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The expression, "salvation of the soul," has
been misused in Christian circles over the years to the extent that any
correct Scriptural teaching on the subject has become almost
nonexistent. Soul-winning has erroneously been equated with reaching
the unsaved with the message of the gospel of grace; and few
Christians, viewing soul-winning in this manner, seem to even give the
matter a second thought.
Books have been written on soul-winning, Bible colleges and
seminaries teach courses on soul-winning, and soul-winning conferences
are held by these same institutions and by various Churches. But, among
these groups, almost without exception, soul-winning is viewed from a
non-Scriptural perspective.
Soul-winning in Scripture has to do with the saving of the
soul/life of those who are already saved, whether Israelites in the Old
Testament or Christians in the New Testament. When it comes to the
saving or the losing of the soul/life in this respect, solely from a
Scriptural standpoint, the unsaved are not in view.
But exactly what is soul-winning? And why is there so much confusion on
this subject today? The questions are interrelated, and Scripture is
quite clear concerning the answers to both.
Soul-winning, having to do with those who are already saved, is seen
connected with a kingdom in both Testaments. In the Old Testament, this
kingdom was an existing kingdom (the O.T. theocracy); and in the New
Testament, this kingdom is seen as a coming kingdom (the coming kingdom
of Christ).
Thus, it is no wonder that corruption and confusion have marked the
proclamation of this message throughout Man's Day. Satan, the present
ruler in the kingdom -- ruling from a heavenly sphere through the
Gentile nations on earth (cf. Dan. 10:13-20; Luke 4:5,
6; Eph. 6:12) -- knows that the ultimate outworking of that contained
in the message surrounding the salvation of the soul will bring about
an end to his rule.
Accordingly, Satan has done all within his power, over millenniums
of time, to destroy this message. And exactly how well he has succeeded
can be seen on practically every hand in Christendom today (cf. Matt.
13:31-33; Luke 18:8; Rev. 3:14-21).
INTRODUCTION
The salvation of the soul is one of the most misunderstood subjects in
Scripture. And it is misunderstood because of the way most Christians
view salvation.
Contrary to common belief, the salvation of the soul has nothing to
do with man's eternal destiny. Biblical teachings surrounding eternal
salvation are always related to the spiritual part of man, never the
soulical, and are centered in one realm alone -- in Christ's finished
work at Calvary.
And the salvation message, having to do with Christ's finished work at Calvary and one's eternal destiny, is very simple:
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved [made
possible through that which Christ has done on man's behalf]..." (Acts 16:31).
But the salvation of the soul is dealt with after an entirely different
fashion in Scripture. Rather than Christ's past work at Calvary being
in view, His present work as High Priest is in view; and rather than
the unsaved being in view, Christians alone are in view.
Christ is presently performing a work as High Priest, on the basis
of His shed blood on the mercy seat, to effect a cleansing from sin for
the kingdom of priests which He is about to bring forth. And Christ's
present work in this respect relates to Christians and to the saving of
the soul.
Scripture deals with the salvation of the soul in relation to the
present faithfulness of Christians, and this salvation will be realized
only at the end of one's faith (I Peter 1:9). And a realization of this
salvation is associated with rewards, Christ's return, and His kingdom
(cf. Matt. 16:24-17:5; Heb. 10:35-39).
"Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness,
and receive with meekness the engrafted ['implanted'] word, which is
able to save your souls [the souls of Christians, those who have
'passed from death unto life,' the only ones in a position to received
'the implanted word']" (James 1:21).
Christians talk about soul-winning in connection with the unsaved. And
soul-winning conferences are held with this same end in view. But this
is not the way Scripture deals with soul-winning at all.
Soul-winning, as seen in Scripture, has to do with reaching those
who already possess eternal life (those who have a redeemed spirit,
those who have "passed from death unto life"), not with reaching those
who are still "dead in trespasses and sins." Soul-winning, rather than
having to do with the free gift of eternal life, has to do with the
faithfulness of the saved (resulting in works), a just recompense of
reward, and life in the coming kingdom of Christ.
Soul-winning is reaching Christians with the Word of the Kingdom,
reaching those who have already believed on the Lord Jesus Christ with
the message concerning the purpose for their salvation.
Arlen L. Chitwood
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This is the introduction to our article section. We'll have a list of the best articles on different topics here...topics on spiritual maturity and things not generally covered in other Churches/studies.