The salvation of man’s spirit is the “first” salvation.  It comes before any other salvation, of which there are two more, the salvation of the soul and the salvation of the body.  No area of Christian theology remains so misunderstood as the salvation of the soul.  Virtually every popular Christian preacher, theologian, and writer believes the many Scriptures relating to the salvation of soul actually deal with the salvation of the spirit.  Such is not the case.  Let’s first look at a few Scriptures dealing with the salvation of the spirit.

Scripture renders spiritual salvation as our “new birth,” being “born again,” or “begotten of God.”  This is the first thing Jesus tells Nicodemus when he says,  “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3   Nicodemus answers in unbelief and Jesus continues with even a more mysterious word.

“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. “ John 3:5

Jesus first tells Nicodemus that one must be born of the Spirit before he can even see the Kingdom of God.  This means that one cannot even become aware of the reality of God’s Kingdom unless he becomes born of the Spirit.  The word “born” here means “begotten of God.”  This occurs when a man believes in the LORD Jesus for the forgiveness of his sins and for his reconciliation with God.  It is at this point that one receives the earnest of the Holy Spirit.  This occurs when the “seed” of the Word impregnates our spiritual egg (so to speak) and brings new spiritual life to us.  This spiritual event Jesus calls being born again or begotten of God.

Becoming born of God has nothing to do with man’s own will.  God sovereignly brings new life to whom he will when he will.  This is why Paul says,

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

God gives men the gift of faith by his grace (grace means “unmerited favor” or “unmerited gift”).  Men cannot muster up enough faith to bring their own salvation.  God must somehow bring this faith to a man.  Thus faith and spiritual salvation has nothing to do with man’s own works.

Some people attempt to move on in God before their new birth even occurs, but this is not possible.  This is what Paul means when he says,

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 2 Corinthians 13:5

Paul says that Jesus Christ dwells in believers, but he does not dwell in unbelievers, the reprobate.  These few Scriptures introduce us to the salvation of the Spirit.  Jesus’ second answer to Nicodemus first introduces the salvation of the soul.  Remember, he said, “except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

It is one thing to see something and quite another to enter into it.  I see my house before I enter it.  I see a city before I come into it.  I view the mountain before I climb it.  Likewise, one must see the Kingdom of God before he can enter it.  The salvation of the soul is all about entering the celestial city, the Kingdom of God, the New Jerusalem.  Now we will begin to learn how to do it…