The Two (2) Perspectives of Eternal Salvation

There is only one salvation ever mentioned in scripture. This one salvation, however, does have two perspectives. The first perspective of our Eternal Salvation is that which is bequeathed (Ephesians 1:11) to all of God’s children at the time of adoption, and is reserved (1 Peter 1:4) in heaven for them. The second perspective of our Eternal Salvation is that which is given to God’s obedient children as reward (Ephesians 1:14). This perspective of our salvation is given as an earnest, or a small amount provided in advance, in agreement with the promise that was made to Abraham. This is provided to us by measure in accordance with the judgment of Jesus Christ, as He acts out His role as Mediator of the New Covenant (Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 12:24, Hebrews 8:6). This particular perspective of our Eternal Salvation is a stumbling stone to many, just as it was to the Jews. Sadly even today it causes many to be perplexed with passages such as Matthew 19:16, Luke 10:25, John 3:15, John 6:54, John 10:28, John 17:2-3, Romans 2:7, Romans 6:23, 1 Timothy 6:12 & 19, Hebrews 5:9, just to randomly name a few.
The Holy Spirit and our Eternal Salvation are one in the same. The Holy Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance and our inheritance is our Eternal Salvation.
To further reflect upon 1 Peter 1:4, the inheritance, our Eternal Salvation, is reserved for us in heaven above. It is not given to us while we dwell here in this world, except as allowed in accordance with the judgment of Christ, in the form of the earnest.

“Jesus Christ became the author of eternal salvation only to those who obey Him. This word “author” is often incorrectly defined making Jesus the creator or the composer of eternal salvation, but this is not the correct definition. This word means that He became one functioning as an agent empowered to act for another. The Father has given Christ all power and authority and judgment over His people. He is the cause of eternal salvation. He is how one comes to obtain eternal salvation. This is inline with Paul’s teaching that Jesus is the mediator or arbitrator of the New Testament. Christ judges His people and those who obey receive from Him the earnest of the inheritance. Again, this is a passage which when read, without adding to or taking from its intended meaning, plainly says what was intended. Those who believe in Christ are judged worthy to receive the earnest of life and salvation. Only those who enter in through the door have the promise of life, which is only possible if we have entered into Him.”

Does the Holy Spirit come and go depending on obedience or disobedience?

Eternal Life is not a measure of time. Instead, it is a measure of quantity. Examine closely its description in scripture and you will soon agree (Mark 10:30, John 3;15, John 4:10, John 4:14, John 6:27, John 7:38, John 10:28, John 17:2, 1 Timothy 6:12, Revelation 21:6) . It is described more often as water than any things else. Jesus describes it as a wellspring of water that flows within you. It is as a type of fountain that constantly flows. It is as a river that never runs dry. It is always described as a substance that can be held in your hands. The Holy Spirit and Eternal Life are one in the same. Therefore, I would not say that the Holy Spirit “comes and goes”. Just as the life of the vine is distributed to its branches so long as the branches are attached, so is ones Eternal Life distributed in the form of the Holy Spirit, as long as he remains in Christ (John 15). If the person should be removed, due to disobedience, then any Eternal Life that he possess at that time is consumed, with no replenishment. This would be the same as when the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, because of his disobedience.

Colossians 3:24-25 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

As the passages above from Colossians reveals, the Holy Spirit, which is the reward of the inheritance, is given by measure based upon obedience. The disobedient do not receive the Holy Spirit, but instead receive their just reward. The sin unto death occurs when a child turns his back on God and returns to the lust of the world, on a permanent basis. The obedient have, as Peter says, ceased from sin, although they still commit sin. Those who have ceased from sin are the converted, obedient, children. Even though they continue to sin, the difference is that they identify their sin, confess their sin, ask for forgiveness, and repent of it. The disobedient children give it no thought and are not bothered by it.

Take two children. You tell them both to perform a particular task. One rebels and resists and refuses to do the task. The other one tries with all his might to do as he is told and to please you, yet despite all his effort, he is unable to accomplish the task. The task is not accomplished by either child, they both fail. Yet, we have an example of both the obedient and disobedient children of God.

Scripture reveals that the Holy Spirit is given in measure. Scripture also reveals that we can quench the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we can quench the Spirit in certain aspects of our lives, or completely. We must put on the new man. As we put on the new man the old man is removed. As we put on Christ the carnal man is subdued. We must always move closer to the light and away from darkness. These are all examples of our being filled with the Holy Spirit. These are all examples of the quantity of the earnest of our inheritance. These are all examples of our taking possession of Eternal Life. We must not become content with were we are. With each step we take closer to the light, we must give up an equal amount of darkness that still remains in our lives. This is why men love darkness more than the light. And this is even true for my self. I have come so far toward the light and have given up so much that it makes the next step even harder. I wonder what I will be required to give up next, having given up so much already.

These things work in the opposite direction as well. If we move away from the light and begin to love darkness instead, the light is dimmed and the darkness grows. If we begin to love our earthly life more than our Eternal Life, then we begin to die spiritually. If we walk according to the flesh instead of the Spirit, then the Spirit is quenched. If we begin to put the old man back on, then we must take off the new man to make room.

1 Corinthians 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.

What change occurs at regeneration?

There are only a few passages that reveal what happens at regeneration. We can look at John 3:5 where Jesus said, “Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit”. In this passage Jesus is referring to both regeneration and conversion. The use of the word “born” in this passage is that of God begetting a child. This is supported by Ephesians 1, which states that we are predestinated unto the adoption of children. Thus, at regeneration one is adopted by God as His child. The use of the word “water” in this passage is referring to that used for washing (for other uses of this Greek word used for washing see Matthew 27:24, Luke 7:44, John 13:5, Hebrews 10:22). Paul supports this in Titus 3:5, when he also refers to both regeneration and conversion in his phrase, “by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost”. From Colossians 1:13, we find that during regeneration a change in ownership also occurs. The person is rescued from the power of darkness and translated into the dominion of Christ. Several other passages reveal that at regeneration there is a loosening which occurs where a person is freed from the bondage of the carnal man and from the law. An example of this would be likened unto a man in prison who has his legs and arms are shackled, with no way of escape. At regeneration the shackles are removed and the way of escape is made possible, but the man remains within the prison cell.

From these passages we can confidently say that a washing occurs, an adoption takes place, a loosening is accomplished, and a change in ownership is carried out. These are the only things that scripture reveals to us about regeneration.