand it.  There is only one step to God's plan of salvation and anyone who adds additional steps is merely adding to the Bible.  According to Lyn Mize, "If there was ever an easy believism to salvation, the Bible emphatically states it." (Intro.)  This salvation is known as the salvation of the spirit.  The requirement for this salvation is simply believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.  Lyn Mize states, "Salvation does not require repentance, baptism, submission to the control of the Holy Spirit, fellowship with other Christians, fellowship with God, or faithfulness to God." (Intro.)  These six choices should follow salvation but are in no way requirements for salvation.  When a person believes on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, God's Holy Spirit immediately enters into his body and indwells him forever.  Once this happens a Christian has his ticket punched and is undeniably going to heaven when he dies or is raptured.  Many Christians believe that salvation can be lost, and they are partially right.  The salvation of the soul can be lost, but the salvation of the spirit can not be lost.  That is where the phrase eternal security comes in handy.  The surety of going to heaven can not be lost according to the following verses:

(Eph 1:13 NIV)  And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,

(Eph 4:30 NIV)  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

When a person is saved he is in the family of God, and that is why we call God our Father who is in heaven.  Once God becomes our Father and we become His children (children of God), that relationship cannot be broken.  For example, everyone has a father and a mother.  When someone dies or starts living a life of sin away from his family, does this mean that this person no longer has a mother or a father?  Certainly not!  It does not matter what you do or where you go here on earth, your father will always be your father, and your mother will always be your mother.  Fellowship with the family can be broken, but relationship cannot be broken.  The same is true with our heavenly relationship and fellowship.  The salvation of the spirit is a relationship with God that cannot be broken.  In other words, once a person believes in Jesus Christ, he is going to heaven regardless of what happens later.  The person can become a murderer, rapist, or anything else, but he is still going to heaven.  Every Christian will have to stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ and give an account of what he did here on earth, whether it be good or bad, in accordance with the following Scripture:

(1 Cor 3:13-15 NIV)  his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. {14} If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. {15} If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

Then each Christian will be rewarded according to what he did in this life.  If everything he did on earth was bad, he will be repaid accordingly.  Obedience to God will also be rewarded accordingly.  Salvation of the spirit gets a person to the Judgment Seat of Christ, which takes place at the resurrection.

 A person cannot lose the salvation of his spirit.  This is proven in the following Scripture:

(2 Cor 1:21-22 NIV)  Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, {22} set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

It is sad that many Christians think they can lose their spirit salvation.  This belief is proof that Christians do not study their Bibles as they should, but they listen to what their pastors tell them instead.  Christians need to at least be able to show others in the Bible how they were saved, and how they know they are saved.  If a Christian cannot do this, then his belief about salvation is based upon man's tradition rather than the Word of God.

A common mistake that most Christians make is believing that their soul and spirit are synonymous, since they have heard this their entire lives.  Instead of checking Scripture to see if this is true, they just accept what the pastor says without question.  Websters New Collegiate Dictionary defines soul as a person's total self, man's moral and emotional nature, and an active or essential part.  In other words, the soul is what we are as a person.  It is our mind, personality, will, emotions, intellect, heart, and character; therefore, our soul is our actual life.  In the New Testament, it is translated either soul or life, since it refers to the natural life of an individual.  As stated by Chitwood, the soul is different from the spirit in that our soul puts us in contact with ourselves, whereas our spirit puts us in contact with God.  The salvation that man is currently working on pertains to our growing and maturing as a Christian, and it is known as the salvation of the soul according to the Bible.  There are numerous Scriptures that encourage believers (Christians) not to neglect this salvation, and to diligently seek after it.  Jesus warned believers about losing their lives (souls) at the Judgment Seat, and He even described how to save the soul in the following passage of Scripture:

(Mat 16:24-27 NIV)  Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. {25} For whoever wants to save his life (soul) will lose it, but whoever loses his life (soul) for me will find it. {26} What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul (life)? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul (life)? {27} For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

These scriptures are clear in that the present salvation of the soul is something Christians have to work for and seek out.

Once a Christian is saved spiritually, it is then that he or she makes a conscious decision on whether or not to be obedient to Christ.  All Christians are "in" Christ, but the question is, how much is Christ in You?  In Matthew, Jesus tells his disciples that in order to save their lives in the future (eternity), they must deny themselves, take up their crosses, and follow Him.  Then He proceeds to tell them that this is how they save their souls.  In these verses Jesus clearly describes what one must do in order to save his or her life (soul).

Paul was encouraging the Philippians to save their souls in the following Scripture:

(Phil 2:12 NIV)  Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,

Now if the Lord saves you by grace (which is an unmerited gift), why would Paul tell us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling?  Paul is not talking about our spirit salvation.  He is referring to soul salvation, which is directly related to rewards and our works.  Many preachers and teachers misinterpret this Scripture by pulling it out of context and saying that Paul is talking about spiritual rebirth.

Jesus tells his disciples that they must lose their lives or souls now to save it for the coming kingdom.  Christians can do this by surrendering our lives to the control of the Holy Spirit, who lives inside of us.  If a Christian does this until he or she dies, or until the Lord Jesus returns to rapture us to heaven, then he will be rewarded with a position of reigning and ruling with Jesus Christ in the kingdom.  Most Christians are not willing to do this.  In the following verses, Paul warns Christians what will happen if they lead a selfish life that is lived for the pleasures and desires of the flesh:

(1 Cor 6:9-10 NIV)  Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders {10} nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

(2 Cor 5:10-11 NIV)  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. {11} Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.

(Col 3:5-6 NIV)  Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. {6} Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.

(Col 3:24-25 NIV)  since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. {25} Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.

The loss of one's soul does not mean that person will go to hell, but it is the loss of rewards and a position of honor in the coming millennial kingdom.  It means his life was wasted here on earth, since he did nothing for the Lord Jesus Christ.  For this reason, Jesus says in the following Scriptures:

(Mat 25:29-30 NIV)  For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. {30} And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Salvation of the soul is conditional upon obedience to God, and it is a salvation that can be lost by unfaithfulness.  This unfaithfulness includes not going to church, not reading the Bible, not asking forgiveness for sins, and definitely not looking for the Lord's Second Coming.  A better understanding of soul salvation is having knowledge of the tripartite nature of man.

Man is a tripartite or three-part being created in the image of the triune God.  He is composed of body, soul, and spirit, and there is a salvation connected to each part (1 Thessalonians 5:23).  Animals possess only a soul and body, which makes them dichotomous rather than trichotomous.

The spirit of man is what links him directly to God.  At creation, God breathed life into the nostrils of Adam and made him a living being.  When Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, it was his spirit that died, causing him to be alienated from God.  Once a person is saved his spirit is made alive by the Holy Spirit, and he passes from spiritual death unto spiritual life (John 5:24).  That is what makes the spirit salvation a past salvation.  It is after this spiritual rebirth that James explains soul salvation as follows:

(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.

This Scripture clearly states that Christians need to flee from sin and study their Bibles.  This is considered works of faith.  Christians can mature and save their souls through the knowledge of and obedience to the Word of God.  The books of 1 Peter and 2 Peter were written to Christians in regard to saving their souls as a future occurrence:

(1 Pet 1:7-9 KJV)  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.

The salvation of our soul is a present salvation that Christians should be working on.  This salvation will not be definite until we get to the Judgment Seat of Christ where Jesus Christ will determine whether or not we save our life or lose it.  I myself am striving to save my soul for this future Judgment Seat.  It is sad that many Christians will lose their lives at the Judgment Seat of Christ, since what we do here on earth will determine our position with Christ for eternity.  The following Scripture refers to our position in the kingdom:

(Mat 19:30 KJV)  But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

This verse means that the Christians who are in the highest positions in the Church in this life will be in the lowest positions in the kingdom, and Christians who are in the lowest positions in the Church now will be in the highest positions in the kingdom.

The third part of man is his body, which allows him to be in contact with the physical realm.  Man is incomplete without all three parts.  Those who think that man will live in a blissful state when he no longer has a body are ignorant of the Scriptures.  The salvation of a Christian's body is entirely future, and it is guaranteed to occur at the resurrection.

(Rom 8:23 KJV)  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

At the resurrection Christians will be given a redeemed body of flesh and bone, and they will be sinless and perfect.  They will have glorified bodies like Jesus had after His resurrection.

Conclusion

A Christian's salvation involves spirit, soul, and body.  All three are important to the Christian in that the spirit was saved, the soul is being saved, and the body is going to be saved.  Consequently, salvation is past, present and future.  Unfortunately, there will be Christians who will lose their souls at the Judgment Seat of Christ, but they will still be saved spiritually as one who came through a fire and lost everything:

(1 Cor 3:13-15 KJV)  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.

When a person believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, his spirit is saved.  From there a Christian should go on into the salvation of the soul.  This salvation is accomplished throughout the life of a Christian, if he submits himself to the control of the indwelling Holy Spirit.  This salvation is the only salvation that can be lost, and Christians should awaken to this fact.  When Christians get to the Judgment Seat of Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ will determine whether or not the lives we lived were for Him or for ourselves.  All Christians, whether they lose their soul or not, will receive glorified bodies at the resurrection that will live in perfect obedience to the Holy Spirit.  Therefore, all Christians will have a new soul or life at the Judgment Seat of Christ, making all Christians perfect tripartite beings.  The ones who lost their souls will have no positions of authority in the millennial kingdom, and there will be much shame and heartache.

Interview

What should a Christian be mostly aware of when it comes to salvation?  Lyn Mize states, "Spirit salvation is nothing that we do.  It is the work of the Holy Spirit.  After a person has been born again, it is critical that he read, study, and apply the teachings of the Bible to his life.  If we as Christians do this, then our lives will count for something, and we will receive tremendous rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  This is the salvation of our soul.  If we live our lives according to our own flesh nature, then our lives will not count for anything, and we will receive no rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  This is the loss of our souls.  However, all Christians will be in heaven and will be made perfect, since they will be conformed to the image of Christ.  The salvation of the soul pertains strictly to rewards, and it plays no part in our final destiny of heaven or hell."