This additional episode to the four-part series Body-Soul-Spirit gathers some additional scriptural insights into this important topic. Here we will discuss the process of salvation – past, present & future – and how it corresponds to the spirit, soul and body. We will also look again at the two Hebrew words for ‘soul’ and what they reveal about our identity. How do our physical appetites affect our ability to grasp spiritual truths? We address these and other questions in this fascinating episode.
Salvation of Body, Soul & Spirit
2 Timothy 3:15 And how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Messiah Yeshua.
PAST TENSE (SPIRIT)
Ephesians 2:5-8
Titus 3:5
PRESENT TENSE (SOUL)
James 1:21
1Cor. 1:18
1Cor. 15:1-2
1Peter 1:8-9 / 2:2
Hebrews 10:39
Rev. 12:9-10
FUTURE TENSE (BODY)
Romans 8:17,23
Hebrews 1:14
1Peter 1:3-5
Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
The Heart of Nephesh & Neshamah
נשמה (neshamah) = The neshamah is the “inner” and more spiritually oriented side of the soul.
שמ (shem) = “name”
Neshamah has שם (shem) “name” at its center, which is one’s true identity.
נפש (nephesh) = Nephesh is the “outer” and more physically oriented side of the soul. It has פ (peh) “mouth” – at its center, the ‘outlet’ of the soul.
An Insight from the Talmud (b.Berachot 10a)
(“soul” = neshamah)
The soul fills the body, as God fills the world.
The soul bears the body, as God bears the world.
The soul outlasts the body, as God outlasts the world.
The soul is one in the body, as God is one in the world.
The soul sees and is not seen, as God sees and is not seen.
The soul is pure in the body, even as God is pure in the world…
The “Fog” of Fleshly Thinking
Matthew 16:5-8,11-12 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. Yeshua said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” But Yeshua, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread?… How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Mark 9:9-10 And as they were coming down the mountain, He charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. [+ 8:31-32]
The Transformative Power of Pain
עצב
(etzev) (n.) = “pain”
or
(atzav) (v.) = “to form, fashion, shape”
Imitating the Serpent
גחון (gachon) = “belly” (2x in Bible)
Leviticus 11:42 Whatever goes on its belly … you shall not eat, for they are detestable.
Genesis 3:14 Adonai God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field. On your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.”
Rashi states that this verse refers specifically to the serpent(nachash). Thus, anyone who moves through life according to its ‘belly’ is controlled by the serpent.
Philipians 3:19 “…whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly (κοιλια), and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.”
RESOURCES:
Salvation – Past Tense (Spirit)
Ephesians 2:5-8 Even when we were dead in our trespasses, [God] made us alive together with Messiah – by grace you have been saved – and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Messiah Yeshua. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.
Titus 3:5 He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the holy spirit.
Salvation – Present Tense (Soul)
James 1:21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 15:1-2 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I proclaimed to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved if you hold fast to the word I proclaimed to you – unless you believed in vain.
1 Peter 1:8-9/2:2 Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls … Like newborn infants, long for the pure milk of the Word, that by it you may grow up into salvation…
Hebrews 10:39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith for the procuring of the soul.
Revelation 12:9-10 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world – he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now has come salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Messiah, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.”
Salvation – Future Tense (Body)
Romans 8:17,23 And if children, then heirs – heirs of God and fellow heirs with Messiah, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him… And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons – the redemption of our bodies.
Hebrews 1:14 Are [angels] not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Master Yeshua the Messiah! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Yeshua the Messiah from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1Samuel 25:25 “…As his name is, so he is.”
Proverbs 22:1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.
Matthew 12:34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Mark 8:31-32 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And He said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
Job 10:8 Your hands fashioned (עצב, atzav) and made me, and now you have destroyed me altogether.
Genesis 3:16 To the woman He said, “I will surely multiply your pain (עצב, etzev) in childbearing; in pain (עצב,etzev) you shall bring forth children….”
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