How Salvation Works

     Salvation is a process. It is not a onetime event. However, it is impossible to understand this truth, unless we first realize that we are a three-part being. We have a spirit, a soul, and a body (1 Thes. 5:23). The salvation process begins when we are born of the spirit ( John 3:5-6), becoming a new spiritual person, which has never existed before. (2 Cor. 5:17) Anyone can become born of the spirit by confessing Jesus as Lord of all and believing in their heart that God raised Him from the dead (Rom. 10:9). Upon this confession, our spirit is joined with Christ's Spirit, not only creating a new spiritual person but one who is completely righteous (in right standing) in God's eyes (Rom. 3:21-22, 8:10, 1 Co. 1:30). That new spiritual person is then immediately sealed by The Holy Spirit until the day of redemption of our soul and body (Eph. 1:13-14) and It remains completely holy (1 Jo. 3:9). However our soul and body are not instantly saved and are not instantly made righteous. That's why I say that salvation is a process. The soul needs to be sanctified (made holy) and our natural body needs to be exchanged for a spiritual  body (1 Co. 15:44). This sanctification is an ongoing process requiring our mind to be continually conformed to the mind of Christ (Rom. 8:29, 12:2). We do that by continually putting away sinful thoughts which are brought to our attention by the conviction of the Holy Spirit as we mediate on God's word (Jas. 1:21). Thus, the "works" part of our salvation begins and continues until we go to be with our Lord (Phl. 2:12). The more we study and mediate on the word of God, through the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the faster we grow in the knowledge of God and the more righteous we become in our thoughts. Thoughts control actions. Paul mentions this process in his letter to the Ephesians (Eph. 4:1-15). This salvation of the mind, however, cannot be completed here on earth (Phl. 3:12). We don't live long enough for that to happen. The list of sins is too long and too deceptive to untangle, because anything that is not of faith is sin (Rom. 13:23). The completion of the salvation process will have to wait until we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, where we will have no time restrictions to be judged guilty of unconfessed sins. This judgment does not lead us to death but to repentance and life. (1 Jo. 1:9). After that, we will receive our rewards for those Holy Spirit led works done in the flesh while living on this earth. Those rewards are eternal rewards and a "far cry" from what we think of as rewards here in this life. (Rom. 14:10, 2 Cor. 5:10).

     It is very important that all Christians have an understanding of what I have just said. For lack of this knowledge, many people become sidetracked and either try to become better Christians through their own individual good works, or worse yet, use these good works to try and buy a ticket to heaven. If you are doing that, stop it. That's not the kind of good works God wants. You cannot buy your salvation. The kind of good works which are pleasing to God come from one's love of Christ and our obedience to the voice of His Holy Spirit. Once we have been born of The Spirit, Good works, done in association with other godly ministries, is a good starting place. However, while that's a good starting place, it's much better to continue seeking that one-on-one communion with The Holy Spirit, yourself. That is really the only way to grow into a more responsible (And thus a more powerful) believer here on this earth. Yes, your battles become bigger, but guess what? Your ever increasing power to overcome them, makes them seem smaller and smaller. Paul said as much in (2 Co 4:17). He called his afflictions "light afflictions". (2 Co 4:17)       

     Salvation is mentioned more than 40 times in the new testament. I encourage believers to not just read, but mediate on those scriptures.