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From: kene@teklds.UUCP (Ken Ewing)
Newsgroups: net.religion.christian
Subject: Spirit, Soul, Body, and Salvation (2 of 2)
Message-ID: <1083@teklds.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 30-Sep-85 12:05:35 EDT
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Posted: Mon Sep 30 12:05:35 1985
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[------------------------------------------]

In my last article I briefly compared the differences between the 
ancient Hebrew and Greek ideas on the nature of Man.  Now I would like 
to talk about how salvation (i.e.; being "born again") relates to the 
Hebrew concept (since Christianity originally began from that perspective).  

The New Testament speaks of salvation in three tenses: past, present, and 
future.  Examples: 

Eph. 2:8 -- For by grace you have been saved through faith... (PAST) 
Phil. 2:12 -- ...work out your salvation in fear and trembling... (PRESENT) 
Rom. 5:10 -- ...we shall be saved by His life.  (FUTURE) 

The concept of salvation is multi-facted, and each of these tenses 
illustrates a different but related aspect of salvation.  

PAST     This refers to the aspect called JUSTIFICATION.  This is where the 
         guilt of our sin is dealt with.  It is described as past because 
         Jesus paid the debt for our fallenness once and for all on the 
         cross.  It's over and done with, and we can do nothing to add or 
         detract from it.  This aspect is also associated with the 
         REGENERATION OF THE SPIRIT.  

PRESENT  This refers to the aspect called SANCTIFICATION.  This is where our 
         mind and being are renewed.  It is described as present because it 
         is a continuing, life-long process.  As we respond to the work of 
         Christ and seek guidance and growth, the Holy Spirit brings about 
         a continual, gradual renewal of mind (SOUL?).  (Lately, I tend to 
         place wholeness and healing under this aspect as well).  

FUTURE   This refers to the aspect called GLORIFICATION.  This is the full, 
         final renewal of our physical bodies.  It is described as future 
         because it is yet to come (obviously).  At that time the goodness 
         in which we (i.e.; mankind, the universe) were created will be 
         restored, and the fallenness and sin that we now struggle with will 
         be removed.  This aspect is also associated with the REDEMPTION 
         OF OUR BODIES.  

Even though we discuss these ideas separately, we must remember that from 
the Hebrew perspective, a person is not separable into parts.  Each "part" 
coexists with the others and intimately affects the others.  Justification 
opens a channel of the spirit to God and allows the power of the Holy Spirit 
into the soul and body as well.  The fallenness of the body wages war against 
the renewal of the mind.  People into wholistic health recognize that when 
there is disease in the body, the mind and spirit are affected as well.  

The preceding points can be summarized in the following chart: 

Aspect 
  of                  Aspect of 
Person /Time Ref./    Salvation   /        Source       /       Effect  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spirit |  PAST   | Justification  |     The Cross       | Removes the guilt 
       |         |                |                     | of sin 
       |         |                |                     |
 Soul  | PRESENT | Sanctification |  Daily Cooperation  | Renewal of our minds 
       |         |                | with the Holy Spirit| by instilling in 
       |         |                |                     | us the Mind of Christ 
       |         |                |                     |
 Body  | FUTURE  | Glorification  |  The Second Coming  | Removes the presence 
       |         |                |                     | of sin 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Ken Ewing 
  [decvax,ucbvax]!tektronix!teklds!kene