The salvation of the soul is distinct from the salvation of our spirit. When we receive Jesus as our Lord and savior, He makes our spirit alive, by imparting His life to it. This is an instantaneous experience where God becomes alive in our spirit.
But when our spirit is first saved-enlightened, our soul is still not saved. Our soul goes through a process of salvation which is called sanctification. Our sanctification is a result of our soul’s submission and obedience to the word which was conceived in our spirit.
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked (the word thanked is charis in the Greek which means-his grace) that ye were (continuous action in the past) the servants-(slave-being altogether consumed in the will of another-depraved desires) of sin,
When we first get saved, God comes to live inside our spirit. But our soul is still not saved; our thinking and emotions have to be delivered from the power of sin. Our thought processes are still in conformity to the spirit of this world.
but ye have obeyed(action that happens at a specific point in the past, the word comes from two words 1- under, beneath, through. 2-to hear with attention in order to obey. It means to yield to a power greater than self, to obey God irresistibly) from the heart (our spirit and our soul)
This is a decision motivated by the Spirit of God in our spirit where our soul comes into complete agreement to suffer in the flesh and cease from sin.
that form (means an image-prototype-a stamp-a mark-an impression-something that is caused by repeated blows-it is the infilling of the spirit leaving an impression)
It is speaking of the place prepared for us (the secret place) from which something comes forth; of loosing or freeing from under something. It is talking about being under the authority and power of a person-a spiritual condition-in which Jesus is lord. Being under grace!
The place prepared for us is an awareness of the Spirit of God, which comes to us through an experience called being filled with the Spirit.
When we are filled with the Spirit-at that moment everything in us is occupied with Him-we experience Him. Every experience with God leaves an impression upon our memory-an image of the will of God. Every experience with God is accumulative.
The Spirit of God must convict us of sin; this is the revelation of the Holy Spirit revealing the deceitfulness of the lusts of the flesh, and our powerlessness in ourselves to overcome them.
When He convinces us of sin, then we look to the Lord for His power-anointing to fill our inner man with strength
Eph 4:22 that ye put off (specific point in time not continuous, to lay down, to cast off, to renounce) concerning (the object toward which anything tends or aims) the former(prior, previous) conversation(behavior) the old (former, unregenerate spirit-soul)man which is corrupt(continuous action, bring to a worse state) according(object toward which something tends) to the deceitful (delusion)lusts(desire resulting from the diseased condition of the soul); and be renewed(continuous action, renewed in spiritual vitality) in the spirit(innermost part, disposition, vital principle, the breath of the spirit, the God part, the regenerated spirit) of your mind.(organ of mental perception, the consciousness preceding action)and that ye put on (a specific point in time 1-intimate union 2-go in or under- to put on as a garment, to clothe oneself.) the new(qualitatively new) man, which after God is created(definiteness of action, to create, produce from nothing, to create and form in a spiritual sense) in righteousness(the essence of him who is righteous, God himself the standard) and true(the unveiled reality lying at the basis of and agreeing with the manifestation) holiness.(holiness manifesting itself in actions)
We are to be renewed in the spirit of our mind. It is not the mind itself. We have no mental defense. It is our spirit in contact with the Holy Spirit, under the controlling power of the Holy Spirit directing and influencing our soul, until our mind becomes renewed. It is only in the strength of our spirit in contact with His, that we are enabled to go through the death process.
of doctrine (1-the act of teaching 2- motion into)
It is being a partaker of the word we are hearing, we are participating in the spirit we are hearing.
which was delivered you. (It is from two words 1-with, immediate vicinity, to the side of 2-to give, impart)
It speaks of the living word entrusted to us. This is talking about the Holy Spirit teaching us. The form of teaching is talking about the Holy Spirit giving us vision-it is seeing the glory of God-It is seeing what the Father would do-It is hearing what the Father would say.
This form of teaching is an intimacy with the Father-where we see with His eyes and hear with His ears. This is the ministry of the Holy Spirit leading us and guiding us into all the truth.-faith to faith, strength to strength, glory to glory. This is the New Covenant-God writing His word upon our hearts and minds. It is the Spirit of God imparting Himself into us. It is a spiritual condition where we hear the voice of God and take on the same spirit.
Through the revelation of Gods Spirit, He reveals an area of our soul-life where we are falling short of His glory and as we yield to the influence of His Spirit, that area of our soul goes through a transforming process of death and resurrection where our soul gets saved in that area of our lives.
being then made free(definiteness of action, to liberate) from(separate from an object we were united to) sin,
We are made free of sin when the Spirit of God reveals an area of sin in our soul through the Presence of His Spirit and we make a decision in the spirit to yield that area of our life to his Lordship.
We then go through a process of death and resurrection where our soul becomes renewed in that area. As we go through this process, it is only through our awareness of His presence that we are enabled to suffer death in our soul, until our soul is resurrected in his life.
ye became the servants (specific point past-passive, to be dependent upon, a permanent relationship of voluntary service)of righteousness(conformity to His standard-His Spirit).
Our soul is either a servant of sin or a servant of righteousness.
I speak after the manner of men (human level) because of the infirmity (powerlessness) of your flesh (material nature) for (way of explanation) as (exactly like) ye have yielded (specific point past, near-to place) your members servants to uncleanness (impurity) and to iniquity (rejecting truth in the innermost part) unto (motion into) iniquity (to yield to a depraved desire, working-increasing- that desire)
Just as in the past we yielded the members of our body to the power of unclean thoughts, we are to yield our members unto the power of the Spirit inside of our spirit, until His thoughts become our thoughts.
even so(in this manner) now (at this time)yield (near-to place)your members(parts of the body) servants to righteousness (the essence of him who is righteous, conformity to His standard) unto (motion into a place)holiness(the activity of the Holy Spirit in separating us from sin and translating us into His kingdom)
As we allow the Spirit of God to govern our members, our soul will enter into a state of sanctification, where the tendency and inclination of our thinking is in harmony with God’s.
The primary ministry of the Holy Spirit is to save our soul. The salvation of the soul is deliverance from the actual power of sin. The salvation of the soul is called sanctification or holiness. Our soul is sanctified when the Holy Spirit is dwelling in our thoughts and feelings. Where God’s Spirit has found a home, and built a fortress.
The sanctification of our soul is the establishment of His kingdom within us. It is where the epignosis of God has become enthroned in our soul. It is where his glory fills the temple.
1peter 5:6 Humble yourselves(command to begin at once, to bring low, bow in mind, submissive spirit) therefore under the mighty(dominion, strength which is established and manifested) hand(the instrument of action, metaphorically-for the power of God) of God, that he may exalt(elevate, a spiritual uplifting, revival, place of rule) you in due time(a fixed definite time); casting(definiteness of action , as opposed to continuous action, with permanent results, once and for all, to throw or cast upon) all(totality) your(of self) care(anxiety, care that brings disruption to the personality and mind) upon him; for he careth(to concern oneself) for you(concerning you). Be sober(command to begin at once, the mind of Christ), be vigilant(keep awake, watch); because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; whom resist(totally reject) steadfast(firm, strong, immovable) in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions(hardship, emotional influence, pain-death to self, the flesh, the world, persecution) are accomplished(continuous action without any implication as to when the action takes place, bring to destined goal, to accomplish perfectly) in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto (motion into) his eternal glory (realm of divine perfection) by (intimate union with) Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered (definiteness of action with permanent results, to be affected by something from without, to be acted upon, to undergo an experience) a while (briefly), make you perfect (optative mood-is rare in the Greek new testament, expressing a wish, the act of completing), establish (expressing a wish, to set fast, fix firmly), strengthen(expressing a wish, to confirm in spiritual knowledge and power), settle (expressing a wish, to lay the foundation of, to lay the basis for, consolidate, the joining of spirit and soul into one)you. To him be glory (worship) and dominion (the presence of power) forever and ever. Amen.
The salvation of the soul does not automatically happen, it requires our cooperation. The Holy Spirit will do everything in His power to convince us to surrender our soul to Him. Our soul is what makes us unique, it is our individuality, and the human soul does not want to die. The self preservation instinct is built into it.
The Holy Spirit works in us, gently persuading us to a complete, unconditional and continuous surrender of our soul’s desires and thought energy.
For the Holy Spirits ministry to be effective, He requires our submission after the same manner that Jesus submitted his life to the Father.
God must work in our spirit to say yes and then work the power in our soul to do His good pleasure.
Eph2:8 for by grace (grace is from the word rejoice, it is that which causes joy, pleasure, gratification, favor, acceptance. It is the provision of the spirit granted. It is the flow of the Spirit illuminating and strengthening our inner man) are ye saved (the spiritual state brought about by the finished result of the action or process, to deliver from the power of sin, to make whole) through faith (confidence in divine truth); and that not of yourselves; it is a gift (the impartation of the spirit) of God.
Rom10:17 faith cometh by (motion out of) hearing (the act of hearing), and hearing by (the instrument, the cause) the word of God.
Faith is the acceptance of revelation. When our spirit came into contact with God’s Spirit it was saved, and we received a measure of Gods faith. Faith comes by hearing-the revelation of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit has to convince us of sin, that we are slave of a power other than His Spirit, which has control of our life.
The deception is two-fold. 1-We can no longer enjoy this spirit-sin and 2- in and of ourselves we have no power over it. We must fully concede (to give up, surrender) in our innermost self that we are powerless over what ever has enslaved us. We must become poor in spirit. We work out our soul salvation with fear and trembling. We have absolutely no confidence in ourselves, but look to the Holy Spirit to deliver us.
Faith has come when the Holy Spirit has convinced us that there is no pleasure in what we are in captivity to, and we accept that it is going to kill us, we need a miracle!
Faith has come when we realize anything other than God’s will is death, and it is only His power that can set us free. Until we become totally dependent upon the Spirit of God-we will lose contact with His Spirit that enables us. It is His anointing that breaks the yoke.
We know faith has come when there is a total acceptance. When there is an unconditional yes-with no reservations, no holding back.
Faith has to come, but it also has to work.
Gal5:6 for in (intimate union with-oneness of heart, mind and purpose) Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth (occurring now, to be whole, healthy, strong, to be effective, capable of producing results, to be able) anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh (the energy of Gods spirit at work within producing an effect, the Holy Spirit moving in the believer) by love. (Seeing God’s need and meeting it)
Gal6:15 for in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth (right now, have force and value, to have efficacy) anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new (qualitatively new-divine) creature. (Creation, the sum total of what has been created) And as many as walk according to this rule (a rule of conduct, behavior, a plum line), peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
Faith works by love- the laying down of our soul.
There is a difference between dedication and sanctification. We can offer our souls (our life) to God-this is dedication, but He has to remove the obsession-this is sanctification.
The obsession is the uncontrollable persistence of an idea or emotion of the mind. It is the persistence of thoughts or patterns of thinking, which the Spirit of God is not in agreement with.
We have to offer our bodies a living sacrifice, but unless His Spirit comes down upon us to partake of the sacrifice, we offer our lives in vain. This is sanctification-His glory filling the temple.
The obsession of holding on to our lives must be displaced; His love must be shed abroad in our hearts.
Love is a passion and obsession, something we cannot live without. There must be an excitement in it, being swept off our feet, there must be a focused awareness of the Lord. We have to get out of the carnal mind and get in tune with God’s heart. There is no reason to live our lives without this.
To make the journey and not enter deeply into His love is not to have lived at all.
It is only through passionate love for the Lord, that we are enabled to lay down our lives. It is the love of God that saves our soul. The intenseness of this love will not allow anything to quench it.
We must have absolute trust in the Spirit of God to be willing to offer Him every area of our lives. It is His goodness that leads us to repentance.
But it is an absolute act of worship to offer Him our lives. It is in the death of our soul, a love that cannot be denied, that the Spirit of God sanctifies our minds.
Our soul suffers in the denying of self, but is resurrected in the power of the Lord.